“ 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