Nina knew that trying to calm her nerves with coffee didn't make much sense, but there she was, guzzling a cup of her beloved coconut espresso, double shot.

It made her fidgety, and as she waited for her potential client, Nina realized her foot was tapping faster than a tap dancer auditioning for a Broadway show. The usual Bangkok heat didn't do much to help, and even though Z-Coffee roastery was air-conditioned, she had only arrived a few minutes earlier, giving her barely enough time to cool off, let alone calm down.

Six months ago, she quit her job, left Croatia, and moved halfway across the world to start fresh, trading a stable career in an established IT firm for that of a freelance web designer. Nina had decided to start over in Thailand, the exotic country where she hardly knew anyone. But if her career had taught her anything, it was that things rarely turn out easier than expected. Quitting and getting on a plane was the easy part. Her savings were now thinning, and finding work was becoming critical. A promising job opportunity had come through an acquaintance she met at a Bangkok Digital Nomads gathering.

Noah, one of the first contacts Nina made since arriving in the bustling city, had woken her up with a phone call at eight am the previous morning. 

"Did I wake you?" Noah half-yelled, sounding like he was just in the middle of a hectic shopping mall, the only place one could cool off in the scorching summer months. "No, yes, everything's fine. You're going to love me. I'm right now standing beside your first potential client!"

"Are you serious?" Nina said, jumping out of her bed. Her leg got stuck in the sheet making her almost topple over. "Wait. Please tell me you're not the client in disguise."

Noah chuckled. "Don't worry, Nina. I don't pity you that much. He's an acquaintance from China, currently doing some business in Bangkok. Needs a website for his company. I already showed him some of your sites, and the guy is thrilled. He wants to meet as soon as possible," Then he lowered his voice, "and he's willing to pay well. He can afford it too, so don't lower your price, you hear?"

"Okay, alright, thanks. What kind of business is he in?" Noah's enthusiasm was starting to rub off on her.

"He is.. his name is Bo. Listen, I have to rush to another meeting, how about I give him your number and you guys sort out the details? I really need to go now, talk later! Don't mess it up!"

Shortly after hanging up, she received a text: "Hi Nina, Bo here. Can we arrange a meeting for tomorrow morning? Let me know the time and place, and I will see you there."

Nina was surprised by how quickly things were progressing but felt grateful for the opportunity. The aspect she dreaded most about being her own boss was the consultations and direct client interactions. She was comfortable behind the computer while perfectly tailored specifications came from her colleagues, and she hoped to hire someone to handle this part of the job in the future. For now, she had to grit her teeth and overcome her introversion.

She shoved all hesitation aside, proposed a 9 a.m. meeting at Z-Coffee Roastery, to which Bo agreed, and now there she was, waiting for him.

A high pitched voice from the neighboring table jolted Nina from her thoughts.

"Wait.. what... the actual fck is that??"

Two women were working next to her, their attention fixed on a man who had just parked a massive Honda motorbike outside the café. All three watched intently as he effortlessly slid off his motorcycle helmet and set it on the handlebars. Tattoos framed his entire neck and part of his face. His slick black hair was parted sharply on one side. His eyes were dark and narrow, with yet another tattoo peeking out under one of them.

"Oh wow. That might be the most beautiful man I saw in real life," declared one of the neighbors.

"Do you think he's coming over? How do I look?" the other one asked, taking out her phone to check her reflection. 

Nina wasn't accustomed to such an abundance of tattoos. People in Croatia were quite tame and uniform. She conceded the man was impressive due to his height and build but felt more wariness than attraction. She returned her gaze to the screen, trying to focus on the presentation she had hastily prepared the night before.

"He is! He's coming over!!" she heard and looked up.

Indeed, with a grace that belied his size, the tattooed man approached her table. Nina wondered how someone could appear to walk slowly yet cover the distance of what seemed like ten meters in such a short time.

"Excuse me, is one of you Nina?" he asked with a voice much gentler than Nina had expected. She tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear and stood up to shake his hand.

"That would be me. Nice to meet you. Bo, is that right?"

The man nodded and squeezed into a chair opposing her that was clearly too small for him. Nonetheless, he didn't seem uncomfortable at all.

"I must admit, I didn't expect you to be so young," he stated amicably. "Noah showed me your work, and it looks top-notch. How long have you been involved in web design?"

Nina blushed slightly. She was accustomed to her bosses being satisfied with her work, but since she had never met with end users directly, this was the first compliment from someone outside her immediate work circle.

