I really am pretty good looking. Each time I look in the mirror I surprise myself. Not because of how handsome I look but that I forget I look that way. My perfect tri-corner nose, the symmetry oh my cheekbones and the way my eyebrows compliment my green-brown eyes. Who would believe they looked like that without constantly checking up on their own reflection?
My reflection was straightening his tie and checking for anything in his teeth in that second before the plane landed. A consultation in Chicago had gone long and run into my prep time for a date. I moved to Arizona because the airport was close to my house and all the best restaurants.
My hand was placed at the small of her back as I greeted the metre d. This girl was an employee at a competing local event agency. I was invited to the biggest party The Cilia's had ever accomplished. They wanted to show off. I cleared my schedule and brought my pen. The poor women didn't yet realize that showing off would cost them, oh I'd say 20 million dollars. My pen was well used that night.
I ran out of my cards before 10:30 and had to start writing my information down on napkins. Even through tacky disco lights and dry-iced punch Ace is easily recognizable. The party was decent though. I mean for a giant heated tent in the middle of the Sonora Desert, a portable dance floor and lots and lots of twinkly lights they defiantly pulled off something that could be called unique. I only had to take one picture all evening though. They had this table center piece that looked like a flamenco dancer, and when you spun her around you could get into her skirt where there were different chip dips. That is now what my wallpaper is set to on my blackberry.
DJ Dodgy was too loud, I know this because when the host was trying to make a speech with the microphone only her husband even saw and he clapped right after she said, "And I know that no one looks better than the Celia's tonight." I heard tell that he slept alone that night.
I had only begun to consider staying more than an hour when Illyanna Celia met me in a corner beneath the strings of paper lanterns and plastic stars. She was only a cousin of the original partners and had so many questions about how to start up her own business.
"Why not just work for me? Ace is certainly not going to fail any time soon." She blushed as I kissed her hand. "And we most certainly need more lovely women to show up when we roll out the red carpet."
"Mr. Ace, dat is just my problem. I can't work for anybody else. I don't have a degree or anything to get me started. Just a natural sense for having fun."
"Oh, I am sure you know how to have a good time Miss Celia."
"Mr. Ace, please help me. A few pointers here and there, an endorsement, a client." She cuddled close to me and played with my jacket. I left that night with Illyanna's number. That poor girl needed help, naturally I had to be able to contact her twenty-four seven.
Tonight's restaurant was my favorite. I had been with them since their grand opening when I convinced them to invite the Govern. When he showed up I got free meals for a lifetime, but I always left the Waiter with a tip the price of the meal. For some reason I always get the best service and they always convince me to get the finest on the menu. Shawn walked us to a small round table with two high backed chairs and no neighboring dinners. "Thank you for holding the reservation Shawn, I know how difficult it is to keep a table just before thanksgiving."
"No trouble sir. Can I start you off with something to drink? Our special goes perfectly with your favorite wine sir."
Illyanna and I had a delicious first coarse but we only talked business. If I was going to be used for my connections I was going got be used properly.
"Where do you think you would be basing your company? Are you bold enough to try to compete directly with your established relatives? Your eyes are just so lovely tonight, anyway such a bold move would be without president so helping you directly might be something I would have to think over very carefully." Like I said, forward is kind of my style. I get to, I'm a lucky rich dog.
"Do I sense some fear? I had heard that you had none." A tone in her voice made me believe she thought she was sly. Even capable of working me. If she only knew who at the table was the expert in all aspects of fun.
"Mm!" Ilyanna enjoyed these burst of delight with every other bite she had of her meal. "The sauce is just to die for Ace! Do these guys cater?" my lips pursed. The trying ways the universe reminds me that my expertise does indeed come with a price.
"The sauce is the best part. Savoring the sauce by dipping some bread in it is the way that Italians show their appreciation, not by asking about catering." I had stopped her from flagging down Shawn to ask. I had given myself a good idea and reached for the basket of bread in the center of the table, she did also.
I looked at our hands, meeting accidentally, my heart quickened but I still felt at peace. I noticed that her fingers were long and thin, lovely hands. When I looked up I swear I realized how beautiful she really was. An angel, almost like sunshine was beaming in from behind her eyes. "Your eyes really are lovely tonight Ilyanna." She and I both took a bite of the bread in the red sauce that was on our plates. "Wasn't I right Ilyanna? Dipping the book in the sauce is like..."
"Bread," She laughed softly. "You said 'dipping the book' you meant bread."
Sounding crazy is not the way I like to spend my evenings. I tried to explain why I had said book but my explanation sounded even more insane. All I could think of is that when I saw our hands I saw a math book underneath them, that some book had fallen in the grass in the backyard of my house...a friends home, that I felt the same peace there that I had just felt with my hand on hers...
Instead of hiding her hands under the table when she heard I had felt 'at peace' she reached it toward me. So what if I enjoyed holding her hand so much that I didn't let it go the rest of the meal. There are other adults who do that in the world.
I let the car go on ahead and I walked Ilyanna home. I knew a long path in the park that lead right to her apartment. Business had almost completely disappeared from the conversation except when we talked about how many Luau's were requested as soon as May hits. Even the most mediocre of party planners can't be open for longer than a year without being expert in pineapple storage. She told me a story about how she had read somewhere that freshly cut pineapples keep their flavor longer if you put them in lemon juice. We both laughed as she described the look on all the retirees faces as they bit into the Hawaiian cake!
I learned so much about her that night, she was an only child that spent her summers in Paris with her spinster Aunt. She spoke fluent french and had attended countless Christina Dior shows. The woman was fascinating and I found myself asking her on another date as soon as we got to her door.
I called for my car and went on home. A second date wouldd'nt hurt anything, Father was going to be furious. What could he do, he may even try to take away my allowance? Those eyes really were beautiful.
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