Simon yawned, morning was peeking through the windows dying the black night into blue day.  He was going to have to catch some sleep soon, but first he wondered if she had taken him up on his proposal, half-jokingly presented it may have been.  As he read her PM, he felt the thrill of excitement...so she was available and willing.  Although distance was going to be a hindrance especially if she didn't live in the city.  Simon mulled his next course of action, switching over to the story to create his post while mulling.<br/><br/>"Emma was quite intriguing in her forwardness, Valter wondered if she was deliberately leaving hints advertising her willingness to throw herself at his feet.  Not that Valter would mind, as it would make be easier if she was willing to roll over on command than if she needed persuasion.  Valter grinned wolfishly as he tried to get a rise out of Emma,<br/><br/>"Interesting question, are you checking up to see if whom you may have to live up to?"<br/><br/>His then sobered up as he reflected for a moment on the past,<br/><br/>"Twice...I suppose if you count also a childhood crush.  Back in Albania, there was this pretty girl named Dasha.  She lived in the same complex as I did and I would see her while walking to school.  She was five years ahead of me and had lovely flaxen hair.  I was smitten by her but as only a boy still in grammar school, it was mostly a childhood infatuation.  I don't know what happened to her after I left Albania for England.  The only other time was at business school in Oxford.  Her name was Rachel, we were both in the same group of students entering that year."  Valter's smile grew slightly nostalgic at the mention of Rachel.  "She was very pretty and smart, just like you.  I approached her as someone to study with and for a time we were an item.  Even started making plans for the future..."<br/><br/>Valter's smile faded, "Funny thing about planning for the future is that the future rarely cooperates with you.  It's true in business as well as in life.  She got internship at prestigious international firm in Switzerland that later turned into her first job.  I tried applying for a position at the firms there, but I was less of a catch than her or some of my classmates.  So instead I ended up staying in England to find work.  We tried a long-distance relationship and making it work, but it didn't...  Last I heard, she was made a full partner at that same firm.  Good for her, she was always going places."  Valter looked a bit wistful with the last comment and stared out the window for a moment, filling the cab with silence.  After a moment, he looked back at Emma a cheerful smile in place.<br/><br/>"Ah, memories of old times sometimes painful, sometimes not so much, right?  I guess it's my turn again.  What are your ambitions for the future?""<br/><br/>After sending the post, Simon turned to address the PM.<br/><br/>"Indeed?  Well distance may not be a terrible deterrent with the internet between us.  I've a webcam hooked onto my desktop, part of the package deal I got for buying the desktop.  It's been gathering dust, but if you have one too we could always set up some sort of live-feed private video chat.  That way, we will be able to see each other, if only separated by a computer screen."