She came into my life in a most obscure way. We started working together back in 1996 or 1997, I can't really remember when because that part of my life is all a blur now. She came into the office one day as a student assistant, one of those we hire while they are still in school. But she was different from most SA's in the sense that she was older. She was a graduate student at the nearby university, and she was nearly my age—27.
When she walked into the office, all eyes followed her. Well, all of the men's eyes followed her. She was medium height, I guessed her to be around five foot, six inches and I was within an inch. Great body, it was obvious that she worked out, at least lightly. Her pert breasts, hand-sized and perfect, strained against a silk chemise, and her toned legs were on display beneath her mid-thigh skirt. Her skin glowed with a slightly bronze tint, the kind you got from spending a good amount of time in the sun.
She was a transfer student from Argentina; she had arrived in the United States by way of Florida. She still had the Argentinean accent in her voice. She pronounced words in a sharp, quick manner—yet her voice still lilted musically when she spoke. I could have listened to her speak days on end and never tired of it.
After a while we got to know each other better. She was an architecture student, and a darned good one at that. I was invited to see her exhibitions, the whole staff was, and I thought her work fantastic. She had a wonderful eye for space and lines. Her buildings and models were always the class of the show.
Unfortunately, it was at one of these functions that I met her husband, Kevin. He was also an architect, though nowhere near the skill of Alexandra. He was a short, balding man; the kind that you wondered what he did to land a girl like Alexandra. Maybe he helped her get into the country or something like that, because I surely couldn't see in him what she must have in order to marry him.
To top it off, Kevin was unpleasant to be around. He was boorish, overbearing, and simply put, a jerk. He was the antithesis of Alex. Whereas she drew people to her with charm and grace, many people avoided Kevin altogether—unless Alexandra was by his side, of course. He knew that he had the prettiest wife in the room, and acted like he was the Alpha Male in a group of apes. I wanted to punch him, but what would have been the point?
The next day at work, Alexandra and I came in at the same time. I spotted her in the parking lot and waved. She came over to meet me. On her way over a strong breeze lifted the bottom of the dress she was wearing, almost to the point above her thighs and revealing more than she would have liked. She fought against the dress and the wind and managed to control it.
She had a big smile on her face when she finally reached me.
"Like the free show?"
"Oh, uh, I wasn't really looking," I replied, trying my best to hide my embarrassment and excitement at almost having seen her essentials.
"Sure, of course you weren't. Listen, would you like to have lunch today?"
I was a little shocked by the question. We had never had lunch together. We hadn't really done much but exchange pleasantries at work. Maybe this was a new tactic on her part to schmooze up the corporate ladder. I didn't know what her plans were after graduation, but maybe she wanted to work full-time for us and it wouldn't hurt to get to know the other workers better if that was your final goal.
"Okay," I said, a little curious as to her intentions.
"It's to apologize for my husband's behavior last night," she said, as if she had been reading my mind.
"What do you mean?"
"You're sweet for not saying anything, but I know he can be a jerk. And you were a sweetheart for putting up with his antics last night. So let me take you out to lunch. Do you know a good place?"
"Yeah, we can go to Antonio's if you like Italian food."
"Oh I love Italian. Let's do it! It's a date, yes?"
"Of course, my dear," I said, trying to be suave but probably succeeding in only sounding like an idiot.
She smiled at me as we entered the building and off she went to her cubicle. I went to my office and couldn't think of a darned thing except Alexandra.
At noon sharp, she poked her head into my office.
"Ready?"
"Yep, let me just wrap up this last email. Okay, let's go."
We walked out of the building and headed to the parking lot.
"Your car or mine?" I asked.
"I'll drive. I like to be in control." She had a sly smile on her face as she said it. I could have been imagining it, but I wasn't sure.
"Whatever you say," I said, smiling back.
Her car was a Sebring convertible. It had leather interior, black body paint with silver trim, loaded with all the options.
"Nice car," I said, wondering how she could have paid for it while paying for tuition and working part-time.
"Like it? Kevin got it for me as a wedding present."
Ah-ha! So he was well off! That explained some things.
"She's a beauty," I said.
We drove to Antonio's. She was a maniac on the road, weaving in and out of traffic, accelerating quickly, braking hard. She had lowered the top, and the wind was making her dress ride higher up her legs. I looked over from time to time, noticing that her thighs didn't get whiter as you went up. She obviously tanned in a bathing suit, or less.
