I went out for coffee Monday morning, but I was tired of StarFucks and their overpriced mochas, so I tried a little cafe down the street. I like to change my routine now and then because when I do, unusual things happen. Serendipity, synchronicity, sensually exciting...all from a routine thing like getting coffee from the next place down the street.
I strode in through the front door and put my laptop on one of the high tables they had. I took a look around the place before going up front to make my order, and I noticed her immediately. She was sitting in the back and alone with just a cup of black coffee half full in front of her. But her head had turned when I walked in, and she noticed me checking her out. Her head turned away, but I continued to assess her until she looked back and saw me still looking.
She looked to be about forty years old, at least, the way she was dressed suggested that. It was only 8:15 in the morning, but she had her makeup on--just enough to accentuate her good looks, nothing gaudy or flashy. She wore a form-fitting sweater that showed off her ample chest and a blazer that would never close over her tits but otherwise was impeccably tailored. The table hid the rest of her from my view, but she glanced away, then slowly looked back, meeting my gaze for almost a full minute. Then her mouth turned up at the corners slightly, and she went back to contemplating her cup.
She seemed bored.
I decided to pick up my laptop and head for the back. She was sitting at a four-top, so I placed my laptop across from her.
"Is this seat taken?"
She gave me a look that was equally annoyed and amused.
"No, go ahead and sit down." The corners of her mouth made an almost welcoming smile. "I'm Delilah. And you are?"
"You can call me Steve," I said. "Excuse me, please, while I order. Would you like anything?"
She fiddled her fingers a bit so I would notice the substantial diamond on her left hand. "No, I'm fine with this," making a little flourish over her coffee cup.
"Are you sure? It's no trouble."
Her eyes met mine, and my smile was already dimpling my cheeks and lighting up my eyes.
"Alright then, Steven, I'll take one of those chocolate croissants since it's no trouble."
I gave a slight bow and went to the counter. When I returned with my mocha, I had two croissants and gave her the larger one. I didn't open my laptop or sit across from her. I took the seat next to her.
"You seem dressed for the office, but you also seem unconcerned with time." I took a sip of my coffee. "Do you run the office and have the utmost confidence in your team?"
"Observant, aren't we?" Her smile now spread up to her eyes, which sparkled with mischief and curiosity. "Should I trust a stranger in a coffee shop with my closely guarded secrets?"
"Maybe I know them already," I replied.
"Do tell," she said.
"Well, let me see." I gave her a more observant once-over, in response, she bowed her head over her coffee cup and let out an amused chuckle.
"If I may be so bold," I said, looking her in the eye. "You're not the boss of your office; you're carrying a small purse and no briefcase."
Her smile widened.
"I would say you aren't going to the office after all because you don't work there anymore."
She gave a little gasp and looked at me with a bit more respect, but her smile now widened to a grin.
"And your husband doesn't know, either. That's why you got dressed up this morning and left at your regular time, but now are sitting here, talking to me."
"What gave it away?"
"Your shoes. And your purse. And the croissant." I took another slurp of my mocha, enjoying her look of surprise and curiosity. "So, I know some of your secrets already. No need to divulge anything."
"Clever, aren't we," she said with a laugh.
"Well, one of us is," I laughed. "So, tell me, how did you get fired?"
"Well, I wasn't fired exactly. They came in Friday and said the HR department is being outsourced to an independent entity. The boss came in with three security officers and escorted me, my assistant, and my secretary to the main receptionist area. While the boss handed us our severance checks, the security officers brought down the personal items from our desks."
She took a sip from her coffee and finally took a nibble from her pastry.
"Go on," I encouraged.
"I was in shock when I got home; there was no forewarning that it was about to happen. When hubby got home and said how was work today, I still hadn't grasped what had happened. So, I said, fine, dear, and started dinner like nothing had gone wrong." She took another bite out of her pastry, washed it down with coffee, and looked out to the middle distance wistfully.
"So, now you have the whole day to yourself and don't know what to do."
She giggled at that comment.
"No, I have a pretty good idea of what to do," she said. "But not here." She took another bite of her croissant, then pointed at what was left in the coffee pots with regular and decaf for customer refills. "Top me off, would you?"
I stood up and got the regular pot, and filled up her cup while she wolfed down the rest of her pastry, and I finished mine as well. The morning rush was over, and the crowd thinned out as the clock headed for 9:30.
"Let's go to my place," she suggested.
"That sounds like fun," I agreed. "Should we leave separately?"