Gina knocked nervously on Mr. Rudinsky's door, and he shouted, "Enter!" as he rifled through papers on his desk. She walked in and took a seat across the desk from her boss.
"Gina, you have been here about two years now," he stated. She felt relief as she noticed his voice was soft and pleasant, not the voice of someone who was planning to fire her.
"Yes sir," she answered with a gulp.
"Your work here has been excellent, and we want to add you to a new marketing team to work with international businesses," Mr. Rudinsky continued. "It will mean a ten percent pay increase. Would you be willing to travel to Mexico for three weeks to learn business Spanish this summer?"
Gina's heart leapt into her throat. Would she ever! "I would be honored to work with this new team," she said, attempting to keep her professional demeanor.
Gina found herself in a fast-forward life for the next few weeks. She obtained a passport, enrolled online in the Cuernavaca Language School, and made travel arrangements for July. Gina learned she would live at the school in dorm while attending the three-week intensive class in business Spanish. At only 25, she felt the world was hers for the taking!
The flight into Mexico City took all day on a Friday; after arriving Gina located the shuttle bus which took her about hour south to the town of Cuernavaca. As she unpacked her bags Gina met a couple of her new dorm mates, Linda and Lisa, who had already been there a few days; they offered to take her shopping the next day and then to check out some night life.
Gina enjoyed a day of shopping and exploring the city with her new friends, trying to learn new words from the street vendors and shopkeepers along the way. After a long day, the three returned to the school for dinner in the dining hall; Gina showered and changed from her jeans into her new "Mexico" dress she had bought earlier in the day. The dress was a gauzy, black beauty with buttons up the back.
"Wow," said Linda when she saw Gina in her new dress. "You look amazing!"
"Gracias, mi Amiga!" said Gina, trying out some of her new words.
They hailed a cab and headed downtown to a bar Linda had heard about. It was a small place. Tables were scattered about in the dark main room, with a few stools along the bar on one wall, and a platform stage at the front with a single microphone and chair. Gina ordered a cold "Cervasa" when the bar maid came by the table. She was engrossed in conversation when she heard the gentle sound of classical guitar.
Gina turned to look at the guitarist, and was stunned. He sat in a wooden chair on stage, eyes closed, cradling his guitar. His dark, curly hair framed his handsome face. She watched intently as his fingers delicately worked the strings of the guitar. He played several songs, each more beautiful than the last, keeping his eyes closed and focusing intently on his music. And then he started to sing as he played the next song.
"Besame," he sang, "besame mucho."
Mesmerized, Gina stared at the stage with her mouth slightly open. She had never seen or heard anything like this man. His music, his voice, his beauty -- all were overwhelming.
"Earth to Gina," Linda laughed. "Do you want another beer?"β¨β¨Gina had not noticed the bar maid, or the two local men who had joined their table. Gina ordered another beer, and asked them, "What does that mean, Besame mucho?"
The man beside Linda answered in a thick accent, "It mean, uhhh, kiss me. Kiss me many time. Kiss me. Uhhh, to kiss, tonight, this may be the last time, so kiss me many time. I want to feel you close. Besame mucho."
As the bar maid returned with drinks, the musician stood and placed his guitar on a stand. The audience clapped as he stepped down from the stage into the bar room. He took a couple of steps, and was standing at Gina's table where he reached out his hand to the man sitting with Linda; they shook hands and spoke in rapid Spanish that Gina could not follow. At one point she made out the words, "Besame mucho," as the man gestured toward Gina and winked.
The guitarist smiled at Gina, and she blushed. She knew the man had probably just relayed how Gina had sat there gawking like a lovesick schoolgirl. But then he extended his hand to shake hers. Gina reached her hand out to his, but rather than shaking her hand he pulled it to his lips and kissed it softly.
"Me llamo Carlos," he said, still holding Gina's hand in front of him. He waited.β¨β¨"Oh," Gina said, stammering. "I am Gina."β¨β¨"Mucho gusto, Gina," Carlos said. She noticed his accent made her name sound like "Henna," which made her smile. He was still holding her hand.