-If you haven't read "D'orrs" this part might not make much sense. If you have, I apologize for the delay in getting "Part 2" posted. Hope you enjoy.-
* * * * *
It wasn't until Liz had walked up the stairs of the subway station that she realized just how many butterflies she really did have in her stomach. As she walked toward the restaurant, she wondered if anyone she passed on the sidewalk could tell what she was on her way to do β that she was on her way to her first trick as a part-time, well, there was no better word for it, hooker.
Liz stopped by a newsstand and picked up a copy of the Daily News. It was starting to become a habit with her, something to look at, but not really read, at the end of the day. It gave her something to take her mind off what she was really going to the restaurant for. And Charlotte had asked her to pick one up, so the person she was going to meet would have some means of identifying her. This was New York City, and the description "tall, attractive woman with a briefcase sitting at the bar" was almost a clichΓ©. Not many that fit that description would stoop to read the News, instead trying to impress with Crain's, or the Journal or, at the very least, the Times.
Liz still didn't believe no one could tell what she on her way to do, that no one could see into her mind, that every man on the street wasn't undressing her in his mind because he knew what she was going to be doing, the pleasure she was going to be bringing to someone that night, and the pleasure she was going to take for herself.
Approaching the restaurant, the butterflies in her stomach turned into a large flock of small birds. She was purposely arriving early, hoping a drink or two before he arrived would help to settle the queasiness. Liz stopped at the front of the restaurant and took a deep breath before pulling open the door. She strode purposefully to the bar, the din of many conversations, specials being explained and orders being given surprising her. It awoke her from her self-consciousness, but, still, she needed a very stiff drink.
Liz took a stool near the end of the bar, leaving one open at the end. As she was unfolding the paper the bartender asked for her order. "I'll have a scotch, a double please."
The bartender set her drink down, and Liz took a big sip, the heat from the amber liquid warming her insides, and sending some of the flock in her stomach fluttering off into the rafters of the restaurant. She flipped open a page of the paper and took another gulp. Having the paper in front of her, and something else to concentrate on beside herself, helped to calm her down some more. Flipping through she found the most outrageous play on words in a headline, and started reading that story, never really caring about it β just curious about the relationship between the story and the headline. She finished her drink and was thinking about what to get next, and was perplexed. "A what?" she thought to herself. "Just what is a hooker on her first job supposed to drink while waiting for her trick?"
"I'll have a gin and tonic," she said. "A tall one." The bartender nodded his head and went about mixing the drink. He placed it in front of her and moved down the bar. Liz went back to reading her paper.
"Excuse me, Leez?" Startled, Liz looked up at the man who had just spoken. He looked back at her with the quizzical eyes of complete and unabashed innocence.
"Yes," was all she got out. She thought she recognized him, but couldn't be sure. He was certainly good-looking enough, if maybe a little young. Suddenly unsure of what she had done, she resisted a terrible urge to flee β flee the restaurant, flee the neighborhood, flee the city! Flee all of it! She couldn't believe she'd said she'd do this. Knowing she couldn't back out, but not knowing what to do next, she allowed her business instincts to kick in. She stood and put out her hand, realizing as she extended it she should have wiped it on something first. She could feel the clamminess on her palm, and almost regretted having done this.
He looked back at her and smiled. When he took her hand, she noticed his was cool and dry, and he shook her hand firmly, looking directly into her eyes. Whatever innocence she might have seen earlier completely disappeared. "My name ees Giovanni."
Liz looked back at him, ever more intrigued by his looks. She finally smiled and asked if she could order him a drink. Giovanni placed his hands on the bar and took the seat Liz had been saving for him. She glanced at his hands and smiled to herself, wondering if there was any truth to the old wives' tales linking finger and penis size. She turned and asked the bartender for his drink.
Conversation started a little slow, not uncommon in all two blind dates Liz had ever been on, but after just a few minutes they seemed to find some common ground, other than the real issue at hand. Trained in law, Liz was able to carry on one conversation while thinking about something else, and she found herself unable to think about anything else but the size of his fingers. She squirmed in her seat.
After some time, Giovanni asked, "Shall we leafe?"
"Oh, yes," Liz replied, hoping she didn't sound too eager. They stood, and Giovanni waited for her to gather her things. He watched her walk a few steps, and then quickly caught up to her, placing his hand that held his coat on her shoulder. When they went through the door of the restaurant, a tall, stockily-built black man who was obviously waiting for them, opened the rear door of a limousine and held it open. Liz was a little surprised, and asked Giovanni if this was his car.
"Ah, no," he replied, "eet ees Charlotte's." He paused for a second, and then asked "How long have you been working for her?"