Playboys

The idea of the playboy has been around for a very long time (just look at single again senior bachelor Hugh Hefner). The phenomenon can also been seen weekly on TV shows like MadMen and Entourage and in new movies like The The Hangover and not so new movies such as Bachelor Party. The theme of a day in the life of a playboy would feature the following: booze, babes, and bad behavior. But outside of the bunny mansion and popular mass media, do playboys really exist? I am sorry to report that playboys, real playboys are alive and kicking. And in New York, where there continue to be a plethora of men working in the still male-dominated world of finance and plenty of other hound dogs working in other fields too, playboys abound.

Robby was quite cute with his crew cut (think Tom Cruise in Top Gun), dimples, and dashing blue eyes. He worked in finance and had some tales to tell – drinks with clients where he was told to chat up women and buy them drinks so that the women would spend time with the clients and numerous trips to strip clubs with said clients. Then there was the office gossip about Robby’s bosses and their numerous affairs and bad-boy behavior. So when I decided to accompany Robby to a work event, he gave me fair warning that things might get rowdy. In anticipation of too much imbibing, the company would be sending a limo to drive us to and from the event. I have to admit I was curious about seeing his coworkers with their respective wives and girlfriends and wondered if their inner playboys would surface or not.

We were given champagne before we even shed our coats. We mingled and as Robby introduced me to his colleagues, I could feel them checking me and Robby’s new titanium watch out. They asked me loads of questions – most specifically how had Robby managed to meet someone exotic looking like me (yes, this was the exact phrase used) and what did I like to do for fun (which made me feel kind of like a bunny must feel when she rattles off her likes and dislikes).

As we sat down to dinner, conversation turned to Robby’s new BMW, cars being a favorite topic among the group. Robby’s boss was visibly impressed with the car talk and with a twinkle in his eye asked me if I had come with the new car. Thanks to the alcohol, I managed to laugh at his joke but couldn’t quite shake the creepy idea of being seen as some kind of trophy Vanna White. Though Robby liked to maintain he was different than the guys he worked with, he didn’t say a word during the exchange.

As the night wore on, Robby whispered sweet nothings about his colleagues in my ears. He was quick to point out who was sleeping with whom (including one of his married bosses in attendance with his wife /high school sweetheart who had been for years having an affair on the side with the head secretary). Yes, he used the word secretary. He gossiped about drug usage, rampant alcoholism, problem children and illegitimate children. Then, Robby told me about his best buddy at work whose wife and he had recently decided to have an open marriage. I tried not to keep my look of horror at bay but couldn’t quite manage as my eyes came to rest on the nice couple I had met when we arrived. And here I thought they were the most normal people at the party!

By the time the night ended, I realized that in Robby’s playboy world women, like flashy cars and the right watch, were seen as accessories. And while it might be fun to play spy, staying for any greater length of time would likely require a lobotomy. I like having thoughts and a voice far too much to give up my brain.