First Failed Attempt

I rush through my meeting, not really concentrating at all. I need to close this deal, but I know it will really close itself. I am the best at what I do, I could have done this with a conference call from my office, but I felt like showing face. As with these things, they bring you countless amounts of coffee just to keep you awake. All I can think about is going past Crazy Beans to get real coffee on my way to the office and, of course, to see the owner again.

I leave my meeting at noon and make my way back to the coffee shop. I decide against asking Mason to come over; I know he would be teasing me for being here. I myself don't know why I am here. But if I want to get this girl, I should start doing it now.

And then there is that part that does not want to look stupid in front of his friends when she turns me down.

I sit at my usual table. I take my phone and run through my emails and also send a message to my assistant that I would be in a bit later. Finally, the waitress shows up.

"What can I get you, sir?"

"I see you are still calling me, sir."

She bursts out laughing. Now, if a relationship were something that I really wanted, then I'd say that she has a beautiful laugh, one that wants to make you burst out laughing with her. And then there is the way her smile plays around the corners of her mouth that makes you want to smile back at her.

"Double espresso?"

"Yes, please. Sorry, what did you say what your name was?"

"I did not..."

She disappears behind the counter and a few minutes later appears with my cup in her hands.

"Do you mind joining me for a minute?"

"I don't normally do, but I see the waitress is back."

She takes her own cup of coffee off the counter and sits down at my table.

"Your waitress does disappear a lot?"

"Oh, she is having problems with her boyfriend."

"And you allow her to let it interfere with her work?"

"We all have our problems; if I need her help one day, I know she will be there for me."

"That is a different way of thinking of things; Mason would never dare to bring his girl problems to work."

"You men are different from women, we share everything, and we help each other; we like sisters and friends at the same time."

"The only thing men share is their beer and their stories about getting laid. We could care less if you are having a problem with your girl."

"You definitely nailed that one."

I stare at her a bit too long than I should do, but she seems like a nice girl, in fact, the perfect girl. I need to see her again; we have to meet outside this coffee shop. I am going to have to ask her on sort of date, am I going to pass out, the possibility is there, do I know what I am doing, definitely not.

"Do you ever go to Myst?"

"Jo is practically part of the furniture."

"Is Jo, your boyfriend?"

She bursts out laughing again.

"No, Jo is my business partner and my best friend. She is feeling ill today; that is why she is not in."

"Maybe you and Jo can join us next time you are around."

"I am afraid I don't go out with clients."

"You sure you can't break the rules just once?"

"Unfortunately, no rules are getting broken here, but if you will excuse me now, I need to get back to work."

"Wait!"

I take my wallet and take out one of my business cards. I hand it over to her.

"I'm Damon. If you ever change your mind. We almost always there."

She looks at my business card then looks at me. I can't read her face; I have no idea what she might be thinking. Did I blow it before it even started? She places my card down on the table and looks up back at me."

"Damon Chase, I have heard about you. Bad boy and heart breaker and some things I don't think are fit to say out loud in public."

"You should really not believe everything that you hear."

"If there are so many, it is hard not to listen."

"You are listening to the wrong things and the wrong people. I am really a good guy."

"Yes, really good at what you do."

Ouch...I did not see that one coming. She is beautiful and a decent girl, I like that, but she is also hot and cheeky, I like that even more.

"Please just consider it."

"As I said, I do not get involved with clients."

As she walks off, I can't help but smile. For a minute there, I thought that she would have said yes. I thought that she might not have heard about me and my reputation. I have probably tried picking her up before or, even worse, her sick friend. With me, absolutely anything is possible.

A few minutes later, she comes back with my tab. I place the card that she left on the table with the paid slip and say goodbye.

"It was nice to have met you; I will be waiting for your call."

She hands me my card that she has picked up off the table.

"Damon, it is nice to have met you; I will see you around."

I leave the coffee shop and make my way to the office. Still holding my card in my hand, I look at it and smile. This is going to be a challenge, and I like it. She is the perfect girl; she is not some easy clueless girl. I am going to make her mine before the three months is over, but to get her to say yes in a week is going to take some work.

Yes, this is most definitely a stupid bet, we make these stupid bets all the time, but I will be honest that this is by far the one with the highest stakes. I am not talking about the money. Someone is losing their heart, and I am making sure it is not me.