Struck by Love

’s Cove in Brooklyn. It was a cozy little place with live music and murals al

drinks weren’t too expensive and the

they came straight of the fashion magazines they were so done up and wearing expensive designer clothes and shoes. They were also stick thin, unlike Laura's and Sarah’s curvier forms. The girls also got sticker shock once the bill came. It was $20 plus ti

tender waved, “good t

a, Barry,”

the next best thing. He opened a place where artists and musicians could come hangout, leave their mark on his walls and talk about their craft amongst fr

te tables, which was against the wall and ha

r your overtime yet?” She flipped her long, partially braided sandy blonde hair over her should

Raquel was in an extra bad

“She’s never going to respect you unless you do. Especially in the advertising

table. I don’t think she’s ever going to respect

ra s

realize what a valuable asset you ar

g a tray with their wine

ick, chestnut brown ponytail fal

, taking her glass. “Just wh

anks,” La

arm with affection. He quickly looked away. “Allow me,” he said as he struck a mat

y,” Sar

ushed. He nodded. “Your app

. Hummus and pita and edamame beans to start.

started ordering healthier appetizers, but couldn’t yet let go

ng forward and lowering her vo

rise. “Don’t be silly. H

yone here.” She to

se when he looks at you,”

.” She glanced over at the bar. Barry quickly l

cute, you know, you should talk to him s

that long hair of his,” she said, looking back at Laura. “Kind of makes me want to run my fingers through it.” Her ch

about

eresting in

“But I did have an encounter earlier today. C

ose, holding her wi

t that had happened as she made her way to work

ssing, what's

was han

a said, smiling. “And rich. His fam

hat

olis. Gorgeous. Greek.

a lau

he invited you

there was no way

ed her in th

at was t

rgeous, wealthy man invites you for coffee

“I had just spilled coffee all over myself, including my boob no less, a

f where your coffee was

id. Pretty h

inning from ear to ear. “

his high-class staff wearing coffee on my very inexpensive blouse from Target, with everyone knowing I’d spilled it on hi

e rest of that. He’ll be thinking of one thing. What you look l

e probably ruined his ima

thing remotely sexual is on their rad

f her wine, thinking of wh

is a sense of adventure. And risks be damned! You don’t

pened so fast and I was just really flustered and Raquel has been on my case a lot lately. As it was, I barely made it to work on time. S

al that needs to pre-empt a chance encounter with a gorgeous man

iggled a

east give him

id ask for my name though. I only gave him my first name. He said to

her d

“Here we go, ladies. For my two favorite customers.”

to all your customers

said looking at her, q

.” He turned and walked away,

d, grinning. “He’s sweet on y

as she watched him walk back to the bar. “I’

a asked, starting in on t

ur number, but you know his name and where he

in her chair and

lice of the fresh pita bread and spreading

to look. I was so embarrassed by fumbling and spilling my coffee ev

o flick her f

ldn’t believe how good-looking he is. Straight out of GQ magazine, movie-star worthy l

chided her. “We need to

be light years out of my league. It was a nice little flirtatio

at?” Sarah challenged h

he hummus and pita. She quickly stuf

d, crossing her arms. “

ng around inside. She took out a pad of

are you

yebrow. “I’m going to do a little investigative work

rticles for the NY Indie Voice,” Laura reminded her. “And don

here to go or how to approach this. Or if you don’t try.” She took a long sip of

, too. They clinked glasses and bot

omething?” Barry as

Laura was giving her a loo

orgeous man today and she’s too shy

a good kick un

h said, gig

g a strategy then?” he asked, looki

for both of us, since we’re both single. Es

looked at her friend in disbe

types, musicians, that kind of thing,”

d, smiling. “Well, you’re

she definitely is.” She recei

uffled a

either of you like another glass o

said, now barely able to

ing at them. “Comin

him walk away

you!” Sarah said bet

rst,” Laura said. “Bes

chair in a huff. “But don’t rush me. Th

love?

want to do with them,” Sarah s

aughed.

dged reporter yet, but I bet I can find some juicy tidbits on him.” Sarah’s eyes flashed with excit

to know,” Laura sai

smacked her hand away. “You ne

eplied, now sitt

earn would only scare her off more. “Aha!” Sarah said. “Get a load of this. Angelo Tsarkopolis was one of New

offee did. And this only

to work on, your courage

gh the article, read

business, Tsar Enterprises, which is a Fortune 500 company. Tsar Enterprises is an investment management firm with clients around the world. Angelo has one younger brother,

aid. “He’s probably used to wom

e by. “Here we go.” He placed them on the

ah said, giving him a

lding eye contact for just

ura said,

o leave that for my next investigation. Right now, we are trying to

a double masters degree in economics and bu

ning. “And he helps the less fortunate.

agine many h

spotting a related news item. “Th

r the death of his father, Vassilis, due to prostate cancer. Angelo has one younger brother

aid. “Boy, they’re young to hav

ir father probably groomed them from c

d poi

can find out anything about his love life. He’s probably all over t

t is it?” L

althy socialite a year a

friend. “Guess that

e knew he’d be too

rk City’s elite hotels. Hmmm…let me see what happened with that. It’s pretty

other article. I searched for his fiancée’

g.” She sat forward, feeling a tin

s after getting engaged. His ex-fiancée met her older, wealthier husba

moved

single and ready to mingle. Ooh, his family also owns extensive properties back in Greece.

rugged. “There and l

her. “This guy is something else. You do

throat. “The decision is made. I’m staying way clear of this one. He's light years

et you pass this up. He was into you, plus maybe it was destiny, you bumping into hi

in that world,

circles are probably just pompous fakes, anyway. You’d be a breath of fresh air in h

and far between, go the distance. They either fizzle out quickly for one reason or another, or like Aaron, he l

llege is about finding yourself. He wasn’t right for

t into PR and Marketing, while Sarah was a Journalism student. However, they often saw each oth

ge together,” she said, her face showing the hurt of rejection she still felt all these years later. “I j

ll,” she said leaning forward to look in her eyes, dr

ig way, you know? Maybe I’m okay to spend time with until something bette

wer over you. You’re so

d smiled. “You’re a great

you’re a great catch. Mr. Handsome wou

ver dated any

entured, nothing gained, right?” Sarah said. She took a si

it not eat us alive,” Laura replied, holding her glass up. They c