Chad shrugged as if it really was no big deal, eyes following as a magazine slid across her desk. "That is fine with me...though, be warned, if we get lost, I claim no responsibility," he chuckled. "I will bring a map and compass. There. You will be safe with me then," he grinned, reaching forward to pick some grapes.

Lexi waved her hand so as to say 'don't even worry about it'. If she and Chad did end up getting lost, she was fairly certain they could at least find their way back to that red phone booth just outside the entrance to the Ministry. "Point understood," she said. A map and a compass wasn't such a bad idea either. Surely they could at least find their way to a cafe with those materials in hand. She laughed lightheartedly when Chad said she'd be safe with him. "I have no doubts, whatsoever, Cha---may I call you Chad?"

"Anyway, I'm afraid I have to leave good company, as I'm supposed to meet with a new employee soon. It was very nice meeting you," she added, standing up to get ready to leave.

"You may call me Chad," he answered, smiling before letting it fall as she stood up saying she had to go. "Oh. Oh, uh, okay. I will leave." He got up from his seat. "You can finish the food. It was...nice to meet you, Mademoiselle," he nodded, smiling gently.

"Thanks, ...Chad," she responded, hesitating just a little before saying his name. It felt sort of unusual to refer to employees by their first names, but after a while of casual chat with someone, Lexi felt strange saying "Mister" or "Miss." She gave him an apologetic look when he announced he'd leave. Hearing his words, she was afraid she'd been sort of rude in dismissing him.

"Thanks for lunch," she added, making her way to the door. She paused for a second, thinking she may want to apologize for the early dismissal, but changed her mind since she figured Chad understood. "Bye..."

After having spent some time with the fishies in the tank outside, Leo thought it was time to get his work done, and walked over to the Ministers offices.
He hadn't actually been here before, but if this was anything like the offices in the Mexican Art Academy, he needed to talk to someone else before getting near the Big Boss.

So, walking up to the door belonging to the Undersecretary, Leo raised a fist and knocked rapidly five times, making it sound like the beginning of the famous game over tune.


Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, starting to whistle and look around the spacious place, he waited.

With her freshly poured cup of coffee in hand, Allie headed back down the first floor corridor and towards her office. Just as she came click-clacking up to the door, she saw a man...oh, that was the new Magical Education head...waiting to be called in. "Hi there," she said, stopping to take a sip of her coffee. She reached down and opened the door to her office and made her way inside. "Come on in, Mr. de la Buena." Allie had been meaning to get around to visiting this man anyway. He was new to the Ministry...and to the department head team, after all. That Education Fair had kept her pretty busy, though.

"I don't think we've been introduced yet. I'm Alexandra Carlton, but you can call me Allie." She sat her coffee down on her desktop and extended her hand for a shake. "Are you here to see the Minister, or...is there something else I can help you with?" Maybe he was just hear for a chat, though. Allie wasn't going to hold her breath on that one, though. Most everyone who came through here had business with the Minister. It usually made for a pretty uneventful day for Allie.

Erik walked up to the level one humming to himself. Well today was going much better than last night had that's for sure. Walking over toward Allie's office he straightened his jacket and knocked on the door. Hope she remembered...that'd be embarrassing.

From her place inside the Minister's office, Allie heard a light knocking from outside her own office door. "Come in, please!" she called out. Wow, level one was sort of...dare she say...busy today. She'd been working here for nearly six months now and very rarely had she received visitors---for herself or for the Minister. Now, all of the sudden, there were two visitors at once, a record you might say. She glanced between Reagan and her closed door as she waited to see who this newest arrival was.

Erik smiled as he heard Allie's voice and turned the door knob. Stepping in with his grin he looked at Allie and bowed slightly with a smirk, "Yer dinner date is here." He looked back up and stuck his hands in his pocket as he saw he wasn't the only one. "Oh...um..." hmm. Bad timing it seemed though it was noon just like he said. "I could come back if ye want."

Dum dee dum...
Once more, Leo had begun to stare at the wall, his head tilted to the side, when suddenly he heard some clickyty-clacks getting closer. Oh! "Bu- Good day!" Spanish slip there, but he recovered smoothly. Hehe. He was just about to introduce himself when she then invited him inside. "Oh, thankyou very much, Miss..." Nope, they had indeed not been introduced yet. "Very nice to meet you, Miss Allie." Hehe. He walked up to her and and shook her hand, "Please, feel free to call me Leo." Smiling, Leo listened to her query. "Oh, yes, I am. See, I saw this WONDERFUL piece of wall, and thought it would be great to...make it more alive." Grin.

