Opal Cole [Cole - A Fantasy About Love

A Fantasy about Love

Chapter 1: A Felicitous Encounter

"James, what are you still doing here? You have not forgotten that there is a party at my house in two hours?"

I looked up from my computer screen where I was trying to find a way around a complicated personnel problem. Should I remove that guy from his position, and if yes, whereto? I was a bit upset because a glimmer of an idea had just appeared and now it was gone. The situation was not very comfortable for the company: Last year's sales had been disappointing, the sales quota had just been missed, the annual Regional Sales Convention in Bali had only a few representatives from IBM Australia, and everyone from HQ to the last salesman was thoroughly pissed off. It was early into the new year and the company urgently needed a success story to pick itself up. I believed that it was more a management problem than anything else -- there were more than enough prospects out there to improve the situation rapidly, but nobody took the initiative to get things rolling.

Peter Hamill was my colleague in the computer company, responsible for retail sales whilst I was the Large Account Manager having recently arrived from New York. I was responsible for selling big mainframe computers and everything was still new to me; especially certain attitudes displayed with enthusiasm by my Australian coworkers were rather upsetting for my organized German mind. I remembered, however, that I had agreed during the week to go to the party but had forgotten my promise completely.

"Peter, can I beg off? I am late resolving this problem and need to prepare a presentation for Monday early morning for our boss. I promise that I'll join you next time."

Peter was leaning against the door frame; a tall, blond and a typical laid-back Australian surfer type. He was competent but seemed to have other interests in his life beside his career, principally his dedication to wines. He did not like the answer very much. He had already changed from his formal business suit to casual Friday afternoon attire, with a light blue shirt, a grey trouser and a cashmere pullover draped around his shoulders.

"Come on, you have been sitting there for hours staring at that screen. Do you believe that staring for another three or four hours will resolve the problem? Relax a bit, come to my party, talk up some girls and you might have a possibility to find an alternative to the black hole you're in."

I had to agree with Peter -- at this moment there was absolutely nothing on my mind, which even remotely looked like a way out of this quandary. I could sit there for hours getting more and more upset or go off on a completely different track to loosen up and start new. Considering the funk I was slowly entering, Peter's suggestion seemed much more appealing. I glanced out of the windows; from my 21st floor window I could see the tiny triangles of colorful sails of the sailboats getting back to harbor and if they could spend the afternoon forgetting the world why should I spend my time thinking about the company? In addition, earlier this week had been my anniversary and all I got was lunch with Peter -- the wine he selected was superb, though.

"OK. Two hours at your house. Anything I should or could bring?"

"Just yourself, and please be in a better mood!"

Peter left and I shut off the computer, locked my door and left. It seemed that no one was left on this floor -- after all, on a Friday night everybody just vanishes as soon as the magic moment of four o'clock arrives. Only the reception area still had people sitting at the counter and chatting.

"Good evening, Mr. Winter. Late as usual?"

"Tony, work never stops and if you want to be successful, you just have to give everything, and often a bit more."

"Mr. Winter, just remember that you have to live to have a life, and pardon me saying so, you don't have one!"

"Tony, truer words were never spoken, but you know how things are. Being new in the country and in the company requires an extra effort, but I just hope that things will slow down soon."

Tony looked at me with a smile.

"Well, Mr. Winter, I wish you a good evening and a good weekend and see you on Monday."

"Thanks, Tony. You might see me on the weekend working."

"Mr. Winter, I have more common sense than this. For me it will be the beach, some beers, a barbeque and some pretty girls."

I left the building and thought that Australians had a much easier outlook on life than the people I had met working in other countries. They were more open and more direct, and whilst they were working hard, they also seemed to enjoy their free time with much more enthusiasm. It was difficult for me to keep up with them, at least privately.

I turned left and walked to my apartment. It was a pleasant late summer evening even after a recent uncharacteristically cold spell, and my mood picked up a bit.

I had been very lucky when I arrived; a senior manager had been transferred to headquarters in the US. Since it was an at least three years assignment, he wanted to let his apartment and had offered it to me. It was close to the company's building, the center of the city, and the Opera House and many good hotels and restaurants were not far. The rent was not cheap, but I could afford it easily.

I walked for about five minutes and entered the apartment building. Pressing the 14th floor button, another tenant hurried into the lobby. I had seen her before; a pretty woman, well dressed and always polite. I smiled at her, holding the door for her and when she stepped out on the 11th floor, she turned back to me and gave me a brilliant smile in return. I tried one of my rare smiles, but when I found the courage to say something she had already turned away. I told myself that I was a fool, indeed. The opportunity comes and I let it walk away. When would I learn?"

I shrugged my shoulders and when the elevator stopped at the 14th floor, entered my apartment. It was big for a single man, with everything one could wish for, two bedrooms en suite and a large sitting room, a separate dining room, and a small balcony with a good view over the city towards the Harbour Bridge.

There was some mail: some bills, two tickets, and some publicity trash. I looked at the tickets and was surprised -- they were for the next day at the Sydney Opera, and the performance was 'Norma' with Joan Sutherland. I had completely forgotten that I had put my name on a long waiting list and since miracles still happen, there they were. Two tickets for the night! Expensive, but since I adored operas and Joan Sutherland even more, nothing better could have happened. I stopped: two tickets? Then I remembered that one was for my colleague who had to travel suddenly on business. Well, even paying for two tickets was much better than not seeing Joan Sutherland.

I looked at my watch and changed into my casual attire: a black trouser, a white shirt, a smart green cashmere pullover, and some comfortable black loafers. I looked at myself in the mirror: Tall, a bit over six feet, blond hair with some grey strands already visible, slender, but strong from my martial art classes - acceptable, I thought. I decided that I would stay at the party for half an hour, invent some excuses and go out for a late dinner. There were enough good restaurants that I would always find one I enjoyed.

I went back to the elevator -- the pretty lady would appear again? but unfortunately, all that was left for me was to go down and take my car to drive to Peter's house on the other side of Sydney.

The noise was disturbing: loud noises and loud music. I parked the car close to the house. I wondered how Peter managed to keep his neighbors from calling the police, but that was not my problem. I just wanted to pay my respects, staying a few minutes and then leave. My host looked at me when I entered, already a bit flushed and I hoped that the party was not already at an exaggerated pace.