Speed dating. Astrid organized these more than once. Some nights were to help long-standing clients, while others were more of an auction for one charity or another. Tonight was a little different. The only part that she would be taking in this event would be as a participant. Most people looked like they’d been forced to attend or maybe even uninterested at best, but she thought this would be fun. Did she think that she was going to find her soulmate in a five minute introduction? No, but that didn’t mean that she wasn’t excited for the adventure of it all. Settling herself onto the stool, she flattened her hands against her skirt, smoothing away the wrinkles as she waited for her first date.
As other people found their numbers and went to the correlating tables, she took a moment to look around the room. It only took a moment to realize she was looking around with the eye of an event planner, and the moment recognition hit, she shook her head to derail that train of thought. Crossing her legs, she leaned against the tabletop and looked at the decorations laid out, trying and failing not to listen to the things the people around her were talking about. It all seemed like the usual introductory, surface conversations that most people entertained. The couple seated right behind her seemed to be having a heated conversation but before she could really catch any of the details the sound of the chair dragging out against the floor across from her pulled her focus back to her own table. Her smile spread across her features as she looked up to meet her first date.
“Well well well, look at what we have here.” The way he looked at her made her feel like he was surveying a piece of land for purchase. Trying to ignore the way it made her skin crawl, she forced her smile to remain as she reached across the table to shake his hand. “Hi, I'm Astrid.” He looked at her hand as if she had just handed him the keys to the kingdom, and the struggle to not immediately pull it back was just the first of many. Five minutes. She could handle this for five minutes… looking at the timer, she amended the thought; three minutes and fifty-eight seconds. Never did she think she would be so grateful for someone being late.
The way his fingers encased her hand reminded her of a snake coiling around her palm, but the worst part was the way he pulled it closer to him until she was practically leaned over the table. When his lips pressed against the skin against the back of her hand, she forced her smile wider as she tugged on her hand. Her attempt to get the appendage back only made him tighten his grip, and she had to consciously fight back the trauma response it triggered. “I would offer to let you sit on my lap for this date, but I don't want the other women here to think they don't have a chance.” Disgusted with his entire demeanor, she yanked her hand back, tucking it under the table so he wouldn't see her wiping it against her skirt. “Since there are only two minutes left, why don't you have a seat and tell me your name?”
A smile should be a comfort, but the way it spread across his face felt like a net being set to trap her. “Already trying to lock me down? I don't think that's fair to the other women in this room, but if you want me to meet you somewhere after this, I could be talked into it.” Az leaned back in her seat, trying to put as much distance between them as possible. This guy seemed like the biggest overconfident douchebag she had ever laid eyes on, but she knew just how much scarier this situation could be if she wasn't careful. “Name's Jake. Jake Drake.” She was scrambling to think of anything to say that wouldn't come across as interested while still going through the motions but was saved as the microphone came on and it was announced that it was time to switch partners. “Until later, Astrid.” His wink before leaving was met with an eye roll just before looking for the exit. Maybe she could slip out before the next person sat down. They might never even notice she was gone…