James was down on his luck. No girlfriend. No money. Rubbish job. No prospects. Every new day felt like the last.
A standard week for James consisted of 6 split shifts at the local Italian restaurant, 'Giorgios', a few pints with the other waiters on a Saturday night, and a cheeky wank on his morning off. Yep, he was living the dream.
He had no idea how he had gotten here. In school he had been smart, hardly 'A Beautiful Mind' but he was in the top class in his year and got grades that most would be proud of. He was in good shape, cycling to and from work and University 6 days a week for three years had seen to that. He had ambitions. He was creative. He was going to become a graphic designer. He got a solid degree from a semi-respectable university and had spent the last 8 months looking for that first rung on the ladder to success.
But jobs were not the easiest thing to find these days. James spent hours every week going from one reputable design firm to the next between his shifts. Looking for jobs, internships, scholarships, anything!! He went from one interview to the next, full of hope, only to wait for that phone call or email that never came. Whenever he chased a response, he was told that there was someone just that bit more qualified or experienced than he was.
His love life had had a similar trajectory in recent times. James was in no way a modern day casanova, but he had always enjoyed a fair amount of success with the fairer sex. Until recently he had been seeing girl called Julie. It had all ended pretty horribly when he found out that she had a bit of habit of falling into bed with his friends.
So here he was... 21, single, depressed, with seemingly no end in sight. The following story is how James turned his life around.
*****9 AM****
'Fuuuuck!' James thought as the alarm on his phone drilled it's way into his very soul. The start of another fucking fantastic day no doubt. James slowly rose from the pit he called a bed and slowly shambled his way to the bathroom for his morning relief.
Skipping breakfast, James got his work things ready and jumped on his bike to start heading to work. Giorgio's was about 5 miles away from James', so depending on the morning traffic he could usually make the journey in about 20 minutes without breaking much of a sweat. Today was a pretty mild day so he decided to forgo the usual layers and wore shorts and a old t-shirt while on the go, securing his work things neatly in his backpack.
When he arrived at work, James felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. Once he secured his bike behind the old pizzeria. He got it out to check who was messaging him this early in the morning.
"Mmmm, cycling recently suits you! xXx" - Unknown number.
'Who the hell sent that' James thought, replying to the text in slightly less abrupt terms.
Instead of waiting for a response, James went inside and got ready for his shift, putting his phone in his bag and forgetting about it for the rest of the day.
James liked to think he was good at his job, as rubbish as it was. He usually worked behind the bar, keeping things moving. In Giorgio's it was the barman's responsibility to keep all of the checks up to date in the register, as well as making all of the drinks and entertaining customers waiting for a table. It meant that he wasn't running around like a headless chicken for most of the day and that he got to meet some pretty interesting people along the way.
Today was panning out just like every other, until she came in. James noticed her immediately from across the room. After talking to the Maitre de, she walked over to the bar, straight out of one of James' more 'interesting' dreams.
She was brunette, around 5ft 10, and was wearing a figure hugging black evening dress that left little to the imagination. The slit in the side of her skirt giving a tantalising glimpse of her stocking-covered thighs. In truth, she was quite overdressed for the restaurant, but James did not mind one little bit! She looked like she was in her mid-twenties, but something about the way she carried herself made him sure that she was older. Her face formed of gentle lines and curves. She had a smile that would melt glass.
James tried not to stare as she approached the bar and gracefully took her seat. Doing his best to not look flustered, he threw his tea towel over his shoulder nonchalantly and approached this beautiful creature.
"Good evening, what can I get you Miss?"
"Hmm", she said. "Do you have a cocktail list?"
"Of course" James replied as he reached for the menu. "It's of my own design, so apologies in advance."
She smiled as she started scanning through the menu. "You made this?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, the old one still had cocktails from 1920s on it. I told the owner I'd redo it as a favour. Plus it meant i got to choose the cocktails."
"In that case," she said, placing the menu down on the bar and running her finger down the leather cover. "What do you recommend?"
James looked her in the eye as she smiled at him over the bar. "Well, that depends."
Mock intrigue flashed across her face. "Depends on what?"
"It depends on how much you trust your bartender", he smiled. "This is a very powerful position you have put me in."
"How so?" She was enjoying the childish back and forth.
"Well, the drink you have before your meal determines what food you're going to choose later." he replied. "For example, if I made you something bitter like an Espresso Martini, you are subconsciously going to choose a little sweeter to balance your palate. If i give you a heavy drink, like a Pina Colada, you will have something light and salty."
James could tell she was slightly taken aback by his explanation, as if she was trying to work out whether it was true or not. He had no idea, of course, but he had years of experience when it came to making bullshit stories sound realistic.
After a few moments thought, she looked at James and said "Well I'm looking for something salty later so I guess I should have something sweet." A flashing image of this goddess taking a cock in her mouth raced through James' mind, causing his cock to twitch involuntarily. "Yes, something light and sweet should just hit the spot"
Something about the way that she said 'just' sent James' mind racing again. He quickly turned and started making her drink, taking some Midori and Amaretto and mixing in some cranberry juice, finishing with a straw and a small cocktail umbrella (Where do you think this is? The Ritz?).
She giggled like a schoolgirl when she saw the umbrella. "Oh, I have always wanted one of these! You sir, have made my night!"
James performed a mocking bow. "You're very welcome, m'lady! Just wait until you've tried it"
She took a quick sip and instantly relaxed back into her seat and exhaled. "Wow, that IS good! I might just be ordering another."
Just then, as James was preparing another wonderfully witty response, a hand appeared over her right shoulder, gently caressing her slender frame. She turned to greet the lucky bastard that had the pleasure of her company that night. Tall and handsome, with a shitty One Direction style hair cut and face that looked like it had been moisturised every waking moment since infancy. James hated this guy from the moment he saw his hand on her shoulder. He looked like the sort of guy who had never had to work to get a girl into bed, but just had to smile and call a cab. Bastard.
He offered his queen his arm and she took it, as he guided her to their table. his heart began to sink as she smiled and laughed at something Bastard had said. Battling his envy, he knuckled down and got on with his other duties, casually glancing over at their table to sneak a peak at his new obsession.
She seemed totally engrossed in conversation, as if James was already a distant memory to her. Bastard.
As time passed, the restaurant came busier, with more customers taking up his invaluable peeping opportunities. James had just about given up hope when one of the waiters came over and called for her bill. Soon she'd be leaving and be out of his life forever. He resigned himself to defeat.
When the bill came back, aside from the cash and a miserly tip (Bastard!) there was a napkin on top of the check. James took it off the plate and was about to throw it in the bin when he noticed that there was a message written on the back. He just about jumped out of his skin as he read;
"Thanks for the cocktail. I was really impressed by your menu, call me some time. D"
James' heart was pounding out of his chest as he lifted the check and saw that a business card had been left under it.
"Danielle Davis - Director - DDDesigns Ltd"
'So, my angel has a name,' he thought. He looked up sharply to see Danielle walking towards the door of the restaurant with Bastard. As she left, James noticed something different about her hair.
It was now held in place over her right ear by a cocktail umbrella.
James' mind was doing cartwheels. What did the message mean? Did she him to call her socially? She works for a design firm, one that he had already applied for. Did she want him to apply for a job? Either way, he secured her card in his wallet. He was making that call!
****11pm*****
