Present Day
Jace Bennett
LUNCH WAS A bore.
Despite the fact I was at one of downtown’s finest dining establishments, and in the company of a beautiful woman, my disinterest was still plunging with each passing minute.
Attempting to wine and dine the head of a local software company turned out to take more focus than I had to give. Much to my dismay, the woman was having none of that.
Before our meals were even served, she’d taken the meeting to a physical level by opening her blouse so wide I could all but see her nipples. When that stunt failed to grab my attention, she ramped up her seduction by placing her hand on my thigh beneath the table.
Not only was her assertiveness for the midday hour overkill, but what she didn’t know was that with the state of mind I was in, it was useless, or at least it had been.
The white tablecloth served as more than a functional piece of linen. She was using it as a shield to hide her strident advances as she began to run her fingertips slowly up the fabric of my slacks.
Within seconds of her inching her hand up the inside of my thigh, something started to tingle inside me—a wisp of lust. It was something I hadn’t felt in a very long time. In fact, it was enough incitement that for a moment I considered taking her up on her advances.
Astonished, I sat there contemplating the feeling. In the end, her aggressiveness was too much of a turnoff to truly turn me on. Putting an end to it, I pretended to need my napkin from my lap and gently pushed her hand slightly lower.
Attempting to brush it off, she put her hand to use by grabbing her wine glass. With each sip of wine she took, and every unanswered advance she made, my hopes of convincing Amanda Woodward to let me buy the software application she had just launched dwindled further and further, along with the little attention I had to give her.
It wasn’t that she wasn’t good looking.
She was.
It wasn’t that her body wasn’t smoking hot.
It was.
It wasn’t that her lingering touch didn’t make me hard.
It did.
It was more that I hadn’t been interested in having intercourse with anyone since my wife died nearly three years ago.
Experience told me the woman was accustomed to getting what she wanted, and I tried my best to pacify her. I didn’t move her creeping hand off my thigh or look away from her double d’s.
We’d danced this dance a few times over the years, and usually our meetings ended before they had gotten too far into the physical interaction part.
This time though I really wanted that app, so I didn’t fake a reason to leave, instead I toughed it out.
Hey, I was doing what I had to do.
But when I didn’t respond to her advances, my lack of reaction only seemed to fuel her fire.
Despite that fact, I kept my eye on the prize, and continued to bring the conversation back around to the purpose of our meeting.
To the purchase I actually did want to make.
The software application.
Her software application.
By the time we’d finished our meals, she had yet to agree to the sale, but I was fairly certain she wanted me to fuck her in the restroom. No, not fairly certain. Certain. She’d whispered the idea in my ear.
Like I said though, I wasn’t interested in a quick lay, and that was one thing I couldn’t fake.
I was there for the app, and the app only.
The app’s name might have been simplistic, but the idea was brilliant. I’m Here allowed for a person to pin themselves to locations, and once they did, those following that person would be updated every time their location changed.
My business would benefit greatly if I could add that newest technology to its platform.
And by my business, I’m referring to Flirt Enterprises. The Fortune 500 company I built from the ground up.
Flirt is a hub of social media applications targeted toward those looking to connect with someone. Its features are diverse and well liked. Think of it as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat all in one place.
What makes Flirt different from all the other dating sites out there isn’t only the unique platform it’s housed on, but the fact that it’s not targeted to only finding the one.
The truth is, people wanted a less complicated way to find one-night stands, companionship, fake fiancés, and even arranged marriages.
In fact, they wanted it so much that they were screaming for it. Check out Craig’s List circa 2010, and you’ll see what I mean. Recognizing this niche, I happily obliged by providing the technological platform to allow for them to connect, both conventionally and unconventionally, without judgment.
Flirt Enterprise’s number one app might be Date Me, but the number two position will no doubt surprise you. It is Fake Me, a place people go to find a fake fiancé or spouse for an upcoming occasion. Seriously, the amount of people looking for someone to take to a high school reunion or wedding as their soon-to-be spouse or spouse would astonish you.
Marry Me also has a huge number of members, and comes in third by a landslide to Friend Me, the companionship connection.
After the waiter took our plates, I slid back in my chair. “The offer is above market,” I said, trying to keep the constantly derailing conversation on track.
“Jace,” she purred as she scooted her chair closer and pretended to straighten my tie. “I think that’s enough business talk for one lunch. What do you say you come to my place tonight and then we can talk some more?”
Did she think I was born yesterday? “Look,” I said, matter-of-factly, “are you interested in selling or not?”
Stunned by my tone, she sat back. “I’m not certain. Like I said, I think we need to discuss it further.”
“Okay, I can understand that.”
“Good, I’m glad.”
My tone softened. “What are your concerns?”
“Oh, Jace,” she waved a hand, “I’ve had way too much wine, and I don’t feel comfortable discussing something as big as this under the influence.”
Ignoring her attempt to avoid the reason we were meeting, I opened my briefcase and removed the contract my best friend, college buddy, and attorney, Ethan Miller, had drawn up. “I think you’ll find the terms of my offer very favorable, and I doubt once you read it, you’ll have any concerns.”
Tucking a piece of her dark wavy hair behind her ear, she leered at me in disbelief.
That didn’t bother me, and I handed her the papers anyway. When she refused to take them, now that bothered me.
“Jace,” she smiled, “I think you know I’m interested in more than just the sale of a downloadable app.”
I blinked. Shit, she was bold. “Yes, Amanda, I do, but I’m sorry,” I said, “I’m not interested in anything at this time but purchasing your app.”
Her face tightened, and yet her exotic features still somehow remained soft. It had to be an art perfected over time. “Everything has a price, Jace, you know that.”
“I do, and that is why my offer is more than fair.”
“Stop with the offer,” she scowled in irritation.
Christ. Enough was enough. Having wasted way too much of my time, I started to gather my things. “Too bad, this could have been a win-win for both of us.”
She looked stunned. “Are you really going to walk away?”
I nodded. “I am.”
“Screw you,” she whispered before throwing her glass of water in my face.
Lunch was over.
Like I said, the woman was used to getting what she wanted, and obviously not getting it was a deal breaker.
Fuck me.
Or in this case . . . not.