The Man I Call Strong

Chapter 4: Reservations

My heart is attempting to leave my chest as I read the email over and over again.

What!? He wants to see me? This is like being asked to see the principle, it's never good. My entire face is heated until my skin is scarlet. What am I going to do? Should I go?

Then I can't sit still anymore. I fling my laptop open again and sign in. I hit reply to his previous message and type with shaking, heated fingers.

Dear Mr. Strong,

I appreciate your passion to better your business, even though I doubt I would better it, but I also have an uncanny fear of EVERYTHING. Including talking to people. I don't think a face to face appointment would be the best idea.

Aurora LaRue

My heart still jumps in my chest anxiously as I send my response. Please answer back. Please answer back. Please answer back. Please, please, please. I see a new message pops up in my inbox after eight minutes, exactly. Oh god. Please. Anything, anything but an interview.

Miss. LaRue,

Being a man of science. I hardly believe that there is a phobia of EVERYTHING. Secondly, you have said no to me once already. THERE IS NO SECOND AND THIRD STRIKE! Thirdly, and lastly, I would like to point out that I, also being a man of technology, can and will track your device to where you live if that is what it takes to have that face to face.

Sebastian Strong

SStrong@UnitedStrongEnterprise.com

347-325-1464

P.S. Your speech this evening could say otherwise.

I physically gasp out loud as I recall my speech at the graduation. How does he know about that? He wasn't there. I blush incessantly. 'Did he just say that?' Track my device? That can't be possible. Or legal! If I had half the mind or audacity as Ruby, this guy would be running for the hills by now. I hit reply on his message and sit in silence as I read over his email one last time. So what if I said no to him already? Maybe I like saying no to him. Woah. This is a sassy side of me that I've never seen or heard of before. I better write my response before she goes away.

Dear Mr. Strong,

May I inquire how you know of my speech? As I recall, you did not attend. Hence how I got your letter from your bodyguard that smelled quite more then just pleasant.

Aurora LaRue

I wait no more then five minutes and I see the telltale message appear in my inbox.

Dear Miss. LaRue,

When you say 'smelled quite more then just pleasant,' do you refer to my 'bodyguard' or my letter? Also, my 'bodyguard', Rex, happened to have a recording device handy, as did many other proud parents. Very mysterious.

Sebastian Strong

SStrong@UnitedStrongEnterprise.com

347-325-1464

I burn bright red as I think of Mr. Strong's smug face when he heard my reference to his letter. 'Very mysterious' He's making fun of me. My sassy side is put away again and I suddenly feel small and helpless as I blush from his inquiry.

Mr. Strong,

I feel we have amused this banter far long enough. Fine, you win. I will see you at eight tomorrow. Don't expect much.