I was on a business trip in Georgia for a weeklong conference and trade show. Besides myself there were 5 colleagues with me. We were a compatible bunch so it was nice. After work we typically went to some hotel bar for an hour, then on to dinner. At least that's what we all did on previous trips. This was no exception.
On our second night we were all hanging around chatting and planning where we would eat that night. I went to the ladies room and on the way back stopped for a soda from the bar. While waiting for my drink I turned to see a tall black man smiling down on me. I say down because he was at least a foot taller than me.
He was clean shaven, in good shape, highlighted by the expensive suit he was wearing.
He said "My name is Charles, would you like to dance?" I was caught off guard. My first reaction was to glance over at my colleagues to see if they noticed. I smiled back and replied 'no thanks'. He looked back to where my colleagues were and then back to me.
What he said next shocked me. However his words came out so naturally.
"I see your friends there. Looks like you're a little embarrassed to be talking to a black man. You do have black men where you come from right?"
"Yess", I stammered, not taking my eyes off him. It seemed like an eternity for my drink to arrive.
"Lots of white woman are ashamed to be seen with a black man. Afraid of what their friends might think. Some secretly may think about what it would be like to be with one. So, in their private thoughts, they may think about it. "Just as I dream of white women."
"Some even act on it when their pals are not around'. Are you going out with your friends tonight?'
"Yes" I managed to say. We are heading out to dinner. I glanced at my friends again. Thank god no one had seen me yet.
"Are you staying in this hotel?" Again I replied "Yes". I didn't want to talk to him, I least I thought not, but I was mesmerized by him. He asked me my name and I told him.
"What's your room number?" he came right out with.
Don't know why but without thinking I told him. Out of the corner of my eye I finally saw the bartender coming with my drink. If what this handsome stranger said before shocked me what he said next did even more so.
"I see you're busy for the next few hours. I see you can't be with me now, your friends and all. But you might be curious; you might need some company later. Here's what I'll do. Around 9:30 I'll drop by to see you. You then have a choice. Tell me to leave. Or - let me in. I'm okay either way."
"But, (and this sounded like a warning) once I'm in, I'm in all the way."
He turned to leave and softened his tone, "You're a beautiful lady. I hope to see you later". He smiled as he left.
I looked around again. No one had noticed this interchange. I glanced at the mirror behind the bar and looked at myself to see if I looked as flustered as I felt. Seeing no clues I took my drink and re-joined my group. As I chatted with my companions I was self-conscious. Did anyone notice? Did they but won't say anything?
I realized after a short time that they did not. We stayed another 20 minutes at the hotel lounge. All that time I kept glancing at the entrance to see if this stranger would appear again.
We went to dinner at nearby restaurant. It was a good meal. But all the while there I was thinking to myself. What a strange conversation! Why me? He did say I was beautiful. I'm not used to compliments and such forward speaking men.
Normally I would say he was a cocky jerk, but the way he came across was confident. I really like that. He had an authoritative tone, almost dangerous. I thought of mentioning it to one of my lady friend but thought better of it.
Then I thought of what he had said about embarrassment. Was I ashamed to be talking to a black man? Certainly I had done that in business settings with no problem. I had never been with such a man and certainly would never consider dating one. My friends would disown me! I couldn't handle it.
But, a little side thing. No one would know about that. But it ain't gonna happen.
We were done with paying the check. This snapped me out of it and back to reality. The group went back to the hotel and our separate rooms. People had families or friends to call. Some of the guys had sports to watch.