The Longest Ride (closed)

[Bevatoria]

Well, that went great. If by great, you meant terrible. And then, if by terrible, you meant great. In my thirty five years of existence, I'd never been so angry. Or felt so free.

Let me explain. For the past thirteen years, ever since I, Ian Tate, had graduated with distinction from the Fresno Craig School of business from the California State University, I'd given my life to his company. It wasn't as if I was some sort of a mindless drone; I was way too smart for that. At 6'2 and 180 well built pounds to go with my dashing looks, many thought that I was just another pretty boy trying to make my way off of somebody else's power and influence; just a face for a company that could never have enough of them. They learned fast, and they learned hard, that I wasn't someone to be denied or gotten in the way of. I started as a clerk, but I sure hadn't ended that way.

It wasn't that I hadn't planned on ending it. My boss, the guy who'd initially seen my promise and then took me out of data entry to start with, had been my mentor. The guy I'd looked up to, the guy who'd 'taught me everything I knew'. Which was a lie. I'd learned everything he knew, but I had more drive, more ambition, and more out of the box thinking then he did. Even as he was the President, and me just the 'Manager', I was the guy everyone went to when there was a problem to be solved. Which, at a booming computer programming firm, was quite common. I knew I'd have a promotion coming soon, or at least a pay raise to put my salary in line with what I was doing.

Which was when I started to get cut out. I might've been the upstart, but the 'old man' had pull, and I wasn't involved in nearly as many board meetings any more. I'd already started to plan ahead; a couple of buddies of mine were in San Francisco starting a company of their own, and wanted me to run it. Still, I had some loyalty to my current company - after all, my boss was a good guy, just a little ignorant as to how things really worked. His time was the past, mine was now.

Plus, he had a jaw-droppingly hot daughter. At least to me. I liked seeing her at the social functions, and stole every glance at her I could, even if I knew - thought - that I could never have her. That was one of two things I didn't expect to happen as I woke up that Monday morning, expecting to have another day at work on a beautiful summer day in Los Angeles.

The second unexpected thing was that I got canned that same morning, without as much as a handshake, a goodbye...apparently I'd gotten a little too cocky, and a little too powerful for my boss's liking, and he did an end around and got me removed. I didn't hate the place, at least not until then. I liked the people I worked with, and even my boss was a good guy...just a little out of date in his methods and his tactics.

I'll be back for you. One day I'll buy your weak-ass company and fire you myself. I had a couple of bags packed and the rest ready to be moved in a couple hours; a call to my buddy later, I had my next job ready as I flew down the road in my red convertible, with the top down. He mentioned something about having someone coming out to be interviewed, and that I'd have to handle it; I could do interviews blindfolded, so I told him not to worry about the prep time. It only mattered if they were a good fit chemistry wise; the rest of that crap about corporate culture and whatnot could be taught. Years of business school taught me that.

It was a gorgeous day. As I was almost out of downtown, I spotted a familiar face...and then it occurred to me that it was more then the weather that could be breathtakingly gorgeous...

 

[Brigitte92]

Name: Nikki Summers
Age: 19
Height: 5'6"
Hair: Dark brown
Eyes: Brown
Body: Fit/Curvy


~Click Crunch Crunch~​

Those noises were, for the most part, all I heard as I walked through the gravel road leading out to the beach. I sighed as I made the 'short' journey there, with the bottom of my heels occasionally hitting some glass; 'short' here was a bit of an understatement, given how long it was taking me. The Californian sun beamed down on me, partially blinding me as I looked up. "Why didn't I bring sunglasses...?" I complained to myself before I faced the road again, with no car in sight. It was like this on most days, in the suburbs located around the outskirts of San Francisco. I told myself that I should move there, if I ever wanted to completely break free of my father's grip. Truth be told, he was a controlling parental figure, so much so that just a few weeks ago, I got into a heated argument with him and essentially stormed off on my own, before reaching this far away from my hometown of Los Angeles. Big mistake that was, as the reality of the job market hit me - having not gone to college like my friends has left me with little options and a whole lot of butchered interviews. Sure, I had some money in the bank (I was, apparently, very good at saving money) but it would barely get me through this month's rent at a crummy room around these parts. Two, tops. I was a bit desperate for a job, so much so that I picked up an interview for a job that would be in inner city San Francisco, despite the commute being absolute torture for me. But I was determined to get through this - so I figured some alone time, relaxing at the nearby beach, would do me some good. Especially to clear the worries on my mind.

