Mystery and Magnetism
"I'm telling you, Mary, I've got this whole thing figured out," Susan said, leaning close to be heard over the thumping bass in the crowded nightclub. They'd claimed a prime spot near the edge of the dance floor, both dressed to kill: Susan's black dress hugging every curve while Mary's emerald green number caught the strobing lights perfectly.
"The secret to picking up any man is being equal parts flirtatious and mysterious," Susan continued, her eyes scanning the packed room. "Give them just enough to keep them interested, but never enough to satisfy their curiosity completely."
Mary rolled her eyes and took a sip of her Cosmopolitan. "Oh please, Susan. That sounds like something out of a bad romance novel. Men want straightforward women who are easy to talk to, not some enigma they have to decode."
"You're wrong," Susan insisted. "Mystery is magnetic. It makes them work for it, makes them think they're discovering something special. Trust me on this one."
"I'll believe it when I see it," Mary challenged, crossing her arms.
Susan set down her drink, a smile and something mischievous flickering across her face. "Fine. Watch and learn."
She paused for a moment, letting the challenge hang in the air between them. Then she took a breath, as if flipping some internal switch, smoothed down her dress, and walked confidently toward the bar. Mary watched her friend choose a spot where she could sit alone while still being visible to the crowd.
Mary observed as Susan ordered a fresh drink and adopted a pose that was both inviting and aloof. Within minutes, a tall, well-dressed man with dark hair approached her. Even from a distance, Mary could see he was attractive and seemed confident as he struck up a conversation.
Susan turned toward him with a smile that was warm but not overeager. The man was clearly interested, leaning in closer as they talked. Susan would laugh at something he said, then look away mysteriously, as if she had secrets hiding behind her eyes. She spoke as much to her drink as she did directly to him, stirring it with put-on absentmindedness that made Mary shake her head.
The man was obviously intrigued rather than put off by Susan's evasiveness. Soon Susan gestured toward the dance floor, and then they were moving together to the rhythm, with Susan maintaining a perfect balance of engagement and distance.
They danced through several songs, Susan working her magic. She'd draw him in with a touch on his arm, then spin away with a laugh that promised more mysteries to uncover. When the music shifted to something slower and more intimate, they moved closer together, swaying sensually. Susan whispered something in the man's ear, and he nodded eagerly.
As they made their way toward the exit, Susan caught Mary's eye and gave her a triumphant wink.
Mary finished her drink alone, shaking her head with reluctant admiration. She had to admit—maybe Susan was onto something after all.
--
The next morning, Mary sat in their usual booth at the corner diner, nursing her coffee and waiting for Susan to arrive. When her friend finally walked through the door, she was practically glowing, her hair tousled and wearing the same dress from the night before.
"Well, well, well," Mary said as Susan slid into the booth across from her. "Look what the cat dragged in. So your mystery woman strategy worked?"
Susan beamed as she signaled the waitress for coffee. "Mary, I'm telling you, it was absolutely incredible. We went to that little motel just down the street, and he was so generous, so attentive. Honestly, he might have been the best I've ever had."
"Really?" Mary raised an eyebrow, genuinely impressed despite herself.
"Really. He was this perfect gentleman but also incredibly passionate. We talked for hours afterward, then made love again, and he said he's never met anyone quite like me. He's going to call me at noon, and then we're going to that new French bistro downtown for dinner. He already made reservations for seven-thirty." Susan's eyes were bright with excitement as she recounted her evening.
Mary stirred her coffee thoughtfully. "Okay, I have to admit, the mysterious part clearly worked. So when is Prince Charming supposed to call you?"
"Noon on the dot," Susan said, glancing at her watch with a satisfied smile. "He was very specific about it. I need to get home, shower, and pick out something perfect for dinner. I'm thinking that little red dress that—" She stopped mid-sentence, her hand flying to her mouth.
"What?" Mary asked.
"Oh my God," Susan whispered. Her expression crumbled from dreamy satisfaction to dawning realization to pure horror.
"What?" Mary asked, her tone more urgent and tinted with concern this time.
"I never gave him my name," Susan said slowly. "Or my phone number. I was so caught up in being mysterious that I never actually told him how to reach me. He doesn't even know my first name, Mary. I'm literally just 'the girl from the club' to him."
Mary stared at her for a moment, then burst into laughter, nearly spilling her coffee. "Oh, Susan! You were so busy being mysterious that you mysteried yourself right out of a second date!"
Susan put her head in her hands, but she was laughing too. "I can't believe I did that."
"Well," Mary said, grinning wickedly, "You've proven mystery really is magnetic—so magnetic it just pulled you right out of his life forever."
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