Jacqueline was a very acute patent attorney in the largest law firm in Japan. Jacob had first met her by chance after she replied to his advertisement in a personals column seeking a “sharp, genki person to exchange IT and friendship for legal advice.” He didn't mention male or female as his goal was to try to get some casual legal advice outside of his comfort zone – which meant meeting someone in this random manner. They exchanged a couple emails before finally deciding upon a meeting time and place and decided to discuss how to actually coordinate the exchange after they had met and talked. They met in a cafe for a coffee and decided to have a general conversation first and then more involved discussions for the next meeting. Jacob was immediately impressed with Jacqueline's wit and intelligent grasp of some of the things he said. As they had both just finished work, they were feeling a bit hungry and decided to have something to eat and drink together at an Ezakaya – a Japanese drinking/eating bar – something they had both mentioned in their pre-meeting emails that they enjoyed doing.
After enjoying a cold beer and shochu, Jacqueline told Jacob a bit about her job. Jacob thought that now that he was in the midst of preparing what would become one of the greatest technology revolutions in modern history - it would require protection from the outset. He told Jacqueline that he had devised a technology and might need to retain her services to which she seemed very eager. Although she enjoyed her work, she was one day hoping to be involved with something a bit more glamorous than pharmaceuticals or food preservatives. “So, what is it? Have you written the patent yet?”
“Hmm..how to say. The concept itself is not so difficult, but the technology is pretty tricky and it really requires a new approach to dealing with data to be able to build it. Although I still have a lot more testing to do, I know I have to concurrently prepare the Patent and register it as soon as possible. There is not much else I can say just yet, or maybe I have to wait until I become your client to get the full secure “client-privileges””
“Yes, you are right, Jacob. If you tell me now, I can take the ideas to my food preservative clients and get them to build it and take a percentage! Maybe they could make digitally enhanced food!,” Jacqueline teases with a laugh.”Actually, I recommend you not saying anything to anyone until you are covered. Let me know when you want to discuss this formally and I will arrange things.”
“Excellent. I have to try and get this ready within the next 3 months for sure. Outside of working flat-out on this and my “real job” - we just might get some more time for some more professional exchange and beers, eh?” Jacob said with a mischievous grin. As he leaned closer to hand her a plate, he caught her fragrance and instinctively started feeling another kind of hunger. “Your fragrance is wonderful, Jacqueline,” he said as he reached for her wrist to try and steal another portion.
“I don't put it on my wrists, only here,” she said pointing to her blouse.
With a smile, Jacob pretended to move another plate near Jacqueline just to get closer to her blouse to draw upon the fragrance some more. “What is it? You know, I love perfume. It is one thing that really has an effect on me.”
“You like it? It is the latest Chanel,” Jacqueline said, clearly happy that her choice of perfume was well-received and didn't think Jacob had entered too far into her personal space as she could see by the expression on his face that he did seem to genuinely like her perfume.