I just wish that it wasn't so far...

I gazed on the path behind me from a moment, taking the opportunity to see some smoke gradually make its way through the air, creating an all too familiar pattern. It was a car and for a moment, I thought about asking whoever was driving by for a ride. Walking from my place to the beach was unbearable, especially with these four inch heels (why I decided to wear these, I have no idea. I guess that I just wanted to look good just to make myself feel better for those botched interviews) and the sports bag, hanging on with the strap on my shoulder. I knew the dangers of hitch hiking, especially with a body like mine that got the attention of men so often. Especially in this outfit, I guess, where my D cup breasts barely had any support from my bikini top and my round, plump backside wiggled in the bottoms...while that might help me get a ride, who knows what kind of dirty old man that would attract?

Still...​

Against my better judgement, I stood still for a moment and looked towards the vehicle, showing itself in the distance and made the classic hitchhiking gesture.

Biting my lip, I thought to myself "Please don't be a psychopath..." Thankfully, the figure inside the nice car was one that I immediately recognized, once it stopped.

"Ian? What are you doing here?" I said with a grin, happy to see him here, as odd as it was that we crossed paths. He was a friend of my father, so I knew him by name, what with all those stupid business parties that I forced to attend. We weren't buddies or anything, but close enough that I was ecstatic that we bumped into each other.

"I don't suppose that you could give me a ride? These heels are killing me..."

 

[Bevatoria]

It might've been the long drive up into the city - the wind of the air down the highway left me somewhat refreshed, but all in all the heat was baring on me - but I had to blink twice at what I saw there. Could it possibly be...that daughter that I'd spent much of my ride reminiscing about? Biting her lip nervously at the side of the road, waiting for her guardian angel to pick her up?

Nikki. She was out here. Maybe I should've been paying attention to the old man's lectures after all. She was looking for a ride, and I all but skittered my car to a stop besides her. I was dressed in a loose, white summer shirt and khaki shorts to try to beat the heat; for all the good it was doing me. As I discreetly ran my eyes up and down her barely clad figure (thank you, sunglasses), she spoke first.

"Ian? What are you doing here?" Her smile was infectious despite my circumstances, and I was happy to see her here. For more reasons then one, sure, and certainly ones I didn't want to relay to her....so I started with the truth.

"Oh, just looking for some new opportunities out here." It didn't seem like she was fully aware of the details of my departure from her Dad's company, so I wanted to play things close to the vest for now. "Passing through, as it was." Which was sort of true. I was going to just come through here to get to my soon-to-be temporary digs, but if she was around...well, let's just say a few more plots of revenge were starting to run through my mind. Not many she'd be happy with.

Even if she was happy for the moment. And I was, too, no matter what happened. It was nice to see a friendly face..

"I don't suppose that you could give me a ride? These heels are killing me..."

Without thinking, using the instincts that had served me so well so far, I popped the door open. "Hop in." I slid a couple of bags into the backseat, somehow only now becoming fully cognizant of *why* she was dressed as she was. "Planning for some fun in the sun, I see?" I slowly started the car into gear, driving down the road. "I'd be happy to take you there...you'll need to direct me, but I'm sure it's on the way for me." Sure, that was a lie, but I had no firm plans for the rest of the day.

Especially not now. So, I turned to her. "How's the job hunting out here? Your Dad hasn't mentioned you much lately...I hope everything's okay." Little did I know the little tidbit that fortune was about to drop in my lap...

 

[Brigitte92]

"Oh, just looking for some new opportunities out here."

"I think that I can relate to that." I replied with a warm smile. I wasn't sure why he would be looking for new opportunities though; from what I could recall, he had it made already. Still, I wasn't lying - whether or not he was telling the truth, I was desperate for an opportunity to move up in the world. I probably needed 'new opportunities' as he put it, more than anyone else in the world.

