We spent the next hour or so talking. Katherine explained her plans for the company she had recently taken over from her father, who wanted to retire. She talked about how she thought I would fit in at McCann Technologies.
I listened to her carefully. Common courtesy required that.
I watched her while we talked. Common sense required that.
She was comfortable with herself, poised and elegant. No flirtatious gestures, no reaching across the table to touch my hand while emphasizing her points. Just a cogent explanation of what she thought and what she wanted and why she thought I would be a good fit for it. And that occasional small smile. Maybe I should take the job just to be able to see her do that once in a while.
It was an interesting offer but I was right - it was a waste of her time. My libido was interested though, so it wasn't a waste of mine.
"You're not persuaded," she said finally, watching me closely.
"You make a good case," I said, "but I'm not going to jump into another job. I'm comfortable with what I'm doing. At least for now."
"Will you think about it?"
"Of course. But I don't think I'll change my mind."
"Since you didn't say no, I'm going to keep trying."
"Maybe that's what I had in mind" I teased.
"Ummm, maybe," she responded, "but I don't think so. I do think you're the best fit for what I want to do with the company. I've got some time, so if there's a chance you'll change your mind, I'm going to try."
I looked at my watch and realized I'd lost track of time, mesmerized by this gorgeous woman.
"I'm sorry," I said. "I've got to run off."
"I know," she replied. "That's how I knew where to find you today. When you didn't call back, I googled you to see if I could find another way to meet you. You keep a pretty low profile, but I saw the article about you volunteering to teach those classes. It's a small world. I'm on the advisory board, so I called Chet and he told me about this place. Voila."
"I guess I better watch out. If you're that determined I may not stand a chance," I said, taking some bills out of my pocket and laying them on a table for Sarah's tip.
"I hope," she said, giving me another of those irresistible smiles. "Come on. I'll walk out with you."
I waved to Sarah as we left so she'd know we were leaving. I pay my tab in advance every 2 weeks, and make up any difference the next time.
"If I call, will you call me back?" Katherine asked as I held her car door for her.
"Yes. Which is the best number to call?" I asked.
"My cell." She gave me the number.
"Call me on my cell," I said, giving her that number. "If I don't answer, I promise I'll call back. But you will still be wasting your time."
"Maybe," she said. "I'm still going to try."
* * *
She did try. At first she called every two weeks. Then every week. We'd have lunch. She'd make her pitch, I would turn her down, then we would move on to some incredibly interesting conversations. It became something of a game for me to try to guess what slant she was going to put on her next pitch.
In the meantime I was hopelessly smitten. Not that I gave her any clue. I think. There was always the outside chance that she'd persuade me and I would end up working for her. Once burned, twice shy. I wasn't interested in putting myself in that position again.
Then, of course, there was the real reason. As friendly as Katherine was, bordering on affectionate, she was engaged and her goal was to get me to work for her company. We rarely ventured, and never deeply, into personal discussions when we met for lunch. I knew she was 26, her fiance's name was Mark, she had one master's degree, was most of the way through a 2nd, was the head of a respected, growing, cutting edge technology company, so if not rich at least very well off, and she would someday inherit ½ of her father's shares in the company. I've already mentioned that she's gorgeous.
I'm not short on self-confidence, but even if she hadn't been engaged it would not have occurred to me that I might have a chance with her. I mean that literally. It didn't occur to me. Which was a relief. Since I wasn't worried about the impression I was making, I was free to enjoy our time together without self-imposed pressure.
One afternoon, as we were leaving the restaurant, Katherine invited me to a small dinner party at her place.
"If you're not already committed for Friday, I'd like you to meet some of the other senior staff, but not for business. It's going to be my dad, my brother, his fiancee, Chandra Williams, she's a team leader from quality control, and Myra Banks, our COO. I can't guarantee no shop talk, but no recruiting speeches. I promise."
Genetics, and years of playing poker, kept my face from showing the mixed emotions I felt. Maybe. But my stomach did a major league flip-flop. A chance to spend the evening with Katherine. At her place. Even if the other movers and shakers from her company were going to be there. At Katherine's. I didn't even try to pretend I wouldn't be able to make it.
"I'd like that," I said.
"Friday, then. Around 7:30?" She pulled out a business card and wrote her address on the back.
* * *
Dinner was as interesting as I expected. Good company, good food, and good conversation. Jack McCann, Katherine and Jim's father, and still chairman of the board, was a widower and a lot lower key than I expected from a guy who built a multi-million dollar company from scratch.
Myra was maybe 5 years younger than Jack's 53 years, and was obviously more than just the COO. Pretty, in an understated way, she had a quick wit, with a penchant for intentionally terrible puns. Funny, but terrible.
Jim, Katherine's brother, was 4 years younger than she, a self-taught programmer, starting when he was 8. He had just graduated with a bachelor's in electrical engineering and was working full time at the company until he would have to cut back in August to start the master's program. Chandra, Jim's fiancee, was more than able to hold her own in the group, and had a keen eye for what consumers need. Probably why she was in quality control.
Jim was telling a story about how Katherine got her cat, which was sitting in Jim's lap purring as he stroked it. "Becca found Monster on the way home from school one day. About 12 years ago?" he looked at Katherine. She smiled her tiny smile and nodded.
"She was probably feral from the day she was born. When Becca found her, she was the scraggliest kitten you've ever seen," Jim said, "but Becca insisted we take her to the vet to see if he could fix her up. I think it cost dad about $1,000, but the vet saved her. Then she tore up the furniture and piddled everywhere. It took maybe 3 months to house-train her but Becca wouldn't give up. Eventually she won and Monster turned into this furry love sponge."
He looked at his sister affectionately. "She's cute, but she's determined. Becca. Not the cat."
I crooked an eyebrow at Katherine. Answering my unspoken question, she said, "My name's Katherine Rebecca. I use Katherine professionally, but I was Rebecca growing up. Or Becky. When Jim first started talking it came out 'Becca.' It still does."
* * *
It was my turn to pick the place for lunch. I picked a small, quiet restaurant I like that is off the beaten track. I was a few minutes early so I sat at the bar while I waited for Katherine. Lost in thought I didn't notice Jan come in until she slid into the seat next to mine and leaned over to kiss my cheek. Jan's my oldest friend. She's not old, our friendship is. We've been friends since we were 8 years old.
"Hi, stranger," she teased. "I haven't seen you in days and days. What're you doing here?"
"Business lunch," I said. "I'm meeting Katherine."
"Again?" she asked. We had discussed my frequent lunches with Katherine. Several times. "This is getting serious. You going to take the job?"
"No," I said, "but I like her. I like spending time with her."
