Chapter 2: The Day Lisa Met Stephan Biscotti

Stephan Biscotti was what most referred to as a trust fund baby while she was there on scholarship. She met him on campus when he knocked into her, probably on purpose, and made her drop her laptop and books on the floor. “Oh, dear, I am really sorry I stepped on it, do you think it's okay?” 

When Stephan opened it, they discovered it was cracked. “No I guess not you must let me fix it, I insist. Come to lunch with me, I hate to eat alone.”

Lisa picked up her laptop.   He moves fast. He's not taking no for an answer, probably not use to being told no. 

Stephan Biscotti took down her personal information, then told her to get in his car. He drove her to a restaurant called Bountiful.

It was gorgeous, and Lisa hated him for it. She was suddenly aware that she didn’t belong there, She looked down at her cheap thrift store clothing and bit her lip, wanting to run back out the door.   The maître d’ made her more uncomfortable than she thought possible. When he stared at her, she thought for sure he would kick them out. 

Stephen just looked uncaring and unmoved. “She’s with me, send your best bottle of champagne,” He waited to be seated, which was surprisingly quick. Lisa bit her lip. She grabbed Stephan's arm. “How did you get us in here?” 

“Oh, I know the person who owns this place. I come here for lunch every day. I do hope you’re not a salad chick.”

Lisa didn’t tell him, but as a matter of fact she was having a hard time figuring out what she could order and thought a salad was a safe bet. When he said that, a part of her wanted to impress him, so she ordered the lamb brisket with a small order of goat on the side. 

“Oh, lamb and goat, how adventurous.” He said with a smirk. 

Lisa stared at his smirk. God, he's so condescending I wonder how fast the police will come if I wiped that smirk off his face, I want to hit him. Calm down Lisa, he's taken you to lunch, and you need your laptop fix be a good girl and smile. “About my laptop…”

 “What about it? I told you I take care of it. Don’t worry, enjoy your meal. What are you majoring in, Lieza?” 

“No, not Lieza. Lisa with an s.”

 “ Right Lisa Sorry”

 “My major is pre-law, I’m going to be a lawyer you?”

 “Same. Corporate lawyer you?” 

“Criminal” 

“Mmm, interesting choice, Lisa.” 

“Forgive me for asking this, but are we on a date?” 

“You’re not forgiven, we are not on a date, why did you ask?”

 Lisa put her hands on her chest, her mouth dropped open.  You sure know how to shatter a girl’s dreams. “Then why the champagne?”

 “Do I really need a reason to enjoy good champagne?”

 “No, I suppose not.” 

Stephen suddenly got serious.  He resembled a businessman in his suit.  “Let’s cut to the chase, shall we? I’m in need of a real good friend ever since my last one dropped out of college. Would you like to be my friend, Lisa? Now before you say anything, you must know there are perks for being my friend.”

Lisa’s mouth dropped open when he said that, and she had to take a minute to respond, “Yes, Stephen, I’ll be your friend.”

 “Good, let’s get out of here, I’ll drop you off at your next class. Check please.” 

Lisa noticed how the waiter looked both shock and scared when he brings the check. Lisa watched   Stephen pay in cash. Who pays in cash   anymore?  Lisa watched with wide eyes as Stephan grabbed the champagne bottle and leaves. “Why are you taking that?” 

Stephen sighed, “This, my dear, a one hundred forty-nine dollar bottle of champagne. Do you honestly think I’m not going to finish drinking it?”

Lisa eyes narrowed as she looked at the bottle in Stephan's hands.  Spoken like a true alcoholic.  “No, I suppose not.”

 Lisa soon found out what it meant to be a friend to Stephan Biscotti when he showed up to her class with a new laptop. Lisa looked at Stephen with shock when he handed her the laptop. “This isn’t mine.” 

“It is now.”

 “No, I can’t take this, my screen was only cracked, you can just fix it.”

“ That old thing was not becoming of you. You deserve better.” 

“I really can’t accept this.” 

“You will because I tell you to, and you will because you're embarrassing me. I told you I will take care of it and have”.

 “I don’t know what to say, Stephen.”

 “A simple thank you will suffice” 

“Thank you. What happens now?”

 “Now, we do what friends do. We share secrets.”

Stephen’s first secret he shared with Lisa came later that week when he told her he owned the Bountiful; that it was his favorite place to eat at for lunch, and it was given to him by his father as a gift when he got into Yale.  The first thing he accomplished on his own without help from his father or his family name. This Secret was told to her after she let him know in a drunken state that she could lose her scholarship and get kicked out because she still owes money to the university.

Stephan Biscotti didn't delay, he walked over to the dean's office and paid it. 

 When Lisa confronted him, Stephan was eating at Bountiful. “You had no right to just pay my bill like it belonged to you. Not everyone has a rich daddy they can run to Stephan, I wanted to do it myself to earn my own way.” 

Stephan ate in silence while she ranted. When she finished, He wiped his mouth and stood up. He opened the box that was on the table. 

Lisa stared at the now empty box. “Stephan it's a waitress uniform, you got me a waitress uniform why?”

 Stephan handed her the waitress uniform. “You are   working here at the bountiful without a paycheck until you pay me back every cent I paid the university. In return, I will take care of your college fees, dinner expenses. Your room and board everything, so you don't ever have to worry about another thing.”