Anyway, it didn't take long before I heard a *click*, signaling the passenger door was unlocked, before he opened it and simply stated:

"Hop in."

I wasn't about to back out now and quickly jumped in, heels and all, into his car. I sighed in relief for a second, enjoying the rest that my feet were already getting. I noticed his stare for a moment, obviously realizing that he was probably wondering why I was dressed the way that I was.

"Planning for some fun in the sun, I see?" he said before starting the car again.
"You could say that." I replied with yet another smile "I just wanted to get to the beach to just relax."
"I'd be happy to take you there...you'll need to direct me, but I'm sure it's on the way for me."
"Oh cool!" I said in an excited tone before directing him"Okay, you'll need to turn at the upcoming..."

The drive was pretty smooth and thanked God that he found me when he did. I seriously underestimated the distance to the beach, as it turned out.

"How's the job hunting out here? Your Dad hasn't mentioned you much lately...I hope everything's okay."

I couldn't help but laugh a bit over his question. Of all the things to ask...

"Well...you want the truth?" I said, eying me for a moment before looking back at the road; a hint of the beach showing itself now over the horizon. "I sort of...kind of...ran away from my father. He was just all too controlling and I needed to live my life as I see fit, you know?"

 

[Bevatoria]

"Well...you want the truth?"

"Always." I smiled at her, letting her look into the horizon so I could steal another glance at her perfectly shaped and barely clad body. "I'd encourage you to make it a habit around men who are giving you rides for free." I teased, as if we would see each other again.

"I sort of...kind of...ran away from my father. He was just all too controlling and I needed to live my life as I see fit, you know?"

The mention of her father brought a slight grimace to my face. "I can agree with you on that, actually..." I regretted the words immediately after I said them, and I let a sigh out as we pulled into the parking lot. "I'm not actually working with your father anymore, for...similiar reasons." The smile came back to my face as I looked at her. "But enough about that." With a quick drive into the stall, I shut the car off. "Looks like we're here."

I got out to open the door for her, gentleman that I was, and couldn't help but steal another glance at her. "I hope you enjoy yourself here, Nikki. I'd offer to join you, seeing that I don't have any plans for the afternoon, but I'm sure you'd rather hang around guys your age." I started to say more, but then she said something and beat me to it.

 

[Brigitte92]

"I can agree with you on that, actually..."

I turn away from my fixated gaze onto the horizon, now pretty intrigued over what he just said. I thought that he and my dad were close work buddies and all; I couldn't possibly see a reason why he'd agree with me on my decision. Unless...

"Really?"

"I'm not actually working with your father anymore, for...similiar reasons."

I was about to say something else, but the look on his face pretty much told me that it was time to switch topics. I guess that it was more of a sensitive issue for him, so I wasn't going to push it. Besides, it's not as if I wanted to bitch about my father when I was supposed to be relaxing.

"But enough about that. Looks like we're here."
"Oh my god, yes!" I said with a grin as I jumped out, my heels digging into the sand. The beach always had a way to cheer me up, after all. I really did need this.

"I hope you enjoy yourself here, Nikki. I'd offer to join you, seeing that I don't have any plans for the afternoon, but I'm sure you'd rather hang around guys your age."

"No way! The guys here are all jerks. If you don't have anything to do, I'd be pleased as punch for you to join me." I added with a warm smile. Well, if my dad did screw him over, he probably needed to relax too.

 

[Bevatoria]

I smirked in response. "Well, I hope they're not *all* jerks...after all, I'm one of them." It'd take a big of digging to find my bag with my swimsuit, but I went around to the back to start at it. "But if nothing else I can keep the boys off of you while you get a tan. Not that you need it, of course." I managed to pull out my gym bag which had my swimsuit and lotion, looking around for the changing area.

"Just give me a sec and I'll meet you over there." I pointed there, and went in to change. Being a workaholic also extended to the gym, and I thought I was in good shape, though not like any of those steroid freaks. Unlike those guys, I actually liked it when a muscle actually gave once in a while when it got poked. Still, I knew I was getting a stare or two, and decided to show off a bit with my shirt slung over my shoulder. I might've been a year or three...or a dozen...older then Nikki, but I saw her eyes on me, too.

