"Well, that should be a wrap, Lourdes," I said, as I began to shut down the video camera and recorder.
"When can I see what it looks like?" she asked, her dark eyes twinkling with anticipation.
"If you want, we can take a peek now," I replied. "Just let me get everything connected up so we can review it on the monitor."
"Oh, boy! This is so exciting!" she squealed.
Who hasn't heard that Latin women are excitable? It was obvious that Lourdes was no exception. She had been working at our company for a couple of years as an electrical engineer. Although she had come to the US from Venezuela several years before, she still had a trace of an accent that I found alluring, so I always listened intently to whatever she said, to catch those cute little turns of phrase.
We had just finished taping a video demonstrating a piece of equipment our company manufactures. Since a prospective customer in Mexico was interested and she knew the language, our boss had asked us to set up the equipment and make a brief video to send off. More cost effective than a sales call, he had said. So, I put together a little script and let Lourdes do the translation. It had taken the better part of two days to complete and now it was show time. She slipped her long lithe frame into the chair next to me behind the editing console. We had just finished dubbing some voice over sections and she was obviously anxious to view it.
"Okay, here we go!" I said letting the tape start up.
The screen faded in to our company logo then dissolved to a simple title screen. Another dissolve to a long shot of the test stand. As the music was brought up Lourdes appeared in her white lab coat and began to talk about the equipment and started running some tests. I couldn't understand a single word she said, but it didn't matter. I couldn't take my eyes off her slender frame moving about the equipment.
"You look great, Lourdes!" I said as her video image went about pointing out the important parts and what they did in a very professional manner. "You might have a future in television."
"This does look pretty good," she replied as she concentrated on the monitor. "You did a good job of setting this up. It actually looks pretty professional."
"Yeah, it doesn't look too bad. I think Harold will like it," I said looking over at Lourdes.
"I do look pretty good, "she said, leaning back in the chair, arms crossed over her chest, staring intently on her image moving about the screen. "You did a good job of shooting my good side."
"Every side of you is good," I said. "You're a real natural in front of the camera."
Lourdes was tall and slim with shoulder length jet-black hair, dark eyes, and a wonderfully smooth complexion, just dark enough to show off her South American heritage. Although her lab coat was bulky and kept her figure pretty well covered up, there was one shot that showed off her long legs and another that captured the lovely curve of her breasts. From the smile on her face, she must have been pleased with what she saw. When it was over she faced me and leaned forward to give me a hug.
"Thanks, Ronny," she said wrapping her arms around me.
"I guess that this is what they call a wrap!" I teased, not wanting her to pull way.
When she got up to leave, I began to put the equipment away. Lourdes lingered around helping me stow the gear.
"I notice that you're the one who always does this sort of thing," she remarked as she coiled up some extension cables. "You know, photography and videos and stuff."
"I was the AV geek in high school," I confessed. "I'm supposed to be an engineer, but if it helps the company out when I can put something like this together, I don't mind."
"Do you ever moonlight?" she asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Like, do you shoot pictures and video on the side?"
"Professionally?" I said, wondering where this was going. "Not really. More for my own enjoyment."
"Oh," she remarked and went about putting the last of the spotlights in the storage area.
"Why do you ask?"
"Well, I was wondering if you'd want to do me a favor," she said stepping over toward me.
"I guess so. What do you have in mind? Your nephew's birthday party or your sister's wedding?"
"Well, actually, something sort of personal," she said. There was a hint of uncertainty in her voice. "You know that my boyfriend is in the Navy overseas and I was wondering if you could help me make a tape to send him."
"Oh, one of those, 'Gee, honey I sure do miss you' kind of things?"
"Not exactly, but sort of."
"Well, sure, I guess I could help you out," I replied. "Just let me know when you're ready."
"Could you do it this weekend?" she asked. "Maybe Saturday?"
"Sure," I said, knowing that I had nothing else going on that day. "Just think about what you want to shoot, I'll pack some gear up and be over to do it."
And just like that we set the time and she gave me directions to her apartment.
"See you Saturday!" she said waltzing out of the room wearing a big smile.