Please, Jolie

Everyday I would see him at work, he just casually dressed. Slacks and a simple button Yes up shirt over a plain white under shirt so he didn't have to expose his bare skin through the material of his shirt. Black loafers in the style of a boat shoe. The shoes seemed to be pretty pricey Sperry's but hey, look are deceiving. But, he was always well dressed so I wouldn't be surprised if it were something pricey and almost astronomically out of my price range for what I call, a "budget". He was attractive, fair skin with memorizing blue eyes. He was taller than me but still lacked in height compared to other males, still he had an almost perfect psychic. He was older in age, I could tell by his maturity and how he carried himself, on the other hand I am particularly young so his age in comparison to mine is simply comparing apples to oranges. His hair was golden and long, he kept it slicked back and into a tight and almost majestic ponytail that stopped just above his tale bone. His smile was subtle and he was shy. That also was attractive. It was illusive. He acted like I didn't exist around everyone else, but I could see the soft suggestions he was making towards me. The body language and the incentive of lust and passion. Of course, this was a work place and any form of relationships between co-workers a simply forbidden by company policy. Why would anyone risk their entire life, health and welfare for the endeavors of temptation? I continue to work and stop dabbling in the thoughts of his presence and how curiosity strikes me.

"Hey." A faint quiet voice protrudes from above my head. I look up. Its him.

"H-Hello...uh...is there something I could do for you?" I question his actions. Why was he approaching me. My heart begins to pound and I become a little panicked. He's never needed me before.

"Do you have any extra staples? I'm all out."

He could've asked anyone else, why did he ask me?

"Yes". I begin to search for the staples, I had just brought some from home the previous day so I knew I had some. I found them just under my project binder and handed the staples to him as if I were giving him some type of magical wand forged by the gods.

He chuckles. I guess he noticed my haste, I blush and quickly attend back to my work. I wait patiently for him to leave but instead he stands there.

"Would you like to have dinner tonight?" In complete shock I stop pretending to find something to do to ignore him awkwardly standing there.

"Excuse me?" Skeptical about the situation I look at him in confusion.

"I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner with me." He repeats himself. I could see a bit of embarrassment in his face, he seemed nervous and chocked up. Was he just as shocked he asked me out as I was?

"You do realize that would be against company policy." I didn't know what else to say. I felt like I had to establish myself before I gave an answer. What was he even asking me?

"Dinner with a co-worker is against company policy?" I could tell his question was rhetorical.

"U-u-uh n-no I was simply implying that anything further may be a representation of a company violation and put us into positions of termination." Was I the one choked up?

"Are you always a stickler?" Again he chuckles. flustered I reply with a quick "No."

"Well then lighten up and join me for dinner."

"When".

"Tonight".

"Tonight?" An invitation to dinner the night of? What kind of guy was this!? "Are you serious? Is that even enough time?"

"Enough time for what? We're just co-workers having dinner! Meet me and McCormicks' Tavern, Just across the street from the old wald-house building, 8 o'clock." And with those simple instructions he retreated. In awe I returned to my thoughts. I sulked in my pride. I was right.

Later that day after finishing work and clocking out for the rest of the day I headed towards my car prorating in the thoughts of the events that had occurred earlier in the day. I was willing to meet him but what would come of this interaction? Questions can never be answered without investigations. But upon approaching my vehicle there he stood. Gawking at him I just stopped mid track.

"Are you stalking me?" I smile and reciprocate the same snarky attitude I received from him prior to showing up at the door of my car. I didn't want my words to be harsh and disrespectful.

"You forgot your keys at your desk." He replies as he tosses my keys in the air casually walking away dismissing himself. Catching the keys I walk to my car. The distraction of my thoughts alters my actions. I can barley turn the key in the ignition. My mind was racing! How did he even know which car was mine? There has to be at least 8 Nissan Altimas in this parking lot alone. Never mind the whole garage.

