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Love In The 21st Century #1: Touching Base
"I swear to God," said Mike into John's ear, "she
is definitely checking you out."
John glanced across the wine bar to where the smart, auburn haired woman
was perched on a stool amongst her power-dressed girlfriends. She briefly turned from her conversation and looked John straight
in the eye; there was a faint trace of a smile on her lips before she returned to her friends' discussion.
Nichevo's
Wine Bar was a self-consciously metropolitan meeting place for self-consciously metropolitan executives located in the heart
of the city's business district. The decor was all post-modern minimalism with chrome finish; tall circular tables surrounded
with elegant, remarkably uncomfortable stools, white walls covered with inoffensive artworks and a few fashionably peculiarly
shaped armchairs. Drinks were "exclusively priced".
Mike and John, two high earning stock analylists,
would often go to Nichevo's after work to unwind with a few expensive and tasteless bottles of beer and check out the executive
skirt.
"Go on," said Mike. "Go and ask her out."
John, draining the last mouthful
from his bottle as Mike playfully nudged him towards the auburn haired woman, groped for his leather portfolio case. He swung
it up onto a nearby stool, flicked the latches and the case sprung open. He rifled through the papers until he found the documents
he sought. Closing the case decisively he turned to Mike and said, "Wish me luck."
The auburn haired
woman looked up to see John walk towards her. With a knowing giggle to her friends she smiled at John and said, "Hello."
"Good evening ladies," he said to her friends and then, addressing her directly, "My name is John."
"Helen," said the auburn haired woman, extending a hand towards John, which he duly shook.
"I was just wondering whether you would care to join me for dinner," said John.
"I would
certainly be interested," said Helen with a mildly bashful smile. "Do you have the appropriate forms?"
"Right here," said John, handing over the documents he had pulled from his case. Helen took the papers and,
putting on a pair of elegant wire frame spectacles, began to scan through them.
"Fairly standard,"
she said.
"I like to keep these things simple," said John with a casual shrug, "otherwise you
can lose the spontaneity."
"Okay," said Helen, "I'll get my secretary to fax you these tomorrow."
"Okay."
"And here," said Helen searching through her own briefcase, "are
yours."
John took the document from Helen's hand and read through them. "Financial details,"
he read out loud, "Salary assets psychological profile Three references from previous sexual partners?"
Helen shrugged. "I like to be sure that a man can perform."
"Fair enough," said John
tucking the forms under his arm. "I'll get the legal department to give these the once over and then get them back to
you."
"Great," said Helen. "Pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure
was all mine," said John shaking Helen's hand in farewell. He slowly backed away as Helen smiled and gave him a little
wave.
With her documents held firmly under his arm he turned back towards Mike who waited expectantly at the
bar.
"Well?" asked Mike as he handed John a fresh bottle of beer.
John clenched his
fist victoriously and said, "Result."
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