Right then, another knock was heard and another man stepped inside. Ah yes, Miss Carlton was a busy woman. "Hello." Leo smiled at the man, giving him a polite nod. Oh, and it seemed the man wanted to speak to the woman...about sooomething. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. "Oh, please don't let me stop you. I'm off to see the Ministress." Awesome word. He turned to Allie, sorry that he wasn't going to be able to stay and chat with her. But, another day, ofcourse. "Is Miss Taylor in? Perhaps I should come back? IF...she's not too busy, ofcourse." He had only assumed that he would be able to discuss something with her.

Oh..., wow. So there actually were people who came to level one just to see Allie. She was starting to believe that everyone would just always come here to see the Minister instead. "Oh, hey, Erik," she greeted with a smile. She shook her head when he mentioned possibly coming back at a later time. "It's alright. I'm just finishing up, but...can you wait here just a bit? I need to get a few things settled with Minister Taylor first." She motioned towards a few chairs in her office.

Although she couldn't be positive, Allie sort of caught on to the fact that Leo was just about to say the Spanish version of good day. Or, that's what it sounded like, at least. She didn't know much Spanish, but Lexi, her twin sister, had taken a course or two at university, so Allie had picked up a few phrases here and there.

She also caught on to the fact that the man didn't seem to know her last name, which was fine because Allie really didn't want to be called Miss Carlton. She'd at least introduce herself by her full name, though. "It's Alexandra Carlton, but you can just call me Allie. Everyone does," she said with a smile. "It's good to meet you, Leo."

Again, she shook her head when Leo asked if he should leave. "No, no, everyone's welcome to stay. You can head right through there," she said, pointing to an open door, "to see Miss Taylor."

Erik looked at the man standing there and then back at Allie with a smile as she spoke to him. "Sure thing, take yer time." Finding the chairs he pulled one over to her desk and sat down in front of her, looking at the man he smiled and held out his hand. "Hit here. I'm Erik. Nice ta meet ye." Well at least he was there for the minister and not on a social call.

"Do ye have a preference of where ye want to eat Allie?" He asked with a smile as he sat across from her. "I don't know if ye need to get back right after or if we can go somewhere outside the ministry. If ye have some time I'd like to go somewhere." Again he knew she was a busy woman and didn't want to just guess about what she wanted.

As soon as Allie directed Leo to the Minister's office, she glanced toward Reagan to see if there was anything else the woman needed to tell her before Allie left. Reagan hadn't said anything to her in a while...and she was now pretty busy with Leo's visit...so Allie guessed it was alright to take a lunch break.

"Minister Taylor," she said, poking her head into the woman's office. "I've taken notes of the things you mentioned. The Education department head is here for a visit, as well. I've sent him back." She turned back to Erik and held up her index finger, silently telling him she'd be about one more minute. She waited about a second or two longer, smiled politely at the minister, then turned from the office.

"Mmkay, Erik. I'm ready. Umm...um, um, um...how about that little restaurant across the street? I haven't been there yet," she suggested. "Did you have any suggestions?"

Allie. "Very nice to meet you then, Allie." He gave her a curteous nod and straightened up, glancing back at the other man. Oh, and more introductions! "Good to meet you too, Erik! I'm Leo..." and then just to fill in the blanks, "I'm new." Tehe!

Ooooh.... Dinner was it?
Leo, smiled happily, now REALLY knowing why this other fellow was here. Ah, love. It was SUCH a beatutiful thing. Being overly expressful at times, he put a hand to his heart, looking all 'Awwww'.
Erik was taking miss Allie out for lunch. WONDERFUL!


But now Miss Allie had gestured toward his next destination, and he couldn't NOT go there. Because...he had to and he didn't want to keep the two lovely people from getting some grub into their stomachs. "Thankyou very much, Allie. It was lovely to finally meet you, and you too Erik." Curteous nod. And then he made his way towards his boss' door.

