Dave Nelson was awake, if just barely. It was 6am and it was still pitch black outside on this dreary, cold Monday.
Dave nearly forgot about his big job interview today. It was his first interview since being dismissed at Greenberg Technology Inc. due to a merger with some other tech company, the name of which didn't matter to Dave.
He wanted nothing more than to roll over and fall back to sleep but he knew he couldn't. Dave got up, went into the bathroom, and splashed his face with cold water. It stung a little but it did the trick.
Dave caught a glimpse of himself in the bathroom mirror as he reached for a towel. A handsome, 28-year-old man stared back at him; his dirty blonde hair with matching stubble on his chiseled jawline complimented his blue eyes well.
Dave completed his morning routine and prepared himself for the tortuous rush hour drive into the city.
He had on his best suit; a double-breasted, pinstriped black suit-jacket and matching pants over a plain white shirt with a sky-blue tie. Dave threw his overcoat on, grabbed his car keys, and headed outside to the driveway.
He climbed into his beautiful new red Cadillac (which he regretted buying right before he got fired but hindsight is 20/20) and backed out of the driveway.
The drive into the city was uneventful. Dave caught himself zoning out a couple of times, then snapped out of it and continued down the highway.
It took Dave a while to find a parking spot but he wasn't worried because he got to the building with plenty of time to spare. Dave checked in with security then made his way up to the 15th floor of the tremendous skyscraper where his potential new company was situated.
Fitzgerald Telecommunications was the name of the company Dave was interviewing with today, a well-established rival of Dave's old employers.
Dave waited patiently in the lobby for about 20 minutes before a secretary signaled to him that the interviewer was ready.
Dave stepped into the office and was greeted by a stunningly beautiful woman; she was a few inches shorter than Dave and had a slender figure. Her breasts were noticeable but didn't call too much attention to themselves, even as her electric-blue dress clung tightly to her luscious frame.
"Hi, I'm Nicole Harris," she said introducing herself, "assistant director of HR."
"Dave Nelson," Dave replied, "I'm applying for the vacant HR job."
"I know all about you Dave," Nicole said, "I've done my research."
Nicole picked up a manila folder on her desk to suggest that her research on Dave was in it.
Dave continued to scope this beauty; Nicole had hazel eyes, beautifully-done eye makeup, light red lipstick, and medium brown hair down past her shoulders, all appealing to Dave.
Nicole sat down behind the desk and said, "are you ready to begin the interview?"
"Ready as I'll ever be," was Dave's reply.
Nothing unusual happened during the interview, save for some noticeably unprofessional behavior from Nicole. Dave observed Nicole playing with her hair and biting her lip; it looked like she was extremely uncomfortable.
At the conclusion of the interview the pair got up and shook hands, and Dave was told that he would hear from the company soon. Then Dave left the building.
The next day Dave got a phone call from Nicole.
"Congratulations, you're hired!" Nicole said.
"That's great!" Dave replied enthusiastically, "When do I start?"
"Next week," Nicole replied.
"Thank you so much, this means a lot to me," Dave said.
"Are you going to celebrate?" Nicole asked.
"That's actually not a bad idea, maybe me and my friends will go to the bar tonight," Dave thought aloud.
"Could I come?" asked Nicole.
"Sure, I guess," Dave said, slightly surprised by the question, "we always go to the Killarney Lounge."
"I like that place," said Nicole, "I'll be there after work, I'll meet you there!"
"Ok see you then, bye," said Dave as he hung up the phone.
Dave was flummoxed. Not only was his employer asking him to go out and socialize without even working a single day for this company, she was also gorgeous.
Now Dave hoped his friends would be able to make it, as he realized how awkward it would be if he showed up at the bar alone.
But unfortunately after a few phone calls Dave found out all his friends were busy; it was a weeknight after all. So Dave decided to venture out and try to make the most of the evening, alone with his new boss.
Dave made the half-mile walk in the cold to the Killarney Lounge, stepped through the entryway, and immediately saw Nicole sitting by a table. She waved him over with enthusiasm.
Nicole looked dazzling with the same perfectly done makeup as she had on yesterday and she was also had on some big, flashy earrings and other fine jewelry. She was wearing a white sweater over black pants.
"Congrats Dave, your first drink is on me," said Nicole.
"Thanks dear but you don't have to pay for me," Dave said.
"Did you just call me dear?" Nicole asked.
Dave felt incredibly embarrassed.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything by it, it just slipped out," Dave explained.
"Easy Dave," Nicole said reassuringly, "I don't mind. We're not in the office, we can let our hair down here."
"Well we haven't even spent one day together working in the office," Dave said.
"Hey, by the way, where are your friends?" Nicole inquired.
"No one could make it. I forgot it was a weeknight," Dave said.
"That's too bad," Nicole replied.
Dave sighed and said, "this feels a little weird."
"What's weird about this? Can't two adults go out and have a few drinks?" Nicole said.
"Well for starters I don't know if you're single or not," Dave said, "what if your boyfriend or husband saw us together?"
"I'm single, you don't have to worry about that," Nicole said taking one of Dave's hands in hers.
Dave fought the initial urge to pull his hands back. He looked directly at Nicole and she gave him a reassuring smile.
"I'll have a scotch and soda," said Dave, trying to regather his composure.
"Ok, I'll be right back," Nicole said joyfully and she walked up to the bar.
She came back two minutes later with a Bloody Mary for herself and a scotch and soda for Dave.
The two conversed for a while and had a couple of drinks each before the topic steered back toward relationship statuses.
