*This is a continuation story for characters first introduced in "The Agency." This is part 2.*
God this girl was annoying. Sarah was clearly a beautiful woman and there was most likely a terrific body under her somewhat unglamorous business suit. But she just jabbered endlessly and seemed incapable of actual dialogue. She had a million things to say about everything and any questions or gaps in speech that required Joel to actual respond were immediately interrupted, such was her impatience. And somehow she managed to always be on her phone at the same time. She was simultaneously dominating the entire conversation between them whilst being strangely absent.
Though frustrated, Joel found it difficult to be angry. There was nothing malicious about the woman; and she was clearly intelligent to be in the job she was in - a senior property analyst in the same agency as him. But he could bear her company for only so long before clocking out. He would try hard to make that last for as long as this coffee would take. They entered the Costa shop, relieved at the lack of queues.
"I'm gonna hit the toilet quickly," he said, a thumb in the direction of the WC. "I'll have a cortado."
He needed a minutes break from her. The cortado would hopefully keep the liaison short. When he was done in the toilet he joined her at a small table with proper armchairs; altogether more desirable than being face to face over the more bistro like table and chairs available. He relaxed back into the chair and resigned himself to further barrage of inane chat from Sarah.
When bored, his perverted side always indulged and now he found himself looking at the small v of chest that the shirt of her suit displayed. He imagined her unbuttoning it further and placing his hand inside of it. This train of thought wasn't helping in all honesty. They'd be expected back in the office in less than 30 minutes, so at least there was light at the end of the tunnel; even if the tunnel did seem to eke out into the distance.
Things changed when a women in a Costa uniform arrived at their table with drinks. She gave the cappuccino to Sarah (mid text and unable to thank) and then stood staring at Joel. His breath was taken away as he made eye contact with the woman. She was as cute as he remembered: short, about 5ft tall with messy curly black hair shorn to her jawline, full cheeked, a voluptuous renaissance figure, chesty and feminine.
"This you?" she said ambiguously, gesturing towards the cortado. He nodded in response, his mouth open in surprise. She stood there and held his gaze for longer than was necessary; Sarah, lost in her phone, oblivious to the tension between them. Then the woman slowly turned away to leave. As she made her way back to the counter she stopped at a couple of tables to collect empty cups and plates; continuing to hold his gaze as she did so. Joel was transfixed by her presence and could not help but relive a barrage of memories from their previous encounter.
"Joel!"
"Yes. Sorry, say again?"
Shit. Caught out gawping like an idiot. He made every effort to concentrate on Sarah for the next half hour or so; but Emily stayed in his line of sight the whole time, making it almost impossible. After what seemed like an eternity Sarah shouted, "Look at the time! We better head back."
Joel needed to think quickly. He looked at his phone as he picked his jacket up and concocted a lie. "Actually you go ahead and I'll catch up. I've just got an email from a potential sale and I need to follow up immediately." He said this seriously and wagged his phone by his head; real estate talk for must-call-now-or-will-lose-a-sale. To hammer home he fell back in the chair, pressed a button on the phone and held it to his ear, holding on to the idea that the client call was sacred. Sarah bit and left with a nod of understanding.
With Sarah gone, the place was as good as empty but for an old lady in the corner and one other Barista going about her duties. Joel stayed in his seat, crossed his legs and sat waiting. A minute later Emily came walking over with a circular tray in her hand, a mere prop. She walked up close to the table and stood with one hand resting on her hip.
"This is a nice surprise." Emily was silent. "I had hoped that we might meet again. I've been..."
"Who was that you were with? Girlfriend?"
"Uh, no. Just someone from work."
"So you'd be free for dinner? Tonight?"
"Uh, yeah," he said, surprised, "Definitely."
"Good. My place."
She collected up the two empty cups and left a slip of paper on the table.
"I look forward to it," he said as she walked away.
After an afternoon of pure distraction Joel made it home around six. He'd texted Emily's number that she'd left for him and she'd confirmed time and place, saying nothing else. Was it a date? He just wasn't sure. It was probably a date. Their one previous encounter had been nothing short of the most sexually depraved and debauched night of his life. So it was likely that her inviting him to dinner was motivated by a sexual or possibly romantic interest in him.