Jim walked briskly along the corridor to his office. Coming towards him was the chairman of the board.

"Good morning, Sir Hugh", and this was returned with "Good Morning" Jim, which left Jim flabbergasted he would not have thought that Sir Hugh would know his name.

"We must have lunch, Thursday convenient? I'll get Louise to check with you" and he went on his way but stopped Jim in his tracks. Jim recovered his senses quickly, after all he was not a boy and resumed his brisk pace. Arriving at his desk he quickly checked his program for the week, Thursday was fortunately free and he'd make sure he kept it that way, he always spent Monday mornings arranging his weekly appointments before starting his normal work.

It was not long before the phone rang and Louise asked if Thursday at 1/4 to one would do. On Jim's agreement she suggested he be ready in the car park at that time and Sir Hugh would pick him up.

She was brief and to the point, Jim guessed that in her position she could afford to be.

It left him wondering what this was all about, he had been to company lunches and dinners where Sir Hugh was present before but he'd never been issued a sole invitation, there had always been a lot of staff and business contacts there.

He found it hard to get on with his usual duties but after another couple of phone calls to business contacts he quickly settled into his usual routine but felt it unwise to book anything else for Thursday, he neither wanted to be late nor have to rush off early. Jim was too shrewd for that, others had made those sorts of mistakes before and had never received a second invitation and seemed to be overlooked on the promotions list.

When Jim was at work that was his sole focus and that was the way it was always going to be. If one wanted to get ahead in his business one had to be committed to the tasks in hand without unnecessary distractions.

Thursday came around quickly enough and Jim found himself waiting to be collected. He did not have to wait long as Sir Hugh's chauffeur driven Rolls arrived to collect him, sir Hugh sitting comfortably in the back seat and the chauffeur held open the door for Jim to join him.

Sir Hugh chatted comfortably about inconsequential matters and Jim could only admire his finesse, he just wished he had a small fraction of it. It was just as well Sir Hugh was a good talker as Jim felt almost tongue tied.

The restaurant was in a heritage building with rather understated internal decor, but the simplicity of style was offset by the quality of the furniture and the internal furnishings. they were led to a discreet nook, away from the other diners, somewhere they could talk explained Sir Hugh.

From the minute they arrived at the door Sir Hugh received instant attention, the m'aitre D attending to them personally and the service was of precision clockwork.

The wine waiter appeared fluidly and Sir Hugh tasted the red wine, Jim noticing the label which told him it was very expensive.

"You'll like this" said Sir Hugh, "I take it you like a drink?" Jim nodded in agreement but indicated he would just have the one glass which seemed to be his capacity at lunch time.

"All the more for me" laughed Sir Hugh jocularly, and urged Jim to make his selection from the proferred menu, encased in a folder of the most silky fine leather, far in excess of the quality of any Jim had previously observed.

Sir Hugh selected Lobster with an entree of fruit which Jim thought a little unusual. He hesitated, but Sir Hugh urged him to make his own selection so he ordered oysters to start and a fillet steak.

Every fine detail of service was attended to like none other Jim had ever witnessed before, the movements of the male waiters being quite fluid and it was almost as if the whole of the service had been choreographed.

Sir Hugh reminded Jim of the last occasion they had met which was at the cocktail party to which Jim had escorted Mary and mentioned how impressed he was with her, " a shy little thing as I remember, but beautifully turned out, she had very good taste young man, so when is the big event?"

"Event?" said Jim looking perplexed. Sir Hugh was quick to pick up on it. "Surely, my boy, at your age you must have serious intentions?"

"Well, yes", replied Jim rather taken aback, " but there are a few problems"

"What sort of problems" from Sir Hugh scarcely disguising his concern and beginning to frown.

Jim found himself blurting out all sorts of things and sounding sillier and sillier, facing Sir Hugh's raised eyebrows.

"Come, my boy, you can do better than that, surely. Do you want to marry her? and Jim found himself nodding. "Well get on with it and ask her, so much hesitation in the young nowadays, a man has to assert himself you know, he needs to be the master of the house.

