The Project

"Right, of course they can," he said quickly. "I just…uh…you're different to how I expected, is all." He stared at his shoes and Julia couldn't really tell in the twilight but she expected he was blushing again. She'd never met a grown man who blushed so easily. It was funny but kind of endearing as well.

"You mean I'm not the smart, sophisticated businesswoman I appear to be at work?" She prompted him.

"No. Well, yes, of course you are but…" he stammered.

"Don't worry about it. It's part of my job to project a certain type of image in the office. I need people to take me seriously and have confidence in me. Outside of work it's different."

"I don't think I could do that," he lamented. "Pretend to be someone different, I mean."

"It's not about being someone else. It's about concentrating on the qualities you already have that best fit the situation, and projecting that part of you," she explained seriously. Steven thought about that for a few moments. "How did you get to be so wise," he asked curiously. "You're not much older than me, surely."

"I'm twenty-eight," she replied with a smile. "See, only four years! It's not fair," he grumbled, kicking a stone on the pavement. "You'll do just fine," she promised him. Julia got her keys out of her bag and prepared to go inside. "Thanks for walking me home."

"No problem. Thanks for all your help" he said earnestly. He looked as if he was going to say something else but then changed his mind. "Goodnight."

Julia watched him walk away in the growing darkness. She was oddly disappointed. Usually her home was a welcome refuge but tonight it felt like a lonely place to be. Maybe she should have invited Steven in. Then she remembered she was supposed to call Ben.