Meeting Mr. Right

The week after my 30th birthday, my mother called me and suggested that maybe it was time to settle down and begin a family. It was the first time she had brought up the subject of marriage, and frankly it was a bit of a shock coming from her, since she has a fierce independent streak.

Two weeks after our mother-daughter talk, I found myself in the large, empty lobby of the Hotel Avenida Palace in Barcelona. I was waiting to attend a cocktail party for one of my clients when into the lobby walked a handsome, well-dressed man.

He came over from the front desk and, to my surprise, walked toward me and sat at the adjacent table, which was odd, given the size of the lobby. Even odder, he proceeded to order a beer and didn’t bother to talk to me — not even a “hello.” Since I was speaking Spanish to the waiters, perhaps he thought I was a local.

I decided I wouldn’t let this opportunity pass without striking up a conversation. I asked if he could watch my briefcase while I went to send a fax.

It worked.

After I returned, he said, “You speak good English.”

We started chatting, and it turned out that we were both in town for the same trade conference. His name was Remco and he lived in the Netherlands.

Two hours later, we were still talking. It was late afternoon, and I thought, “This would be a good time for him to ask me to dinner.” I excused myself to go to the ladies room and to give him some time to summon up the courage.

I was already daydreaming about which restaurant he’d take me to, and how the evening would unfold. With my head still spinning, I mistakenly walked into the men’s room, passing five urinals without even noticing.

Then the situation went from bad to worse: a group of men walked in.

That’s when I realized I was in the wrong restroom. I hid in a stall to avoid notice, and waited for what seemed like an eternity for them to leave — I could have sworn that they were trying to set a record for the most primping and mindless chatter in a men’s room. I was paralyzed with fear that I’d get caught, and that Mr. Right would find out.

Remco must have thought I had some sort of bladder issue. I didn’t mention a word about going to the wrong restroom.

But the ploy worked. My new friend asked me to dinner.

We just celebrated our eighth wedding anniversary.

Genevieve Bos is the editor of Pink magazine.

Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.

Be the first to comment