I waited nervously for the doctor at the bar of the Carlisle Hotel. He was running about ten minutes late, so I ordered a glass of rose champagne. I fidgeted anxiously with the champagne flute and attempted small talk with the bartender.
For a brief moment, I questioned how I had gotten here. One week prior to this blind date I would have never dreamed I’d be seated at this bar, awaiting a married man who was essentially interviewing me to be his mistress.
I wondered why he seemed so eager to meet me. Were my pictures that alluring? Was my bio that intriguing? He seemed so accomplished in the world of science. My tagline on my Making Arrangement profile was “Blondes have more fun!”
I had a pit in my stomach. Surely there were other non-married men I could meet on the site. What was I doing here? I looked down at my coat, hanging underneath the bar. I considered collecting my belongings and walking out the door, but I really needed the money. That's when he walked in…
He approached me. He looked exactly like his profile picture. A bit like a geeky Tobey Maguire. He was 41, 5’11” and flipped his shaggy hair from one side to the other. I could tell he was nervous. Maybe more than I was. I felt a sense of relief.
We were seated at a table in the corner and after a couple of cocktails, I learned a bit more about him. He was born in Argentina and had lived all over Europe and Asia. It didn’t take long to realize he was very different from other men. His IQ was off the charts, which became increasingly obvious as he revealed more details of his life. He was solving complex math equations when most children were learning the alphabet. He graduated medical school when most people were beginning puberty. I was intrigued.
He told me a little bit about his former arrangement Laura. Their relationship had just ended amicably after 14 blissful months. He alluded to the fact that his wife knew about his flings and didn’t mind his indiscretions, so long as he remained safe and didn’t disclose any of the details to her. Even though it seemed unusual for a wife to turn a blind eye, I had heard of marriages like this where the wife tolerates her philandering husband, in exchange for a certain lifestyle. This eased my mind a little about an affair with him. He seemed like he just needed a little attention and affection in his life.
I had already lied and told him I had a dinner party to attend later that evening, just in case I needed a definitive end to our afternoon drinks. After a few drinks and interesting conversation I looked at my phone. It was 5pm. Time to leave for my fake dinner.
I kissed him on the cheek and he walked me out to get a cab. Before putting me in the cab and handing me $100 for cab fare, he asked me a strange question.
“Bianca, were you ever bullied in your life?”
“A little…Why do you ask?”
He smiled and replied, “You have behaviors and traits consistent with someone who has either been bullied or abused in their lives. I believe we may be cut from the same cloth. Don't worry. you are safe with me, Bianca.”
He kissed me on the cheek and hailed a cab for me. Even in my champagne buzz, I knew this would be the beginning of a very interesting journey.