Dancing With Fire

- A Gentleman Caller -

"Maya! Is this you?" Office manager and sweetheart, Libby, plonked down a magazine on my desk. Some local entertainment industry rag. She was sweet and bubbly, and entirely too much this early in the morning. I hadn't had my coffee yet and struggled to focus at what she was indicating on the page. I rubbed my eyes and realised I was looking at a two-page spread on the industry event from Friday night. A shot of me in the background of a group photo came into sharp focus somewhere in the bottom right-hand corner of the spread. It was a candid shot from a distance, and my little black dress and plum lipstick did me justice for a photo I had no idea was being taken.

"Libby, how did you even spot that?" I laughed, "I barely recognised myself! Yeah, that's me."

"That's so cool! I didn't know you spent your weekends at such glamorous events!" She bounced up and down with energy I couldn't imagine anyone having at this hour. I almost checked to see where her wire was because she must have been plugged into one of the power outlets.

"You must have great connections, there were a lot of bigwigs there giving the talks." Imran appeared at my shoulder, sarcasm lightly lacing his voice. He had cruised by with his coffee in hand, gazing down at the picture with an eyebrow raised. I rolled my eyes.

"Oh, I cannot stand listening to those old men talk like they're army veterans. I left before their verbal autobiographies started." I groaned and Imran chuckled in response. I leaned back to look up at him, the smell of the coffee was enticing to my weary head.

"One would have thought you enjoyed these things, getting an invite and all." Imran poked my shoulder. It was clear he didn't think much of these events. Frankly, neither did I. I'd literally gone to try and get laid.

"Nah, my best friend is an events manager - she invites me to events she organises sometimes."

"Meet anyone interesting there?" Libby asked excitedly. She was a sucker for glitz, but I had no tea for her. Except...

I'd been avoiding thinking about him, but Adam Kai's sweetness splashed itself across my mind.

If blushing could produce a sound, I would have been ringing like a bell. "Uh... no. Just, you know, the usual industry folk." I didn't want to talk about Adam because I didn't want to think any more about that night. I'd only managed to get through it before I left by acting cordially and putting on my professional game face, but on the Uber home I turned his card over and over in my hands, letting the glossy embossed logo catch the light, then flicking back to his name and phone number on the back.

It was a business card - so it was just a professional thing, right? He sounded so impressed with my work, maybe he had another opportunity for me? Or maybe... No. I couldn't think about it without blood rising to my face. So I stuffed his card in the middle of a heavy book and there it stayed for the rest of the weekend. Probably for the rest of my life. He was there with that gorgeous blonde, I didn't imagine he was thinking of me that way. Here I was again, living a fantasy.

"Ooh, I heard Adam Kai was there! CEO of KaiTech! Have you heard of him?" I nearly choked on the air I was breathing. Before I could respond, Libby had grabbed my hand, "Oh, Maya, he's so dreamy. A CEO at his age - and single! Can you imagine meeting such an eligible bachelor at an event like that?" she swooned. I dismissed a twinge of hope at her mention that he was unattached.

"Sure. Let's say yes. I can imagine that." I said through a forced smile, my head beginning to pound. Imran picked up on my discomfort immediately.

"Alright, I'm sure it wasn't that kind of party." He snickered, "come on Libby. We've all got work to do. Save the fantasies for your lunch break."

"Oh, alright." Libby pouted, "Tell me more about it later, okay?" She waved as Imran ushered her away from my desk.

---