Orla really went all out.  The restaurant we're at is so fancy.  The ambience is amazing.  Makes me wanna come here more often.  It's a French restaurant, and it's.....kind of romantic.

"Wow, Orla.  I'm really impressed.  This place is amazing."  She happily smiles at me.  "I love that you're impressed.  I really tried."

"I can see that,"  I say, smiling as well.  "I honestly didn't think that you'd know of a place like this.  You seem so chill and laid back, so simple, y'know?"

"I am, but when it comes to a woman so álainn as you, I just had to step it up.  How was your day?"

I roll my eyes at the thought of it.  "I had a stupid encounter with our whore boss.  You know she has to go and try to spread her legs everywhere.  She hit on me, but I quickly rejected her advances."

Her jaw drops.  "That's absolutely disgusting.  It's a shame she always tries to use her power for her own sexual pleasure."

"For real.  She knows that there's a power dynamic, and that a lot of the women at the office will do anything to get what they want.  It's sick."

"And what's even more of a shame is that she doesn't realize that you're different than everyone else."  Her response makes me smile.  "Really?  You think I'm different?"

"Of course I do.  I know you are.  I've known you for three years now, and they've been the best three years of my life.  I know how you are by this point.  You're a very hardworking woman, and you're really underappreciated.  You respect yourself, and you value not being another hay in the haystack.  You're the needle, and people like you are really hard to find,"  Wow.  I didn't know she really observed me like that.  She actually does know me.  It's just crazy to think about the fact that people actually pay attention to you.  "But enough about work and Alya's slimy hands.  We should get to know each other even more.  Do you want me to start?  Or do you want to ask me some questions?"

"I'll start with the questions.  How long have you been here?"  "Moved here when I was 15.  Trust me, America is definitely different than Ireland.  And the Irish restaurants just don't compare to the food back home.  If it ain't made in Ireland, then it ain't got as much to show for it.  Don't get me wrong, it's pretty good, but it's just better when it comes from the source."

"I've never tried Irish food before."  "I can definitely change that, if you want.  I'd make sure you have the best of the best, and of course that means eating it from the homeland.  Do you like to travel?"

"Yeah, I do.  I just don't get to do it a lot because I'm all about work."  "Maybe you can come with me then when I visit back home.  All work and no play just isn't any fun,"  She puts my hand in hers.  "I know you got some fun in there somewhere."  She says with a cheeky smile.

"Aw, Orla, you're so adorable."  "Says you."  "If you could travel somewhere, where would it be?"  "Besides back home, I'd probably go somewhere where it's super tropical a lot.  Maybe Hawaii."

"I've been to Hawaii before.  It was the best time!"  Her face lights up.  "Oh really?  Tell me about it."  I start telling her about all the things I did there.  I even tell her the story of how a coconut fell on my head.

She giggles immensely.  Her giggle is so cute.  "Wow.  Sounds like you had some fun.  And a possible concussion."  She jokes, making me laugh.

"Let's just say I didn't wanna hear the word "coconut" for a week."  "What's your dream?"  "As in?"  "What do you really wanna do in your life?  Is Jiménez Enterprises it for you?  Is it your dream job?"

"I love my job, honestly, but I do wanna do something else one day,"  I look down, shyly smiling.  "It's silly, though."  "Tell me.  You know I'm not here to judge you.  And I've been at Jiménez Enterprises for awhile, but I don't see it as something I'll do forever."  "I wanna.....be......a makeup artist."

"That's it?,"  She responds, raising a brow.  "That's the "silly" career choice?"  "Well....yeah."  She giggles. "Mo cuishle, people become makeup artists all the time.  It's not silly."

"I know, but when it comes to me, it's hard to imagine.  I seem so much more..........serious.  Like, you wouldn't look at me and go, "Oh, makeup artist." 

"I'll tell you what, how about I let you do my makeup?  Just so you see how good you are and that it isn't so ridiculous that that's what you wanna do."

My face lights up like a Christmas tree.  "Wait, really?!  You'd do that for me?"  "Oh, a rúnsearc, there's a lot I'd do for you."  "Y'know, hanging out with you is so amazing, Orla.  I know we hang out sometimes, but we should definitely do it more."  She smiles brightly.  "Agreed."