“Right!” Amanda says. She looks a little flustered; is she having the same problem as me? “I work for my father’s company. Have you heard of Tech Square Inc.?”
I carefully study the pattern of the wood wall for a moment.
“Yes...I’ve heard of it,” I hedge.
“Well, my father finally gave me some bigger responsibilities; he wants me to head an alliance with a rival company.” She sighs. “He’s being difficult with it, but the other company is really accepting, and I can absolutely see an alliance between us working really well. I want this to succeed more than anything.”
That’s heartening to hear, if I’m honest. I feel a little bad getting Amanda’s opinions on the alliance when she doesn’t know how much stake I have in it, but it’s good to know that she’s putting her all into a possible cooperation, even, apparently, against what her father wants her to do.
“Sounds interesting,” I say.
“Yeah,” Amanda says, smiling. “I love business. The competitiveness, the politics and all the ups and downs… One day, I do want to take over Tech Square Inc., if my father will let me.” She pauses. “My work is my life, though. I need you to understand that before anything else.”
Startled, I glance at her. A serious look has settled over her face.
“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.
“My first loyalty is going to be to my work,” she explains. “If you want to go to a movie, but I have a project due, I’ll have to focus on that, instead.”
For a moment, I wonder why she’s telling me this, especially with that look of intense anticipation on her face. I don’t know what she’s waiting for.
“You just told me you’re really high up in your father’s company,” I say, hopelessly confused. “Of course your priorities should be to your work, just as my priorities sometimes will be to mine.”
I don’t understand the amazement that spreads across her face. I itch to ask, but the barista has appeared with our coffees, and I don’t know Amanda well enough to pry. So I just smile; I can figure that one out later.
“What do you do?” she asks.
“I…mostly work for myself,” I say. Not quite a lie; since I own the business, I am working for myself. “Managing it all can be quite difficult, sometimes, but I enjoy it. It keeps me busy.”
Amanda nods approvingly.
“That’s what I like about business,” she says. “There’s always something new or interesting to think about. Some new challenge to face.”
Her eyes are shining. Did I ever look like that when, as a teenager, I spoke about one day inheriting my father’s company? Somehow, I don’t think so; inheriting Energy Plus Co. was just a given, though, of course, I didn’t expect it to happen so soon. I didn’t take over because it interested me, but because it was expected of me. I’ve come to love owning my company and working so hard at it, but it didn’t start that way.
Yet it’s clear by Amanda’s expression and the way she talks that she genuinely loves what she does and is eagerly anticipating the increased responsibilities of a business owner in the far future.
I didn’t know much about Amanda before this moment. But as I sit here and watch her talk animatedly, I realize that I’ve made the right choice in wanting to get to know her better. Already I can tell that she’s a unique, amazing individual.
I can’t wait to explore more of her.
The coffee date was only intended to last for a few hours, at most. I had work that needed to be done by Monday, and Amanda had said that she needed to look over some paperwork before a meeting next week with my company. Neither of us had intended on staying very long.
Yet before we knew it, the sun started to drop and we were still sitting in our booth, chatting. I now knew about her life as an only child – an experience that I could share and commiserate with – about the divorce of her parents when she was young and why she became so interested in business.
In return, I shared my feelings about my parents’ deaths, admitted to sometimes feeling like a failure, and my secret archery hobby. When she pressed, I admitted that I had an archery set in my yard, and she somehow managed to wriggle an invitation to come and play one day.
As night fell, our drinks graduated from coffee to alcoholic beverages as the barista left, leaving only the bartender on duty. The small night crowd started filtering in, the music on the radio changed to more upbeat tunes and the lights dimmed.
And, all the while, I sat across from Amanda, in a little world that the two of us had made our own, leaning so close that our knees kept brushing against each other, sending little sparks across my skin. As I had more to drink, my eyes kept trailing down her long neck and eyeing the hint of cleavage through the gap at the top of her blouse. In response, she leaned in further, a mischievous look in her eyes.
I hadn’t come here today with the intention of having sex with Amanda again. But it was becoming harder and harder to resist the idea, especially when she seems just as keen.
It is ridiculous how attracted to this woman I am. I still barely know her. I’ve given her barely any details of my own life and she’s definitely holding things back, too, of course. We’ve only known each other for a few days and this is only the second time we’ve met.
Yet there’s some irresistible quality about her that draws me in and prevents me from trying to escape. I want to touch and taste and explore. I want to make her smile and I want to hear her groan. Now.
Finally, Amanda leans in. Her eyes are hooded.