I first met Sonia at a night out to celebrate the retirement of a work colleague. She had been out with a few of her friends for a quiet drink after work and had become entangled with our crowd because our retiring colleague was her uncle.
To tell the truth, I thought straight away that she was a stunner. About thirty-five, maybe a little older, no wedding ring, a good figure, not thin, but not fat either, and great legs, just perfect in my mind. She had shoulder length dark hair, regular features and smiled a lot. I liked her, was attracted to her, but mentally dismissed her, thinking she was way out of my league. For a start I was twenty years older, and realistically, some things are just not meant to happen.
An hour or so after she joined our company, as I was talking to John, the retiring colleague, he asked if I would do him a favour, and I said I would if I could. He knew I was just about to leave, as I had just said so in the course of our conversation. I never stay long at these affairs. I don't drink alcohol, apart from the occasional glass of white wine at a special meal, but that's my limit, so I'm inclined to leave before the drinking takes a serious turn.
'Would you mind giving my niece a lift home? She lives in the same direction as you, and like you, she's not much of a drinker. I don't want her standing on the streets at this time of night waiting for a taxi, with all the drunks and idiots going about,' he explained.
'No bother John, as you say, it's on my way home. Give me five minutes to say my goodbyes and we'll be on our way,' I said, and finally wished him all the best in his retirement before I left. I went around the company saying goodbye, and then collected the lovely Sonia, who was now standing beside her uncle John.
'Are you sure this is OK?' She asked.
'Don't be daft, of course it is, I'm going home, and it's on my way, there's no inconvenience to me at all. Anyway, it'll be nice to have the company,' I said, trying to put her at ease. We crossed the car park and getting in I started the car. She got in beside me, and took out her mobile phone, quickly typing out a text message to someone.
Oh, how I hate mobile phones. They're a complete conversation killer. While she sent the text, I said nothing, not wanting to interrupt her train of thought, but as soon as she finished, and she turned her attention to me, we chatted away like old friends. It turned out she had been married, but now divorced, one child, a boy, who was with his father this weekend. I asked, as a matter of interest, if she had a new man in her life, and her reply was non-committal, so I pressed her about it.
'Well... yes and no. How can I explain it? I'm keen on him, but he doesn't seem as interested in me as I think he should be. I seem to be doing all the chasing and getting very little in return. When I'm with him, it's good, but he never seems to take the initiative, it always me contacting him to arrange meetings. He's a very shy sort of person as well,' she explained, tailing off.
'Sorry Sonia, but this guy must be mental,' I said. I could see her looking at me from my peripheral vision, slightly shocked at my candour. 'You're a stunningly beautiful woman, and you have to chase him,' I explained. 'Does the idiot not know how lucky he is?' She said nothing for a moment.
'Thank you, that's very kind of you to say that, and you know, you're right, I was sort of wondering about that myself,' she replied. 'He's got me, so I'm a bit confused really.' Just then her mobile beeped, signalling an incoming message, and the conversation stopped as she read it. 'That's him,' she said by way of explanation. 'The text I just sent was me asking if I could come over to see him, and he's just said no, he's too tired. What do you think of that?' I could hardly believe what I was hearing!
'At the risk of repeating myself' he's mental. How old is he?' I asked.
'Thirty-seven, a couple of years older than me,' she replied.
'And when you ask to see him, he says he's too tired. Do you really think that's right?' I asked again.
'No, but he works in the oil business, and he's going offshore tomorrow, so I can understand it a wee bit,' she replied, making excuses for him.
'Sonia, I'm going to say it again. I may swear a bit so forgive me in advance. You are a beautiful, intelligent woman. If I was going offshore tomorrow for two weeks, I'd be doing my best to get some last-minute loving before leaving. Let's be completely frank and honest here, you're offering to go over to his place for sex, right? I asked.
'Yes,' she said, almost reluctantly, as if she was trying to be discreet, maybe a little embarrassed too, but nodding her head at the same time.
'And he's turned you down?'
'Yes,' she replied and nodded again.
'Sorry, I made a big mistake before, he's not mental, he's fucking mental,' I said vehemently. She laughed.
'You're right of course,' she admitted. 'Maybe it's because he lives on his own and has never been married. He just doesn't know how to reciprocate, or show his feelings,' she said still making excuses for him.
'Sorry, but that's not right. He's just bloody selfish. He knows you want him, and you want to have sex with him. He's going away for two whole weeks, and yet he can't be bothered to put himself out a little to show you some love and affection. That doesn't look good to me,' I finished.
'You're so right but I don't know what to do,' she said hopelessly.
'OK, here's what to do. Never mind sending bloody text messages. It's a phone after all, call him directly and tell him you're coming over. I'll even drive you over myself, so you don't have to worry about transport. He knows what's on offer and if he refuses, dump him. He's no good, he's wasting your time, and time is something you never get back. It would be better to cut your losses now, and move on to someone who cares about you and wants to be with you,' I stated.
'You're right again, and you're just saying what I'm thinking anyway. OK, I'll call him, see what he has to say for himself,' she said, sounding more determined at last. She clicked on his number and called him. After a few minutes she said. 'The bastard has switched his phone off; it's just going to his answering machine.' I could see by the way she slumped in the seat, head bowed, that she was upset.