Lori Salter considered her reflection in the mirror as she applied her makeup. She liked having to get fixed up for work. It made her feel good about herself, and she needed that. Ted Davis, the stockbroker she worked for, insisted on professional dress. He allowed no slacks or any other form of casual clothing.
Since Lori had very little clothing when she started work, her boss had given her an advance on her pay - he said it was a clothing allowance, but she intended to pay it back - which allowed her to acquire a suitable wardrobe. Today she'd selected a black turtleneck dress with padded shoulders that fit her upper body snugly and flared into a long, sweeping skirt. Lori had the lithe body of a model and looked fabulous in the outfit.
She fed her son Donnie his breakfast, then she gulped down a cup of coffee and had a slice of toast and a half an orange before she left for work. It was as much as she'd eaten for breakfast for months. Then she got Donnie's things ready so she could dropped him off at the daycare center on her way to work.
Her boss, Ted Davis, was older, balding, and treated her as much like a daughter as an employee. He smiled when she walked into the office. "Good morning, Lori," he said. "Did you have a nice weekend?"
"It was great!" she replied. "Donnie and I are finally getting settled in to our new place."
"It's nice to hear that," Ted said. "By the way, you look gorgeous this morning."
Lori felt herself blushing. "Oh, Ted," she replied.
Ted smiled at her. "You really don't know how pretty you are, do you?" he asked.
Lori felt her face get hotter. "I'm not that pretty," she said, "and I'm too fat."
"I wish I had your weight problem," her boss said. He was portly and even his custom-tailored suits didn't hide that fact. "Raymond Damiano is coming in a little later to go over his stock portfolio," Ted said. "I'll be in my office."
Lori sat down at her desk and began working on some letters she had to type. "Raymond Damiano," she thought as her fingers flew over the keyboard, "God, he's so handsome! Just once, I wish someone like him would ask me out." She kept working and the morning flew by.
An hour later, a tall, tan, handsome man walked into the office. He wore a gray Italian cut suit, his black hair was styled perfectly, and he moved with cat-like grace. He walked up to Lori's desk and smiled at her. "Mr. Davis is expecting me," he said, "I'm..."
"Raymond Damiano," Lori said, then she felt her face get hot. "I...I know who you are."
"And who are you, may I ask?" the handsome man inquired. His blue eyes captured hers.
"Lori...ah...Lori Salter," she stammered in reply. She felt her face getting even hotter. "I...I'm new."
"I'm very pleased to meet you, Lori who's new," Damiano said. When he smiled at her, Lori felt funny inside. "I can't imagine how Ted manages to get any work done with someone as lovely as you in the same office."
Lori's face felt like it was burning. "Ah...Te...Mr. Davis, he...he's expecting, ah, you, Mr., ah, Damiano," she stammered. "He, ah, he said you...I...I should send you right in."
Mr. Damiano stayed at her desk and kept smiling at Lori, who began to feel like she was melting. "How long have you been working for Ted, Lori?" he asked.
"Ah...two...two weeks," Lori told him.
"I hope you don't think I'm being too personal, but are you married, Lori?" Mr. Damiano asked.
"Ah...I...I'm divorced," Lori replied. It was almost true. She'd filed for divorce, anyhow.
Mr. Damiano shook his head. "Any man who would let someone as beautiful as you are get away must be insane," he said.
"Mr. Damiano..." Lori murmured, more embarrassed than she could ever remember being. She was also feeling a bit overwhelmed.
"I'm so sorry," Mr. Damiano said. "I'm embarrassing you. Would you let me make up for embarrassing you by doing me the honor of having dinner with me tonight? If you're free, that is."
"Ah...sure, I...I'd love to," Lori said. She felt as if her heart would burst. He liked her! He had just invited her out to dinner!
"Wonderful!" Mr. Damiano replied, looking pleased that Lori had accepted his invitation. "I do have to talk with Ted, although I'd much rather spend the time with you. Would you please write down your address for me so I know where to pick you up? Will seven be all right?"
"Seven...ah...sure," Lori stammered. She wrote her address and phone number on a piece of paper and handed it to him. It wasn't easy because her hand was shaking.
Mr. Damiano took the paper from her, put it in his pocket, smiled at her again, then he walked into Ted's office.
Lori sat at her desk, staring after Mr. Damiano, her heart pounding, her mind awhirl. She couldn't believe it! He actually wanted to take her out! An important man like him! She'd seen his file and knew he was very wealthy. He lived in another state and had never come to the office before. She knew what he looked like because she saw his picture in a business magazine Ted had lying in the office.
She called Marie and made arrangements for her friend to take care of Donnie for the evening.
Mr. Damiano came out of Ted's office an hour later. "I'll see you at seven, Lori" he said, and left.
Lori's boss walked out of his office just as Mr. Damiano was leaving. "What was that all about?" he asked.
"Mr. Damiano invited me to have dinner with him tonight," Lori replied.
"Oh?" Ted asked.
"I can't believe it!" Lori gushed. "He's just about the most handsome man I've ever seen!"
"You sound excited," her boss said softly.
Lori was too excited to hear the hurt in his voice, or see the hint of pain in her employer's eyes. He'd had a crush on her from the day she came to work for him, but he couldn't muster the courage to do anything about it. He'd been widowed several years earlier and, although his daughter lived with him, he was lonely. He'd begun having fantasies that Lori might take an interest in him, but... "Lori, I'm very happy for you," he said. And, ironically, it was true. He cared enough about his new secretary to want to see her happy, and the dinner invitation certainly had made her happy.
"God, I'm so excited I think I'm going to bust!" Lori continued.
"I hope you have a wonderful time. If anybody deserves it, you do," Ted said, smiling weakly. He shrugged. "Well, I have to get back to work." He walked back into his office.
Mr. Damiano showed up at Lori's apartment exactly at seven and handed her a dozen long-stem red roses. She was so flustered she couldn't speak. "I...I don't know what to say," she stammered, "I...nobody ever...ah..."
Mr. Damiano looked at her, incredulous. "Surely you've been given roses before?" he asked.