I'd gawked at her a few times without getting noticed, so it was only fair that I pretended to ignore her eyes, too. "I think you know this beach better then I do, so if there's a certain spot you like setting up..." I started, even as I didn't really care about where we went.

 

[Brigitte92]

"Well, I hope they're not *all* jerks...after all, I'm one of them."
"Oh...right. Sorry!" I said with a chuckle and a smile.
"But if nothing else I can keep the boys off of you while you get a tan. Not that you need it, of course."
"I wasn't really looking to get a tan, but that sounds like a plan."
"Just give me a sec and I'll meet you over there."
"Sure thing."

I wandered off towards a more isolated part of the beach and as I heard the tide come in and out, I began to wonder where he was at. I turned to see him walking towards me, with his shirt slung over his shoulder. I had to admit, he was pretty good shape; more so than I would have imagined. He obviously was found of exercise, judging from how well his chest and arms were sculptured.

I shook off those thoughts from my head when he came over and asked:

"I think you know this beach better then I do, so if there's a certain spot you like setting up..."

"Here is fine." said, moving some locks of brown hair that got to my face, thanks to the slight breeze "As long as we're not right smacking middle of the beach, any spot is perfect."

 

[Bevatoria]

"Here is fine." she said; we'd walked some distance in at that point but it seemed as good a spot as any. I flopped out my towel, next to hers, of course, taking in the scenery. This was a good place to relax, even if I doubted how much I'd get lying next to her...or swimming next to her...or...

"As long as we're not right smacking middle of the beach, any spot is perfect."

There were a fair amount of people, but this was a fairly private spot on the beach, at least as far as I could tell. I'd never been here, or to any of the beaches around her, and I took a deep breath of the fresh air. This would've been nice even without the company, and as I stole a glance at the barely clad female next to me, I relished in how nice it was with her here.

It was then that things took a unfortunate turn, as I reached into my bag for my sunblock, and with a squeeze of the bottle, saw a puff of empty air. I sighed theatrically. "Out of suntan lotion. Do you have any, Nikki?"

Oldest trick in the book, sure, but it wasn't really a trick this time...

 

[Brigitte92]

Finally, this is what I wanted for a while now. I closed my eyes to feel the slight wind and fresh air, lying down my towel blissfully. I did, however, open my eyes to look at Ian, who was just about finished setting up. He took out a bottle of what must have been lotion, but judging from his reaction he was all out.

"Out of suntan lotion. Do you have any, Nikki?"

I smiled and said "I think so, let me check my bag"

Sure enough, I did have a small bottle in there. I wasn't planning on putting any on, so I wasn't going to be stingy about it. "Think fast." I said with a chuckle, before gently tossing the bottle towards him.

 

[Bevatoria]

Without knowing how long we were going to be, I slathered some on, being oddly conservative about it since this was her bottle. No sense being wasteful as I looked at her while I rubbed it up and down my arms. "Thanks, Nikki." Another moment before I felt protected from the sun's rays, and I laid back as she did, not intending to ruin the moment with any forced flirting or talk. If she wanted to just veg out, I intended to let her.

But there was still manipulation to be done as I kept my voice low. "So what are you up to out here? I'm sure you do more then just tease the guys at the beach in your skimpy outfits...." I'd honestly intended this as an innocent remark, meant to draw something out of her, but her answer genuinely surprised me, and I pressed on.

"Anything lined up for work, then? I know how tough it is to find a job..." I was a person who'd earned everything he'd been given, but even I would admit at that point that luck certain helped things along, especially in this case when I figured out the one thing about her that I could use to my advantage...to my gain, and much to her detriment.

 

[Brigitte92]

"So what are you up to out here? I'm sure you do more then just tease the guys at the beach in your skimpy outfits...."

"Excuse me?" I said playfully and a bit of a chuckle. "Well, you'd be surprised that I haven't been up to much, I'm what is considered as...ahem, unemployed. But I'm looking!" I wasn't too happy about admitting this, since I felt as a complete failure for being at the edge of crawling back to my dad, but I wasn't about to lie about my predicament. I was an absolutely terrible liar anyway, so I was sure that if I would make up a story about my success, that someone like Ian could see right through me.

