It was one of those events organized by rich people, hosted by rich people where they all got together to congratulate each other for contributing some tiny fraction of their wealth and income to the charity. I was there representing the company I worked for, which was one of the sponsors of the event. To my mind these events were a waste of time and money that could have been used to help those the charity supported but such is the way of the world.
I was standing by myself, off to one side of the gathering just surveying the crowd and trying to determine the earliest acceptable time that I could leave. I had spoken with several of the event and charity bigwigs so they knew that the company was involved and had therefore done my duty.
I watched a lovely woman head in my direction, seemingly with purpose. I had taken note of her earlier and had enjoyed catching a brief look at her several more times during the evening. She was very pretty, with long red hair that fell about her shoulders and continued to cascade down her back. She wore an elegant black dress, neither too provocative nor too demure with thin straps over her shoulders, a neckline that allowed bit of cleavage to appear but not a bosomy gully. The dress fell to her ankles with a slit that rose up to mid thigh on one leg to allow for easy movement. On her feet she wore a pair of expensive black patent platform heels with high (probably 5"), thin heels.
She approached me and spoke softly. "Excuse me," she said, her eyes looking directly into mine and then falling to look down toward the floor. "Would you please help me?"
I consider myself to be a gentleman and so I responded politely, "I will do what I can. How may I help you?"
"Do you see a man with dark hair, a tuxedo and a blue and yellow plaid bow tie behind me?"
I looked and saw a man who fit the description. "Yes."
She looked up at me, and this time her eyes revealed some nervousness. "He's been following me all night. He's approached me twice. The first time mostly politely but when I declined his invitation for a date he became angry and stormed away. He approached me a second time and was quite forceful and abrasive in trying to get me to go on a date with him. I think he's trying a third time and I don't want to deal with him. Can I just stand close to you?"
"Certainly, if you think it will help. Stand beside me, we'll have a conversation and hope that dissuades him,' I suggested.
"Thank you," she breathed out in a bit of relief. "My name is Jen."
The man in question seemed to slow his pursuit but still was very focused on her. A small plan was formulating in my mind in case he approached and tried to bother Jen again.
"Nice to meet you Jennifer." I said, looking back into her sparkling blue eyes. I didn't shake her hand because it didn't fit with my hastily conceived idea. "My name is Theodore but please call me Ted. I have an idea, let's pretend that I am a friend of the family, of your father's. What is his name?"
For a moment she responded with a questioning look but then she caught on. "Richard, but every one calls him Rick." She raised up and gave me a peck on the cheek as she spoke in a louder voice, "So good to see you, Ted. I didn't realize you'd be here!"
The kiss caught me a little off guard until I realized she was playing along with my plan perfectly. I bent to kiss her cheek and slipped my arm around her back at the waist while doing so.
"I'm just as surprised to see you here, too!" I smiled. "How are you doing, Jen?"
At that moment the boor decided to interrupt. "Who the hell is he?" he said gruffly, looking at Jennifer but nodding his head in my direction.
"He's an old friend of the family, of my father's," she stated flatly moving a little closer to me.
Deciding to take control of the situation I inched forward without taking my arm from around her waist. "I'm Ted, an old friend of Rick's and, you are?" I inquired.
He flashed a look at me and then leered at her. "I'll talk to you later," he barked as he spun on his heel and strode away.
Jen pivoted and seemed to fold herself into me. Her hand came up and gently took hold of my lapel. I was captivated by her perfectly manicured, red nails as her fingers toyed with the dark grey fabric. In the softest of voices she cooed, "Thank you daddy."
I was thrown a bit by the word and thought perhaps she was thanking her real father since we had used him as part of our little subterfuge but they way she said it, they way she folded into me and the way her hand remained on my chest I felt a different meaning was intended.
"It is my pleasure, baby girl," I whispered to the top of her head as I wrapped my other arm around her shoulders. She moved even closer to me, pressing her body against mine and laying her head on my shoulder.
We must have looked a curious couple to anyone taking note of our embrace. Me, in my early sixties, full head of white hair, holding this petite, red haired beauty who was probably in her early thirties. I briefly scanned the room and took note of only her crude pursuer watching us intently.
I released her from my arms and spoke softly, "That jerk is watching us closely from across the room. I think you should stick with me for now."
She looked up at me from under her eyelids and, with a hint of a smile, said, "Yes, daddy," as she slipped her hand into mine. Something inside of me changed as I looked at her. I can't describe what it was. Some wall or barrier may have been broken and something I had been holding back was free. Or, a connection that had long been dormant was awakened. Whatever occurred I felt a strong desire to protect this woman I had only just met and didn't really know.
"Walk with me," I said, not letting go of her hand, and we strolled about the room. We talked and I learned she was an in-house attorney with with a large publishing company in the city. She was unmarried, had no children and lived alone in a high rise apartment on the other side of the city. She also plainly stated that she was thirty eight years old.
"I never would have guessed your age. I thought you were seven or eight years younger," I told her honestly. I filled her in a little about myself, where I lived, what I did for work and so on. As we conversed I kept my eye on the jerk and saw that he continued to stare at us while following at a distance.
"That clown is still watching and following us, Jennifer. I'd feel much better if you stayed with me or some other friends until he leaves. Do you have co-workers or friends here you are with?"
"Well, I did come with a couple of people from my office but I'd prefer to stay with you, if you don't mind." She began her statement looking directly at me but lowered her eyes again as she spoke.
"How could I mind spending time with a beautiful and engaging woman like you?"
We picked up drinks from one of the several open bars, found a quiet spot with a good view of the room and stood close together. For no reason other than I liked the way it felt I slipped my arm around her back at the waist again and she responded by leaning against me, her head on my shoulder.
"I like they way your arm feels around me," she whispered before taking a sip of her wine.
"I must confess that I like having my arm around you, Jennifer."
