It was a typical sunny South African summer's day, wishing that i was anywhere but being trapped in an executive management meeting discussing strategy and operational targets. The voices around me seemed to drone on and on as all and sundry used the opportunity to shine a light on their particular brilliance and innovative ideas.
I looked down from the 15th floor glass windows and could, in the distance, see a golf range and small dam - how i wished that i could just escape the corporate environment for one day and enjoy the warm sun on my face and the breeze blowing through my hair...
That was when i saw her! She quietly joined the meeting, the junior HR manager who was identified to work with me during the establishment of a new integrated services business department. I have studied her CV and had discussions with her peers and colleagues and knew that she was a professional and driven young lady. I guess this was her "big break" to establish her reputation and create a presence with the executive management team members.
She was introduced and joined us for tea, such a mining tradition! She was much younger than the rest of the team, had a slim body which was carefully hidden in her professional office attire and i was immediately attracted to the easy smile and her eyes which seemed to be alive with anticipation and shone like a bright brown gemstone.
It is now about 7 weeks later and we have had very little time for social interaction due to the grueling deadlines and the sheer amount of outcomes to be completed. It was a long week-end and neither of had the energy nor the luxury to return home as we still had some work to attend to.
I invited her to join me at a local restaurant, nothing fancy but the food was usually good and least you could hold a conversation without having to shout at your partner. I made one rule, no work to be discussed and i could actually see her relax knowing that there will be no awkward business questions.
We discussed our lives superficially, found out about each other's hobbies, where we studied, what we like to do on weekends, where we went on holiday and such forth. Then, in stead of asking how she was coping with being away so long from her boyfriend i stated by accident "i guess our sex lives are quite shitty a the moment"!
I saw her physically jerk when she heard me, she blushed and did not know how to respond. It was not my intention to be so personal an i tried to apologize but she suddenly stopped me by putting her hand on my arm and saying that she agrees with me.
Phew! I nearly blew my career in 10 seconds i thought! Strangely, dinner was a quite relaxed experience and we bantered on till late at night and when i dropped her off her hotel (i had rented a small apartment to live in as i hate extended hotel living). I teased her to not think to much about her boyfriend. She blushed again but gave me a friendly hug.