"Anything lined up for work, then? I know how tough it is to find a job..."

"A few interviews here and there. I'm supposed to go to an interview soon for a job in inner San Francisco. It's an assistant job and I'm pretty much be a glorified secretary, but the pay is apparently good, so..."

Ack...I couldn't believe that I was actually being hopeful about getting this job. I hated the idea of working at some corporate workplace...or at least I used to, before I had bills to pay on my own...

 

[Bevatoria]

"A few interviews here and there. I'm supposed to go to an interview soon for a job in inner San Francisco. It's an assistant job and I'm pretty much be a glorified secretary, but the pay is apparently good, so..."

What a coincidence. I was doing some interviews, but I didn't feel like telling her that just yet, as a part of me was starting to connect the dots. "Interesting. I promise not to pry too much more into your affairs, but I'm wondering - who is it with? I'm only asking because I might know someone who can help...." I'd meant that offer when I made it, honestly. "...I've got some connections out here." Okay, that part was a lie, I just wanted to know more.

And know more I did. It took very inch of my willpower, combined with the fact that I'd almost dozed off to begin with, not to spring up at what she said. We were the ones interviewing her. I was the one who was going to be interviewing her. Unwittingly, she'd stumbled in her bikini and heels into the man who was going to be determining her fate in terms of getting hired on with us. Holy crap.

Normally, I would've fessed up and we probably would've laughed about fate twisting us together. But thinking of her Dad, what he'd done to me...stealing a peak at her toned ass, the way her breasts sprung up from under that top...her toned and curved body, teasing me unwittingly...

"...I'll see what I can think of." I mumbled as I dozed off. If nothing else, that part was true, even if I probably wasn't thinking of what she wanted me to.

 

[Brigitte92]

"Interesting. I promise not to pry too much more into your affairs, but I'm wondering - who is it with? I'm only asking because I might know someone who can help...I've got some connections out here."

"Really? Wow, you're just full of surprises." I said with a bit of a grin. Truth be told, if he could help me out, that would be just fantastic. There's no thought that devastated me more than having to go back to my dad and beg him to forgive me. Ugh...

"Well, the interview is with Onterra Industries. Hopefully you've got some connections there." I said with a laugh and a smile.

"...I'll see what I can think of." he mumbled.

"Thanks Ian." I replied with a grin "You have no idea how much I need this job."

 

[Bevatoria]

Gift wrapped, straight into my lap. If she needed this job more then anything, and I controlled whether she got this job or not...hmm, let me think about this a second. Yep, life was good, and even as we enjoyed the sand and the surf quietly, my mind was racing enough to not make it an especially relaxing afternoon for me; I was fairly certain there as a bulge showing in my suit, assuming she was looking for it. Thankfully I didn't have to stand up anytime soon....

The afternoon passed with me making far too many plans, and when I did stand up, I did so awkwardly, away from her, as if my muscles had fallen asleep and I needed to stretch. I gave her a gentle nudge. "Hey. Time to go home, I figure..." I packed up my stuff into my bag. "Meet me at my car, okay?"

I changed quickly back into my casual outfit of shorts and a loose shirt, and smiled as I walked up to her, still strutting her stuff in her swim suit and heels."I thought of a few ways I could help you, Nikki. Why don't you give me your number and we can discuss them in the next day or two." A sly way to get her contact information, and even before I finished it, I looked at her. "I'm free tonight, as well, if you wanted to do dinner, and we could take about resume stuff, interview preparation, things like that...."

Say yes, say yes, say yes...

 

[Brigitte92]

I was out of it, I guess. The relief that maybe my job searching was coming to an end got me to finally let go of my worries for a moment; it was so relaxing, that I sort of began to doze off. Ian nudged me, alerting me once again before saying:

"Hey. Time to go home, I figure...Meet me at my car, okay?"
"Oh...sure." I said, as I began to get up.

I rolled my towel as he began to change, thinking about how lucky I was today. I mean, not only did I get a ride here and completely avoid a tiring journey, but by the looks of things I was on my way to a decent career. Ian came up to me and snapped me out of my thoughts with:

"I thought of a few ways I could help you, Nikki. Why don't you give me your number and we can discuss them in the next day or two."

