Chapter 17: The Matter

MORE OF SOMETHING MORE,

a story about a salesman trying to establish himself,

 a CEO scheming to buy out his father's influence

                                              and the woman important to each 

                                                                  17

                        

     Seated side by side in a booth, Atom and Helen observed the crowd celebrating Friday at the Dedalus Bar and Restaurant. Though glad she agreed to meet, he had hoped for someplace better for what he had to say. She seemed distracted. The lights at the bar were high but darkness enclosed them, save for the candle in a rose-colored globe that flickered when they spoke. It was steady now under heavy silence.
     The flame reflected off the gold studs in her ears and exaggerated her brow, making her appear to brood. Auburn hair flowed past the nape of her neck where she had cinched it with a purple ribbon. Atom was hyper-vigilant, continually turning to gauge her mood.  His quill-like black hair, parted down the middle, vibrated with every motion. He reached a hand to cover hers on her knee. She offered a yielding smile and he kissed her, and then they watched the scene playing out before them.        

     A well-traveled aisle lay between them and the mahogany bar with a center mirror behind and customers seated before. The waiter’s stand was on one end, through which the bartender –a trim gray-haired man all in black—sometimes passed to return with bottles of liquor. At the other end near the entrance, a big man sat with his back against the wall. He had dark wiry hair cut short above a fleshy face with deep furrows across the brow.

     Beside him, a dark haired man in a tie-less dress shirt had rolled-up sleeves that exposed a constellation of tattoos. He said something to the big man who let loose a percussive laugh. Next to them sat a goateed younger man minus a suit coat, who watched the bartender fill three shot glasses with amber liquid before allocating them. The trio raised a toast and downed the shots. Others sat like a row of uneven teeth, men and women whose conversation buzzed from unseen faces that sometimes turned in profile. An inoffensive blend of rock, pop and blues pulsed from a hidden source.
     “Is this where you used to come?”
     “The crowd’s older than we were but it was close by. Now it reminds me of when Kelly and I came to LA. So much has happened since.”

     “We can go if it makes you sad.”
     She inhaled, drawing the flame towards her. “I want to stay.”

     Just then the big man erupted in a surprisingly high voice. “That’s not right! How can you even think that?” The tattooed man bent over in laughter and the third man grinned. The room absorbed the good-natured interruption then returned to their conversation, but Helen banged her knee beneath the table.
     “You act like you’re afraid!” He stared into her face.
     “It’s nothing.”
     “I’m not so sure, but I have something to say.  I’m leaving the company. I don’t like the changes they’re making.”

     “To do what?”
     “Sales jobs are everywhere. That doesn’t worry me. I want us to continue. Do you know what I mean?”

     She patted his hand. “Why not?”

     "Because when routines change, people do too. I’d like to hear you say why we’ll be together, or if there’s any reason not.”
     “Then you wouldn’t go?”
     “I wouldn’t want to.” They kissed. He still wasn’t convinced but let the matter rest.  He flagged down the waiter for another round.          

     At the bar, a spot cleared and a couple arrived to take it.  They were in their thirties. She, a blonde with short hair and round face in a clingy red dress and shoes that strapped at the ankles. He was tall with sandy brown hair and dark eyebrows. He wore a blue blazer and crisp white shirt with high collar. She chatted away, touching his shoulder to punctuate her remarks, while he sat square to the bar and signaled the bartender. After getting their order, he sipped his drink while she slipped off and on her seat and twirled around. He gave her sidelong glances until she slapped his shoulder. “Hey! I’m over here.” She settled back onto her chair as he canted his towards hers and adjusted his drink to watch them both.
     “They’re not really a couple,” Helen said. “Not yet.” And then, “I could talk to Stephen. I’m certain he doesn’t want to lose someone with your talent. He could talk to you and maybe then it’ll make sense.”
     “Mention me, and he’ll get right on it? That’s not what I wanted to hear.”
     Her eyes flashed. “Don’t throw away a good thing. Maybe there are opportunities you just don’t see. Stephen could—“
     “Enough!”

     “People don’t like that he’s got the will to get things done. ”

     “Do you love him?” Her blush increased his displeasure.
     “Can’t we be happy with what we have?”
     He gazed at her, aware of the distance between them. He wanted to embrace her and never let her go, but another someone or something would beckon so no one could claim possession. She was beside him for now.
     The bar began to clear, the crowd moving to the next phase of the rest of the night, some into the dining room. They decided to leave. He stood and took her hand as she slid from the booth. Headed out the door she confided, “I think I’m being stalked.”

          

    

           

                       

 The next chapter will be posted by June 28.

 The characters and events in this story are fictitious and do not represent any living person or real event.