It had been four months since Maybella commenced her employment at Westbrook Enterprises, during which she had formed strong friendships with her colleagues. One day, while she was at her desk, her desk phone rang. It was Linda at the reception desk. "Hello, Maybella, Mr. Hoffman would like to see you in his office," she conveyed. As Maybella entered the elevator, a wave of nervousness swept over her. She pondered anxiously, "What could he want to see me for? Did I make an error? Is he going to terminate my employment?" She swallowed hard as she stood outside Mr. Hoffman's office door, reading the nameplate: "Mark Hoffman." Gathering her courage, she knocked on the door and heard a voice from within saying, "Come in." Upon entering, she observed Mr. Hoffman seated behind his desk. He gestured for her to take a seat. As she complied, she noticed Mr. Hoffman's gaze lingering on her chest area. "How are you doing today, Maybella?" he inquired, causing her to shiver at the informal use of her first name. She replied, "I'm good, Mr. Hoffman." He quickly responded, "Please, call me Mark." She complied, saying, "Okay, Mark." He smiled and continued, "I wanted to tell you that since you joined our team, we have assisted many more clients with their claims. I admire your hard work." Maybella responded appreciatively, "Thank you, Mark." Mark then looked at her chest again before proceeding, "Which brings me to my question: would you have dinner with me tonight?" Taken aback, Maybella responded, "Yes, I would like that," without giving it much thought. "Great," he said. "I'll have one of my drivers, Ronaldo, pick you up at 7 PM." Upon returning home from work at 5:30 PM, Maybella attended to her pets—feeding her dogs, Hank and Dash, and her cat, Charm—before hopping into the shower to prepare for her dinner engagement.
At precisely 7:00 PM, there was a knock on Maybella's door. A gentleman clad in a black tuxedo greeted her with, "Good evening, Ms. Maverick. I am Ronaldo, here to escort you for your dinner engagement with Mr. Hoffman." Upon seeing the limousine parked outside, Maybella was astonished, as it marked her first experience in such a luxurious vehicle. As the journey commenced, Ronaldo inquired, "Have you been in Dayton long?" to which Maybella responded, "Born and raised here." Upon arrival at their destination, a sophisticated four-story restaurant named "Date With Paradise," Ronaldo assisted Maybella out of the limousine. She was amazed by the opulent establishment, as she had never dined in such an upscale restaurant before. Ronaldo instructed her, "Once inside, inform the greeter of your identity, and they will escort you to the fourth floor." As the greeter led Maybella to the elevator, she observed the approving gazes from the waiters and other male patrons, evidently impressed by her elegant black leather dress and cowgirl boots. Upon reaching the designated room, Mark was there awaiting her. He discreetly admired her attire and complimented, "You look lovely tonight." Maybella blushed at the remark. Mark courteously pulled out her chair and poured her a glass of white wine, stating, "Order anything you wish; it's my treat." Shortly thereafter, a waiter arrived, and Maybella ordered the surf and turf alongside a chef's salad, with Mark making the same selection. Once the waiter departed, Mark requested that Maybella share some details about herself. She responded, "Well, I am passionate about animals and have four brothers—Tate, Joseph, Matthew, and Myles—who are scattered throughout Ohio. I am a country girl, a big fan of horror movies, and I love to draw." Mark reciprocated by sharing information about himself and then posed the question, "Maybella, do you have a boyfriend or any children?" She replied, "No, I do not have a boyfriend, but I do have four-legged children: two dogs named Hank and Dash, and a cat named Charm." Mark responded, "I see. Well, I am not married, have no girlfriend, and no children." When their meals arrived, Maybella was highly impressed with the exquisite taste of the surf and turf, as it was her first time experiencing this dish. After dining, as they descended in the elevator, Mark asked, "I have another question, and you are under no obligation to answer if you feel uncomfortable, but are you still a virgin?" After a moment of contemplation, Maybella replied, "No, I lost my virginity when I was 16 and haven't had sexual relations since." Mark responded, "That's admirable; you are waiting for the right person." Upon reaching the ground floor, the waiters and other men subtly nodded in approval towards Mark, silently conveying, "She's a good choice." Outside, two limousines awaited. Mark opened the door to the limousine designated to take Maybella home. Before entering, she said, "Thank you for dinner, Mark," while noticing his proximity. Mark replied, "You're welcome... Goodnight, Maybella." She shivered slightly as she felt his breath on her neck and responded, "Goodnight, Mark," struggling against the temptation to kiss him, not realizing he was grappling with the same urge. Once Maybella was inside her home, she reminded herself, "He's too old for you, Maybella." Meanwhile, at his residence, Mark was echoing a similar sentiment, "She's too young for you, Mark."