A Christmas encounter.

There were only three items which seemed to catch Sara Myles attention, the beautiful chandelier that hung on the high ceilings, the mouth-watering dessert like the one she was eating and off course the beautiful man in black suit and blonde hair styled to the side.

She knew it was bad to stare but she could not help herself. She wondered what his occupation was, what it felt like to talk to him and what his daily routine was as she stared from time to time while he spoke to an elderly couple.

Luke Martins could not help the stare this particular blonde woman kept throwing at him as soon as he ended his deal with Mr. and Mrs. Egos right in front of him, he walked towards her. Sara looked up but he was no longer there, she sipped from her wine and looked around again but didn't find him. 'He's still around hopefully, he is just somewhere and would be right back,' she thought, sipping her drink again.

"Looking for me?" Luke asked beside her. He had collected a wine from one of the servers earlier.

Sara looked up and also choked on her wine. He was right beside her! She blinked unable to utter a word.

"I'm convinced you have something to say to me," he continued, holding her gaze.

"I was trying to guess what you do," she answered.

"What do you think?" he asked.

"The management sector," she guessed.

"There are plenty opportunities in the management sector," he answered causing her to drop her glass on the table.
"That's a bit corky. You are like the manager, right?" she asked and he smiled.

"I'm correct," she said clapping her hands.

"I'm Luke Martins," he said, extending his hand for a shake.

She glanced at his hand.

"Sara, Sara Myles," she answered with a broad smile and shook his outstretched hand. "You must think the party is interesting," she said looking at the old rich couples with a smile.

"Not tonight," he answered, "what do you think?"

"It's boring. Very boring and the music? It’s a no no," she said, "it makes them happy though." She shrugged.

"So, what do you do?" he asked her.

"I'm a teacher. I own a nursery school," she said with another shrug.

"That's responsible. I don't mean to be rude but this not your crowd."

"Yes, my crowd is with colored pencils and plastic toys," she answered with a straight face.

"Oh my God! I didn't mean it like that," Luke said, his expression changing to one that's sorry.

She laughed. "I got you, Mr. Martins," she said pointing at him with a wink.

He smiled. "Be sure I would repay you Miss Myles," he answered with a relieved smile.
     
"You are right though. I was blackmailed into this event. It's Christmas in two days so I decided to spend it with my family and this is what I get." She looked around like it was a punishment to be there. "What about you?"  
    
"I'm used to the system. I came to close off a deal though," he said
 
She cocked a brow. "In a party?"

"There are plenty of weird places trust me," he answered with a smile.
      
"It must be interesting to be a teacher, isn't it?" he asked

"Indeed. There are lots of children all with unique behaviors." She smiled.
    
"It must be fun compared to sitting behind a marble table and backing out orders," he said.
        
"What's the weirdest thing you've ever encountered in your office?" she asked.
         
"Once, a lady resigned after working with the company for three years. She was so helpful and everyone just felt her absence then she called me, said she wanted to have a word with me. I was willing to give her back her job if that was what she wanted but..." he stopped.

"What did she want?" she asked, unable to help her curiosity.

"She wanted an affair," he said.

Sara burst into laughter.
    
"I mean if it was someone like you, I would have thought of it," he said and all the colours drained from Sara's face at this statement, he looked at her and then laughed.
      
"That was a joke but am glad I caught you off guard Miss Myles," he gave her a reassuring smile.
    
Sara hit his arm.

"My God, how can you... I almost wished I could disappear," she said hitting him again while he laughed at her expression.
    
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it," he said with a smile.
  
"How can she give up her job for an affair?" Sara thought.
     
"Don't call me miss Myles, it sounds like am so old in my ears," she said.

"Same goes for me. Tell me something about your pupils."

"Recently we had this test and I like asked the pupils to mention gifts given to Jesus by the wise men and they were like water bottle," she said.

He laughed. "Seriously?" He couldn't control is laughter.

"I'm glad I didn't have to explain the joke to you," she said and he stopped laughing to look at her. She looked at him and they both burst out laughing.

"It’s always drama every day," she said with a smile.

"Excuse me, please," Stephanie, Sara's sister, said interrupting the conversation.

"Stephanie, meet Luke Martins. Luke, this is Stephanie my youngest sister," she introduced.
   
"Nice meeting you," Stephanie said with a smile and he did same.

"Mum wants to speak with you," she said, flashing Sara a big smile.

"Sure. I would join you soon," she told Stephanie and Stephanie left right after.

"I think am about to leave Luke and it was nice meeting you and definitely my pleasure." She smiled.
       
"Same here Sara," he answered with a smile and waved while she disappeared into the crowd, he smiled.

"Come dear, meet Mrs. Martins my big-time friend," Sara's mum said as she walked towards them.

"Good evening Mrs. Matins, my mum has told me lots of good things about you I'm happy to finally meet you," Sara said with a smile.

"Come my dear," Mrs. Matins said giving her a motherly hug, "your mum speaks so much of you too." She smiled at her. "You should meet my son."

"When are we leaving?" Sara mouthed to her mum.

"Later," her mum answered while she gave her mum a this-is-not-our-agreement-look.
"Here Sara, meet my son Luke," Mrs. Martins said with a smile.

"Sara?" Luke said with a surprised smile

"I didn't even know our parents knew each other," Sara said with a smile.

"You've met?" The two mothers asked.

"Yes, she was talking to him a while ago," Stephanie chirped in.
     
"I can drive you home if you want me to. Your parents are not going to be done anytime soon," Luke said.
        
"Please, my legs are killing me," she answered.

She grabbed her purse and walked to her mum to tell her about her new plans and met Luke by his car.

The drive to her parents’ house was a short one but all through the thirty-minute drive, they kept laughing and talking about different things. They had interest in same thing and same believes.

"Thank you for the ride," she said as he parked in front of her house, they both came out, they had exchanged numbers a while ago.

"You are welcome," he said as he watched her while she made her way to the door.
       
"Sara," he called and she turned to look at him. "I would really like for us to hang out some other time, I really like your company. Don't feel pressured call me when you are free," he said.
       
She was thankful that the bright light could not still show her red face. She was almost angry walking out of his car, when he didn't ask for another time like this but thankfully, he did it.
    
"Of course, Luke," she answered with a smile while he waved as she walked into the house.

As soon as she got in and closed the door she stared out through the tinted door as his car sped out of the drive way and out of their building.

It was a night to remember, the best Christmas encounter.

~Karbie.