"I take it she likes you" and as jim made no reply he contued "Well, find out by getting on and asking her, if she's not willing you'll just have to move on. We like to promote married men you know."

He went on to explain how there were promotions coming up and these would not last forever, there was no real rush but married men were always their first and often only choice, but of course they needed to be first class in their work performance. And he assured Jim that he was considered such an employee. It goes back to the grass roots of the company he explained whose founders had been Quakers.

Jim nodded slowly in agreemen and then Sir Hugh relaxed more over their lunch which was first class and the wine out of this world. He wondered if Sir Hugh always selected the drinks without consulting his guests, getting the distinct feeling that he did.

The lunch ended with a relaxed conclusion but not before Sir Hugh slipped in a parting shot "Now get cracking young man, and ask the girl, at your age you have not a minute to lose" Jim had to admit to himself that Sir Hugh was quite right. At the weekend he'd certainly have some work to do.

He was returned to his workplace with sir Hugh continuing on to attend to some business elsewhere, it was aa brave man who ever argued with Sir Hugh. Although it was well known he was always ready to listen to good suggestions but woe betide those who had not done their homework, as well Jim knew.

It was an elated Jim who greeted Mary and the two cats on her arrival at his place, settling her down for a cup of hot chocolate and telling her all about his luncheon invitation from Sir Hugh, leaving out the bits about the marriage suggestion, of course.

Mary was rather taken aback they had not previously discussed his work too much and Mary wondered at this new disclosure.

He took the empty cups back to the kitchen then pulled Mary to her feet and kissed her soundly and passionately, almost taking her breathe away, which pleased Jim no end.

He informed her that he was going to foot the bill for her weekend stay at the hotel and went out to park her car in his garage, not waiting for her acceptanceand bundling her into his car then driving off to have dinner with her there.

He proved particularly amorous over dinner and Mary found herself responding quite naturally, just hoping he had no intention of bundling her off to bed as he would be met with a resounding NO.

He was playing golf the next day and Mary was going shopping, she liked shopping and was intending to extend her wardrobe a bit more, Jim told her he had something special planned the next night for dinner and suggested she wear one of her prettiest dresses, Mary deciding she'd buy herself a new outfit.

She was taken to a most beautiful restaurant with a wonderful decor, soft lighting and exquisite food, there was a small orchestra and Jim held her closer and closer as the evening progressed.

They drifted out onto the enclosed balcony and gazed up to a starry sky, Jim slipping his fingers around her neck and slowly caressing her delicate skin. He kissed her ear pulling back her hair and Mary found herself feeling so voluptuous, she scarcely dared to take a breathe, he turned her to him pulling her body into his, "Mary, I love you, will you marry me" She didn't know what to say or do but Jim continued with his embrace saying he had no intention of releasing her until she said yes. She badly needed to visit the ladies room and started to giggle but he put his fingers across her lips and said "be quick, before i disappear into thin air, like the phantom of the Opera.

"Yes, oh, yes" she said and as his grip released her she dashed off hurriedly to the bathroom, never would Jim realize just why she had said yes, but she knew it was going to be sooner or later, it was just that the call of nature had hurried her along with her answer.

They returned to their table both just looking at each other and both feeling rather foolish, there were so many things to be sorted out, but somehow they'd do it, it was just that neither of them quite knew how.

Jim felt an enormous sense of relief and of pride, he'd done it, he felt like a true man.

Mary found herself felling more feminine than ever before and the cost of the outfit had been worth every cent.

Sunday was spent playing with the cats who must find all this changing of houses a bit confusing but they loved exploring Jim's place much to his concern as he always seemed to be looking for them, Mary and Jim were very playful together and laughed about all the things they needed to sort out, neither of them having made any progress at all as to how they would do it.

But soon Mary found herself driving with pride along the road back home, her two small charges soon settling down to sleep. Next Satuday Jim was taking her to choose the ring, until then everything would be a secret, that is if it was not detected by Jim's unusually broad grin and Mary's sweet secretive smile.

Life would continue for them much as it had before and what the future would bring was anyone's guess.