Beige. A perfect description for the hotel bar and grill, the booths, the tables, all the wood, even the television. Yellow lights lend an amber glow to the room. At two in the afternoon, the place is vacant with the exception of the bartender, a server, a business woman, and an unseen man that can be heard having a one sided conversation at the back of a booth.
The business woman is dressed in a black pencil skirt with a light blue button down shirt. She is diminutive, small in stature, though not slight in build. She is rather curvy for her weight, not slim, but by no means overweight. She enters the bar through the opening that leads to the convention center. In her hand is a monogrammed leather laptop bag. As she sits at the bar, she flops her bag into the chair to her left. The lights above the bar shine off of her silver shoulder length hair. The bartender approaches her. "What 'ill it be?"
"Club soda with a lime, please," She responds. "and a menu." The bartender sits the club soda down in front of her with a menu. The conversation of the other patron isn't obtrusive or even discernable. But both she and the man behind the bar focus on the sounds for just a moment as the man in the booth laughs a full joyous laugh.
Curiosity must have struck the server who was slicing lemons at the end of the bar. He grabbed a tray and walked to the man's table to inquire about a refill. Instead of taking the server up on the request, the man waved him off politely.
The man in the booth was actor, Jensen Ackles. Jensen had been in the news recently. He and Christian Kane were going to star in a new prime-time show on a major network. Finally, Jenson was beginning to receive good press after his divorce from long time love Daneel Ackles. Tabloids trashed Jensen mercilessly following the break up. After about a year, the publicity died down. Twenty-four months later, he is moving back into the spotlight.
Jensen had chosen this hotel because it was lavish and respectable, filled with convention goers, and business people. Also, the hotel was off the strip by a few blocks. He had decided to grab a beer in the bar, after inspecting a sound stage located just outside of the city.
He was currently directing part of the fifth season of Walker. Jensen was chatting on his cell with the show's star, Jared Padelecki. The server's interruption of his conversation had shifted Jensen's focus to the room. He says, "Wow, there is actually someone else here." Jensen gives Jared a brief description of the business woman at the bar. He calls out her executive presence, the diamonds on her wrist, and her perfectly done nails. He mistakes her club soda for a vodka drink. Her back is to him, thus he characterizes her as much older because of her silver hair.
Jared responds, "Bet you one-hundred bucks, she has never seen Supernatural. Two hundred if she doesn't know who you are."
Jensen says, "I will take that bet." He ends the call. At that point, he leaves the booth and ambles up to the bar. His gait is confident and he turns on his million dollar smile as he chooses a stool next to the business woman. His smile reaches his eyes as he sits down and says, "Hello, how is your day going?"
She wants to say, 'Better now.' As she takes in his smouldering good looks. However, she chooses, "Tiring." She definitely appreciates his physique and tries to hide her ogling of his body. Those sparkling green eyes of his draw her in.
Surprised by her honesty, he replies, "How so?"
"It has been busy; I have been doing promos for my keynote speech that will kick off the DEI Leadership Conference tomorrow night."
Jensen queries, "What is your speech about?"
"Ethical considerations in diverse spend initiatives." she smiles. Thinking that his eyes might glaze over any moment.
"What is your name?" he responds. He realizes that she is perhaps only a few years older than he.
"Shana Brown, pleased to meet you, Mr. Ackles." she says as extends her hand to shake his. Her grip is firm and he can tell she commands in most any professional atmosphere.
His smile widens. "Well now we have to convince, Jared, that he owes me two-hundred bucks. You ARE a supernatural fan, right?" She nods. He brings out his phone. "Video call, Jared." he directs at his phone. A few trills later and Jared answers. After a brief greeting, Jensen scans Shana from top to bottom with the camera. After assessing that Jared is satisfied that the initial description was accurate, Jensen says, "Go on."
Jared laughs, "Ok, I have questions. Ma'am, who is your favorite actor on the show?"
Shana replies, "That is difficult. If you had asked me that early on or before I really watched the show, I would have said Felicia Day. I have seen her in person at conventions and she strikes a chord in my nerdy little heart. Hrmm." She pauses to think. "After Lucifer possessed Cass, Misha really impressed me, so sorry guys, it is Misha." Her response is met with groans and jeers. "Hear me out." She protests. "Misha is totally creepy when he is Lucifer." She backtracks a bit. "You know that you are all very talented, I loved the entire show."
Jared wrinkles his brow, which translates comically on the video call. "Favorite episode?"
Without hesitation, Shana says, "There are so many great episodes. Any episode with the Ghostfacers is classic. Though I particularly hated any episode where the Impala was out of commission. The one where y'all were in the doctor drama, McSteamy, ha, that was hilarious. Ooh, ooh, ooh, when you meet Charlie, and the LARP episode. Sorry y'all, I am babbling" She grins sheepishly and blushes slightly.
Jared says, "Alright, I owe you two hundred bucks. Well played, Jensen."
"Soccer moms, love us." Jensen grins widely. "Bye, Jared." Jensen clicks the phone off and turns to squarely face Shana. "After that I should buy you a drink." He raises his voice loud enough to get the attention of the man behind the bar. "I will have another one, please." He shakes his empty beer bottle. "And whatever the lady wants." When he faces her, he notices her crystal blue eyes. She has an inviting smile and straight teeth. Her cheeks are rosy and smattered with freckles. She isn't wearing makeup and although her nails are done, they appear to only be buffed and shined. There is an unusual beauty about her.
"I'll take that Irish red that you have on tap, please." The bartender makes quick work of the drinks and drops them in front of the couple.
"I didn't take you for a beer girl." He pauses trying to reevaluate his earlier assumptions. Her tailored shirt shows off her ample bosom in a very conservative way. Her skin is milky white, smattered with freckles, and blemish free. She has calloused hands, but could be a C-suite executive by her looks. After sizing her up, Jensen says, "Another question. Who on the show is sexiest? or do you find the most attractive?"
After a long pause Shana answers, "Not Misha, he is too granola for me. Like a hippie but different, like eating unseasoned tofu." She wrinkles her nose. "Jared is a tall twig, so not my type. Felicia Day is super hot. Like - drink champagne out of her bellybutton hot. You probably meant men, though." She shakes her head and looks Jensen in the eye, "I would do you." She says unabashedly. Her blue eyes twinkle rather mischievously.
"Damn." He blushes and stares into his beer bottle. 'What have I gotten myself into?' he ponders.
"That wasn't an offer by the way; you asked my opinion." She clarifies. She takes a long pull from her pint glass. Her insides are filled with butterflies and she blushes as well.
Jensen smiles back and says, "Oh I am sorry." He looks at the rings on her hands. One ring finger is adorned with rings that have the distinctive look of a wedding set. "My bad." He says, pointing at the rings on her left hand.
"Oh." She nods. "He passed away four years ago. Aortic aneurysm." She said her tone darkening ever so slightly, as the smile fades from her face. "I never stopped wearing it."
Jensen notices the menu in front of Shana says, "Are you hungry?" She nods. "Finish up your beer and I will take you to the best burger joint in Vegas."