Monique looked around the conference table. The five men were all dressed in dark suits. The typical amalgamation of financial industry types that imagined themselves masters of the universe. Monique considered a couple of them attractive; though not near as hot as Tyler. The two women were wearing gray, knee length skirts and white blouses. The older, heavy set woman, Susan Matthews, was the firm's Chief Counsel. Monique was not familiar with the other woman but she was struck at how put together she was. She was beautiful in a professional sort of way. Her shoulder length, auburn hair was pulled back tight in a ponytail. Monique guessed her to be in her early thirties. She had striking, green eyes that shone behind fashionable rectangular eyeglasses with black frames.
"As you know Ms. Milan, most of our fund's investors are outside the U.S." Eric Knapp, the Chief Operating Officer said "they require a dynamic offshore infrastructure."
"Well Eric, our firm has the most robust offshore platform in Cayman and perhaps any offshore jurisdiction." Monique replied with a familiarity to match his formality. "Sanctuary Trust Company is not just a name plate at the post office. We have been providing top quality services to private equity firms and hedge funds for nearly fifty years."
"We are quite familiar with Sanctuary's history Ms. Milan." Shot the younger woman with auburn hair. "It is the regulatory environment in Cayman and the island's newly inked agreement with the U.S. regulators that have us concerned."
"I'm sorry, I didn't catch you name." Monique said with a polite hint of annoyance.
"Katherine Duco, Deputy Counsel." She responded curtly.
"Well Katherine, the regulatory environment in Cayman is not adversarial as it is in the States" Monique started "our regulatory commission works in close partnership with the industry to assure that Cayman remains THE premier destination for offshore funds and accounts.
Was that a wink? Did she just wink at me?
Monique asked herself.
Did anyone else see that?
She wondered as she felt a jolt of nervousness and blushed ever so slightly.
The rest of the meeting was uneventful. No big changes would be forthcoming and Monique promised to keep them apprised of any changes that may affect the status quo. The meeting adjourned and Monique gathered her notes, put them in her briefcase, and exited the conference room. Katherine approached her as she came into the hall.
"Monique, thank you for making the trip to Chicago." She said. "I hope I wasn't too rough on you in there."
"Not at all" Monique replied "I like to be challenged."
"I bet you do." Katherine said with the hint of a smile.
"It is a pleasure to meet you." Monique said awkwardly businesslike.
"The pleasure was all mine" she replied "and please, call me Kat, all of my close associates do."
"Well Kat, I do hope that we will become close associates." She said.
"I'm sure we will" Kat said "but first I may have a few follow-up questions if you happen to be in the mood for additional challenges."
Is she flirting with me?
Monique thought to herself.
"As I said, I enjoy a challenge. I'd be happy to answer any additional questions you might have." Monique said.
"Great. I'm in meetings the rest of the day. Perhaps we could meet over drinks?" She asked.
"Uh, sure, that would be fine." Monique said with a slight hesitation. She was seeing Tyler tonight and she knew he would get a kick out this when she told him.
"Excellent! I will meet you in the bar at your hotel at 8:00pm sharp." Kat said with a sly smile. Then she turned and walked away.
She did it again!
Monique said to her inner self.
She winked at me. She is coming on to me.
Monique walked to the elevator bank while playing the conversation over in her head. She was sure that Kat had been coming on to her.
What possible additional questions could she have?
She asked herself.
And how presumptuous of her to suggest we meet at MY hotel and at 8:00 at night! Tyler is going to die when I tell him.
She exited the office building, hailed a cab, and gave the driver the name of the hotel. In just over twenty minutes she was walking through the hotel lobby making her way to the elevator. When it reached her floor she exited, walked down the hall to her door, slid the key card in the door, opened, and entered. Tyler was at the desk in the back of the room typing something on his laptop. He looked up when she walked in noticing the funny look on her face.
"Hard day at the office?" He asked.
"I just had the strangest thing happen to me." She said.
"Tell me about it." He said.
"I think one of my clients hit on me." She stated.
"Well I'm sure it's not the first time Monique" Tyler said "you are a beautiful woman and men are dogs. I should know."
"Yeah, but that's the thing. It was a woman." Monique said.
"Now THAT's interesting!" He said with surprise in his voice "Okay, you've got my undivided attention. Details please."
Monique relayed the details of the encounter including the perceived winks and the arrangement of the date.
Was it a date?
She asked herself.
Certainly it wasn't a "date", was it?
Tyler listened attentively. When she finished he put his finger and thumb to his goatee and nodded contemplatively.
"So what do you think?" She asked him.
"I don't know. Without being there it's hard to say. But sometimes you gotta trust your gut." Tyler said. "What are you going to do?"
"I'm not sure what to do. I've never been with a woman." Monique said.
"Have you ever fantasized about it?" He asked.
"Sure, I think most women have that fantasy." She replied.
"And did you find her attractive?" He asked.
"Yes actually, I did find her very attractive." Monique said in response.
"Well okay then. I have an idea." Tyler said "call room service and order us up a dozen oysters and a couple bottles of champagne. We will have a little happy hour prior to your 'date'."
Monique smiled, walked over to Tyler, put her arms around his waist, closed her eyes, and leaned in for a kiss. His lips covered hers and she felt the stress of the day and the anxiousness of her conversation slip away.
"I knew I could count on you to take control" she said "Gawd, I love that."
He caressed her ass as she walked by him to the phone. As she picked it up and began to dial, he walked towards the bathroom and started stripping off his casual clothes. He would plan the details in the shower. He did his best thinking in the shower. It relaxed him.
By the time that Tyler had finished his shower and shave, room service had delivered a dozen Malpeque oysters laying on a bed of ice and two bottles of Veuve Clicquot. Monique had poured them each a glass. Tyler stood before her in nothing but a white, terry cloth bath towel. She admired his body as she reached out and handed him a glass of bubbles.
"To expanding one's horizons." Tyler said as they clinked glasses.
"To you pushing my boundaries." Monique replied.
After sitting on the bed feeding each other oysters and sipping champagne Monique rose and went in to shower. Tyler stayed on the bed a moment longer to finish his drink before rising and walking over to his suitcase. He reached in and grabbed his pile of neckties. He counted out four, then added one more and put the others back in the bag. He then pulled out his dopp kit and reached in to bring out a small bottle of scented massage oil. Monique meanwhile finished her shower and was applying her makeup.
"I am ready for you." Tyler shouted in the direction of the bathroom.