The Valentines Day Dinner

The facts

- Wore: David Lawrence brown lace wrap top with plunging neck line, too plunging and threw on a brown cami under, black Donna Karen knee length skirt, Valentino handbag and new bronze and black embellish 4" stellito's (matches my handbag) dripping with all my best gold jewelry

- The venue was Bondi Icebergs, Bondi Beach
- A pre-dinner cocktail
- A bottle of champagne, Veuve Clicquot as our "starter"
- A delicious 3 course dinner
- 2 bottles of red wine
- 2 bottles of white wine
- The party: K. a former work colleague, now a relationship manager for *insert company name* R. her partner/boyfriend, Australian / New Zealand CEO of *insert international company* D. (my "date" for the evening) South East Asian MD of same international company
- D. & I went to the same school. He finished in '69 and I finished in '96 the quick sum, he's approximately 54 (a fit 54)
- K. didn't mention prior to the dinner that D. is married with 2 kids
- A glance at the bill $918 or $938
- I came home with a long stem red rose


# 1 - Attitude

K. and R. picked me up by taxi from home at 6.30pm all dressed up and ready for great night ahead. We arrived a little early for our reservation and D. was on his way from the city so we were directed to the bar for some pre-dinner drinks, over our first cocktail I was briefed on D. lives in Singapore with his wife and 2 kids. Shocked, it would have been nice to know...

Any expectations of a set up gone out the window, I'll settle in for an evening of just being company and evening up the numbers, I wonder what his wife would think...? How bad does this look for me...? *shake head* drink up.


# 2 - Freak out

K. and R. picked me up by taxi from home at 6.30pm all dressed up and ready for great night ahead. We arrived a little early for our reservation and D. was on his way from the city so we were directed to the bar for some pre-dinner drinks, over our first cocktail I was briefed on D. lives in Singapore with his wife and 2 kids. Shocked, it would have been nice to know!

What the fuck was K. thinking! I feel like I've been drafted into a ring of high-class hookers. I'm like Amilita Amalfi! Does this guy have any expectations of sexual favors? What a fucking pig! Married and 54 ish and out with a 27 year old. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Relax. Drink up.


Dinner

A few deep breathes, my mind was coming up with too many scenario's, had a big gulp of my cocktail, composed myself totally, willed myself not to jump to any conclusions and thought I'll wait till the guy gets here first.

When D. arrived we introduced and a silent sigh of relief, not sleazy, a very decent man.

We were seated at our table, the men gave us 2 girls the seats with the view over Bondi, they insisted we had a glass of champagne before dinner, perusing over the menu of mouth watering delectable, discussing favourite foods, wines, D. & I like red, K. & R. like white, they decided to get both.

I was put at ease, the 2 men were absolute gentlemen, our glasses filled first, when either K. or I were going to leave the table they both stood up, when we arrived back, they both stood up.

We covered every topic imaginable, arts, sports, work, education, social etiquette, love and love lost, kids, travel, life journeys...

It was 11.30pm and we had been eating drinking and talking non-stop when our waitress asked if we would like taxi's organised, 2 cabs K. & R. heading to Rose Bay, me heading home and D. to the city, they wanted to ensure I got home safe, D. dropped me off in the taxi first. When we arrived outside my house he jumped out of the cab and ran around to open the door for me.