Darren's revenge may have been petty but it hit the mark and showed great ingenuity.
Maybe I'll suggest him for a promotion after all. We can use his talents for good rather than evil.
Through the small jokes she told herself, the situation hung heavily on Sasha. Her meagre attempt to connect with a man had placed her in a situation where she's allowed herself to be exposed, and her brain couldn't help coming up with revenge fantasies; Idle daydreams to get back at everyone in the office who looked at her with mockery or sympathy in their eyes. She couldn't waste this time off. Somehow she'd have to come up with something that gave her back her dignity and could even regain her some prestige in the eyes of her co workers.
She finished off her large coffee, and stood to toss it into a nearby bin. The park had thinned out a little more now and the late lunchers made their way back to work and left the leafy retreat for mothers, studiers and the riff raff with no other place to go. She wandered back to her bench to find the man who shared it with her, staring openly at her.
Ignoring it, and assuming he'd taken a glance the wrong way, Sasha took her place again at her end of the bench, and casually wondered if she should consider buying a book at the local bookshop and having a couple more hours in the park. She could pick up a wonderful piece of chick lit and have an easy afternoon immersed in the world of another woman's fun, problems and escapades. At least it would put an end to the chat in her head circling like a shark trying to drag her down.
However the man's continual, open unapologetic stare pierced her thoughts. Confused, Sasha self-consciously ran a hand softly over her mouth to ensure no coffee foam, or smudged lipstick added further to her humiliating day.
Satisfied her fly wasn't down, nor her breast hanging out, she turned to him in an effort to indicate she was aware of his stares.
He was a handsome man, but one of those you knew instantly was gay. Clipped immaculate hair and a close sculptured beard told Sasha this was a man who cared more about his appearance than anything else. His clothes were designer. Sasha didn't know the couture world well enough to know which name he wore, but she recognised the excellent cut and elegant design of label clothing immediately. From the beige and pinot coloured stripe of his tie to the sandy coloured chinos he wore, the man screamed style. His cool light blue eyes never left Sasha for a minute as he travelled over her frame, from the hair on her head to the painted red toenails sticking out the top of her sandal.
"Geez buddy. Get yourself a life. I don't know what your problem is but didn't your mother teach you it is rude to stare." Sasha had endured enough humiliation for one day.
As if he hadn't heard her, the man kept looking her up and down, with a spark of something she couldn't quite make out in his eye. In fact, If Sasha didn't know better, she'd swear he was excited. She looked around the park to see if he looked elsewhere or if his gaze was genuinely directed at her. No one else seemed to notice him and she couldn't see anything else that would grab his attention. Turning back, she found that he's used the moment she looked away to edge closer to her on the bench they shared. Sasha leaned over so that he couldn't avoid her and waved into his face.
"Excuse me. I do see you there. Are you staring at me? Because if you're not buddy, your sure are looking like you are."
This time the man straighten up and focused on Sasha as if she were a person and not a new puppy he seemed to think would be perfect for his kids. He stood up and moved in front of Sasha and held his hand out.
"Good afternoon. My name is Gregor Sabatini."
Sasha smiled at the formality, considering he'd just been staring her out of the park. But she held out her hand just the same and shook his.
"Sasha Smith. And Can I say Mr. you have a bit of a strange style there. You may want to re think staring chicks down on park benches. It doesn't do much for your technique if you know what I mean."
Gregor sat beside her, closer this time. Despite Sasha's jokes and his formal introduction he still stared at Sasha. Looking down at her thighs, he suddenly said.
"Are you planning on losing any weight?"
Anger plunged its way into Sasha's belly. So this was it. He was a creep who liked to pick on full figured women and give them lip. And she thought, for just a second there, this was going to be a flattering moment.
"Mr, if you think you can just give me some lecture..."
"Because if you are you should get rid of that notion immediately; you're the perfect size – I've rarely seen a woman with a better body – and there is a huge future available if you are willing to stay the size you are."
Although having been cut off, it was Sasha who sat with the dumbfounded look on her face. This was a conversation she didn't expect. Self protection still reared it's not so ugly head.
It was hard to believe after all that this guy actually meant what he was saying despite the earnest look on his face. But nobody, outside of Penny and Gilbert had ever told her she had a good body. The best she'd hoped for was that it would be tolerated. Sasha still found it hard to believe this man meant what he was saying. He had to be pulling her leg in some way. Stunned, she remained silent as Greg continued.
"I mean really Ms Smith, you are incredibly beautiful. Do you mind?"
He held her hand very gently, in that cool limp way gay men can sometimes, and softly encouraged her to her feet. She stood, looking at him in amazement. Sasha couldn't believe it but he really seemed genuine. She wondered if there was something wrong with him; if perhaps he were a little touched in the head.
As she stood, he held her hand and encouraged her to do a small turn. "Perfect, perfect" he kept muttering under his breath as he watched and encouraged her to turn in front of him.
"Um mister," Sasha finally found her voice. "I think you may be having a lend of me or something. I don't believe you, and I am scared now that this is a weird joke. I'd really like to be left alone."
Greg sat on the bench again, and said "No. Not anymore Ms Smith. You'll never be left alone again." He took out a pen and a business card and was busy scrawling on the card.
Sasha sat on the bench next to him. If it wasn't for the earnest look in his eye and perfection with which he was dressed, she would have run a mile fifteen minutes ago.
Soon he handed Sasha a business card. "I told you my name is Gregor Sabatini." I work for Jay Miles. Here is my business card." He handed Sasha his card, then continued.
"Ms Smith, I'd really like you to come to that address for a meeting tomorrow at nine am. I hope and expect that you will be able to get out of work, if you have a job, because this is terribly important. I need you there to meet Jay and to talk with both of us about the possibility of you doing some modelling for us."
Sasha looked up startled immediately.
"Modelling? Me. Are you sure Mr .." she glanced back at the card again "... Sabatini. I still think this is some kind of joke."
Gregor stood and put his pen back in his immaculate pocket.
"I assure you Ms Smith, this is no joke, and please believe me when I say to you that you will be desperately needed and most appreciated when Jay meets you. You have a chance to be a part of something very exciting in the history of fashion, and to work with some of the greatest minds in the industry today."
Sasha stared at the card, and then up at Gregor, and then back at the card again.
"I don't understand" She said looking at the card. It seemed so genuine.
"Ms Smith. Can't you see? You've just been discovered."