"Oh sure. Do you have a pen? Oh wait, I'll just text you..." I said, grabbing my cellphone as he gave me his phone number. With a quick message, he received my phone number as well.

"I'm free tonight, as well, if you wanted to do dinner, and we could take about resume stuff, interview preparation, things like that...."

"Well..." I said, appearing as if I was hesitating just to tease him, as if I was anyone to turn him down right now "That would be perfect. Sure!'

 

[Bevatoria]

"That would be perfect. Sure!'

I smiled, laying a hand on her bare shoulder. "Great!" Without giving any thought to how her skin felt against my hand, I led her back to my vehicle. "Looks like good things do happen after all. I thought today was going to be crappy moving out here, but now I've run into you and..." I looked at her appreciatively. "I've really enjoyed spending time with you, Nikki. I'm glad not everyone in your family is...well, that they're not all bad apples." Ugh, I was really laying it on thick. "And that you've fallen far from your father's tree." I hope that's the last one that slipped out...

I put my bag in the back, rebuttoning my shirt as the bright day had slowly started to turn to the slightly cooler air of the evening. I slammed the trunk down and slid into my car, waiting for Nikki to join me before I started the engine. "What a day." I smiled.

As we pulled away, I turned to her as we went back to the highway. "I don't know my beaches, but a friend of mine reccomended a little hole in the wall Mexican place. It's not too far from here, I think..." Eventually, we were back on the road, headed to the restaurant. I didn't think we'd forgotten anything, as we'd gotten all our stuff back in the car.

 

[Brigitte92]

"Great!" he said, his hand touching my shoulder as if to console me. It gave me a chance to feel how rough his skin was...or at least, compared to my soft, pale skin. "Looks like good things do happen after all. I thought today was going to be crappy moving out here, but now I've run into you and...I've really enjoyed spending time with you, Nikki. I'm glad not everyone in your family is...well, that they're not all bad apples. And that you've fallen far from your father's tree." he then added, though paused for a moment, as if he regretted that last part.

I laughed a bit over how uncomfortable he looked talking about how awful my father can be, essentially. I smiled before replying "Same here Ian, it was fun hanging out with you too and thanks, I know my dad can be a complete troll. Believe me."

I eagerly followed Ian back into his car, as we drove off towards the highway. It was quite a day, but a good one at that.

"I don't know my beaches, but a friend of mine recommended a little hole in the wall Mexican place. It's not too far from here, I think..."

"Oh, that sounds pretty good actually. A lot better than the instant ramen that I normally eat." I said with a grin, poking fun of how hilariously poor I was.

 

[Bevatoria]

"Oh, that sounds pretty good actually. A lot better than the instant ramen that I normally eat." Her smile was enticing, and I was grateful that she seemed to be acting and living on the spur of the moment. Not only was it attractive to see in a young woman, it was probably keeping her from thinking certain things through, which was the last thing I wanted her doing at the moment.

I tried to steal another glance at her long legs, the way her heels framed them up to her...eyes on the road, dumbass. I smiled slightly, as if I'd been caught with my hand in the cookie jar, continuing down the road before we pulled into a somewhat run down restaurant. I mean, it wasn't as if I felt like I was going to get mugged there...this was San Francisco, after all. But this wasn't a high class place, which suited my purposes for other reasons. The food *was* terrific, though, and I hadn't lied about that.

"Here we are." I moved to the other door, extending my hand to help Nikki out. There was some mexican music softly playing to help the atmosphere and give it a sort of a welcoming feel. I didn't know how much it'd help the woman on my arm, who was by far the most exposed person here in her bikini and heels (and, were I a betting man, probably the most attractive woman in the restaurant regardless of what she was wearing), and I wondered if she'd say anything, or just try to play it off.

Either way, well...

 

[Brigitte92]

The car ride wasn't that long and we were talking, so it wasn't like one of those awkward and silent rides that I loathed. Well, there were a bit few times where I caught Ian looking at my legs, but I figured that it was harmless (I didn't protest or anything. The most that I replied with was an arched eyebrow and a smile to let him know that I caught him though). Eventually, we arrived at some Mexican restaurant in San Francisco. The exterior wasn't much, but I wasn't normally someone who judged a book based on its cover though.

