Night By Night

Chapter 4

Jennifer now walked with a lighter step and her heart sang melodies all day long; one could hardly believe anyone could be so happy to be working. It had been two weeks and already she liked Mr. Jacobs; he didn’t ask anything demeaning of her and he treated her like he would anyone else regardless of her station or qualification. He was that way with even the office attendants and her respect for the man grew to enormous proportions in just two weeks.

This morning as she walked in she was greeted with a smile from Zoe, the receptionist. Zoe had taken a fancy to Jennifer from the moment she had laid eyes on her, and she had not regretted recommending her to Mr. Jacobs. The two had begun to get close and the girl now stood and walked over to her, pulling her away by the shoulders.

“I think someone big is about to happen. Mr. Jacobs has been in meetings for several days with the same clients. I think they are discussing a merger,” the girl said with bright eyes.

“Really? How did you get to that conclusion based on just that?” asked Jennifer curiously.

“Trust me. I have been here long enough to be able to tell. Soon you will be able to just like me.”

Just then the door opened. “Good Morning Jennifer,” beamed Mr. Jacobs. He was an attractive man who sported a bald head and a very neat goatee which encircled his mouth. He was African American and Jennifer was delighted to be working with one of her own for once.

“Good Morning Mr. Jacobs,” replied Jennifer with a smile. By this Zoe had returned to her post and was busy answering calls when Jennifer glanced at her. “How can I assist you today?”

“Always nice to be greeted with such a pleasant face every day. Here,” he said and handed her a large manila envelope. “I need to get these over to Daniel’s. Can you do that for me?” he asked politely, as if it wasn’t her job to do.

“Sure Mr. Jacobs,” she replied.

“We need to see about getting you a car. You travelling by taxi all the time will not do. Zoe, try and find this young lady a car will you? We will work out the payback arrangements later.” He winked and walked back into his office.

Jennifer spun and her eyes were greeted with the smiling ones of Zoe. “He did the same thing for me too,” beamed Zoe. “I swear he is the best person to work with in this city.”

“He was serious then?” quizzed Jennifer, hardly believing her good fortune.

“That he is. So, do you have any preferences?” asked Zoe.

“Anything that is fuel efficient and inexpensive is good with me,” she smiled. “The ratings on this place just went through the roof.”

Zoe gave her the information she needed to find Daniel’s, a legal firm a few blocks away. She was to have them sign the documents and return a copy. Zoe called a cab for her and as soon as it arrived, she waved to the young woman and walked out. It didn’t take her long to run that errand, and as Zoe had given her other things to do that Mr. Jacobs had requested, she set about to completing them now. The next stop was only a block away so she began to walk, airing her head in the process. She had just rounded the bend when she stopped dead in her tracks. Just a stone’s throw away Adrian was standing by a hot dog vendor and magazine stand, poring over today’s news. Jennifer looked behind her, and then across the road, wondering if she could alter her course before he saw her.

She didn’t get a chance to decide. He looked up then and caught sight of her, and he froze as well. There was nothing left to do now but keep walking. “Hi Adrian,” she smiled.

He folded his arms and stood there with a smug look on his face. “Are you stalking me Jennifer?” he asked.

“Am I what?” she began.

“I am just messing around. What are you doing in these parts?” he asked.

“I could ask you the same thing,” she replied.

“My office is across the street. I just came across to get the paper,” he said. She looked in the direction he pointed and noticed the words A&H Real Estate on a hanging sign.

“Oh. Well, I was running an errand for my boss,” she replied.

“Your boss? You got a job?” he asked.

Jennifer was surprised that he actually remembered that from the little they spoke. “Yes,” she said. “It is a real estate company as well,” she added.

He shook his head approvingly, and then glanced at his wrist watch. “Would you happen to have time for some coffee?” he asked. “Or perhaps lunch?”

Jennifer wasn’t sure she wanted to, but what could she use as an excuse. “I have these things to deliver and get signed. I am not sure now is a good time,” she said.

“Where are you headed?” he asked.

She glanced at the address. “Twenty one West Lake,” she said.

“That’s just around the corner. Let me make you a deal. I will accompany you to your stops and then you will have lunch with me, perhaps as a celebration for landing a job,” he proposed with a smile.

“How could I say no to that?” she asked.

The two set off and Adrian was careful not to mention anything provocative. Jennifer’s mind was askew with thoughts of the last time she had seen him, how he felt inside her, how his lips matched every rise and fall of hers, how his hand felt as it trod down the length of her body. So captivated was she by these thoughts she failed to see the green on the traffic light. It wasn’t until Adrian yanked her back that she did.

“Hey, watch where you are going?”

She looked up at him and blushed in embarrassment.

“Where was your mind just now?” he asked. She blushed even further and that told him all he needed to know. She had been thinking about their last meeting and he now wondered if she would want a repeat of that.

“We are almost there,” she said as she tried to change the conversation. This only served to prove his theory more. He tried not to say anything further until she had gone her rounds. Then he invited her to a cosy little Japanese restaurant across the way. Jennifer had never been here before, but she loved it instantly. She was taken by the ambience of the place and the decor, somewhat Japanese and peaceful.

“Wow, this is nice,” she said as he pulled out her chair for her. She was trying now to take in the room at one glance.

“It’s one of my favourite places to be,” he said. “But I don’t get to come here as much as I’d like. “I didn’t ask, but do you like Japanese food?”

“I’ve tried sushi before, but nothing much. What would you recommend?” she asked as she picked up the menu and realised nothing there meant anything to her.

“For safety reasons, I think I will stick with Onigiri, Kare Raisu and sushi,” he said, and she was impressed with the way the words rolled off his tongue so effortlessly.

“Onigi what?” she asked, trying to identify what he had just said.

He laughed at her just then. “Onigiri. It is really rice balls wrapped in seaweed and stuffed with Japanese plums or salmon. I think I will go with salmon on this one. The Kare Raisu is curried rice. So, what do you say we get those?”

“Sounds good enough to me,” she smiled. She always loved trying new things and this was food after all; her favourite thing to try.

Surprisingly, the food tasted more delicious than it looked, and Jennifer enjoyed every bit of it. She even had the fried ice-cream for dessert. Adrian watched her as she ate, though inconspicuously and when she was done he spoke.

“So? How did you like it?” he asked.