Emma

Emma left the high rise office building early. She was excited for the weekend but disappointed she would have to stay in New York for another week. “Why can't the ad department get the job done on time?” she thought. “This wouldn't happen in Minneapolis.”

“Good afternoon,” the doorman nodded as she stepped outside.

“Good afternoon, Benny. Is New York always this miserable and boring?"

"You're using the wrong adjectives," he answered in his always happy voice. "Try magical and exciting because life is what you make it."

She rolled her eyes. "Right, and where do I go to be magically excited?"

"It would help if you would stick around for more than 48 hours," he said as he opened the door to her taxi.

Emma scoffed at the thought, but here she was, stuck in New York. At least tonight would be entertaining. She was looking forward to dinner with a promising new client, Alan Scott, though secretly, she was more interested in seeing Dennis, a contracted caterer, at the office party. Should she reschedule the dinner? No, she couldn't risk losing a new client. Hopefully, Dennis would still be at the party after dinner.

At the restaurant, she had just enough time to freshen up in the restroom, exchange her silk, sleeveless tank top and suit trousers for an evening dress she had in her bag, and answer a text from Penny, an office colleague and friend.

“The party looks great," texted Penny. "Dennis has outdone himself with champagne and caviar charcuterie. He is surrounded by hungry women, if you catch my drift. You should get here before someone snatches him up.”

“Sorry, Pen! I have a business dinner first. I′ll be there soon.”

Emma followed the hostess to the table.

“Mmm that looks..."

She looked over her plate. She had looked forward to the restaurant's famous shrimp scampi but was presented with a cheeseburger and fries.

"You ordered for me?” she asked obviously disappointed.

“I did, and I apologize," said Alan. "I hope you like it. I'm meeting someone at the office party tonight, and I need to cut this short. I ordered food to go.”

“Okay," she said, intentionally shifting the focus away from her dinner disappointment to something positive. "Where are you on the proposal?”

“I think it's great! I wanted to see you in person, see how you handle disappointment, and know who I'm working with. The fact that you can roll with the ups and downs is a good quality. We've talked on the phone, traded paperwork, and can now work face to face. I'm excited to work with you and look forward to seeing you in Minneapolis.”

"Minneapolis?" asked Emma.

"Yes!" said Alan. "Our CEO there is retiring and I am transferring to take his place. I'm hoping our companies have a long and prosperous relationship."

“That's good news!" said Emma, putting her burger in the to-go bag. "So, Bon appétit?” she smirked.

Alan laughed. "You got it."

He stood and, for the first time, noticed how beautiful she was. Her hair twirled in bouncy black ringlets that brushed across her shoulders when she turned her head. He stared, speechless, into her emerald green eyes set in perfect harmony against her light copper skin. He gently took her hand. "It's been nice meeting you." He struggled to find words. "And... and thank you for understanding the 'fast food' and uncomplicated dinner slash meeting." He lightly kissed the back of her hand.

Emma blushed. "My kind of meeting. I feel like a kid who just skipped school."

She texted Penny from the taxi. “He's attractive, tall with dark hair, just your type, but probably married.”

"Can you leave early and come here,” Penny texted impatiently. “By the way, 'My type' and 'probably married' do not belong in the same sentence."

“Haha, jk. And I am leaving early because he's coming to the party. You know me, I'm all about business, not romance.”

"Remind me of how you are all business after you see Dennis," Pen laughed.

Emma stepped out of the taxi gracefully, her shapely legs showing below her gown. Suddenly, her heel caught in a crack in the curb sending her tumbling toward the ground.

"Are you okay?" A hand reached for her.

She looked up into the face of a handsome, tall man with a full head of thick, brown, wavy hair and dark blue eyes. She stared dreamily into his eyes for a minute then took his hand and stood up.

"Alan!" she gasped. "I left you at the restaurant. How did you get here before me?"

"It's not a magic trick," he grinned. "My taxi followed yours."

"Emma," Penny interrupted. "You okay?" She took Emma's arm and led her inside.

"Who was that?" she asked.

"Your new obsession," smirked Emma.

"He is cute," said Penny. "You can introduce me after we find Dennis." She took her to the conference room where guests were mingling.

"There he is!" swooned Emma. "He's even better looking than last year."

Dennis was leaning on the bar with one foot on the bottom of a bar stool, talking to the bartender.

"Serve a couple gals a drink?" Penny asked.

He turned to see her and Emma standing behind him. "Good to see familiar faces," he said. "Drinks for a dance?" He held his hand out to Emma.

"I'd love to!" she answered apprehensively. She had admired Dennis for three years, and he had always left with someone else, seeming not to notice her. She took his hand and followed him to the dance floor. Maybe this year would be different.

While they danced, Dennis talked about Penny. "Is she single? Do you think she would dance with me? I look forward to this party every year hoping to see her."

Emma wasn't sure how to feel or how to respond. Penny was her best friend, she wanted her to be happy, but Dennis was her crush. She wondered if she had been so self absorbed that she didn't notice that he was into Penny. She turned to look at her. Penny was looking longingly at Dennis. She also noticed Alan talking to Penny.

"I'm sure she would dance with you," said Emma. "But you'd better hurry because someone else is interested."

Dennis hurried to Penny and interrupted her conversation with Alan. "Would you dance with me?"

"Yes!" Penny nearly screamed it. "I'd love to dance with you."

Emma walked over to the bar where Alan stood.

"I was hoping for a chance to dance with you," he said.

Emma looked into his dreamy eyes and walked with him to the dance floor.

Alan continued. "And maybe in Minneapolis we can get to know each other better during a real dinner."