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I takethe train into the city and I can’t help but enjoy all the attention I’ve gotten on the way in. Men and woman alike are checking me out and I don’t mind it. It isn’t like I haven’t been looked at before, but with my new outfit, it is definitely more. Plus I think it has something to do with my confidence too. I have become more confident in my new job and in my new skin and that is radiating off of me. It isn’t an overnight thing, and there are still residual nerves, but fuck if I don’t feel hot as hell in this outfit. It is like slipping on a second skin and feeling the power of someone else while still being you. It is hard to explain but fun as heck.
I am still nervous to meet this Dylan, especially since Sara said she didn’t know any Dylan’s but I remind myself I can walk out at any time. If there is something wrong or weird. We are meeting in a public place so it’s not like I am trapped someplace. I take the subway to the restaurant we’re supposed to meet at and give the hostess my name. She leads me to a table in the back and I’m the first one to arrive. I think about ordering a drink before he gets here but I don’t want to be drunk before he shows up. I don’t think that will reflect greatly on Madame Angelica.
I sit for so long that the waitress brings me bread and asks if I’m ready to order. I am, but I wait another five minutes before I decide to call it a day. Maybe he got cold feet and forgot to tell Angelica. Maybe he is working and it ran late? I don’t know, but I don’t want to wait here any longer.
“Excuse me?” A brunette woman comes up to me.
“Yes?”
“Are you Isabella?” she asks.
“Bella, yes.” I look at her confused.
“My bad, I’m so sorry for being late,” she goes on, and I’m still confused. “I’m Dylan.”
My jaw drops but I try to pick it up just as quickly.This is Dylan?At first glance I didn’t notice, but this woman is a knockout. With long dark hair like me and long legs that go on for days, she is gorgeous. She is pushing forty something but she can easily pass for thirty on a good day and today is that day.
“Were you leaving?” She looks at my coat, and I realize I’m still standing. I take off my coat and I smile for a second as she notices my cleavage.
“Sorry, I was expecting someone else.”
“Ah, you were probably expecting a male because my name is Dylan?” she guesses and I nod. “Well, sorry to disappoint.” She laughs.
“Not at all.” I am a little tongue tied but I need to snap out of it quickly. It doesn’t matter how beautiful this woman is, it isn’t a real date. I just need to make conversation and talk to her for the night and then I can get paid and go home.
“Did you order a drink yet?” She smiles.
“No.” I shake my head.
She flags down the waiter and orders a bottle of wine for the table. It’s not as fancy as the one Jerry ordered last time, but it is still pretty good otherwise.
“So, how was your day?” she asks, folding her napkin on her lap and looking at me expectantly.
Small talk, I can do that. “My day was good. I had some classes and did my homework before coming here.”
“You’re in college, I presume? What are you studying?” She picks up a piece of bread and eats it slowly.
“I was studying science but I didn’t like it so I’ve been thinking about becoming a nurse just to pay the bills. I’m basically just getting my degree in general studies to have one,” I admit. I hate not having a life plan like my sister and brother, but I am a little bit of a late bloomer.
“Yeah, they are necessary in this job market these days.”
“What do you do for work?”
“I work in publishing. I have a publishing company I run with my best friend. We pick up new books from marginalized authors specifically,” she says proudly.
“Anything I’d know?”
“Yes, definitely, but I’m not at liberty to discuss my clients.” She winks.
“Understandable.” I nod.
“So, I paid Angelica and she recommended me seeing you, any idea why that would be?”
“Maybe because I’m the newest hire?” I guess.
“I have no idea, what might we have in common that she’d want me to know.”
