Unlikely romance.

Industry events are the last place you expect to find a decent man, particularly the industry I work in. Awards shows tend to be filled with ‘creative’ men and their watermelon sized egos.

Thus it was with typical nonchalance that I trundled along to the latest parade. I was so laissez-faire about the whole thing that I hadn’t even organised an outfit. So rather annoyingly, an hour before my boss was due to pick me up, I discovered that none of my standard slinky black dresses fit me properly. I plumped for the least sack-like, a satin black dress from Zara, two sizes too big. The outfit was slightly redeemed by some beautiful taupe Ash shoes. Nonetheless, I was hardly feeling my sexiest.

I spent the hour pre-dinner networking but didn’t really meet anyone of any great interest. Dinner, however, was a different story. As a relatively new start-up my company didn’t warrant a whole table so we were guests of the host. It’s always a bit of a gamble being on a mixed table but luckily I was surrounded by lovely people and the food and wine was divine. After the rather exhausting awards my new best-table friend, the gorgeous R, introduced me to some gentlemen from the table that had looked like the most fun throughout the evening. I got talking to the CEO who swiftly introduced me to one of his senior directors, D, saying we’d get on famously.

D immediately offered me a drink and took me to the bar, claiming my standard vodka soda was his favourite too, what a gentleman! We got talking and very quickly realised our backgrounds were incredibly similar. This is quite a big deal when you’ve been an expat, it’s not often you meet someone else who has an identical oil industry upbringing. We couldn’t stop talking and the attraction was obvious. We established rather quickly that we lived quite close to one another and that the after party venue was equidistant between our apartments so he asked me to accompany him. I hadn’t planned on going as I was supposed to be on a train to Scotland at silly o’clock the next morning, but hesitantly I agreed. How often does a gorgeous man who runs his own company ask me out? Exactly. So off we went to catch one of the Routemasters to the party at Embassy.

We drank champagne and talked however the venue quickly descended into madness and we kept being interrupted by work colleagues. D asked whether I wanted to go somewhere quieter where we could talk and get a decent cocktail. Before I had a chance to answer I found myself in a taxi heading east. He pointed out his street and I resolutely declared that I wouldn’t be seeing his apartment tonight! Miffed, he took me to his members club the beautiful East Room. His face fell once again when I admitted to having been there previously with an architect!

We holed ourselves up on one of the leather sofas and ended up having a brilliant night. We talked for a couple of hours, drinking Pisco cocktails and finishing the night with some port. We kissed and laughed. It was such a treat to talk to someone with a similar world view and a similar theatre of life experiences. Alas the night had to come to an end and he walked me back to Old St, hailed a cab, kissed goodbye and I gave him my card. No sooner had I jumped in the taxi when I received a message from him thanking me for the evening and saying what a treat it was to meet me. He’s taking me for dinner this week.