Oh, how I love my job. As a consultant, I am always going to new places and meeting new people. My latest assignment was particularly rewarding because of Rhonda.
I arrived at Consolidated Credit, expecting another humdrum review of business processes, followed by the usual recommendations to improve efficiency. On my first day there, I was introduced to several department heads whom I would be interviewing and working with. My sponsor at Consolidated, Jim, led me from department to department, explaining their functions and introducing me to my contacts in each.
As we entered the phone service area, my attention was immediately drawn to a statuesque blond facing away from us, intent on her computer screen. Jim led the way through a long series of cubicles right to this angelic figure. My heart pounded as he said, "Rhonda, there's someone here I would like you to meet." She spun in her chair, causing her soft wavy hair to swing outward. She looked up at me and delivered a heart-stopping smile. Rhonda beamed at me and held out her hand.
Our eyes locked and I managed to say, "Hi, Rhonda, my name is Sam." I silently praised myself for keeping my composure as I continued, "I understand from Jim that we'll be working pretty closely together over the next few days. I'm looking forward to learning as much as can from you."
"Same here," she replied. "When do get started?"
Jim interjected, "I just need to have Sam meet a few more people, show him to his work space, and then he's all yours."
"Alright then," Rhonda said. "Let me know when you're ready to get down to business."
As she spoke, I was determined to keep my eyes locked on hers out of respect. But my peripheral vision was taking in the fullness of her upturned breasts, her small waist, and her shapely legs. My mind was filled with visions of this goddess and the scent of her arousing perfume lingered in my nostrils as Jim led me away to the next department. I was captivated by the way she crinkled her nose when she smiled as I walked away. She reminded me of Samantha, from Bewitched, and she may just as well have cast a spell over me. At my next stops, I absently shook a few more hands and met a few more people, thinking of Rhonda the whole time.
At last, Jim showed me to my desk and demonstrated how to log on to their email system. He bid me good luck and returned to his own desk. I immediately got down to work, and my first order of business was to set up an interview session with Rhonda. I looked her up in the company directory and sent her an email requesting a meeting the following morning.
I received her reply moments later. She added a line of text to her acceptance note that said, "My, you work fast, don't you?"
I shot back a reply of my own that said, "I'm very motivated!"
She didn't leave it that. What followed was a series of seemingly innocent email messages back and forth, with Rhonda expressing interest in my work and me trying to respond as professionally as I could while wishing I could just come out and tell her how dazzlingly beautiful I found her.
She wrote: "I admire motivation. What do you hope to accomplish during your stay here?"
I replied: "I hope to help Consolidated improve their customer service through some business process re-engineering. "
"Sounds a little boring, Sam."
I panicked. I was losing her. "That part is. The fun part is going to new places and meeting new people…like you." (I decided to take a chance. I didn't want to spook her though.)
She wrote back: "That does sound like fun. And thanks. I don't get to meet too many new people, so it was extra nice to meet you today. See you tomorrow morning."
That first day was filled with setting up additional meetings and reviewing the documentation Jim had provided. I poured over it trying to familiarize myself with the business processes at Consolidated Credit.
Early the following morning I sipped my coffee and watched the clock, waiting for my meeting with Rhonda. At five minutes to nine, I strolled into the conference room to find Rhonda already there.
"You're early," I remarked.
She looked up and smiled that luscious smile as she replied, "I guess I was anxious to get started."
I sat in a chair next to her and began to lay out a few things on the table that I wanted her to look at. She listened intently as I walked her through the process flow maps I had brought. As I pointed at different places on the charts, my shoulder lightly brushed hers. I was happy to see that she did not pull away. In fact she leaned into me, trying to better view the small text-filled boxes on the paper I was talking about.
About fifteen minutes into our meeting, she turned to me and said, "I really like that cologne you're wearing. What is it?"
"It's Aramis," I replied, "and your perfume is making it very hard for me to concentrate."
She was looking intently at the papers spread out on the table before her and I thought to myself, uh-oh, I may have just crossed the line of appropriateness. Then I watched her profile as a little smile lit up her face and she turned her chair toward mine. Her knees pressed lightly against mine. My left hand was on the table and my right rested on the back of her chair.
She raised her eyes to mine and said, "Why don't we take a break then?"
I nodded dumbly and smiled. She stood up and headed toward the door. Oh no, I thought, she's leaving. But instead, she closed the door to the conference room, locked the door, and closed the blinds on the narrow window next to the door. With her eyes locked on mine, she walked back toward me like a lioness stalking her prey. She spun my chair toward her and lowered herself onto my lap facing me. I looked up at her and watched in disbelief as she moved her face close to mine. Her breath warmed my already flushed face as her fragrant hair lightly brushed my ears.
Then she softly purred, "how much time do we left in our meeting, Sam?"
"About 45 minutes," I replied as I wrapped my arms around her waist and scooted her closer to me.
She began to plant little kisses around my face and whispered, "Well let's see how this meeting goes. If it goes the way I'm hoping, we can schedule more time for follow-up."
I just managed to say, "Sounds good to me," as her warm, soft lips covered mine.
