"Price is within budget," the big blonde Swede grinned at me, before taking another swig at his beer.
"And the specification is spot on Jon," I reminded him, grinning back at him, and taking a long swig of my own.
"Delivery is the only problem though Neil," Jon commented, not for the first time I should mention. "If only you could push the delivery forward another month, then there'd be less risk of someone else stealing our market."
"Come on now Jon," I said as my grin turned into a huge smile. "If we delivered the bloody thing a month earlier, then you wouldn't be ready, would you."
"Maybe, maybe not," he played with me, but I really didn't mind. The order was in the bag and I knew it and so did he. The Germans were the only ones who could match our specification and their price was astronomical. The Chinese were actually a bit cheaper, but would their damn plant work when it was installed. Maybe it would, but who was going to take that risk? No --- Our clients, Sonder and Glosst would be the only ones with a plant up and working and would do well out of it, and Jon's full name was Jon Sonder!
Yes ----- The order was ours sure enough!
My company's production was guaranteed for another two years or more, and my earnings would be going through the roof. Crikey, I'd get twenty five percent of my share when they signed the contract, and that was nearly as much as I earned last year.
Not bad for a Chemical Engineer eh? I was the technical man, and not even a real salesman!
Great!
How about another pint Jon?" I asked him. "To seal the deal if you want."
"OK Neil," he laughed out loud. "But you're paying OK?"
Bingo, bloody Bingo, I congratulated myself silently as I called the waitress over for two more pints of Courage Directors, grinning to myself in glee. GOT IT! I bloody well got it.
If you've ever been there then you'll know what it feels like.
"Don't forget the chasers Neil," Jon reminded me, and for the third time that evening I ordered two Scandinavian specialities to go with our pints. Aquavits? Or were they Akavites? Or maybe Aquavities? Damn it, it was hard enough to drink the bloody things, never mind spell it. All I knew was that the colourless liquid tasted like the proverbial firewater, and the effects were dynamite. Three of them and three pints and my head was already beginning to spin.
"Right then Jon. Finish this pint and I've got to be going, and you've got your appointment with old man Thomas for dinner this evening." I reminded him, the last pair of drinks seeming to have slipped down too easily.
"Christ Neil," Jon chuckled at me. "It's bad enough having to do business with your company without having to spend time with your boring old fart of a chairman."
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that Jon."
"Pretend all you want Neil," he smiled back. "But you know it's true don't you."
"No comment," I grinned back conspiritually. He was a boring old fart, but in fairness to old Thomas, he really did know his business. He wasn't even that old really, but he still controlled eighty five percent of the business.
"I'd rather you and me went up town and found ourselves a couple of good looking young English girls Neil," Jon confided. No surprise there, was there.
"Not sure what my wife would have to say about that Jon," I joked back.
'Oh you Brits," Jon shot back, slapping me friendlily on the shoulder. "You're so damn prudish sometimes? What's wrong with a bit of fun from time to time?"
I simply shrugged my shoulders, not wishing to be drawn.
"Look at that girl over there for instance Neil," Jon said drawing my attention to a young woman sat by the bar not twenty feet behind me. "Look at her Neil. Slim, brunette, what, twenty six or so? On her own and drop dead gorgeous."
"Yes you're right there," I was forced to agree, surprised that I hadn't noticed her sitting there before. "She is a little darling isn't she?"
"Think she's on the game Neil?"
"I wouldn't think so Jon," I replied. "Doesn't look the type."
"Probably right Neil," Jon agreed with me thoughtfully. "I'll bet she's on the pull though."
I raised my eyebrows at Jon's excellent use of colloquial English, and took the opportunity of studying the pretty slim woman while her attention was taken up by some City type, who had just engaged her in conversation.
Nice ---- Yes very nice indeed! Long, slim, tanned bare legs made even more so by the short slinky dress that she had on, a whole length of smooth, shapely thigh wonderfully out on display as she sat on her stool, inviting the avid attention of many a male in the place.
"Think she'll go off with him Neil," Jon asked me. "Think the lucky bastard will be fucking her tight pussy later on, do you?"
I shrugged my shoulders and grinned at him. I hoped he wasn't going to though. Fuck the girl that is. I was happily married myself but still somewhat jealous.
