Saturday, July 9, 2016

Chapter 23: Outside Looking In



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
                                      

                                                                       23
            
     Atom Green glared at the phone then dropped onto the sofa of his Manhattan Beach condo. Since resigning from Slade, he had not tried for another position and was consumed by thoughts of Helen. Her unwillingness or inability to respond -- he wasn’t sure which-- created a kind of panic, forcing him to confront the fear of being on the outside looking in. His time working in the background at the restaurant compelled him now to seek the main event and the greatest prize. At Slade he enjoyed the status of top salesman, the competitive camaraderie of the agents and the out-sized bonuses. The meta of Helen encompassed them all; she was the greatest prize.
       He changed into slacks, white shirt and blue blazer, then inspected himself in the mirror. He brushed back his quill-like black hair and flashed a smile that competed with the shirt and conveyed the electric exuberance that charmed others. Confidence recharged, he left for the drive downtown.
     After parking his Mercedes coupe in a lot a block from the Wayfare, he walked quickly to the hotel and through the lobby to the elevator where he keyed in the code.
     The smell of smoke should have been a warning, as well the dark figure propped at the end of the corridor. Intent on his mission he continued to the door and pressed the buzzer, and the figure approached. “You’re not allowed,” it said and grabbed him by the collar just as the door opened. Helen peeked out. “Bill! What are you doing?” The chauffeur stunned Atom with a rap to the back of the head and dragged him to the elevator. Helen followed, pulling at his black tunic. “Stop!”
      Momentary pleasure at seeing Helen vied with the distress of being manhandled. He was six feet and toned, but the other man was larger and apparently used to hauling heavy loads. He twisted and flailed as Bill pressed the button and blocked out Helen. When the elevator opened, he threw him in. “You’re not allowed.” The doors closed.                                                     
      Later, back in the car, his phone lit up and HELEN flashed on the screen. She apologized, and said she didn’t know why Bill was in the hall. He insisted that they meet. 
     “There’s something I need to finish first.”
     “The wedding?”
     “Partly. Don’t try to see me until I call. Promise." 
     The call was as brief as the encounter in the hallway. Thoughts of the wedding filled him with dread. He and Dave Forester traded places at the top of the sales chart and a friendly rivalry had developed, so much so that he was to be in the wedding party. Slade’s hostility quashed that. Dave was embarrassed, but his family was friends with Slade’s family and had the closer bond.
      Having the CEO of the company host your wedding would seem to confer a guarantee of success and he had dreamt of such a benediction. Now all he could think of was Helen with Slade at the wedding. Slade, who had the power to damn and bless, held Helen in his thrall. His mind contorted to deny converging associations. He needed to be present to prevent the unimaginable, and would have to sneak into the Palisades mansion.
     He searched his phone for the number of someone who was possibly more excited about the wedding than even the bride or groom. Lola McIntyre picked up on the first ring, and he explained the situation. She was on board enthusiastically. He cautioned, “Don’t tell Slade or anyone close to him. You know who I’m talking about.” She agreed and promised to get back to him. It was a risk he had to take. Lola had helped him connect with Helen the first time. The hitch was her workplace boyfriend: Bill.

                       

 The next chapter will be posted by August 21.
 The characters and events in this story are fictitious and do not represent any living person or real event.     
    

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