CHAPTER TWO
onja left her office at five o'clock which gave her enough
time to run home, freshen up, change clothes from business to casual, and
still make it to the Hyatt Regency at seven. Yes, she had decided to go
meet Neil. What did she have to lose by having coffee with him, and hadn't
she secretly fantasised about such a "date" for years? Here was
a man who through his lyrics and music had touched the very depth of her
soul. It was as if she had suddenly been granted an audience with the Pope.
here was still that nagging question in her mind: "Why
me?" then again, why not her? Sonja was a young and attractive professional
woman. At age 28 she was a valued associate in the architectural firm where
she was employed. As to her being attractive, it's true she'd had no shortage
of dates when she was at university, but lately she had spent so much time
on her career that they had become rather sparse. It was also true that
since she had broken off her engagement to her longtime boyfriend Sam two
years ago, she had found herself enjoying the freedom of being single.
Sonja, at five feet eight inches with her shoulder length strawberry-blonde
hair and pale blue eyes was a knock-out, but she took her physical beauty
for granted. Her beauty was quite easy and natural. She never appeared
overly primped and usually wore her hair in a French twist.
onja arrived at the hotel at just two minutes past seven
p.m.. During the entire drive over from her flat, her stomach was completely
filled with butterflies. What would they talk about, she wondered among
other things. As she entered the lobby, she began to scan the room for
Neil, then she saw him moving towards her. He was wearing khakis and one
of his Hawiian print shirts. His hair was a bit tossled in the cute boyish
way of his. Then he spoke. "Sonja, I'm glad you decided to come. I
wasn't certain if you would or not. Would you like to just get something
to drink or would you fancy a bit of something to eat as well?"
ood. Sonja hadn't even thought of food all day, but she
realised she was in fact, starving. "How could I resist an invitation
from you, Neil?" she said, then added, "I would like a bite to
eat, now that you've mentioned it." She surprised herself with the
nonchalance of her own speech. Neil suggested that they might go to a small
bistro that he knew which wasn't far away. They didn't really say too much
to each other on the brief walk, beyond what a lovely evening it was. Sonja
was wondering in her mind whether to come right out and ask why he had
asked her, or if she should just be patient and hope that he would soon
clue her in. The cafe was small and intimate. They were seated at a quiet
out of the way table near the back. After the waiter had taken their order
and then brought them a bottle of wine, she felt she could no longer hold
back the burning question. "Neil, just to what do I owe this pleasure
of having dinner with you?"
(To be continued...)