The ideas swam through my mind like a lost fish in a wide and vast pond. Where could it settle? Time starting turning slow, and haste turned to hesitation. Do I go out to this dinner? I arrive home just a bit weary from the exhaustion of collecting thoughts, manipulating scenarios and manifesting origin stories. It felt like I was taking a thousand steps from my car to my doorway. In reality I only stepped about five feet. Is this anxiety? I'm flustered by the thought of even preparing myself. But I've already made a commitment, or at least he thought I have. I honestly don't want to make the work environment uncomfortable or have to avoid him, even though I do it everyday of my life. Although normally it's ignorance not avoidance. Still, standing him up wouldn't make either situation better, so I've decided to partake in what may or may not be a plutonic interaction. What should I wear? I opened my door and entered my apartment, strolling to my living room I turned into a small sleek hallway just of the staircase that led to the second floor into my bedroom. Upon entering my bedroom I get a small glimpse of cologne through my nose. Nautica? Tommy Hilfiger? It was memorizing. Where was it coming from? It disappeared. Was I manifesting fantasy? No, I'm not that crazy. I continue my course of action switching the light to my bedroom on. I walk to my closet urgently, it was now 6:30 and I only had an hour to be ready and out the door, given that the tavern he wanted to meet at is almost forty-five minutes from my house. What would I wear? I didn't want to be flashy considering he was a pretty casual guy. I wanted to match his aura. But I also wanted to look attractive and illuminating... I wanted to be his eye candy for the night. He was most certainly going to be mine. After defiling my closet and raiding through my wardrobe I finally settled on a simple and sleek mermaid dress. It came passed my knees and flowed elegantly from my ankles. It was silver and had rhinestone embedded in the sweet heart neckline that dipped just under my cleavage. It was perfect. The clock struck 7:15 before I showered and by the time I was ready to leave it was 8 o'clock. I was already late-fashionably of course. I left my house with the quickness of hound dogs on a blood hunt. I was ready.

Arriving almost an hour late I park in the rotunda in front of the valet parking booth. Stepping out of my car and being escorted to the building while my car was being parked was one of the highlights starting my night. The tavern was particularly nice and required a high level of etiquette to dine-in. Upon entering the restaurant I pass a sign reading "reservations only".

"Your last name?" a skinny man with a mustache and dark skin tone said as I approached his podium.

"Lester" I replied.

"Sorry ma'am but I see no reservations under the name "Lester", are you sure you reserved a table tonight?

"Yes. I was invited by a Phabeian Caswell. Is there a reservation under Caswell?" The man looked at me unconvinced before looking through the listing of reservations for the night.

"AHHH...You must be Jolie, Mr. Caswell plus one. I do apologize for the misunderstanding. Please follow me to your table, Mr. Caswell has been awaiting your arrival for some time." I felt a little embarrassed by his observation. Was I really that inconsiderate about my time management? I mean I was only twenty-five minutes late. I followed him and as I did a sweet and tarty aroma filled my nostrils. The smell was familiar and faint but I couldn't recognize it. As I got closer to the table we were heading towards the scent became less potent and soon left the air. Regardless, we approached the table where Phabeian sat.

"Good evening madam, we have arrived at your party's table" the matradee stated before pulling out my seat and sitting me down. After accompanying me to my seat the matradee left the two of us alone.

"You definitely dressed better than me" Phabeian commented as I made myself comfortable. I noticed he was wearing a simple gentleman's outfit. Although, unlike work he was much more fashionable and a lot less comfortable in his clothing. I could tell he dressed up for the occasion on the other hand he could just not have any remote idea on how to dress. It could be his anxiety like anticipation is mine.

"Sorry, did I do it up too much"?

"Oh no. You're fine, there was no dress code and you'rea woman, I expect you to naturally dress as such for this kind of setting".

I looked at him saintly.

"Was that sexist"? He questioned after examining my face.

"Oh no. You're fine there was no code of context and you're a man, I expect you to naturally make such remarks, even in this kind of setting." I rebutted rhetorically. He chuckles and for a moment after there was silence.

"Eh-Erm" I hear him clear his throat. "Can I be honest with you"?

"Honesty is the best policy".

