I have been dreaming up stories for years but, until recently, none had ever been shared.
Some of the people and events described are inspired by my own experience, but it is overwhelmingly a work of fiction.
Constructive criticism is welcome.
Liz first appears in "Entertaining Liz". You don't need to read that before this story.
Prologue
After graduating with a degree in International Finance I had landed a great job at a major consulting company. After a period at head office in London I was posted to Singapore as a member of the regional team.
A bold request
One day Mary, a colleague asked me to join her for lunch. It was odd, and it wasn't. We juniors often ate lunch together, but it was usually an unplanned, unorganised, spur of the moment thing. You had lunch with whoever was around at the time you were ready for a break. Sometimes you agreed "let's do lunch" but it was always a suggestion, never a commitment.
This was different.
We walked away from the office, further than usual unless there was a reason like a birthday or a successful deal to celebrate. Then we might go further.
This was different.
I sensed that Mary wanted to talk about something personal, something private; a conversation that she did not want others to witness, let alone overhear. So be it.
We found a small cafe that was surprisingly uncrowded for the time of day. We ordered food and drink, then found a table outside. I waited for her to speak. Instinctively I knew this had to be in her own time.
"Adam, firstly, thank you for joining me for lunch" she said hesitantly.
"We don't know each other very well, but there is something, a favour, a big favour that I want to ask of you."
Our meals arrived, disrupting the moment.
I returned my focus to Mary, "tell me".
She paused, "what do you know about me?"
I collected my thoughts. "I know that you are smart, Singaporean, ethnic Chinese, you have a ring on your finger so engaged, a cross on a necklace so Christian, and I assume a respectable, well-to-do family, but that could be prejudice on my part. How am I doing?"
She laughed, "not bad, Sherlock! Obviously, modesty prevents me from agreeing with some parts of that, but I can say that it's a summary many others would agree with."
"Fair enough, but unless I'm badly mistaken, I'm not here to sing your praises, am I?"
She blushed, "no, I want to ask you to do something for me. Something very personal. Something that you won't tell anybody about."
"That sounds serious." I paused, collecting my thoughts again.
"I can't commit without knowing what you want, but I'll do it if can, and as long as it's not illegal or unethical I won't tell anyone. Is that good enough?"
She smiled, "actually, it's probably the best possible answer. It's all principle. That's what I'm looking for, what I need. I'll tell you more after we've eaten."
My mind was racing as we ate. What could it be? Assassinating our boss, TK, might be considered a public service but was definitely 'illegal', being caught smuggling drugs was a death sentence, importing chewing gum was frowned upon, but I doubted Mary had a severe Wrigley's habit.
I finished my meal quickly; Mary was dawdling over hers. With a sigh she pushed the plate away.
"I guess I can't put it off any longer."
After a big breath she explained that indeed she came from a 'good' family: lecturer Father, doctor Mother. She was an only child so carried all their expectations. Her parents were committed Christians, and she shared their faith. Lionel, her fiancé, had lived next door for as long as she could remember. Unsurprisingly the two families were close, so she and Lionel had practically grown up together. His family was also very religious, and he was studying to become a priest. With their long connection and shared belief, it just seemed inevitable that she and Lionel would get married. Both sets of parents were delighted when she accepted his proposal.
"I'm sensing a 'but' coming" I offered.
"Yeah, there's a 'but'. Obviously I've known him forever, he's a nice guy, I trust him completely but I don't know if I love him. You're supposed to feel a 'flutter' aren't you? You're supposed to be horny for each other. Lionel has never even touched my boobs.
"I got engaged because it was the right thing to do, not ... well, I'm not sure it was the right thing to do. I'm confused."
"Mary, I'm not the right guy to ask for relationship advice. I've slept with quite a few women, some were girlfriends, others more casual. But I have never been engaged, never met somebody that I could imagine spending the rest of my life with."
"I'm not asking for advice; I want something more ... practical. I want to have sex with somebody with who knows what they're doing."
She blushed so hard you could have heated a small town for days.
"I want you to take my virginity!"
Time stood still. Had I misheard? No, the words were pretty clear, and she appeared to mean them. I scrambled for an appropriate answer. Mary seized on my hesitation.
"It's OK, I understand, you only sleep with pretty girls. I'll leave now." She started to rise.
I reached for her hand, "please don't go". She sat down.
"Sorry, that was a bit of a curve ball, it took me a moment to process it.
"Firstly, you are pretty, but that is kind of irrelevant. I like you Mary, I like you as colleague, and, although we don't socialise away from work, I think of you as a friend.
"I like to help my friends when I can. So, even if you looked like the back of a bus, I would consider want to help.
"Sorry, that sounds pompous.
"Normally I'd jump at the chance to sleep with a pretty woman, but in this case I think I am hesitating because I don't want to take advantage of you. Are you sure you want this?"
She nodded.
"Then it will be my pleasure to be your first. Thank you."
Suddenly, a thought struck me: "why me?"
"It was Liz's suggestion. She said you were kind and considerate to her, that you didn't take advantage of her when you easily could. She wouldn't tell me any details, she said I should ask you."
