"When can I see you Katie?"
Speaking into the phone, she says, "Brad, why are you doing this? Just calling me here at home can get me in a lot of trouble."
"I can't help it. Since Janice introduced us the other day, I can't get you out of my mind and I know from the way you were looking at me, that you had feelings too. Tell me I'm wrong."
There was silence, no response to his request. Hoping against hope, Brad really wanted to see this woman again. He decided to press it just a little further. "Look, when your husband goes to work in the morning, please meet me at Starbuck's. We can at least talk without worry there."
"I shouldn't, but I'll meet you just this once at eight, okay?"
"Thank you Katie, I'll see you then. Good night."
"Good night."
Hanging up the phone in the booth, Brad thought to himself, "I've got to be with this woman. But I'm more likely fooling myself once again."
Sliding the doors to the booth open, Brad stepped out into the night and headed to his penthouse at Camden Arms. Brad had money, a lot of it, but he wasn't a happy man. At fifty four, he had accomplished a lot in his life and was tired of doing for others all the time.
That was the main reason for him selling the company that he had started nearly twenty years ago. It was always rushing to do this, that or the other thing and never having time for himself. Even at night, away from the company, all he could think about was how to improve production or make things easy for the employees.
When he was offered two and a half billion for his company five years ago, he laughed at first and over a few weeks he began to give it some serious thought. He finally decided to take the money and run. He sold his home in Boston and quietly left the city.
Now, with nothing but time on his hands, he took a train across the states and ended up in Sacramento. He bought the penthouse outright, but he was lonely too. He didn't know anyone in the city, so he went out and visited a lot of clubs and bars. Not that he was a heavy drinker, he wasn't. One drink could last him for over an hour if he wanted it to. He just wanted to meet people.
Trading in his thousand dollar suits for jeans and T-shirts and boots, he made his way around town. When asked what he did for a living, he'd always switch the subject or when pressed he'd tell people he was a writer.
Brad also rented a two bedroom apartment, that he furnished with some nice furniture, but not real expensive stuff. He set it up as his "writer's persona" and when he entertained his new friends, it was there that he held the parties.
As he neared the Camden Arms, Henry, the Doorman spotted him and greeted him, "Evening Mr. Bolton, beautiful night, isn't it?"
"Yes it is Henry," he said as he entered the building and went into the elevator. Using a special key, he inserted it in a slot and the elevator started up to the fiftieth floor and opened to what could only be described as a very posh room.
While getting undressed, his cell phone rang. Looking at the caller id, it was Janice.
"Hello, why the late call?"
"Just checking up on you, seeing how your doing and what gossip you want to throw my way."
Brad laughed and said, "Your crazy woman, you know that?"
"Yeah, I know it and better yet, you realize it. So tell me, have you talked to Katie yet?"
"Why would you ask me that, I just met her that once the other day?"
"Brad, this is Janice, remember? I saw the puppy-dog eyes you two were making at one another."
"You don't miss anything, do you?
"Nope, not much anyway, so talk to me."
"Okay, I'm meeting her for coffee in the morning."
"Good, I'm glad to hear that. She a good woman Brad, just that she's saddled with that asshole she has for a husband."
"Why is he an asshole?"
"He likes to take out his problems on her. I can't tell you the number of times I've see her black and blue. He even broke two of her fingers once and each time she tells me she tripped, or fell or walked into something. Personally, I'd like to shoot the motherfucker."
"Why didn't you tell me before you introduced us?"
"I wanted to see if there was going to be anything happening between you two first and my guess was right."
"Are you playing matchmaker?"
"Let's just say that I think you two would be good for each other."
"Thanks for the info Janice, I'm going to take a shower then hit the sack, been a long day."
"Okay Brad, hope it all goes well in the morning, night."
"Night girl."
Brad strips and showers then hops into bed, rolling to his side he set the alarm for 7AM, then went to sleep for the night.
He woke to the sound of his digital alarm clock and hit the snooze button, not wanting to open his eyes just yet. Then he remembered he was meeting Katie for coffee. Jumping out of the bed, he went into the bathroom and did his daily morning routine. He put on a nice clean pair of Wranglers, black and a T-shirt. After he put his socks on he jammed his feet into his boots and went to the kitchen, it was 7:30 AM.
It took Brad twenty minutes to walk to Starbucks, and he waited by the front for Katie to arrive. Right at 8AM, Brad watched a blue Chevrolet pick-up enter the lot and pull into a parking space.
When Katie stepped out, his eyes took in her beauty. At five foot five inches, she was a stunning woman. She wore cotton shorts, a light blue, with a sleeveless button down shirt that matched. Her legs were finely shaped and he just adored looking at her.
"Good morning Katie, thank you for coming, he said as he reached out to shake her hand.
"Morning Brad, she said as she extended her hand to him."
Brad noticed an ace bandage on her wrist, but didn't say anything, as he turned and opened the door for her. Inside they placed their orders and went to a table.
Once seated, Brad said, "You look quite nice this morning."
Katie blushed a little and said, "Thank you, it's nice to hear that once in a while."
