Blank Space

6

"Wasted opportunity!" Selena hisses down the phone. Sean is sat back at his office desk on the Thursday morning after returning by plane the previous night.

"I was nervous!" he says defensively. "I like to take things slow!"

"No time for slow in Miss Swift's world! All she knows is touch and go!"

She hangs up bluntly. Sean places the phone back on the desk and sighs. It wasn't good enough for Selena that he'd managed to pluck up the courage and talk to Swift, never mind score a date with her. Though it wasn't official... What was he supposed to do? Go and knock on her door when he was ready? What if she had changed her mind?

"Mr O'Pry." Karlie's voice calls from her office. "I have a Mr Mendes on the line. Should I put him through?"

"Please."

The phone on his desk buzzes once more. He lifts it to his ear. "Hello, New York Times, Sean O'Pry speaking."

"Mr O'Pry, this is Mr Mendes calling from Woolworth Mansion. I believe you met with my employer on Tuesday night."

Sean jumps out of his seat. "Yes, I believe I did."

"Miss Swift would like to invite you to an informal meeting tomorrow night." Mendes spoke monotonously. "A 'drink', if you will."

"I would be honoured." Sean obliges.

"Excellent. Miss Swift will be expecting you at 6PM. No earlier, no later."

"I look forward to meeting her."

"I'm sure the feeling is mutual." Mendes responds plainly. "Good day, Mr O'Pry."

Sean holds the phone to his chin and continues to pace about the room deep in thought. Karlie appears in the doorway in a shot.

"Who was that?"

"Mr Mendes is an employee of Taylor Swift." Sean explains. "She's invited me for a drink at her house tomorrow night at 6PM."

"Oh my god, Sean!" Karlie squeals excitedly and embraces him unexpectedly. "This is it! It's paid off!"

She unlocks her arms and proceeds to join him in the pondering.

"We need to plan this meticulously: your outfit, your conversation, your table manners-"

"What's wrong with my table manners?"

"We need Selena. I'll call her now."

Karlie dashes off into her office to make the vital call. Sean leans back in his chair with a smug grin. Success was in reach, he could almost taste it on his tongue.

***

A small red Mini rolls up to the iron gates of Woolworth Mansion, bathed in orange twilight. The window rolls down. Karlie lifts her sunglasses to rest upon her head and speaks into the intercom.

"Name?" Sean recognises Mendes's coy tone.

"Sean O'Pry." Karlie chimes. "I'm his chauffeur."

"Mr O'Pry is only permitted to enter alone." Mendes asserts.

"Got it." Karlie smiles. "I'll wait here in the car."

The gates to the mansion creak open ominously; the gravel path winding up to the porch, where a single lamp glints enticingly.

"Thanks for the ride, Karlie." Sean says gratefully.

"Hey, don't mention it." Karlie shrugs, and gestures to his tie. "You'd better sort that out before you appear in front of your hostess."

Sean glances down at the loosely-knotted tie and quickly pulls it up. He steps out of the car and closes the door gently behind him.

"Text me if you need picking up!" Karlie calls through the open window. "Good luck!"

The Mini does a three-point turn and revs off down the tree-lined street. Sean gazes up the path to the mansion: a fountain bubbles peacefully on the lawn, and birds sing their evening song in the treetops about. He makes his way boldly up the steps straight to the door.

The golden knocker is shaped like a roaring lion, with a handle hanging from its open jaws. Sean takes it and knocks twice. In less than two seconds, the door swings open. A young, handsome man with dark brown hair and a tuxedo answers. He looks Sean up and down and smiles politely.

"Mr O'Pry, I assume? Come right this way."

He steps aside, allowing Sean to stroll into the entrance hall: just as grand as he imagined, with marble pillars and a chandelier to add to the magnificence. Mendes closes the door and leads him to the dining room, even more glamorously decorated with roses bursting out of crystal vases.

A long banquet table is laid out before them with silver gallery dishes of food: steamed vegetables, roast meat in succulent sauces and of course, desserts galore. Sean could feel his mouth salivating at the aroma alone.

"Please take a seat, Mr O'Pry."

Mendes offers him a chair at the head of the table. Sean seats himself like a king overlooking the feast spread out before his eyes. The prospect of a dining had never even crossed his mind.

The door on the other side of the room clicks open. His attention switches quickly from the table to witness the elegant creature gracing his presence. Taylor Swift glides towards the table, boasting a long midnight blue dress with long drooping earrings, and a silver heart-shaped necklace. Her head is raised regally as her eyes cast down upon her guest. Sean instinctively rises to his feet out of respect for this majestic woman. Mendes hurries to the chair on the opposite end of the table and drags it out.

"Thank you, Mendes." Taylor slides into her seat. "Could you please fetch our guest some wine?"

"Of course, Miss Swift."

The butler disappears into a neighbouring room, leaving the pair of unlikely acquaintances alone.

"I must say, it is enchanting to meet you again, Mr O'Pry." she remarks.

"Please, call me Sean." he smiles warmly.

Mendes reappears with a bottle of finest Sauvignon Blanc and pours it into Taylor's glass as she flashes a smirk across the table.

"When you invited me here, I wasn't expecting such a formal display." Sean adds.

"Oh, I will only settle for the best for my guests." she proclaims, raising her hand as an indication for Mendes to stop pouring. "Besides, our first meeting was a little too informal for me - we barely had time to talk! Now please, tuck in!"