“ Mmmmhmmmm,” I said as I sipped my drink, still skeptical. The smooth hot liquid felt good going down.
He wasn’ t a bad looking guy at all. He was quite handsome, well groomed and dressed very nicely. Come to think of it, he always was. Unless he was the janitor or something he must have had a pretty good job because all the companies in the building we work in were high end companies such as law firms, brokers and different kinds of privately owned agencies. I myself was trying to work my way up to partner at the head law firm in the city.
“ Come to think about it we are always meeting by chance. How about we meet on purpose this Friday night? I’ d love to take you out on a date. You seem to be a private person, as I am also, so we can meet here then head to dinner and a a movie. Let’ s say 6pm-ish. How does that sound to you?” he asked.
“ Sure,” I said dismissively as I stared out of the window again.
I was still hearing the bartender’ s voice and pondering exactly what was the meaning and purpose of her statement. Was I not supposed to want better for myself? Exactly what was so wrong with that? I had goals and dreams I was trying to accomplish. I had a family depending on me. I just wanted to be established before settling down, that was all. Why exactly did people always assume love and kids was supposed to come first? I’ m only 32. I have plenty of time.
The guy had been talking and eventually he waved and left. I waved him away, realizing I hadn’ t heard a word he’ d said for the last five minutes. It was for the best that he’ d left. I wasn’ t one for small talk and tonight my patience was even shorter. I really hoped this start to the new year wasn’ t a glimpse of what the rest of my year was going to be like...
***
For as long as I could remember I’ d always been a serious person, even as a child. Don’ t get me wrong I played outside with my friends and had what I considered fun, but I don’ t know if they felt the same way about me. When playing any type of games, winning is the goal, right? So that’ s what I concentrated on. Everything has a strategy. I would focus on how fast my opponents could run, what their habits were or how quickly they could think on their feet. I’ d figure it out and use it all against them for the win. That was the purpose, so that’ s what I’ d strive for.
My skills were what made me such an excellent lawyer. I applied the same ones from childhood to my adult life, especially in the courtroom. I’ m so damn good at what I do, that’ s why I was having such a hard time figuring out just why I’ d been passed up as partner yet again. I tried to put on the best face I could but I just didn’ t get it. I was promoted, though. I got a new office, more money, I was given my own assistant and everything but I still did not have the title I’ d been working my ass off to get.
be still following me around. I had no desire to pretend to be jolly and happy at my office spring festival but I also had no choice.
It seemed as if these people found any and every reason to party. They loved to drink well beyond their limit, dance badly, laugh loudly and talk major shit. I guess it would’ ve been fun for anyone else but for me schmoozing with my bosses and co-workers was just another part of the job. I could’ ve thought of a million other things I could’ ve been doing in my office. I had deadlines I needed to meet. I was passed up this time but I was determined this was going to be the last time.
“ Heeeeeey everybody!!!!” yelled a familiar and very annoying voice.
“ Heeeeeey!!!!!” everyone yelled back.
It was my assistant, Shelby. She’ d been working for me for a few months and wasn’ t particularly good at it. She was very rough around the edges but worshipped the ground I walked on. I knew she would do anything I asked but I just needed someone that could keep up. Everything in me wanted to get rid of her but she was at least trying and I didn’ t want to seem like that hard to please kind of boss. I was trying to make a good impression on the higher ups, not give myself a bad rep as being difficult to work with.
Even though New Year’ s Day quickly came and went, the same cloud that found its way to me that day seemed to
I wanted to see what direction she was in so I could go the opposite way. I peeped in the huge mirror above
THRIVE MAGAZINE 13