B.O.A.T - Brownest of All Time

Chapter 34

Dear Ilhaam,

Thank you for your email. I am very impressed with your work and would like to request a meeting with you for further discussion on how we could work together.

I will be flying tonight, so is there any possibility of seeing you today (2 pm) at Second Chance cafe - Colombo 02 for a quick chat? Please let me know.

Kind Regards,
Zayan Umar
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Those are the first words my eyes read as soon as I wake up. It's an email from Mr.Perfect Jawline that has landed in my inbox at 6:05 am.

Honestly, what kind of normal human being writes emails so freaking early? This dude is weird! Also, why would he want to meet at a cafe to discuss business? Again, weird! And that too at Second Chance — wait, could this be a sign from God?

Okay calm down, Ilhaam! Calm down! It's just a work email and not a marriage proposal. I mean, it's not like I am daydreaming of or expecting anything like that. But I think I have developed a slight crush on him. Who wouldn't have a crush on a guy with a jawline like that, right? Anyway, I know it's just a crush — nothing big. Just the way how we look at celebrities on TV.

But you know what's strange? For some reason, I have this butterflies-in-the-stomach feeling after a very long time in my life. I mean, I didn't experience it at all after Sameer. So even the slightest feeling of that nature frightens me now. Could this be bad for my mental health? Should I contact Amer and talk about it? Nah, this is not worth his precious time and wise words.

Besides, this is a business opportunity for me. So, I should stop worrying and start thinking of Zayan as a prospective client. Then everything will be normal and fine. Focus, Ilhaam! Focus!

So, what do I reply? Do I say 'yes' or 'no'? It's not like I have anything urgent to deliver to other clients. I can definitely make time for a meeting. But the thing is, what if I sound too desperate, agreeing to meet him as soon as he suggested it?

Perhaps I should pretend like I am busy today and reschedule it for a different date. But what if this is one of those opportunities that Amer told me about? Maybe I should seize it when it's in front of me and not regret it once it's too late.

I mean, Zayan sounded like he had a genuine need when he spoke to me at the event last evening. So, if he is really interested in my work already and if I could manage to impress him at the meeting today too, there is a high chance of me acquiring another client and making more money. This is important. I better reply back. It's 9:15 am already.
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Hi Zayan,

Sure. We can meet at 2 pm today.

Cheers,
Ilhaam
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I send the email and read it over and over again, just to make sure the grammar and spellings are fine, when an email notification pops up on top of the screen. It is a reply from Zayan, "Great. Looking forward to it :)"

Wow! It hasn't been even a minute since I sent the email and he has already replied. Does this guy use email like we use WhatsApp? A real deal corporate guy or a super weirdo?

Now that I have sent the email, I need to mentally prepare myself for it. So far all my client meetings have gone well. But this one is going to be a little tough because of the number of times I might get distracted by the jawline. What if I start stammering like yesterday? I really hope I don't do that!

Also, my other concern is how are we going to pay the bill? Since I've never gone out with a guy before, I don't know how these things work. Even during Sameer times, I often used to wonder what I'd do someday when we actually meet. Unfortunately the whole relationship ended before I could get some experience.