Inklings: A Charming Man

Annabelle said Fabian was a very charming man, and that they would get on well together.

Fabian was standing by the water cooler chatting with a co-worker when Annabelle introduced him to Belinda and he was indeed charming. So easy to talk to and his conversation was interesting and full of humour. Belinda couldn’t believe it when he asked her out on a date. A lunch in a restaurant, but not too expensive or too chic. This was a relief to Belinda. It was within her comfort zone, a simple meeting in Costas.

He was charming, no doubt about that. He was polite and held the door for her, asked if it was okay to accompany her to the bus stop and even waited until the bus came and she was safely on it. She had never expected him to call and set a time and place for a date. She was both surprised and delighted. He was always the gentleman, always gave the impression that he was genuinely interested in her. At the end of the date, and for the next few dates, he kissed her when they parted but never hinted at or requested that he ‘come up for coffee’, or expected to be asked to spend the night. It was never requested or implied. He seemed to be letting her dictate the pace of their relationship.

But was he too charming? Was she falling for him? He seemed to be falling for her. She was more or less at the point of wondering if it was time to bring him home to meet the family. Had things gone to the next level, as they say?

But Annabelle’s description of him as a charming man preyed on her mind. Was it an innocent, casual remark, or was there something going on between them. Were they setting a trap? A young single, shy woman working in an office is introduced to a charming man and suddenly they are dating. On the other hand, was Annabelle sending a warning signal? That he was really a shallow person, that his so-called charm was a mask, a ruse to entrap her?

She decided not to return his calls. Surely that would be a signal that she had lost interest. After a few attempts he stopped calling.

Then, sometime later, while she was having lunch, not in Costas, she saw him enter. Was he following her, was he a stalker? He acknowledged her, gave her a smile and then sat by himself.

Her heart skipped, she still had feelings for him. When he finished, he got up from the table and came over to her.

“How are you doing?”He asked.

“Fine, thank you.”

He nodded and then left.

Was he being polite, even considerate and accepting her decision not to continue the relationship?

How was she to know, unless she followed him and hailed him, hoping he would turn around and smile? But would his smile be his moment of triumph, part of his game, playing the charming man to gain a woman’s trust, only to destroy her, and discard her in triumph?

But she hadn’t returned his calls, nor had he tried to contact her.

That was it then, wasn’t it? It was over.

Belinda watched as he crossed the road and passed through the entrance of the railway station. She finished her lunch and made her way back to the office.

Jimmy O’Connell is a member of Inklings Writing Group who meet on Tuesdays at 11am in the Annebrook House Hotel.