Well --- She was an exceptionally pretty little dark haired beauty, with flashing dark eyes that must have been sending the city type crazy.
"Well if he's not going to, then I'd like to," chuckled Jon, his attention firmly on the girl by then. "Look at them pointy little tits Neil. She can't have a bra on man. That bastard's looking down her top. He must be able to see most of her tits from where he's standing. If she leans forward any more she'll fall out of that dress."
He was right! Now I was jealous.
"She damn well knows it as well," Jon carried on with enthusiasm, twisting on his seat to be able to watch her more easily. "See how she shifted on her stool then to give him a better view?"
He was right again. The cheeky cow really had! Now I was really, really jealous.
"Not very big tits though Jon," I commented rather pointlessly, trying to .... Well to ... Shit, I don't know!
"More than I could get into my mouth Neil," Jon shot back at me, so obviously lost in the potential seduction that was taking place, right there in front of us. "Closer to the bone, then the sweeter the meat; isn't that one of your English sayings Neil?"
"Not the point Jon," I insisted, getting more and more hot under the collar. "That damn women is married for Christ sake. She's got a wedding ring on. Some poor bastard is being cuckolded here."
"Bloody hell Neil," my Swedish colleague reacted in surprise. "Don't get so damn serious man. She's only flirting with the guy after all; she's not fucking him!"
"Not yet," I commented dryly. "Not yet."
I'd never been unfaithful to my wife Annie in the five years we'd been married, or before that, for that matter. But looking at the sexy little creature sat there at the bar with all that leg and Christ knows what else showing, then I could perhaps understand how easy it might be.
"As I said before my English friend," Jon answered calmly, his eyes never leaving her. "If he doesn't take her to his bed tonight, then I'd be more than willing."
"And your dinner with old man Thomas?" I teased him, my eyes watering as I took courage and knocked back the last of his bloody Scandinavian knock out juice.
"Maybe he'll settle for a quick sandwich," Jon laughed back.
"By then she may have left with someone else," I pointed out.
"You're probably right," he conceded. "Either that or her husband will turn up."
With that, he shrugged his shoulders, stood up with hardly a trace of a stagger, considering how much he'd drunk, and with a handshake, somewhat reluctantly strolled out of the bar. I couldn't help but notice the girl twist her head to watch him as he strolled casually out of the bar.
So she had noticed us ------ Or at least him.
It also became pretty evident that the city type wasn't progressing with the girl. She wasn't ignoring him or being rude, just not laughing at his jokes any more. Bored with him I supposed. I thought I'd sit there a little longer to see how long it took him to take the hint. To be honest, my head was spinning so much by then, that staying sat down was by far the best option.
About five minutes it took.
City type must have got a bit ambitious and put his hand on her bare thigh, but the girl immediately grabbed it and removed it, her whole body language making it obvious that he was wasting his time.
Then with a flurry of arms he made his excuses and wandered off as well, leaving me wondering how long it would be before some other stud would take his place.
Right!
Remember, I'd had a few to drink that night.
Big breath ----- straighten my tie ----- quick adjustment down there -- you know what I mean, and I went for it.
"Hi," I started, as I plonked my bottom down on the stool beside her. "Can I get you a drink?"
"I've got one already," came the hasty reply. Hasty, but not too unfriendly.
"Do you come here often?" I asked, trying not to laugh. Blimey, I've always wanted to say that corny phrase, and never had the opportunity, and at least it earned me a giggle from the young lady.
"Who was your friend?" She carried on. Not exactly what one would want to hear.
"His name's Jon," I told her. "Swedish. We've just agreed a deal together."
"Is that why you're late?" She demanded a touch angrily. "Is that why you're half drunk?"
"I'm not late Annie," I told my lovely wife. "I sent you a text to say I was held up."
"No you didn't Neil. I've been sat out in the lobby for forty minutes waiting for you."
"Check your phone," I suggested. "I promise you I did send it."
She did.
I had.
She was apologetic.
I was half forgiven.
Forgiven for being late, but not for the somewhat inebriated state that she'd found me in.
"So that's the famous Swede you've been on about all week is it?"
"That's him," I confirmed.