"Well, in that case, Jolie...this is my first time asking a woman out. I'm usually the one being asked or the one putting in effort, but you seemed a little more above my self righteous attitude...so I went against myself and asked you to have dinner with me". I was shocked.

"Are you serious?" I blurted. My face must've spoke for my embarrassment when he smiled and nodded..."I didn't mean it like, in a pathetic way, I'm just a little amazed. Is this really your first time making the first move?" I was confused, baffled, flabbergasted discombobulated and any other word to describe lost and overwhelmed. He sips of his wine, and smiles with a slick expression on his face he answers.

"Yes. Is it that surprising? You're facial expressions entails a story of stagger. Is this news that unexpected for you?"

"Is it that surprising that I am questioning you" I asked.

"Let's get more wine and order our food, I'm hungry, I've already waited an hour to eat." His comment made me blush, was being too self-conscious?

" can I be honest with you since we are sharing intimate thoughts". He looked at me as if I had two heads "what are you staring at"? I added.

"My thoughts weren't intimate, it was just something I'd never done before, and I thought it would be nice to share it with you. For you to have a bit of a deeper sense into my character. I know I'm not the most outgoing, people tend to misread me a lot. I don't want that between us. I don't want you to misread me. If anything, I want you to know exactly what I'm feeling and thinking. Always." His words sounded like fragments of an old narcissistic poem.

"Well, Phabeian with you not wanting to be misread I don't want to be mislead. I'm curious to the purpose of asking me to dinner." At that moment a waiter approaches our table.

"Good evening lady and gentlemen. Are you ready make the order for your appetizers or will you be skipping to the main course tonight"? Phabeian smiled as he looked at me. Was I supposed to decide?

"What do you think Jolie? Would you like appetizers or would you prefer to skip to the main course?"

"I'd like to have some appetizers, I like to have an introduction to my meal and this is also my first time here, I'm interested in what kind of appetizers are served".

"Okay". He turns his attention to the waiter "we'll start off with our appetizers."

"And what would you like tonight? Can I interest you in tonight's special? A small portion of a Greek salad tossed in a light and seasoned Greek dressing accompanied by cut strips of our freshly grilled chicken and topped with feta cheese". It sounded delicious. My mouth began to water and my stomach began to gurgle.

"Let's have two please." Phabeian requests. The waiter takes our menus and switches them out for the main course and retracts himself back to the kitchen.

"The purpose of this dinner is interaction Jolie. Simple. I can't fathom why you're so critical. I see you watch everything, and analyze it. Why? Why not just let things happen? Why question them?" He says pouring me some wine.

He was right. I was critical and I did over analyze everything. But I didn't know why. His questions were hard, I didn't know he even noticed and I didn't know how to answer.

"You watch me?" I said raising an eyebrow. He Smiles as I grab the wine when he finishes pouring it into my glass, I take a sip.

"Yes." I almost choked.

"What?" My face was almost in disgust. "What do you mean you watch me? Isn't that a little creepy?"

"Well I could say the same Jolie. I watch you because you watch me. Isn't that how this works? An eye for an eye? Or am I misusing the metaphor?" Did he just call the holy scripture a metaphor?

"I wouldn't call it "watching you" Phabeian. It's more like an observation of my surroundings. Understanding who I am around, even if I have little contact with them." It was the best I could do. The words in my head seemed scrambled. I couldn't make sense of what was happening. I felt like I had no control over myself.

"Precisely Ms. Lester...Precisely". The waiter arrived to the table to ask us if we'd like another bottle of wine. Phabeian agreed to another bottle of wine and the waiter leaves. Followed by him is the food runner, he brings us our appetizers and cutlery.

Phabeian and I both smile and bow our head in respect for serving our food, a symbolism of the term "thank you" used instead of speaking. It's an action mostly done in the higher class of society.

"So what do you do for fun Jolie? Are you adventurous? Do you take risks? Tell me? What makes you tick." I don't do much. I am such an isolated hermit that it's honestly pathetic. I think for a minute and try to grasp any type of hobby I may have and my mind draws a blank.

