The voice repeated, “Can I please join you if you don’t mind miss?” this time more politely.

“Oh yes, why not.” He sat opposite me and started to talk.

“Good day, my name is Lubanzi, but my friends call me Banzi,” he said straining his hand for me to shake.

“Ohh, Lue is my name, nice to meet you Banzi.” I said, holding his soft hand.

“I noticed you sitting alone and thought maybe I can keep you company,” he continued. After a short pause, I realised he was waiting for a response.

“Yes, I…I…I…” I took a deep breath and continued. “It’s lunch time and this is my favourite place for choc muffins and cappuccino,” I exclaimed.

“Yes, yes, yes, I love choc muffins and this is my favourite place too.” He smiled a little bit and continued. “I am a salesman in one of the biggest companies in the United Kingdom but our branches are all over the world and that’s what I hate about my job – I travel a lot. His mood suddenly swung.

“That’s nice, well, I am a personal assistant of the CEO of TGC and I enjoy my job because I love helping people, but not a big fan when it comes to working for them.”

I looked at my watch and never noticed that I had lost track of time. “Banzi, it was nice knowing you but I hate to say this but I really have to go. I have a case I need to attend by 13:30.” I panicked.

“No, no, no, Miss, no need to feel sorry, I understand. But can I ask you for one favour please?”

I was surprised. “OK sure.”

“Can I give you a lift please,” he said smiling.

“Oh sure. Why not?”

He led me to his car, opened the door for me. Oh wow what a gentleman, I thought to myself. He got in and started the car since my work wasn’t that far. In the car there wasn’t any conversation till the car parked right next to my workplace. He smiled at me and took his hand to his pocket and gave me his business card.

“I want to know more about you Lue,” I took the card and got out.

“Thank you for the lift,”

He waited to see if that was my workplace for real and took off. As I stepped in, Nina was standing on the counter.

“Wow girl! You never told me you got yourself a hunk,” she said biting her lower lip.

“That’s not my boyfriend Nina, he’s just a friend,” calmly I said.

“Mhh your lips can lie but not your face. Remember I saw how you two smiled at each other before he took off,” she said giving me a naught look.

“Believe what you want to believe then,” I said smiling at her and I went into my office.

“But you never told me his name,” she yelled.

“What do you care”? I took off my coat, checked my e-mails and there was one from Liz telling me they have postponed her hearing date. I smiled to myself from the relief and continued to work.

I gazed at my watch and damn the time was flying, it was almost 18:00. I placed everything accordingly, took my coat, my computer bag and went off, locking my office. Luckily “the gossiper’’ was long gone. I electronically signed off and off I went. I grabbed some pizza on my way and went for the stairs since the lift was out of order.

The room was a little bit untidy so I touched it here and there while singing along to John Legend’s ‘You and I’. Then I ran a hot shower, plugged some coffee and switched on the movie channel. I realised there wasn’t any interesting thing to watch so I headed to bed after eating. As I hung my coat I recalled something; the business card.

I took it out and scrolled all over it. I saw a personal e-mail address and placed it next to my bed.

I tried to sleep but I couldn’t stop thinking about him even when I closed my eyes, he was the first thing to appear in my eyes. I tried to listen to music on my phone – turning the volume up but there he was. I took the card but I didn’t know what to do with it, after a long pause I decided to text him.

***

Tell us what you think: Is a girl not seen as forward when she makes the first move? Who should make the first move?