A Holiday Romance

Waiting had never been her thing. Although she pretended to be kind and patient, she just wasn’t. She often told people “I used to be a type “A” personality. Now I’m an “A minus.” In truth, she was still every bit a type “A,” she had just learned to disguise it better.

It was her personality that had allowed her business “Charles Consulting” to be one of the top consulting firms in Atlanta. At thirty-one years old, she was one of the industries few women CEO’s under forty and the only black female CEO in the business. Latisse Charles had named her company using her last name. She thought correctly the masculine association would help her gain an edge. It did. She thought her first name, Latisse sounded too much like she came from the ghetto (the projects), but it was her name and she bore it proudly. No one who had ever dealt with her every associated her with anything other than intelligence, style and driven passion.

If she was such a woman in control, what was she doing here, stuck in a damn plane at Dulles airport? It was two days before Christmas and she was on her way to a “meet and greet.” It was an important “meet and greet” to be sure, but right before Christmas? She had immersed herself in work three months ago, after the break up with Darryl, that ball playing looser, who was having a baby with some cheerleader. She didn’t need him anyway. She was looking forward to some “me” time Christmas week. She had promised herself a great Christmas this year. She had booked five days at the Napa Inn in California. Five exquisite days being pampered, drinking great wines and stepping out in the Napa Valley. Who cared about a cheating athlete, she was Latisse Charles and didn’t need anyone.

She had tried to postpone this meeting, but the personal assistant to the personal assistant to the guy insisted. The guy’s name was actually Guy, which was kind of funny, Guy Blanchard. He was a lobbyist for a renewable energy group based in Chicago. His people had said that he had to do this tomorrow, on Christmas Eve, it was his only window.

Latisse had tried to Google him but didn’t find anything about this guy or Guy, but she could picture him in her mind. He was older and a little over weight. He wore a tweed suit with a vest and a bow tie. He had thinning white hair that he kept longer in the front thinking it gave him a “rakish” look. It didn’t. He had way too much money at his disposal and when he met her, finding a young, attractive, black female, he would wink and make inappropriate comments before she’d set him straight. Then they could get on with business and she could get to Napa.

Not sure what the holdup was at Dulles, Latisse pulled out her iPad and started browsing as a man sat in the seat next to her. What an improvement this guy was to the crying child and mother she’d endured from Atlanta here. She liked kids, but not that one. She was so happy when they disembarked in Washington.

This man was buffed in a rugged way that suggested both the gym and genetics. His hair was cut, not styled, a little longer than convention but perfect for the chiseled facial features. He wore a shirt and tie, opened at the neck, with a well-worn corduroy sport coat, Tight fitting expensive jeans and loafers completed the jock collegiate grown up outfit. Wow! She started to let her imagination get the best of her.

 When he sat next to her she actually smiled, he smelled good. Just enough scent to finish the picture and complete the look. “If only he was straight,” Latisse thought, “and maybe black. Oh well, you can’t have everything.”

Despite the confident relaxed aura the man portrayed, there was a quick, cat like quality to his movements. Latisse noticed he carried a newspaper and an old briefcase with a Republican Party sticker stuck onto it. “Oh boy, this will be fun” she thought dryly.

For the first half hour the two mutually ignored each other, aside from a quick smile or a nod. He was settling in and she was getting irritated. It wasn’t snowing; there hadn’t been any announcements, just the dreadful waiting. What were they waiting for?

“Did you eat?” was the first thing he said to her. “What?” she said. He could have been talking Swahili. “I’m hungry; I just asked if you ate? Are you hungry too?” It took her by surprise, this gesture of concern from a man she’d just met. Well, hadn’t even really met yet.

“No, I had something in Atlanta before I left thanks.”

“Oh, you’re from Atlanta then, or were just there on business?”

Latisse first thought he was being a little pushy and nosey but realized he was just making conversation since they were trapped next to each other for the foreseeable future. And she felt comfortable with this man, not attracted necessarily, but comfortable, and he did smell so good.

Suddenly she was chatting away to this stranger like she had known him her whole life. She told him her name, and where she was born. She told him about her childhood, father doctor, and mother nurse. She told him about her company and how from the humble beginnings of a smart and beautiful cheer leader, honor student, beauty contest winner, she overcame those obstacles and ran a private consulting firm that was respected and in demand.

She told him about her planned trip to Napa, as soon as her business was complete, hopefully tomorrow in time for Christmas.

When she stopped to take a breath she said “wow, what I meant was I’m from Atlanta.” And there was a pause. Then they both started giggling at the same time.

“That was awesome,” he said through laughter. “Hey, let’s get a drink as long as we’re waiting, okay?” She smiled and simply nodded “okay.” They continued to drink and talk while waiting in the hot plane. Latisse noticed there was no air on while on the tarmac. The combination of the alcohol, warm plane interior and that soft scent of his cologne relaxed Latisse. She found herself talking away, and enjoying the time trapped on the plane with this handsome, articulate and funny man.

Are you going to Chicago for business or pleasure?” He asked.

All business,” she retorted. “I am going to meet a prospective client. I talked to his people, I have no people,” she smiled, “and his people said it had to be now so here I am. I am stuck on the plane in D.C. with some guy off the street. How’s that for luck?”

“Lucky for me, I’d say” the man retorted with a big smile.

And just then there was an announcement over the intercom.

“Blah blah airlines thank you for flying, due to blah blah blah this flight is unable to continue. You will all be given accommodations, a meal pass and be booked on the next available seating to your final destination. Blah blah blah thanks you again and blah blah. Happy Holidays- Fly blah blah again.”

“What did she say?” asked Latisse. “That can’t be. I want to be in California tomorrow, not just getting to Chicago.”

“Call the guy, her new friend said, “He will understand.”

“No, definitely not. You know how anal these SOB’s can be, I want this job. I’ll make it work.”

“Then at least let me take you to dinner, okay? It’s the least I can do.”

“What a sweet gesture” thought Latisse. “Sure, okay, but how?”

“I’ll meet you in the bar of whatever place they book us; I assume it’ll be the same place for both, at eight. How does that sound?”

Again, she just smiled and nodded. Well at least something to look forward to. She checked her watch and it was barely five. She had a lot to do before eight.

 He reached over to shake her hand, as if to seal the deal. Perhaps it was the drinks or the heat, but his hand touching hers sent an electric vibration into her shoulder. She actually shuddered a bit, imperceptibly, before withdrawing her hand.

Normally possessed by aloof self-control, Latisse felt oddly anxious getting ready for her “date.” It wasn’t really a “date,” she was just having dinner with some guy she had met on the plane. Was it a “date?” Well, not just “some guy” really, a handsome, strong, kind, good smelling guy. Hmmm, he is white. She never dated a white guy before and quite frankly never thought about dating a white man. But, she did watch enough of white movies and TV to know how ‘they’ acted and thought. I wander why he doesn’t have any issues with me?” she contemplated.