8. Meeting Peter Williams

Photo credit: Denise Larkin - Flat Iron Building in New York City

I was sitting having some lunch across the street from the Flat Iron building when I suddenly wondered what I would tell Peter Williams about 'the chair'. I was worried I would tell him something wrong and ruin everything for Darrell. I couldn't stop thinking about the meeting I was going to have with the guy I'd seen on the train. Was it coincident that he was now coming to meet me at my place of work? I wasn't sure but I was constantly thinking about it. 

Back at the office, I waited for 3 pm to arrive. In the end, Peter Williams arrived ten minutes late. I went out to meet him in the reception area. I felt a nervous knot in the pit of my stomach at the thought of actually seeing him again. He had seemed friendly enough on the train when he had smiled at me. Then again, I could be wrong about him or perhaps, I had got it all along. What if the chair had given me the wrong information?

As I got nearer, I saw him sitting on one of the sofas opposite the reception desk. He was wearing a navy blue suit that looked very expensive and very slick. He sat with his back to me as I walked towards him. His back and shoulders looked broader than I had realised from behind. Could it really be the same person I had seen on the train? 

I felt apprehensive as I approached him from the side and introduced myself.

"Hello, Mr Williams. I am Lucy Bridges, Doctor Simmons assistant. It's very nice to meet you."

My tummy stirred quite violently as I watched him stand up to greet me. He smiled. He seemed polite and gracious as I stared up at his handsome face. It was definitely him. The Chair had been right. It had guided me to the correct person which was strange. But did he recognise me from the train? 

"Hello, nice to meet you too," he said as we shook hands. "Have we met?"

"Um... no... I don't think so... please, come this way to my office," I announced, ignoring his question.

He followed me. We got to my office and we sat staring at one another for a split second until he spoke. I was worried he had recognised me from the train but he obviously couldn't remember where he had seen me before.

"Will Doctor Simmons be present today? Only... I was hoping to speak to him face-to-face," he stated.

"Well, unfortunately, he has got held up at a Conference, so I don't think he will finish in time. But I can talk to you and answer all your questions. He tried calling you about it today but he couldn't get an answer." I said hoping he would understand.

"Oh, I see. Well, he should have left a voice mail message for me, but no matter, you are here and I suppose you will do for now," he answered in a sarcastic tone.

I was shocked at how arrogant he sounded. I thought he respected Darrell but instead, Peter Williams showed a ruthless side to himself that I hadn't expected.

"Well, I hope I can help you understand what we do here." I smiled hoping I could get him interested for Darrell's benefit.

To be polite, I asked him if he wanted coffee but he declined. Then I began to explain what we did in regards to helping the government. I told him about the projects Darrell had worked on and then it was time for me to ask him some of my own questions.

"So, Mr Williams, do you have any qualifications in science? I understand you are an architect, so I don't understand why you have so much interest in Darrell's work."

Peter stared at me lingeringly as if he just didn't want to answer me or perhaps, he realised where he'd seen me before, but then he finally spoke.

"I have a great deal of education in scientific matters but I don't talk about it. In fact, I am only known as an architect but I do have a science degree as well."

"Brilliant... I am glad you know something about science because you will need to understand certain things for the project Darrell and I are working on at present."

"Really... what is this project? May I see it?"

I wasn't sure what to do yet. Was Peter Williams the right person to show 'the chair' to?

"Yes... maybe... I will show it to you but first I want to know a bit more about your education and the work you do. I know that seems harsh but I have to be sure before I can bring you into this project." I said with certainty.

"But Darrell has known me all my life, what gives you the right to decide this or not?" I couldn't believe how flippant he was with his choice of words.

I was also shocked at how forward and blunt he was to my face. He was also rude and arrogant. Anger began to overwhelm me but I didn't let it take me over.

"Because..." I started to say as I tried to control my angry tone. "Darrell told me to make the decision and I don't know you, Mr Williams, so I prefer to do this my way."

"Call me Peter and I will call you Lucy if that's okay." He said in a calm and relaxed tone.

Why was he suddenly being nice to me? Was he trying to get the better of me?

"Okay... " was all I could answer with.

"Please..." I began. "Tell me about why you are interested in science and then I will talk more about our project."

Peter spoke about science as if it was a great hobby to him. A thing that he was fascinated with but he also seemed to know everything there was to know and more than I could have said on the topic of science.

"You see...  Lucy..." he said my name with a conviction and I suddenly felt frightened of him. "Science and architect are similar topics if you think about it. They connect to one another in ways you would not believe or at least that's how my eyes see it. Darrell has always said that I have a gift for seeing things where science is concerned and that's why he suggested that I come here. He actually asked me here! Did you know that?"

The more he spoke of the topic, the more I was convinced that he should see the chair but I was sure that Darrell had said that he was interested not the other way around. I was confused. I started to wonder if Darrell had lied to me. Of course, Peter could be the one lying.

"Oh... I see... I'm sorry but I thought you approached Darrell," I said.

"No, Lucy, he asked me to come here. He said I would be an enormous help with his new project."

This confused me and I didn't know who to believe but I had made my decision. I wanted someone else's opinion anyway. I wasn't sure if I trusted Peter yet but I would let him just look for now.

"Okay... I will show you what Darrell has been working on... his new project that is. Come this way. It's locked away in a room for protection."

"I can't wait to see one of Darrell's top secret inventions," Peter said excitedly as we approached the locked door of the room where the chair was kept secretly hidden from everyone except for Darrell and me. I knew how Peter felt because I had felt the same way the first day I had come here. It was a privilege to be involved with Darrell's work and I guess Peter was feeling it too.

Now Peter Williams would see the chair and I hoped I was doing the right thing showing it to him

To be continued...... Read Chapter 9



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