16. The Networker
SIXTEEN
The Networker
Wednesday, 15 May, 11.30pm
Went to Izzy’s company party for their clients tonight. It was meant to be a networking event and I was hoping to find contacts or clients, but I ended up meeting someone I liked. I think he liked me too as he made a point of telling me he was single quite early on in our conversation. He’s not good-looking and he wears boring business suits – just normal and lawyery – but he was charming and funny, and conversation flowed. Chemistry is everything, and I sensed the mixed chemicals between us would be explosive. The Opera Buff may not have looked right for me, but I’m not superficial and shallow. We bonded while we watched the people on a mission to consume as much free booze as possible. I gave him my card. It was a networking party after all.
Thursday, 16 May, 11.30pm
I’ve been having butterflies all day because The Networker asked me for a date. I Googled him and found his company’s website. Looks like he’s a big cheese. Texted Izzy and told her about the date. She didn’t know him but said she’ll ask around.
Saturday, 18 May, 3.30pm
I asked Joy to tidy up my wardrobe, but I’d forgotten that the joke blow-up man I bought for Leila’s hen night was in there. She brought it into the kitchen with a look of utter pity on her face and put it on the table under my nose. He was deflated and shrunken.
‘Oh Sophia, you sad. You have a plastic man.’
‘It’s not mine,’ I shouted after her as she left the room.
I remembered how much fun Leila’s hen night was, and how pleased I’d been to find the ‘plastic man’ in a joke shop. When I took it home, I rang Grace and said, ‘If I die in my sleep tonight, and my family find a blow-up man in my cupboard when they’re clearing out my house, please tell them it’s for Leila.’
Tuesday, 21 May, 8.30pm
Izzy texted.
Hi Sophia, bad news. I joked to a colleague that we were networking AND matchmaking at our party and told him about you. He’d had a meeting with your guy that day. Apparently, he was talking about his wife and four kids and going to Florida in the summer. Sorry
Are you sure it was him?
Yes absolutely.
Devious git.
Was he wearing a ring that night and I missed it? I feel cheated on, and I haven’t even been on a date. I marvel at his deceit for telling me he was single right at the beginning, before even I had an inkling that I was interested in him. Is it any wonder I always suspect people are having affairs? I like to think I’m an honest straightforward kind of a person, so I’m surprised when people are so devious, to the point that I doubt myself and think I must have got it wrong. It’s na?ve, I know, but I don’t want to be cynical either.
Wednesday, 22 May, 11.30pm
The Networker emailed to say he was looking forward to seeing me tomorrow and where did I want to meet? I felt like saying, ‘And are your wife and children joining us?’ Instead, I said, ‘So am I.’
I have no intention of turning up. I told him I’ve always wanted to go to the One Below Zero bar. He emailed and said he’d booked it. I know they charge ￡50 per person before you even drink anything.
Thursday, 23 May, 6.30pm
He emailed asking where I was. Silence is golden. He’ll be paying the ￡100 bill about now.
11.30pm
I’m not going to waste any more energy on him. Will forget and move on. And I must, absolutely must, stop being overexcited before getting to know someone. Thank God Izzy found out before it was too late. I might have grown to like him and how would that fit with my sex only plan? Was Leila right? Am I deluding myself to think I’ll be happy with just casual sex? I’ve got so good at hiding my feelings I don’t think I know any more.