Dinner with the boss

From Aurelie's perspective the meeting, and the one that followed it went well. She kept notes and passed the occasional document to her boss, all the time looking the model of professional efficiency. They were finished before five, and took the limo back to the hotel, her boss reminding her of dinner.

She smiled, but a concern grew in her as she took the elevator up to her floor. Her boss had been entirely gentlemanly so far, with no hint of trying to seduce or take advantage of her, but she thought that dinner might be his opportunity.

She shook her head with a little cluck of annoyance. And if he tried, she could refuse him as she did before, she thought. He had retreated quickly then, and she had no doubt she could repel him again if need arose.

She showered again and dressed in the clothes she had bought that morning, smiling at the pretty image of herself in the mirror. For a moment she thought she might look too sexy, and he might take it as an invitation, but she reminded herself that she had been firm with him once, and could be again.

They met in the lobby, and he gave her an appreciative glance as she approached him.

"New clothes? Very pretty," he smiled at her.

"Thank you," she said, unable to fully suppress the blush that always rose to her cheeks when she was complimented.

Once again the limo was waiting for them, this time whisking them to a restaurant just out of the heart of downtown. He offered his arm, and she took it with a smile, letting him escort her into the restaurant.

They were taken to a table by the windows, and Aurelie looked around at the modern elegance of the place. Her boss ordered for them, asking her permission with gracious courtesy, and the two of them sipped cocktails and chatted as they waited.

"Thank you for accompanying me," he said with a smile. "Both to Vancouver, and to dinner tonight. Frankly, I feared you would refuse." She looked at him, tilting her head slightly in a silent question.

"Ahh, well because I was so crude before, and you so properly rebuffed me. I thought you might suspect me of nefarious motives." He gave a short laugh and sipped his drink. Aurelie blushed slightly and sipped her own drink, saying nothing.

"You are very valuable assistant, Aurelie, and a very attractive woman. I regret I let my admiration for you interfere with my judgement and my courtesy. This trip is my way of evening the score between us, of making amends, so to speak."

"Thank you sir, you're very kind," she began but he waved his hand in negation.

"Not tonight. No "sir" tonight. Tonight we are Aurelie and Henri. I will not have it another way," he raised his glass in a toast to her. She felt herself blushing as she clinked her glass against his.

"Very well....Henri. Thank you very much for the trip, and everything else. You are very kind."

"Not always," he chuckled. "But I do my best."

As they chatted during dinner Aurelie felt herself relaxing, letting herself be charmed. He made her giggle more than once with witty stories, and she was surprised to feel a little flutter of interest in her belly as the evening went on.

He was an undeniably handsome man, she thought. In his mid-forties, always impeccably dressed, and possessed of considerable charm. Anyone could have a momentary lapse, she told herself. Perhaps she had been too hard on him when she rejected his crude advance.

He was certainly doing his best to make amends, she thought with a smile to herself as she took the first bite of her dessert.