"Thank you. I started right after university, so it's been about seven years since my first official job, but I made my first web design much earlier than that. I might have been about twelve. My dad was a bit of a computer geek, and I always liked to read. One day I came across some of his manuals and the rest is history." She paused to catch her breath. "Do you have any ideas about how you'd like your website to look? Noah didn't mention what your business is about."

"I know, I was there when he called you," Bo said with a smile that made the dimple on the left side of his face make a charming appearance. "I run several tattoo studios. The main one is in Chengdu, China. We are opening one in Bangkok this month. So far, we only have Instagram and Facebook pages, but managing bookings through those platforms isn't very practical. The business is constantly growing, so I want something more substantial."

Nina nodded. "I see. You need a website where you can showcase your work, the studios, introduce the artists, and enable people to schedule appointments. Anything else?"

"Yes, that would be the basics, we can add more features in a later version. How long would it take you to make a draft? By the way, you like tattoos, right?" he asked, directing his gaze straight at her. Nina pondered how long it would take her to create a basic site layout and several galleries for tattoo images and the two studios.

"I think I could have a basic draft ready in about a week. I do like tattoos, maybe just not on one's face," she said looking at the calendar on her computer screen and contemplating her immediate workload. She looked up at him and only then considered how her remark might have offended him. The change in his posture was instantaneous. As he transformed from a friendly and approachable bear to a cold and distant leopard she realized just what she said.

"I mean..., I think everyone should do what they feel is right. If someone likes it, I support that; we don't all have to be the same, I really appreciate diversity..." she tried, but his expression didn't soften. They stared at each other for a few uneasy moments. Nina realized Bo was just then deciding her fate. "Your tattoos are... actually -" she was desperate to rectify. Nina never insulted anyone intentionally in her life.

"Let me stop you right there," he said, smiling. "I'll do you a favor and pretend I didn't just hear that. It's crucial to me that you have some experience with tattoos; but I won't ask where yours are, that's not important."

Nina was considering omitting the truth, but that wasn't her style. "I... actually I don't have any tattoos.. yet. I was planning to get one here in Bangkok but haven't gathered the courage."

"How is that possible? Why did Noah recommend you then? I don't understand. Why would he suggest someone who has no clue about the work I do?"

"I don't think it matters. I've designed websites for clinics, investment funds, and even a math application for integral calculations, and I can assure you, math was never my strong suit."

She could see he was in doubt. On the other hand, Nina was desperate to secure her first job. The cash reserve she had built up before quitting her job was quickly melting away in this city where she had intended to start over. Furnishing a new apartment, buying a motorcycle, paying a deposit for rent all took big dents in it. It didn't help that Rita, her sister had recently asked her for a significant loan. Securing this job would greatly ease her life.

"Listen, allow me to make a draft. If you don't like the first version, that's it. And you don't have to pay for it."

This was certainly not usual practice at her former firm; however, Nina felt that new beginnings warranted some new practices.

"I'm not sure," he said, pressing the bridge of his nose. Nina was trying to read the tattooed letters on his fingers when he abruptly twitched his hand and looked up. "Ok, here's what I propose. You go ahead and make the draft. Instead of charging for it though, come to the studio for your first tattoo. That way you will at least have some experience with them. Then, after we finish the tattoo, and if I approve the draft, we can sign a contract."

"You-what? Now? This week? No, that's impossible. Absolutely not, no way." Nina started shaking her head, imagining this slightly menacing, muscular stranger touching her bare skin. Clearly, he didn't know Nina barely hugged her friends, let alone let potential clients see her semi-clothed. It was out of the question.

"No? Well, okay, if you're sure, I won't insist. In that case, I don't think we have much else to discuss." Bo rose from the miniature chair with the same ease and speed with which he had sat down. "I'll take care of this," he said, gesturing towards her cup. "It was nice meeting you, Nina. I wish you all the best in Bangkok. Who knows, maybe our paths will cross again," he concluded, lifting his brow.

 Nina took his hand as she stood up and nodded in confusion. Her mind was racing. Was she really going to miss this opportunity just because she was skittish? But then again, wasn't it somewhat unprofessional to let a client give her a tattoo? Aren't people usually scantily clad when getting them? She once again envisioned herself lying on her back, her stomach exposed, as Bo leaned over her, running his fingers across her waist, dark eyes focusing on her.

She was still holding his powerful hand while attempting to dispel her thoughts. Bo withdrew his hand, nodded, and turned towards the exit. He disappeared so quickly that Nina wasn't sure for a moment if everything had really happened or if she had imagined it.

"Girl, are you out of your mind?" one of the American women almost yelled, her face wearing a broad, incredulous grin. "Get the tattoo, man, what the hell is wrong with you?" she asked, and not waiting for a reply, turned back to face her friend.