"Here we are."

We walked out of the car and towards the restaurant. Immediately, I noticed that I was still wearing my two piece bikini and heels and felt self-conscious of the fact that...well, that I was the only person here dressed in something so revealing. I suppose that it wasn't that uncommon to see someone dressed as I was, given that the weather was hot and the area was close enough to many beaches to justify my get-up. Still...

"Maybe I should have worn something else?" I asked Ian with a grin.

 

[Bevatoria]

Her smile seemed flirtatious, and enticing as she seemed to shrug off her relative exposure. "Maybe I should have worn something else?" I could've sworn she put a bit of a wiggle into her hips as she said it, but I did tend to have a pretty overreactive imagination when it came to things like that. I matched her smile, shaking my head as I led her inside.

"No, you're fine just the way you are." The joint was small and the decor out of date, but the atmosphere was top notch in spite of it, with the mexican music gentle, a smell of mexican food wafting in the air, and great service. Plus, we could seat ourselves, and I led her to a table, letting her sit next to me as a waitress came up to us. She had long black hair, dark skin, and was dressed in what looked like classical mexican barmaid's atire.

"Greetings, senor and senorita. What can I start you with?"

"Beer for me thanks." I let Nikki decide her own order as she gave us our menus, and I turned to her. We had a section of the restaurant to ourselves, so I turned to her. "So, do you want to talk shop before or after our food arrives? I figure I could 'coach' you for a bit, tell you what I can about this company, maybe give you a few tips...I actually used to conduct interviews myself, once."

 

[Brigitte92]

"No, you're fine just the way you are."

I chuckled at that, wondering on whether he emphasized fine to tease me, but either way I was all right with it. The restaurant itself, despite its looks was pretty nice. Ian led us both to a table and sat right next to me before a waitress came to serve us. Well, that was quick service.

"Greetings, senor and senorita. What can I start you with?"

"Beer for me thanks."
"I'll just have some orange juice please."

Hey, I wasn't too keen on alcohol right now; I didn't want to risk drinking too much and make a fool out of myself in front of Ian, who could get me that job. On the flip side, I wasn't about to make some elaborate order if Ian was just taking a beer for now. The waitress then left to get our drinks when I an asked:

"So, do you want to talk shop before or after our food arrives? I figure I could 'coach' you for a bit, tell you what I can about this company, maybe give you a few tips...I actually used to conduct interviews myself, once."

"Oh yes, please." I said with a grin "Anything that could help me out would be just fantastic."

 

[Bevatoria]

"Oh yes, please." Her smile was infectious, and teasing, as if she was completely oblivious to the effect she was having on me and everyone around her. "Anything that could help me out would be just fantastic."

Well, she had said 'anything', and I committed that to memory as I turned to her. "I know what I'm having, but I'll give you a moment to look through the menu." Quesadillas were always my thing, and after a small bit for her to gaze through the menu, I started talking.

"Onterra Industries is a leader in their field, as far as I know. A bit of a start up company, from what I know, but that could be better for you to get in early. It'll allow you to see a company getting built from the ground up, seeing something new and exciting." I had to keep myself from going entirely into the sales pitch, and it was then our waitress came by with our drinks, and I took a large swig. Much better. "You're lucky to have an interview with them, and I think you'd do well to land with them."

The waitress was still standing there, and she took our orders and quickly piled away, and my attention was back on Nikki. "Interviewers like it when you're honest with them. Don't give them bullshit politically correct answers just because you think it's what they wanted to hear - I always enjoyed the candidates who spoke their mind rather then just recited back to me the same half dozen or so answers I'd gotten from five other candidates. Show me what makes you different from other people I've met." I was getting so into what I was saying that I'd leaned in a bit closer to her, and I backed off when I realized what I was doing. Too soon, too soon.

Another small sip of my drink. "Do you have your resume on you?" Immediately I realized how that sounded, and I chuckled to myself. "Oh god...I didn't mean it like that...I meant if you had it in your email or something..."