"I don't do anything. Nothing fun and I have no friends. My life is so sheltered. I'm actually tired of being so cooped up in my house. But the thought of going out and socializing is just exhausting." I realized that I was in rolling in self-pity...could he tell?

"Well id like to change that. I'd like to take you out and have fun with you. We could do anything you want. Anything."

"Anything?"

"Yes. Anything"

"Even if it were a trip to Paris?"

"We'd fly first class." I was devoured by his response.

"First class, for a lady like me?"

"I'd give anything for a lady like you Ms. Lester." What the fuck was going on? I my mind started to melt, what the hell are we saying? This is clearly not plutonic. I become paranoid. My heart begins to race and I can't stop myself.

"What the hell are we talking about Phabeian? Are you asking me out? because I told you before, this is against company policy. We could be fired! This is the best job I've had in my life. I can't throw it all away for dating!?" He looked unsurprised.

"You're beautiful when you're a stickler, you know that?" He smiles and begins to eat his salad. I calm down and begin to do the same. The atmosphere became crisp and silent between us. He was quiet while eating his salad, and so was I. We finish our salads and the table gets cleared for our next meal course. The waiter approaches the table.

"Would you like to place you main course order?" He questions. I haven't really taken the time to review the menu but I know every restaurant has chicken.

"I'll have the chicken" I say giving the waiter my menu.

"And for you sir?"

"I'll have the duck".

"Good choice sir". The waiter takes Phabeian's menu and escorts himself back to the kitchen. Still, we were silent. I guess the anticipation began to eat me away because I started drinking the wine like water. It became my best friend. The glass never left my hand. By the time our meal came I was in my fifth cup of wine and I was damn near drunk. I've been drunk before, many times actually so I knew I could maintain myself in front of company.

"You must like wine jolie." Phabeian chuckles cutting into his roasted duck. Shaken by his words I don't reply. I just continue to eat. I didn't want to be rude but I didn't want to be bitter either. I was having a good time and didn't want my over emotional issues to ruin it.

"I didn't mean it badly, I just noticed. I apologize if you took it offensive Jolie. I honestly didn't mean it that way." I could tell he was sincere.

"It's fine Phabeian. Your straight forward and I like that. It's attractive ." Did I just say that? It was the wine! And with that more of the wine came splurging out. "You're so attractive Phabeian! If I am honest I'm getting aroused just looking at you, and here I am fighting it because of a job that I only love because I finally make a six figure income." I couldn't control my lips. Did I even want to?

"Jolie, When we finish dinner would you like to join me to my apartment "? I hesitated. I could already see the synopsis of this playing out. But Even knowing I could lose my job for what may occur at his apartment, I wanted it. I wanted him.

"I would love to join you." After finishing our meal, Phabeian signals the waiter for the check, he pays and we begin to leave. Phabeian helps me up from my seat, he notices that I am stumbling a bit and decides to be my crutch. We walked slowly together out of the restaurant with my arm attached around his shoulder. He calls for valet to bring his car. They arrive with his black mustang. It was beautiful and much more expensive than mine. He helps me into the passenger seat of his car.

"Wait. Wait. My car, it's parked with valet?" I become frantic

"It's okay Jolie, I'll bring you here to pick it up in the morning. You're honestly way to intoxicated to be behind the wheel anyways. Just relax." The instructions were simple. He assured me he'd bring me back tomorrow and to just relax. But how could I? Overnight parking is so expensive and I can barely afford a coffee every morning. I was so frustrated. How did I allow any of this to happen. I'm usually so responsible and more aware. Tonight I really just let my guard down. Phabeian gets into the car and pulls off. On the ride to his apartment it begins to rain. I look out of the passenger side window and leaned my head against the glass. I want to sleep. I glance at the time on the dashboard clock. 11:35 , it was getting late.

"Where do you live?"

"In the condominiums in South Bay, about a half hour drive from here".

Condominiums? I thought he said apartment?

"Is it nice?"

"You'll see when you get there". I hate anticipation.