Alex and Emily met at a work gathering threeyears ago. She was interning for a magazine, which was doing aspread on the fifty most eligible bachelors in New York City. Alexwas number thirty five. He’s classy and handsome with short brownhair that’s curly on top and really, really defined cheek bones.Did I mention he’s filthy stinkin’ rich? Which is why Emily isprobably bored to death. She doesn’t have to work and she has noidea what to do with herself.
“I have no one to hang out with anymore,” shewhines.
“What about Alex?” I ask.
“I live with him, I have to hang out with himtoo?” she jokes, just as I overhear some of Ryan’s and my uncle’sconversation.
“So, graphic design?” my uncle asks. “Do youdo logos?”
Ryan nods his head yes. “Logos, book covers,web design,” he rattles off the list.
My uncle gets this look on his face, the onewhere you can see the steam engine churning. It’s the same one hegets when he’s preparing for a case. “Would you be interested indesigning a logo for my law firm? We’re in the market for a new oneand we just haven’t found anything we like. Maybe we need someyoung blood to mix things up a bit.”
Ryan’s mouth drops open. My uncle’s law firmis one of the biggest in New York City. Doing a logo for him wouldput Ryan on the map.
“Ah,” Ryan stutters, “of course, I can puttogether a few specs for you to look at, I’ll just need to knowwhat kind of feel you’re going for.”
“Great, I’ll set it up,” my uncle says justas our food arrives. Ryan looks over at me with astounded eyes. Ijust smile.
“What about you?” My uncle turns hisattention to me.
“Me?” I squeak. “You want me to design alogo, too?”
My uncle John laughs. “Are you interninganywhere over winter break?”
“Um, no. I sent out a few feelers, but Ihaven’t gotten anything yet.”
He cuts into his steak, the knife slicingthrough it like it’s butter. “Would you be interested in interningat my law firm?”
It’s my turn for a jaw to drop.
“Of course,” I hastily answer.
“Good,” he chews and then swallows. “Come inat eight on Monday morning and we’ll get you squared away.”
My uncle has put on a red suit and iscommanding eight tiny reindeer tonight.
As we finish dinner and look over dessertmenus, Ryan and I decide to split a brownie sundae and get acappuccino each. I’m chit-chatting with Emily when I hear a whineyvoice that sends chills down my spine: “Oh my God, you’re him! Thatguy, Jack the Stripper!” I whip my head around to find a big-bustedbrunette in Ryan’s face. “I saw you perform a couple weeks ago. Itried to get a private dance, but you are like, booked formonths.”
Everyone at the table goes silent and juststares at Ryan, the color of his face changing from white to greenthen finally red.
He braces his hands against the table’s edgeand glares out of the corner of his eye. “Do you mind? I’m withpeople,” he says in a calm and even tone, but I know he’s anythingbut.
Ms. Busty Brunette scoffs offended, butbefore she can say anything else Emily stands up - all one hundredpounds of her soaking wet – outraged: “Beat it skank, we’re tryingto have dinner.” Now all eyes have shifted to her.
“Skank?” the brunette sneers. “I’m notthe one who takes my clothes off for a living.”
“I’m sure if someone paid you enough, youwould,” Emily snaps, channeling Jill.
“Whatever.” The girl hisses and then stalksoff.
Ryan is stapled in place, staring at me withrepentant eyes. I know he’s not embarrassed for himself. He’sembarrassed for me. Ryan doesn’t apologize for his occupation, heowns it. But in this situation he didn’t want to do anything tomake me look bad. And having my family find out he’s a strippermight reflect badly on me.
But I’m not embarrassed or ashamed. And I’msort of pissed Emily beat me to the punch, because I would haveloved to tell that girl where to stick it.
“Um, can you all please excuse me?” Ryan getsup from the table and flees like his ass is on fire. I immediatelygrab my purse and go after him. He’s halfway down the block by thetime I get outside.
“Ryan!” I yell but he keeps walking. I rip myhigh heels off and start running. “Ryan, wait!” My bare feet gonumb against the cold pavement, but I don’t care, I’m determined tocatch up to him.