It was on a Friday night that things changed for them. Benny was invited to her apartment to work on a project that was falling further and further behind. He was surprised at her sudden change in appearance, gone was the hair pulled tight on top of her head, and gone were the drab clothes. Instead, a main of thick red hair hung to her shoulders, a jade green top showed off a bust line that was normally hidden. A pair of tight jeans hugged shapely buttocks and legs. There was a little makeup where there was usually none, and for the first time, Benny got a glimpse of the real Hannah.
They worked for a few hours before stopping for a coffee break, he then watched as Hannah curled up on the couch opposite. They talked aimlessly about nothing as they sipped at their hot cups.
“You should dress like this more often.” he commented after a while.
Her eyes suddenly flashed and bristled with hostility, “Why?”
“Because this is the real you. You’re a different person in the office.”
“That’s because I choose to be. How I look isn’t important, it’s what I do that is.” she replied forcefully.
“But there’s no need to be different at work, why can’t you just be you?”
“Because that’s how I want it, and it’s none of your business.”
Benny knew he shouldn’t be angry but just couldn’t help himself. He stared at her unwavering glare and decided he shouldn’t be there anymore. He gathered his things and left her apartment without another word from either party. Benny avoided the mentoring group after that. To be truthful as time went past, he was more than a little embarrassed that Hannah had got to him the way she did, and after all she was entitled to dress and behave exactly the way she wanted to.
It was on a cold windswept afternoon that Hannah sought him out in his city office. She strode into his office after intimidating his secretary and planted herself in the chair opposite his desk. While Benny was surprised at her audacity, he smiled at her across the desk while taking in her dishevelled appearance. Her hair was wet from the rain which dripped onto her black leather jacket, her tight jeans and leather boots all soaking.
“Okay, you win.” she commented with authority. “We need you back, so you tell me how you want me to be and I’ll play the game.”
Benny looked into her big eyes but couldn’t break her steadfast stare, “I don’t want you to be anyone else but you. I really like working with you, but I can’t put up with the bullshit. So you decide who you want to be, and I’ll decide if I still want to carry on.”
“How about discussing it over a coffee?” she asked. “I’m cold.”
“Is that because of the weather, or are you still frigid?” he asked.
Hannah sort of smiled, “Don’t push your luck.”
So that’s how it started, Benny and Hannah spent more and more time together, the personal side soon over shadowing the business aspects of the relationship. They enjoyed each others company, the café meals and the interesting and sometimes heated discussions, neither side would surrender a point of view. But the physical side was almost too hard to contemplate, Benny was very wary of Hannah knowing that she had a feisty temper lurking waiting to pounce on him. As for Hannah, well she was fully aware of his prowess with the opposite sex, and she had no intention of being another notch on his bed post.
The first time that Hannah visited Benny’s house was a turning point for her, she took in seclusion, his collection of music, the artwork and the books. The house had a tranquil and calming affect on her, and she liked being there from the second of walking in the front door. She liked sitting outside gazing across the rural landscape, a far cry from her city apartment. When it was chilly, she still enjoyed sitting outside and would pull up a chair close to the spar pool to absorb some of the heat radiating from the water. Benny appreciated her liking for his home and was happy for her to visit when ever she liked, for she was very good company.