Photo via Flickr/Susie Katz/TED 2014
Photo via Flickr/Susie Katz/TED 2014

This is a funny how-we-got-together story: Melinda Gates turned Bill Gates down the first time he asked her out.

In a video interview that AOL’s Makers did with Melinda, she talks about how it all went down. Shortly after she began working for Microsoft and met Bill, he asked her out: “You know, I was thinking maybe we could go out, if you give me your phone number, maybe two weeks from tonight?”

“Two weeks from tonight?” she responded. “I have no idea what I’m doing two weeks from tonight. You’re not spontaneous enough for me.”

Lo and behold, Bill called her an hour later, “Is this spontaneous enough for you?”

Of course, we know that the two go on to become one of the most game-changing power couples in history. One awesome fact: While they were still dating and on a trip to Africa, they decided early on to give away most of their fortune. Hence, the seeds for the Gates Foundation were planted.

It’s a nice interview with the always poised, intelligent Melinda. Also lesson here: Be more spontaneous in a non-creepy way. Women like that.

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