She looked a bit blank. Cryogenics. Where did she hear that… Ah, she had read it in one of those medical textbooks a few months back. He saw her face dawning with realization and he was glad he didn’t have to explain that. His pet peeve were stupid people and he hoped she wasn’t entirely hopeless.
There was a moment of silence, and he seemed comfortable in it. She didn’t say anything; he might have been thinking of something important. Then he cleared his throat.
“So, I think this is an excellent time to ask for your number.”
Was the how he asked women for their numbers? Really? Just like that? “What for? I’m not connected to the bank.”
“Oh, I’m not after anything business related.” So she was playing hard to get? He almost smirked.
“You want coffee?” she grinned.
“If it’s made by you, I would prefer that. Has anyone told you that you have a lovely smile?”
She found her cheeks warming up and she was glad that the veranda was lit with bonfires, casting strange shadows on their faces, instead of light showing off her blushing.
“I’ve heard people tell me that. Must be ‘cause my skin is dark so my teeth glow,” she laughed.
“Don’t put yourself down. You do have a lovely smile. It reminds me of Julia Roberts in a way.”
She wanted to squirm in delight. She had been complimented about her smile before, but this was something different. He was different. Psshh, what was so different about him? He could have been any other customer on any ordinary day. But here was a guy, a handsome one, in a suit with a sexy accent, and the attention was solely on her. Of course she felt glee.
This was one night where she suddenly felt really beautiful. The heels must’ve done their work. The dress had done its trick. Those awkward hours of practicing makeup morphed her into someone worthy to be in the event.
“So, is that a yes for your number?” he nudged on.
She smiled at him coyly, wondering if this was really something serious. “You can have any girl’s number inside that party, yet you’re out here, talking to a barista.”
“I happen to find this barista fascinating.” His eyes were dark, like some smoldering secret was waiting to be let out.
He held out his phone for her to take. “You can put a fake one or you can put your real number in.”
She took the phone from his hand, their fingers touching and she felt a frisson of excitement steal through her. She was going way too ahead of herself. She didn’t want to look giddy. No guy wanted to date an easily-excited woman.
She slowly pressed the keyboard, punching her number in. She gave away her real number and hoped he wasn’t joking about this. She would feel like a complete idiot if he was just doing this for a joke. His jokes weren’t too obvious, she recalled earlier. He wasn’t so good at jokes.
She gave him his phone back. Only numbers were there, she didn’t put her name. Did he even remember it? “So what do your family and friends call you?” he asked. “Mika? Kaela? Mik? Sounds like a guy, Mik. I hope it’s not Mik.”
“People actually call me by my full name. Just Mikaela.”
“It does have a better ring to it.”
So he remembered her name. That was a good sign, wasn’t it? She felt herself smile, but she didn’t smile too widely, for fear she would look too eager again.
“So, I wondered,” Justin began.
“Mikaela! Mikaela Johnson!” someone called out.
They both looked sideways to see Lynne Young, standing beside a pillar, the sounds coming from the party had begun to get louder. Her hair was still perfectly coiffed and her lipstick had faded a little under the lights, but she was sober and in high spirits.
“There you are! I was looking everywhere for you,” she said, walking for their direction. “And here I thought you snagged a guy—Mr. Henderson?” she gasped. “Sir, good evening. How are you doing? I didn’t think you’d be here. Mr. Smith mentioned you earlier.”
“Well, here I am,” he said to her.
Mikaela saw Lynne’s smile as she walked closer.
“It’s best we get going,” Lynne told Mikaela, grabbing her hand and eyeing the enigmatic Mr. Justin Henderson. She had heard many stories about him as one of their most valued clients, from his playboy ways to his ruthlessness in business deals. She had seen him from afar twice, but up close, he was a powerful man, with keen eyes and a jawline that could cut through butter…
“I guess we have to go,” Mikaela said, trying to sound cheery. She didn’t want the night to end too soon.