Falling for Aisha

The Encounter

Aisha

I knew it was a bad idea, but I had to try.

Spending my 29th birthday alone in a high-end bar inside the city's most well-known five-star hotel would have been the perfect celebration. If only I had someone to spend the night with.

The voice of my childhood friend, Tasha, still rings inside my head as I down my cocktail.

"You're turning 30 next year, woman. It's way past the time for you to pop that cherry. Get laid, for heaven's sake!"

That's when Tasha decided to book me a fancy hotel room that comes with access to a private bar, buy me a form-fitting little red dress and gave me a major makeover - hair, eyebrows, lashes, lips - all the works.

Too bad a homely woman like me still looks too plain despite the two-hour makeover session. Or maybe people just sense how boring of a person I am so they don't even bother to approach me.

"One more glass, ma'am?" At least the bartender was nice. He was polite enough to give me an appreciative glance when I sat at the high chair and ordered my drink. He's cute too, but with one glance I knew he was young, too young for me.

"No, thank you. I'll have the bill please."

The young man smiled and moved closer. "Are you sure, ma'am? You could stay a little longer."

"I can recommend some of our more popular drinks...and maybe some other things too", the boy added with a wink.

Silly me, for a second I really thought he was flirting with me.

Seriously, Aisha. Why would a much younger guy flirt with you? Have you not had enough wishful thinking and daydreaming the last 29 years?

I was about to politely decline the bartender when a petite woman went to the counter. With those slim limbs, barely-there tummy, and perfectly shaped boobs, she would definitely pass for a model or something.

"Hey, Derek, the usual please." She said in a soft, girly voice while she fluttered her lashes and placed her hair behind her ear. Classic.

With that tiny gesture, bartender's face lit up like a child's on Christmas eve. He didn't even look at me when he said he'll be back with my bill; his attention is on the new chick who's probably no more than 20.

Right. This is a bad idea and a total waste of time. What made me think some cute dress and expensive make-up would help me at this stage?

Maybe I should just hire someone to finally do the deed and get done with it. The "alternatives" have been helping me scratch the itch, but at this point in my life I just feel like I'm missing out on something so...basic, a fundamental human need, if I'm being all nerdy about it.

I just want to experience the real thing for once. Just once.

With my drink finished, I had nothing to do but look around the bar while waiting for the bill. That's when my eyes caught what every other person in the room was probably looking at - a tall, good looking guy in a dark blue suit who just walked into the bar like a GQ model coming out of the pages of the magazine.

As if feeling my gaze despite the sea of onlookers, he suddenly looked up from his phone and our eyes met. GQ guy stopped on his track and raised his right brow.

Shit.

How embarrassing! He caught me practically drooling over him. God, could this day get any worse?

"Excuse me, bill please." I tried to get the bartender's attention but he's too engrossed with his female friend.

"Leaving already?" A low, raspy voice said from behind me. I didn't know how, but somehow I was sure it was GQ guy. Holy moly even his voice was sexy.