I hate setups. Blind dates are the worst. Tom and his wife Yumi had set me up with a couple of her friends and classmates from Japan if they moved or came to San Francisco but none of them were even remotely my type- they all wanted to do whatever I wanted, had no opinions of their own, and giggled ceaselessly. I let my friends know that they really shouldnât bother because the women just werenât right for me and one night when I was over at their place for a barbeque I told Yumi that I liked women who didnât look to men for answers or definition. She seemed to understand but a week later she was on the phone to me saying how her good friend Noriko was going to be in town and how much Iâd like her- she was educated in England, grew up in Tokyo, was moving to SF from London and was a very successful corporate trainer. I protested a bit, but Yumi insisted, saying that this woman was different. The way she said different struck me, though I wasnât sure whether it was because of Yumiâs accent or a special emphasis on the word. So I agreed, thinking that if it was lame I would be able cut out after a drink or two.
I was supposed to have been at Norikoâs hotel lobby at seven, but didnât get there until seven fifty, primarily because I just didnât care that much and I was busy getting ready for the weekend making plans for after this silly date. She wasnât in the lobby waiting for me so I sat down, thinking sheâd just stepped away for a few moments. A bellhop approached me after five minutes and asked me if I was Mr. Neil. Stumped for a moment, I said yes, in fact I was Neil, but not Mr. Neil. The bellhop slipped me a note, saying that a beautiful Asian woman had left it for me almost an hour before. Opening the note, I read, âSuite 3002â. No name. I got up and headed for the elevator.
The 30th floor of the hotel was really quiet- there were only three or four doors in the hallway and I knocked on 3002. âComeâ, a clipped, clear, strong voice came through the door. I opened the door and stepped in. The room was huge, impeccably furnished, and very softly lit. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness I looked around the sitting area and saw Noriko sitting at a desk in the far corner, typing furiously on a laptop. She was beautiful- she had a short power bob haircut, narrow face with a distinguished nose, and was wearing a black designer suit and black-rimmed reading glasses. âHelloâ, I started, âIâŠâ âWaitâ, her voice cut me off. She kept working and I stood there, uncertain as to what to do. I cleared my throat and she looked up, glared at me and went back to her computer. Starting to feel a little guilty I had kept this clearly busy woman waiting, I tried to apologize, âSorry that Iâm late, IâŠâ Before the excuse was out of my mouth, she held her hand up, cutting me off. Back to the laptop. I wasnât sure what to do- I was a little miffed that she didnât ask me to sit down or even listen to my apology. So I stood there for a few minutes looking around the room, feeling her anger toward me and occasionally stealing a glance at her, hoping somehow to catch her eye and get on her good side. I automatically wanted to please her and was feeling a bit like a truant schoolboy waiting for the headmistress to punish him. Little did I know how prophetic these thoughts were.
She shut down her computer after a few more minutes, took off her glasses and swiveled her chair to look at me. I tried not to look down but I am drawn to womenâs legs, particularly when they wear black pantyhose and impossibly short skirts. She crossed her legs casually and I saw a flash of white thigh. A garterbelt with stockings, I thought, ohmygod, feeling little Neil stand up to get noticed. She cut into my brief erotic reverie, âYou were late. Almost one hour lateâ, her English accent clipping the words tersely. I stepped forward, starting to explain, a little discombobulated by her sheer presence, authority and beauty. âMy time is valuableâ, she continued sharply, staring hard at me, âAnd I am unaccustomed to this degree of insolence.â I didnât say a thing, feeling worse and worse that I didnât at least make an effort to meet her on time.
She stood up, smoothed her little black miniskirt downwards, brushed her hair back with her glossy nails, put a hand a her hip and dipped her head questioningly. The effect was devastatingly sexy. She looked right into me and purred, âNow. Where you late because of an act of god or some horrific family disaster?â I shook my head no, unable to lie to this woman. Her weight shifted to the other leg and asked, âYou were late because you didnât think about me, did you?â I nodded slowly, in rapture of this gorgeous woman. âNow, is that acceptable?â Her eyebrow shifted upwards, indicating my answer. I didnât respond but shook my head. âWhat?â Her voice raised a few decibels. âNoâ, I replied. âGoodâ, her voice back down to normal levels, drawing me in with her approval. âNow, I am not interested in your apologies. I want to know how you will compensate me for your tardinessâ. My eyebrows knitted in confusion, âWell, I was going to take you out for dinnerâŠâ Her tinkling laughter stopped my response, âOf course you were. Come here.â I walked over until I was in front of her, her eyes the same height as mine. She reached out, stroked my face with the backs of her fingers, looking softly into my eyes, âbut I want something elseâ her voice soft, almost girlish.