A quickie!
With tired eyes and a stifled yawn I sat upon the wide bench seat. Facing me, across a white table top, sat a woman who eyed me suspiciously. From her smart dress I assumed she was on some sort of business trip and from the way she glared at me (and my rather faded jeans and 'T' shirt) I suspected she'd rather I had chosen somewhere else in the carriage to sit. I smiled in an attempt to reassure her that I wasn't an axe-wielding homicidal maniac. She quickly looked away; it seemed my smile had had the opposite effect.
Our early morning train was about to set off from London Victoria Station and head off towards sun, sea, surf and a festival.. Well, that was my destination, hers, I assumed from the grey suit, would undoubtedly be work related. The large amount of 'office' baggage also made me think she was not travelling for pleasure. When added to her pile of work papers, my massive bedroll rucksack ensured no one else came to join us at our snug little end-of-carriage seats and after five awkward and silent minutes of waiting together, the train eventually lurched forward. With an inward sigh of relief I stretched out and took out a dog-eared book. My travelling companion began to load our table up with files, folders and a very bulky lap-top. It looked like we had long journey ahead.
Within half an hour we'd left behind the dark grime of London embankments and replaced them with the refreshing greenery of the Thames Valley. I lowered my book and stared out at the evocative scenery, a strange felling of both relaxation and excitement washed over me.
"It's so nice to get out of the city isn't it?" my fellow passenger said suddenly.
Surprised at this change in demeanor I turned to face her; she was also gazing at the passing view, an endearing faraway look in her eyes. Obviously the countryside had completely thawed her mood, although her conscientious fingers were still poised over the computer keyboard.
"Yeah, it's also nice to be able to forget work for a while." I replied with a wink and nodded at her whirring computer.
She laughed and snapped the screen down shut. "Good idea." she said, leant back in her seat and joined me in doing nothing but watching the world go by.
As the warm July morning turned in to a hot July afternoon our train flew past the multi-coloured fields of Wiltshire and the crooked hamlets of Somerset. As if echoing the heat of the day, the two us warmed to each other as well, and despite having little in common, we talked solidly for a good couple of hours; our open and sometimes flirty conversations flowing freely.
The differences between us and our lives were best shown in the clothes we chose to wear. In contrast to my er... 'relaxed' dress, she wore a stern business jacket and a tight, matching knee length skirt. The top two buttons of her bright red shirt, visible beneath the jacket, were open, giving the merest glimpse of a tempting deep cleavage and a naughty black lace bra. (And as noticed when I went to get us both a drink) she wore black stockings and red stiletto heels;
a deadly mix of sex and power
I thought to myself with a smile.
By mid afternoon and only a hour or so from her stop, my companion apologised to me, explaining that she must get some work done before we got to her station. Slightly disappointed, I never-the-less admitted to feeling rather tired (the previous late night and today's early start had finally caught up with me).
"No Problem, you get on with what you've gotta do, I'm gonna get some kip anyway." I said, adding with a yawn: "Wake me if I miss my stop."
"Don't worry" she laughed, "I won't forget you're there."
