Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 24434 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24434 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
What in the world just happened? A work emergency? With a fax machine? Who even uses faxes anymore? Yeah, right.
But this is classic Brian. I finally agree to come on this date with him and he takes off halfway through, leaving me with the bill and some half-hearted promise to “pay me back later.” This is total bullshit. I am stunned, astonished, and even a bit furious with him.
Even more, I’m angry with myself for even coming. Now, I’m left sitting at the table, staring at an empty chair, with a check that’s going to be a few hundred dollars at least.
Well, I’m real glad the waitress insisted on getting us a bottle of their finest wine. Perfect, just perfect.
Seeing as I am sitting here alone, I decide to finish the bottle of wine, since I’m paying for it now anyways. Maybe I can take the rest of the appetizer tray back to my apartment where I can eat alone in peace. Is that too déclassé? I don’t even care anymore. I’m pondering whether I should get an entrée to go as well when all of a sudden, I feel a presence approaching behind me.
I turn. Did Brian come back? Is it someone I know? Is it the waitress telling me I need to leave now that my pain-in-the-ass date has ditched me? I bet she suspects I can’t afford the bill.
But my heart drops into my stomach when I see that it’s the gorgeous older man who spooked the bejesus out of Brian. His blue eyes penetrate me, and my cheeks flush at the attention. My nipples harden, and every cell in my body comes alert.
“Hello. Do you mind if I take a seat?” he says in a deep voice. Suddenly, the evening just took a turn for the unexpected.
4
John
* * *
It was a long day at work today, and one of those days that seems to go on for weeks and weeks. Nothing in particular made it drag. I went about my usual tasks and meetings, and everything went as smoothly as it can in a dynamic business. Yet, it seemed to just never end. So when the clock finally hit eight, I decided to grab a whiskey at the Matterhorn before heading home.
I figured it would be my usual thing. I’d imbibe some excellent alcohol, watch the band play, and relax a little bit before heading out. What I did not anticipate was seeing my son out on a date with a girl way out of his league. The woman he’s with tonight is utterly gorgeous with curly brown hair, big brown eyes, and a lush figure. I can tell from her body language that she isn’t into my son. Even a blind man could tell. She’s lost in a daydream, alternating between sipping her wine and staring out the window.
Not that Brian’s a catch. I wouldn’t date him, and he didn’t exactly help himself by pre-gaming before showing up. He’s flushed and sweaty, his eyes sitting heavy as if he hasn’t slept in days. His movements are sloppy, his arms flailing loosely around the table as he talks. I’m surprised he hasn’t knocked over a glass of wine yet.
But then, Brian spots me from across the room. I don’t look at him because it would be too telling if we suddenly made eye contact. But of course, my son’s a coward. He knows he’s not supposed to be drinking. The little shit just got a DUI a few months ago, and he’s supposed to stick to seltzer and orange juice. Instead, he’s here, soused out of his mind and trying to romance a gorgeous woman too. What a piece of work.
Of course, my son knows he’s been caught red-handed. There’s a carafe of wine on their table, for crying out loud. The woman he’s with lifts her wine glass delicately to her lips, and I watch, entranced, as she sips, her slim neck on display. God, she’s beautiful.
But then, my son springs into action. He jumps to his feet, and casting one last panicked look my way, literally runs out of the restaurant, leaving his date with the check if I’m not mistaken.
Fuck. I raised Brian better than that, or at least I tried. I blame Kara, my ex-wife. We divorced ten years ago when Brian was fifteen. She was a piece of work, but the worst part was that she was always spoiling our son rotten. She let him believe he was better than everybody else and made him think that the world would be handed to him on a silver platter. In a way, much of it was.
After all, I’m the CEO of Metro Media and I got my son his job as a middle manager. Now, it isn’t entirely nepotism because Brian is decent in his position. However, for his job, you generally need to go through a lengthy interview process, and even submit to a psychological assessment. My son did none of that because frankly, he wouldn’t pass. It’s a harsh thing to admit about your child, but I genuinely don’t think Brian has the capacity to excel. His egocentrism and lack of compassion are dual sore thumbs.