Designs on Youth - Closed for JollyMon and RainDove

[_JollyMon]

Bill Rouse had come to hate it when his assistant, Jean, was coming to meet him at one of his properties. Jean meant well, of course, but that didn’t stop Bill from feeling uncomfortable whenever Jean tried to fix him up.

Owning over $7,000,000 in residential real estate, Bill could be considered an “eligible bachelor.” He hated that phrase. For one thing, he was divorced (two years now) and was still smarting from how painful that was. The other thing was his age. “Bachelor” had a sound about that suggested youth and Bill didn’t feel young. At 46, he knew his wild and crazy days were past him. His body hadn’t betrayed him yet. His 6 foot, 185-pound frame was holding up pretty well, although he sure didn’t look 20-something anymore. His once dark hair was now sprinkled with grey. He was who he was…he just liked to manage his properties and leave it at that.

But being a friend as well as his assistant, Jean always tried to get Bill do date, meet women, get out there. Usually, Jean was off the mark. Most of the women Bill met through Jean just didn’t light his fire. Some didn’t even make a spark. Bill had tried to be nice and suggest to Jean that her efforts, while appreciated, were really not necessary. But working for Bill had made Jean strong and stubborn, and she vowed to keep trying to help Bill find Ms. Right.

Today, he was dreading it again, and as he waited on the 10th floor of the empty condo waiting, Jean came in first ahead of the interior decorator. Jean gave him an affectionate peck on the cheek and leaned up to whisper in Bill’s ear.

“Don’t worry, you can relax. I’m not trying to fix you up today. This one’s all wrong for you….way too young.”

And then, in she walked. Bill’s actions and senses betrayed him. Suddenly, he felt 20 years younger, but not necessarily in a good way. His confidence, built up during years of business success and worldliness, was suddenly gone. So too was his composure as he looked at this beautiful woman and his heart pounded in his chest, and his forehead broke out in a drenching sweat.

He had to get it together. Yes, she was beautiful, but she was a professional, here to discuss interior design for Bill’s downtown condos. He would have to find some way to hide his attraction to her, and hopefully as some time passed, this whole feeling would pass.

But as he reached his hand out to her to introduce himself, deep in his mind, Bill knew two things. One, he would have to act on his burning need to get to know this young woman better. And two, Jean had NO CLUE about his taste in women!

“Hello, nice to meet you,” he said to the youthful interior designer. “I’m Bill. Bill Rouse.”

 

[RainDove25]

This was much more difficult then she imagined. Caroline Maitland stepped back a few steps as she entered on to the 10th floor of one of the cities most newly developed buildings. Jean leading the way, Caro taking her time, amazed while staring at the high and most beautiful ceilings that were so unexpected in a building such as this, she couldn’t help but stop and gaze at the exquisite architecture, wondering if she could actually pull this off.

Deception did not suit her, in the past she always prided herself on her honesty. In the past, she had never told a lie of any proportion. Yet, the lie she had created seven weeks ago was more than just a small prevarication. No, her first foray into the fabrication of fact was about the size of Gibraltar. And she could feel that lie pressing against her heart like a solid chunk of granite.

Caroline was introduced to Jean by a friend who just happened to be a broker in the downtown area who worked with Mr. Rouse. And, wow... what a coup to be working with him. That was any up and coming interior designers dream… to have worked on a piece of his property. Being 26 and new to the city didn’t help matters with finding a good position so when this opportunity came knocking it was a sign that she should just go for it, no matter the consequences.

Caroline also knew right from the moment she was introduced to Jean and was told she would be a shoe in for the job that the small little fib she told, that now could fill the room it was so big, was really going to catch up with her if she wasn’t careful.

So there she was standing under this beautiful ceiling in this most fabulous building getting ready to be introduced to a man that is going to see right through her.

Dear heaven he is heading in Caroline’s direction.

Mr. Rouse paused close to Caroline just enough to be able to reach out a hand and take hers into his. As he started to introduce himself Caro could feel her body stiffen, over and over she is saying to herself, “he is going to know… he can tell… he is staring at me too closely, he knows… maybe I should just tell him… Jean will understand she won’t be mad. Oh my but he will be furious!” chewing her bottom lip she comes back to reality, looking from his hand holding hers and then into his eyes Caro’s thoughts fade away, she hears his voice and then with quick breaths of anxiety she starts to speak.

“Um… hello Mr. Rouse it is a pleasure to meet you”.

Still shaking his hand only slightly now, but for some reason he wont let go. “Jean has shown me around and I do believe I have some wonderful ideas”.

Getting her hand back from him Caro starts to gesture towards the room itself, “Can I ask you. Do you have any specific ideas of your own for this room, or any in mind for the lobby? I do believe that is my favorite area in the building”.

Finally Caroline’s mouth closes, over thinking again… “He is staring, oh my… I can’t believe I just said all of that… goodness…” closing her eyes for a brief second while scolding herself, “Caroline Maitland… get a hold of yourself its not like he can read your mind!”

 

[_JollyMon]

For the first time in many many years, Bill had to tell himself to be “cool.” Not cool like Elvis or Fonzie (oh my God….this young girl probably doesn’t even know who they are!) but cool as in keeping his composure, not appearing to be out of control, which inwardly, Bill clearly was.

As she introduced herself – hmmm, Caroline. Nice name – Bill shot out his charming smile and shook her hand, something that caused Jean’s eyes to roll, Bill noticed in the periphery.

“Please…it’s Bill,” he said to Caroline as he felt the warm softness of her skin for the first time. “If we’re going to be working together, I think its best we do without the formalities.”

It happened right then, so suddenly. As he finished talking, he knew he should say something else, something witty, funny, charming. But he said nothing. His mind went blank, his mouth went dry, his legs began to wobble, and Bill felt as if he were alone on a stage with 50 spotlights shining on him. Bill and Caroline exchanged a few awkward glances, peppered with smiles and shuffles of their feet before Jean spoke up.

“Bill, Caroline is here to show you her ideas for the lobby, and the interiors of these middle units.”

Bill looked to Jean and snapped back to reality. He felt like a fool, the way he was letting the situation control him, rather than the other way around, and he knew he had to grab the reins again. But when he turned to Caroline again to speak to her, whatever control he had regained, he quickly lost.

“Can I ask you. Do you have any specific ideas of your own for this room, or any in mind for the lobby? I do believe that is my favorite area in the building”.

Great, Bill thought. This young KID is outrunning me already. Getting right to work. Well, good for her, he thought. ONE of us has to have some self control. It certainly isn’t me! Bill strolled with her around the condo, looking at the bare walls and blank ceiling.

“Really, that’s interesting,” he said. “I believe a lobby in a building like this is a very important feature. It needs to convey several things…some contradictory. The lobby has to be warm and welcoming, but also has to convey strength and security. A building is a lot like a person. What one sees on the outside, doesn’t necessarily tell you what’s on the inside.”

He was taking a chance here, he knew. Would she take that last statement as an advance? If she did, would she be someone who would take offense? Feel sexually harassed? Or would she miss it altogether? After all, it was just a hint of an advance, wasn’t it? Bill had to admit, he had no idea. He was a stranger to all of this, and he was feeling every bit of that.

But one thing became clear to Bill once he stopped thinking about himself. Caroline was nervous too, as if she were hiding something. Was she hiding similar feelings for Bill? He shook that off, and scolded himself for even thinking it. This young woman was attempting to behave professionally and Bill was acting like he was back in high school. He had to get a grip, once and for all.

“So, based on what I told you, can you tell me some ideas you might have?”