I hang up the phone, feeling slightly foolish as I did so. I cannot remember the last time I felt this nervous about a man. Its quite simple, I lecture myself, just call and when he answers ask him if he would like to have dinner with you. I tell myself to grow up, that I am a mature woman, capable of negotiating multi-million dollar deals. Why am I so afraid to make this one call? Sighing, I answer myself. I am afraid of rejection. After watching the one man I loved beyond all else marry another, while continuing our affair right up to the night before his wedding, I was cautious of allowing any close to me. Still I knew that I was being foolish.
The phone rings, startling me. Hello, I ask as I pick it up. My heart begins to beat faster as I hear his voice - the man I have been agonizing about - on the other end. He asks me to dinner. I hesitantly agree. He tells me he will pick me up at seven. Again, I agree. We hang up. I sit still for a few minutes, stunned that he would take the initiative and call me. Glancing at my watch, I see I have four hours until he is to come and pick me up. Suddenly I feel giddy and young - something I have not felt in years. Smiling I get up and head towards the bathroom. For the first time in weeks, I feel like pampering myself. Though I have dated casually since he has married, I have never taken the time to make myself look as beautiful as I did for him. Now though I felt that it was time to take this chance life offered me and try to start anew.
The hours fly by as I bathe and get dressed. I apply perfume to my pulse points. It is a light, sensuous scent, something I had recently bought on a whim. I dress carefully in an emerald green sheath. It hugs my body demurely in the front, flowing to the floor in straight simple lines. The back is a different story as it leaves me bare to my waist. I use a light hand at applying makeup. I want tonight to be different. I want to impress him and I instinctively know that too much would have him turning the other way.
Finally, it is time for him to show. I wait in the living room, a glass of white wine in my hand. The doorbell rings. My heart begins to pound as I stand up slowly and answer the door. I smile shyly as I accept the bouquet of roses he has brought me. He tells me I look beautiful. I offer him something to drink, which he refuses saying he has reservations at 730 at an exclusive restaurant. Impressed, I ask him how he managed to get a reservation there on such short notice. He replies that he has had the reservations for quite some time but that his original date had to cancel. Forcing a smile on my face I try not to let the disappointment of knowing I was not his first choice for the evening to show on my face. Ah, I say as he helps me put on my coat. I lock the door behind us before following him into the elevator.
During dinner, he is the perfect host, asking me about my job, my life and my travels. I answer carefully, giving shallow answers, feeling as if I was being interrogated. He neatly sidesteps all my questions to him, leaving me feeling uneasy. After dinner, he takes me to a local bar for drinks. The questions continue through out the rest of the night. The disappointment I try to keep at bay finally erupts as he ends the evening, walking me to my apartment. Thank you I say politely as we stand outside my door. I cannot wait to get inside where I could cry and try to figure out what he wants from me. I smile politely as I open the door. Turning I say it's late and he should probably get going. I thank him again for dinner and his company. He smiles mysteriously, a strange glint in his eyes as I carefully ease behind the door. Good night, I say to him as I begin to close the door. His hand shoots out, preventing the door from closing. I raise startled eyes to him.
He smirks. Really my dear, do you really believe you can get rid of me that easily? He asks as he pushes his way into my apartment. I can see why Jason recommended you to me. He trails a finger down my arm, assessing me like a butcher assesses a slab of meat. He laughs as I jump at the name of my recent lover. Ah yes, he says. Did you really think you two were a secret? All he could brag about was how hot you were and how he was going to miss you and the games you used to play with him.