Wiling partners
David had really enjoyed the interview process.
To be honest there had been many better-qualified applicants and in a couple of cases better qualified and better looking, but there had been something about Rachel. He wanted to spend time with her and as he debated whom to pick he found himself daring himself to pick her.
In the end pick Rachel he did, after all he told himself he could afford to take a risk. No one had expected his project management company to work, but it had almost immediately and after three years of very hard work he was employing his first member of staff, and he wanted someone he would eagerly await seeing each day. It had been a lonely experience building the company.
Rachel had sounded thrilled on the phone when David offered her the job, she had accepted immediately and they chatted easily on the phone. He had butterflies in his stomach at the thought of her starting on Monday. He told himself to grow up. He had employed some eye candy that was all. She was a lot younger, living with someone and frankly out of his league. However, the butterfly's remained.
He knew in his heart it wasn't how Rachel looked, but how he felt when he was with her or spoke with her. He knew it was a dangerous game, but the excitement was intoxicating.
On the phone, David had explained they would be flying immediately to Seville to finish off a very lucrative job he had been working on for 6 months. So you will need your passport, and clothes for Monday to Friday he had told her. Clothes? What should I bring she asked, smart casual he had said. Some more casual stuff for the evenings and a couple of formal outfits if we have dinner with the client. She giggled delightfully at that and said in mock horror; I will just have to go shopping then.
They were two very excited people when they met at the airport, Rachel because this was all new and David because Rachel was there. He checked them in and led her to the business lounge. She was wonderfully naïve, exploring the lounge and commenting on the small glasses, the rows of pastries, and the views of aeroplanes.
The trip passed swiftly. Rachel seemed to charm immediately the male steward who served them, and for the first time in years David enjoyed a flight. She had played endlessly with the seat and the television system, watching a bit of a movie, playing a game, and then switching to the journey map.
Eventually the plane landed, Rachel and David collected their luggage and they checked into their hotel. Their large penthouse rooms were on the top floor, and Rachel worked hard and diligently with him that evening as David briefed her on the project.
The days passed in a blur of long hours, quick briefings, and for Rachel long sessions at the computer creating documentation for project hand-over at the end of the trip. The climax of the week was a meeting on the Thursday afternoon when they reviewed the whole thing with the CEO.
Rachel was a little late for that meeting, arriving a bit flustered. The CEO appeared to forgive her immediately as both the CEO and David were distracted by the vision that arrived in a plain short black dress.
As she calmly and confidently briefed the CEO on the hand over documentation, she had prepared; David sat back admiring her wonderful legs. Rachel legs were displayed beautifully by her short dress and high heeled shoes. He loved the fact that her legs were bare. After the briefing was complete, the CEO excused himself and left them alone. Rachel looked at him smiled warmly, and David felt himself blush as she pulled her dress down slightly.
"I am so sorry I was late," she said breathlessly, "am I doing OK?" He smiled and assured her it was going great.
"Relax," he said, "it all's good." She smiled happily, and he found himself staring deep into those wonderful blue eyes.
The meetings concluded with the CEO and a couple of his colleagues having a final debate with them over a few issues. At one point Rachel had to come round to David's side of the desk and show him a phrase in the documents that he was struggling to find. He caught the scent of her perfume and got a brief glimpse of cleavage beneath her dress and a faint glimpse of a black bra. She again flashed him that smile as she straightened up, and again he felt himself going red as he feared she was reading the impure thoughts in his mind.
Finally, the CEO announced they were satisfied and he would happily pay the fee plus the bonuses for on-time and on-budget completion.
In the taxi, back to the hotel Rachel excitedly talked to him trying to gauge if he were satisfied and if was pleased with her. David smiled and laughed at her, telling her to go get ready so we can "blow the bonus on dinner."
The meal was just great, this time she wore a red dress, but again very simple and plain just the way he liked. Her bare legs and hint of cleavage were distracting, and he wondered if she knew just how much. The wine she drank made her more chatty, more giggly and a couple of times he found her touching his arm. They chatted easily talking about their lives, how he had set the business up and her life with her boyfriend.
They left the restaurant with her thanking him warmly, saying she loved working for him.
"Is there anything you would like to do now?" he asked, not wanting the evening to end, but having no clue how to prolong it.
"How about, no that's silly," she tailed off. He shrugged, and she finished, "I have always wanted to go in one of those."
He realised she was pointing to one of the horse-led carriages he had often seen around the town. The driver had seen her point so had quickly come over in the hope of picking up a fare.
"Are you sure?" he said nervously feeling like he both did and didn't want to go. "Don't worry I promise to behave. Come on it will be fun," she said happily and grabbed his arm as they walked over to the carriage.
So it was that he found himself being walked to the driver's carriage, the driver hustled them into place and gave them a blanket to cover their legs. Unsure at first; eventually, he sat back captivated by her love of life and her enthusiasm for new experiences.
It was a bit of a shock for both of them when the carriage was parked in a quiet corner of the park, and the driver walked away clearly going for a smoke. David and Rachel looked at each other.
"I think he thinks we are lovers," he commented, realizing the use of the word lovers sent a pleasant thrill through him.
"Well I guess this is the lovers way round town," Rachel giggled grabbing his arm and continued smiling with that wonderful smile, "and this is so they get some time to kiss and cuddle then?"
"I think that's the idea," he replied hoping she couldn't hear his heart beating.
"Can I?" She said.
"Can you what?" he replied.
"Kiss you," she said.