Erik sat back in the chair as he watched Allie work and a smirk formed on his face. The woman really was intriguing and sure fire and.... He'd asked her out because he found her cute but now...he was interested in her. She was funny and smart and...oh god he was starting to actually like her. He shifted in his seat slightly as he realized Leo was watching him. There was nothing to see here, nope. Maybe he was just jealous that he was going out with Allie. She was quite the looker. He found his eyes wandering over to her again as she spoke through the door to what he only assumed was the minister herself.

As she came back he stood up and nodded to Leo, "Nice ta meet ye too." His attention went to Allie and he smiled, "Ye look pretty." Wait she asked him a question... Oh right food. "Actually that was mah suggestion anyway." Holding out his arm to her he smiled, "Shall we?"

Allie glanced over just in time to see Leo standing there, smiling at Erik, with his hand over his heart. Had she missed something, hmm? She eyed both men, giving them a What in Merlin's name? look, but otherwise said nothing. Men could be really, really confusing at times...and this time was one of them.

"Mmhmm, you're welcome, Leo," Allie said with a smile. She waited while the man headed into the Minister's office. When she heard the muffled sounds of his conversation with Reagan, Allie turned back to Erik. "Oh, well...great minds think alike, I guess. The restaurant it is!" she said. What was the name of that restaurant anyway, hmm? Allie had always just heard it called 'the restaurant'.

A series of soft knocks pattered at the door frame to Undersecretary Carlton's office. Was it true? Was she truly back? Both Allie and Minister Taylor?

Allie had just left the Minister's office and began jotting down a few of her mental notes, when she heard the sound of knocking, a visitor, just outside her office door. "Come in, please!" she softly called out, just loud enough to be heard. She quickly jotted down a few key notes from her conversation with the Minister while she waited on her visitor to come inside.

Hmm...Leaky Cauldron...fancy luncheon...five courses...

Claudian twisted the doorknob to Allie's office and pushed open the door (probably a bit prematurely). Aaaand, St. Bernard in a beef jerky shop!

"You're back!!!!" He said as he came right for the undersecretary and lifted her into a giantic, feet lifting bear-hug.

Allie had just glanced up to see who her visitor was, when she was suddenly lifted right off the ground and a good foot into the air. In her shock, she tossed her quill across the room, and it hit one of the plants by the windowsill.

"Claudian!" she said with a giggle, reaching down to hug her new friend and co-worker in return. "I'm baaaack!" She threw her hands into the air in a tada-type motion. "Oh, and you're just the person I need to see. The Minister needs us to take care of something..." She reached over and grabbed a piece of parchment with her notes on what the Minister needed them to take care. "These are notes about a little get together for the employees who reached the last level of the Job Fair Challenge," she said, passing him the parchment.

It had been a while. It was time to visit his new friend!

"CARRRRRLEYYY," he called, knocking on her door and then falling silent. He didn't want to be rude, though he was little late.

Hmm? Carley? There could only be one person outside her office door---Chad Stryker. Either that, or he'd suddenly blabbed that dreadful nickname to anyone and everyone walking through the Ministry. She opened the door and just eyed the man on the other side with a thoughtful expression. "Carley? Hmm, I don't see a Carley in here," she joked, "...but there's an Allie here." She laughed lightheartedly then opened the door further to let Chad in. "Come on in, Chad!"

Chad grinned as CARLEY opened the door. "Allie," he questioned, looking positively puzzled. "I do not know this Allie that you speak up, Carley." He chuckled and walked into her office. "And, how are you, Mademoiselle?"

Hearing the puzzling tone to Chad's voice, Allie glanced over her shoulder and playfully rolled her eyes. "Well, allow me to introduce this Allie that I speak of," she said. She extended her hand, looked Chad right in the eye, and said, "Mr. Stryker, it's nice to meet you. I'm Alexandra Carlton, but you can call me Allie. Everyone does." She dropped her hand before he could shake it, though. She was only kidding and in the end, didn't really mind Chad calling her Carley. Just as long as he called her Carley and not the entire Ministry of Magic. On that note, she glanced at Claudian out of the corner of her eye.

Chad grinned and extended his hand to shake hers, only to playfully pout when it dropped before he'd even reached it. "Well, might I say that is a pleasure to meet you, Carley. Oops. There I go again," he laughed, slipping his hands into his pockets.