My sleep was interrupted by thoughts of the email invitation and what I have done. I must have lost my mind meeting someone like this.

What if he will severely harm me? What if I catch something? What if…I find out that this is what I have been missing in my life?

That last thought is more worrisome than the others. The light flashing at me on my alarm clock feels like torture when my eyes cannot be torn away from it.

I decided to beat the alarm and get up. I was going to shut off the alarm, but I want to see how I can go through my daily routine in under ten minutes.

I had to push my muscles to move. I went to the bathroom, looked into the mirror to see me looking  like the night had decided to put me under some serious punishments for my carelessness.

I am really thinking to much into this but since it is bothering me so much, I will go to the shop and tell him that I have changed my mind. No, I will not go back to the shop. I will just send a decline message to the email.

I went to my laptop and opened my email, and I was sent a second message.

You may have doubts and that is normal. Come to the shop at one. We can talk. Regards Y. Vessel

That was it. Nothing else said. How is it that one line had so much authority behind it? I can type back “I am not at your beck and call.” Instead, what I did was jump. The alarm went off and snapped me out of it.

One o’clock then. I can meet him and call this off. The universe has made it possible for me to just do this. After shutting off the alarm I went about getting myself ready. I went to my closet and pulled out a suit that I wear at interviews.

I can just make this feel like I am interviewing a new concierge at the hotel. Just zone out and be the other me.

One

The shop was slow around  this time that is why I chose it to talk to her. I heard when the door opened. I was at the other side of the store. The part where we stock the hand made

Whips and oils that made the leathers stay supple.

She went to the counter and she asked, “Excuse me. Can you tell me where the man by the name of  A. Vessel is?”

I remembered her voice and she sounds different. A little colder. I smiled; I couldn’t help it. Looking her over it reminded me of the king who has new cloths. It’s a form of hiding. Cute.

I walked behind her and said, “Punctual.”

She jumped and turned looking at me. What flashed in her eyes behind the charade was innocent.

I looked at Samantha and gave her a nod signaling I am taking a break.

“Would you like to go to the cafe across the street so we can talk?” I asked her.

“Alright but it will be quick.” She said giving me that tone of voice again.

The café was busy but I managed to get a table in the back but speaking to the hostess.

Once we sat and ordered some coffee. I waited to see what she had prepared to say.

She kept glancing at the coffee and then at me.

“I want to cancel the meeting. I do not know what I was thinking and I would like for you to take me off your email list.”

I took a sip of coffee and did not stop looking at her.

“No.”

She looked shocked.

“You are scared and that is understandable. You do not know me and that is one of the reasons why I sent you that message. The second is I would not want you to feel like I would want to harm you. For you never be seen again. On the contrary, I want the real you to be seen. Third in this day and age we need to be careful, and I will be going to the clinic to get tested.”

I pulled a card out of my back pocket.

“This is the clinic I have gone to in the past and I will be going there later today. I will show you all the test results before we meet. Forth and most importantly when we meet. What happens behind the door will stay there. Any conversation, any vulnerability that is seen is between us.”

She held her breath a little to long for my liking. I reached over and touched her hand and she was trembling.

I helped her raise the cup so she can take a drink. She did so and it helped I can see he was a little bit better.

“This is the time to say something.” I said as I drank some coffee and watched.

“You took away my choice to say no.” She whispered

I smiled and leaned in.

“You wanted me to take away that choice. You could have told me no on the email and to go to hell. Instead, you came in to show me that you have it together to tell me no. Instead, what you shown me was the opposite. If you truly want out, leave the card to the clinic on the table and leave. No hard feeling and I will remove you from the email list.”

I can see she audibly took in a quick breath as if she was shocked. She looked at the card for a while and spoke. She spoke in the hushed voice that I remembered.

“My name is Alara.” She picked up the card and stood up to leave.

I held the hand she held the card in to stop her from moving so I could say this. “Alara, this is only for one night. An experience that you will have in real life and not read about. I know you’re scared but for that night. I swear I will take care of you.”

I could feel her slightly relaxed. She took a breath and put the card in her pocket of her small grey purse.

“Bye Vessel.” She whispered and left.

I watched her leave and I thought I hope we both get what we need out of this.