The Meeting

Chapter 4- Giggling Girls and Moody Men

I wake up the following morning, light streaming in through the window, intruding and making me squint. I wish I didn't have to get up this morning and that my bed would just swallow me up whole, however my roommate, Aria, is back from her vacation today and the apartment is in shambles.

With a groan, I pull myself from the cool sheets and pad over to my en suite bathroom for a nice cold shower. My mind drifts automatically to last night and my foolishness. He asked me what I wanted and I couldn't give him an answer. I should have just said no and walked away and I wouldn't be feeling this way. He will expect an answer from me today and I can see myself saying yes despite all rational thoughts.

As I soap up my body, I imagine his hands on me last night before I left. His lips were kissing me softly and he pressed his hips into me, trying to persuade me as much as possible. Mmm it was so nice. Maybe it could work as friends with benefits. I certainly don't need to be in love with anyone right now and he doesn't seem like the kind of person to hold down a relationship, though I have been wrong in the past. I make a mental note to ask Aria when she's home. She's amazing at giving advice.

After my shower, I blow dry and curl my hair into its usual soft waves, and then slip into my comfortable sweats that I wear for cleaning. I barely get the kitchen done when I hear the door open and a flash of blond hair and giggles hits me at a run, taking my breath away.

"Zoe! I missed you!" She pulls me in for a vice-like hug and squeals, her eyes bright and mischievous. I laugh and try to steady myself to avoid us falling to a heap on the floor. 

"How was your vacation in Ireland?" I pry myself free of her and start to make some green tea for her, her favourite.

"Oh my god! It was so amazing! So beautiful. I wish you came with me, though maybe next time?" She lounges at the breakfast bar, looking extremely beautiful even though she has just been on a nine hour plane ride. She always says that you need to look like a movie star at all times because you never know when you may meet the man of your dreams.

"Well you better tell me all about it." I slide her tea over to her with a smile. She takes it from me and gives me a funny suspicious glare.

"I will, but you must tell me about the guy you had sex with while I was gone! It's all over your face. I've never seen you smile so much."

Darn it, am I that easy to read? I was kind of hoping to save that conversation until later, but Aria doesn't like to let anything go and will hound someone for any information that she needs.

"I kind of wanted to talk to you about him anyway," I start cautiously, pulling her over to the couch. I sink into my corner and hug my favorite pillow. "That meeting I told you about, the one on Thursday."

"Yeeeeeees?"

"The person Tom and I met with is the CEO of Strikeout publishing.."

"Get out!" Aria squeals, throwing a pillow at me.

"You know of the company?" How am I the only one who knew nothing about them? I had to do some last minute research before the meeting, just so I wouldn't sound stupid.

"Well, yea! Damien Hunt just did an interview for Cosmo last month. They dubbed him the sexiest business man in North America." She pulls a magazine out from the bottom of the pile of Cosmo's on the coffee table. "I still have it here." She throws it over to me and I see Hunt's sexy eyes staring out at me.

"Damien," I say softly to myself. He never told me his first name, but it suits him well.

"Don't tell me you slept with him and didn't even know his name?!" She goes to grab the pillow again, but I snatch it away from her.