I was sitting all alone in a bar and in walked
A Stranger.
Who looked across the bar at me with an infectious smile.
Engine fired up hire car purring like a kitten waiting to race off the specifications my employer wanted me to get safely hidden under the back seat just in case I get stopped. It has taken six months of bargaining to get these documents.
I drove out of the car park onto the old airfield taxi way of this once significant Cold War facility. Not to attract attention I kept my speed within the stated limits, once I cleared the old hanger building's that once housed workshops for clandestine projects I turned onto the roadway towards the site exit and guardhouse.
For some reason it had twice as many guards on duty all armed with automatic weapons, not slung over their chests but in their hands which were on their pistol grips. They turned in unison the noise of my car must have alerted them. Two were now looking through their optical sights directly at me.
All I could do was smile and try and look like I was just going home from work. From behind one of the concrete barriers a guard stepped out with his side arm in one hand his other hand raised for me to stop then waved me over to the left to an inspection bay. My heart was pounding, I didn't expect this I had left early to avoid getting caught by security checks.
For no reason he waved me through I was now on the military road leading to the A338 which would take me to the A303 then Heathrow tomorrow. A VIP column of limos with motorcycle outriders passed me heading into the site. My heart stopped pounding it was all a show for Politicians visiting the site.
Took me about 20 minutes to get to my hotel, one of those innocuous Travel Lodge type places. Retrieved the papers from underneath the back seat and my briefcase and headed into the hotel. Entry was via a keypad this would be my second of two nights their.
Papers safely locked in the room safe, I needed a shower it was one of those stressful and hot sticky days plus leaving the site. A long hot relaxing shower was called for.
I stripped off dumped my clothes on the armchair and padded bare footed into the shower after I was destressed I was going to phone my employer.
Carol Donahew was three years older than me and company CEO. I switched my WhatsApp onto speaker but hit the video accidentally, suddenly she appeared on video, I was sitting there starkers in front of her.
We had history during the pandemic we all worked from home using Zoom conference or WhatsApp for one to one calls. She was a naturalist and took a lot of ribbing about it, one unplanned call I caught her starkers in her study.
She didn't bat an eyelid insisting I join her then she wandered about her study which was her management style with her pussy periodically looking and winking at me, it was difficult to contain myself. A new environment for meetings started between us that day she liked to call it 'a totally dressed down approach.'
This time she had caught me and apologised for not being able to join in, her office was a glass walled affair but insisted I continue my debrief as I was; not for the first time. Luckily her large bank of three computer screens hid my predicament from any onlookers.
Just before she was made up to CEO we had been on a business trip together in Thailand sharing a bungalow at one of those naturalist hotel complexes which was unexpected. Needless to say I was anxious about what she expected particularly when she had me strip off in front of her as she striped off, we had several naked meeting and drinks at the pool bar after that.
Her reputation about banging everyone she took a liking to was true, we weren't in any relationship just employer, employee but still liked to athletically banged me, on several occasions that week.
Carol was gay much to the annoyance of the prudish staff, particularly when her 18 year old Asian girlfriend Katia from London visited her at the office and they started to go out to functions as a couple.
Even in Thailand she had one of her gay moment when she brought back to her bungalow a waitress she had met that afternoon. She offered to send out for a boyfriend for me, I declined.
It was one of the most interesting sleepless nights of my life soundproofing in the cabin wasn't great. I could hear them enjoying each other vocally as they romped about and at their noisy climax, I nearly popped too.
I lay in my bed that night with a raging hard-on hoping her friend would visit me wasn't the case. Following morning after her friend left she challenged me with.
"Are you not gay? I think you are!"
I tried to fob it off didn't want to go down that route.
"What makes you ask that?"
"There is a story going about one of your previous employer's 'office party' where you were set up in front of your colleagues with a blind date with a gay. Outcome, you went on to have a passionate and an athletic relationship with him."
"That was many years ago when I was in my early twenties, we had a fling with time Kevin and I went our own ways."
"I know what you went through, I have the same experience each time I meet someone. You always defend my reputation since long before I took over from my father as CEO last year. I don't care wither you are enlightened or not.
All I am saying is if you want to bring someone back I don't mind." Since that day we had an open understanding of each other.
"Did you get the documents and signatures?"
"Yes they are in the room safe."
"Happy birthday now go out and have a nice steak, Thailand style, on the company."
Coded but I knew what she meant, I had been mainly home alone or discreet about my relationships, changed job twice because of the fallout from my blind date.
Call ended I thought ok I will, I had been given the name of a pub that specialised in Asian meals.
Meal finished I was sitting alone in an almost empty bar not its usual buzz the local Army guys were on deployment. It was my 30th birthday and I had just closed a contract with a nice commission.
I was feeling good about my impending bonus not so good about reaching 30 that's life. Also I hadn't been laid for quite a while and had heard this is the place you go to if you wanted uncomplicated company.
No sign of that happening I discreetly scanned the booths for someone touting, then I caught someone's eyes watching me as they slowly walked towards me and sat down.
"You look as though you could do with some company, can I sit with you?"