Post-COVID, the in-person industry networking events have rebounded. I am a part of a network that brings together cybersecurity and cryptography experts. We meet four times a year at various locations across the Sydney CBD.
The last meeting for this year took place at a classy cocktail bar in The Rocks called Frank Mac's. Housed in one of the earliest sandstone buildings in that precinct, the bar sprawled multiple levels with outdoor entertaining, perfect for days when it was not raining.
My prior engagement ran overtime, and I was an hour late. Fittingly for the topics discussed at the networking event, I received a scam call as I walked across the threshold concerning a fictitious Bitcoin purchase.
After registering my attendance, I ordered a glass of generic red wine rather than a cocktail because I was eager to catch the presentations. After adjusting my vision, I descended the stairs into the darkness and took the first available seat just as the first presentation began. I did not have a chance to scan the room, but I knew there were a lot of attendees since the functions were popular.
During the presentations, I became aware of the person beside me who brushed her foot against my leg several times. There was a feminine apology each time, and I thought nothing of it. After the presentations, the lights were switched on, and I took stock of my surroundings. The woman next to me was a petite but exotic beauty.
"What did you think?" I asked her about the presentations.
"Yeah, really good," She smiled, "The last one went over my head."
She referred to the topic of the Advanced Encryption Standard, which involved a lot of high-level algebra and a ton of acronyms, much of which I could not grasp.
"It's an interesting topic," I said, "But not easy to follow."
We ascended the stairs, and the attendees began ripping into the cocktail menu with fury. The subject matter appeared to exhaust the brain's attention to those present. I continued to order wine and began mingling with my peers but kept an eye out for the woman who continually brushed my leg.
Her eye kept tabs on me as the evening progressed. To say the situation was cliched was an understatement, but it happened. She was dressed in a stylish black suit and was maybe five-two out of heels and around 100 pounds with b-cup titties, a straggle of brown curls, fiery eyes, and an aquiline nose. Her heritage was the eastern Mediterranean, either Greek or Lebanese.
As the liquor flowed, so did my determination to re-engage with this petite, exotic beauty. My first opportunity came when I retold the networking event manager about my scam call. We were leaning against the bar when she approached for a fresh cocktail. Sticking around for the punchline, she laughed when I pointed out the irony.
"That's too funny," she said while placing a delicate hand on my arm.
Later, when I was talking to a counterpart at a company that had just experienced a rough PR week because of a national service failure. She approached the bar again and asked us a question, to which I provided a jocular response to much hilarity. She winked at me before rejoining her clique. I noticed that her name badge was handwritten, meaning she was a last-minute addition to the event.
Alas, the complimentary cocktails ended, and those who wanted to stick around had to dig deep into their pocketbooks; the cost was high.
"We should introduce ourselves," The woman said after returning from the bathroom and ordering another cocktail, which was no longer complimentary.
After exchanging names, Eleni handed me her hand, which was stone cold.
"But I have a very warm heart!" Eleni replied to my observation.
"Of that, I have no doubt," I replied before being pulled down for a brief kiss on the lips.
At that moment, I knew action was on the menu. My nerves increased, and my bravado faltered, but I tried to maintain my confidence and plumb the depths of humour to keep the mood lighthearted and free-flowing.
"Did you want to stay here?" I asked after finishing my cocktail, "Or go elsewhere?"
Around us, the event organizer was packing up equipment and banners. The place was emptying, but our little smooch did not go unnoticed by the staff as we leaned against the bar. It was still light outside, so we had to keep it respectable.
"I'm happy to stay here for a bit longer," Eleni replied, "If you are."
"Yeah, it's nice here," I agreed, "Would you like another?"
Eleni took the menu and browsed the offerings.
"What would you choose?" She asked as her eyes settled on a choice.
"I've tried them all," I laughed, "And they are all sensational."
"So have I," Eleni chuckled, "Do you have a favourite?"
She placed the menu flat on the bar so that I could make a selection. The waiter began preparing our cocktails. I reached into my pocket to retrieve my credit card, trying not to wince at the expected hit to my bottom line.
"I'll get these," Eleni smiled, placing a hand on mine and decking my wallet on the bar.
She pulled out a platinum American Express corporate card. I glanced at her handwritten name badge and saw that she was employed by one of Australia's largest fund managers, who probably gave out perks like Tic Tacs.
"Cheers," Eleni smiled as we clinked glasses.
"Mm, that's smooth," After the numerous flavour notes tickled my taste buds.
"Yeah, mine's awesome," Eleni flashed me a radiant smile as her eyes blazed with fiery passion.
"What do you do that grants you platinum status?"
Eleni laughed and explained that she was a senior executive in charge of data security and compliance. Her boss was unable to attend the event on the day, and Eleni had been deputized at the last minute. That explained the handwritten name tag.
"What do you do?" She asked, inching closer as people shuffled by.
"Something similar," I replied, "I manage the firm's certification suite, the regulators and industry relationships."
"I've not heard of your company."
Keep the professional stuff as brief as possible and finish by summarizing our firm's activities as operating in the shadows or behind the scenes.
"Shadows?" Eleni giggled, "I like people who operate in the shadows."
"Why is that?" I smiled.
"There something about operating secretively that is quite the turn-on."
I glanced at Eleni's left hand, but there was no wedding band or tan line. I guessed Eleni was single and placed her age close to mine. The wrinkles around the eyes confirmed that she laughed often and fully.
"And what secrets do you have?" I asked, wondering where this conversation might go.
"Oh, I keep my secrets close to my chest," Eleni pushed towards me before laughing again.
"That's a good place to keep them," I chuckled.
The cocktail bar began filling with new patrons now that the networking event had ended. The staff turned down the ambient light, which made the narrow confines of the place much more intimate. Eleni registered the change in mood and inched closer to me so that her fingers danced over my hand resting on the bar.
We spent some time establishing some boundaries. Both single. Both are the same age. Both are similarly educated. Both operate in complementary industries. Both were equally driven. And both were attracted to the other.
I suspected a substantial salary gap between us, and Eleni worked considerably harder than I did. Long hours, after hours and weekends.
