The lounge was nice with a long mahogany bar, the bottles of liquor behind it lined up on shelves that were softly lit from the bottom. They gave the bartender a changing soft glow in her light-colored hair as she moved along, smiling at the three patrons already there. I took a moment, scanning the place as my eyes adjusted to the lower lighting from the brighter ones in the hotel lobby.
Only four of the tables were occupied. Two by couples huddled close, one of those with a very attractive brunette smiling softly. The gentleman with her gently brushed her hair back to lean in close as he whispered something into her nicely decorated ear. Whatever it was made her look at him as her smile widened.
The other couple were a touch older than myself, maybe in their late thirties or early forties. The way she was looking at him made me think of how Renee used to look at me. Head slightly tilted; eyes hooded, stained lips ever so slightly parted. I hoped he was paying attention to her and listening... Something I'd often failed to do with my ex.
The two other occupied tables were checking each other out from opposite sides of the lounge. A small dance floor separated an over eager red headed man and his two compadres from two very attractive girls. Red was leaning on the table, tie loosened, staring blatantly at them some twenty feet away. I couldn't help but notice the blondes bobbing foot over her crossed, very well shaped legs. I didn't think any of the five were near thirty.
I settled at the far end of the bar where it curved towards the wall. It was a good spot to see the entire place and not really be noticed. Three stools from the polished woods end and the lift up exit through it from the back of the bar. Two steps from there, the varying sized booths wrapped around the exterior walls on the blue n gold carpeting. There was a small, raised stage centered among the rear booths.
The light-haired white blouse and black vest gave me a moment before placing a cocktail napkin trimmed in gold to my left.
"What can I get you Sir?"
I glanced at the name tag that elegantly announced she was Julie.
"Booker's rocks, water back."
She gave me a soft smile as she turned, the short black skirt rolling nicely on her well-rounded hips as she went past a low register centered in the soft shining wood bar to fetch my request. A loud laugh drew my attention as blatant made some kind of joke towards the two ladies. Julie glared at the table for a moment until one of his friends tapped their tabletop lightly.
Julie returned to me, an ice filled rocks glass in her left hand and the bottle of Booker's in her right. I appreciated that she'd loosened another button on her pleated blouse offering me a fleeting view of the top of her heavy breasts. She was generous with her pour before sliding my drink to me.
"Tall on that ice water back?"
"Please."
Three steps and twenty seconds' later, she was back.
"Room number?"
I really liked her smile and sky-blue eyes.
"I'm across the street in the condos."
Her smile reached her eyes, as close to an invitation as I might get.
"I'll run a tab."
I winked and she smiled before turning away. Damn, she had a nice bottom.
I tasted my Booker's, enjoying the nice bite after a very long day at our latest acquisition.
I'd had an early morning meeting with the Executive Committee and then another shortly after with the General Staff that I was sent to trim. The G.M. was already gone. Some other decisions had already been made. The Sales Manager, his 'personal' assistant and the Comptroller were history. It made the Senior Accountant nervous as he attended each one of those dismissals with a representative of Security waiting outside what was my temporary office door. He was staying but didn't know that yet.
I enjoyed toying with him. I knew of his reputation, due diligence and history. I liked the guy. An update in wardrobe, some added authority and he'd do fine as the new Comptroller.
Then came the individual Department Heads selling me on what they did and me explaining what I expected...
It was all part of the job. I'd come in, clean house, empathize the way we expected the place to run and then maybe enjoy some of the local talent. I'd gotten used to it many years ago and other than my sympathetic act: I loved my job.
Renee was the first to point it out after my third trip away from home. She said I liked the power. She was right, I did.
I didn't at first, until after accepting some pretty sound advice from one of our owners: 'You're doing everyone a favor when you terminate some one's employment. Either they were incompetent, over their head or unwilling to do the job properly.'
True enough.
After their dismissal, I'd chose some hard-working individual that appreciated the fact that they were chosen to carry on with our plan and make them a part of the 'new team'. I have to say, there is on occasion I really enjoy letting someone go. The Sales Manager in this case. He was boffing his second personal assistant in the last year or so... Idiot.
You simply do not shit where you eat.
I'd been in this city for all of four days. The first was a late evening flight in. The second was settling into the rented luxury condo, having the refrigerator filled and then reviewing personnel files, some for a third time. Next, I had to see how much I could get away with at our new acquisition. Security asked me all the right questions when I got off the elevator on the third floor.
I liked that.
Now, after a very long day, it was time to relax. Unwind. Enjoy the first evening of the coming weekend. There'd be more terminations, at my discretion of course. I wasn't fond of either of the two candidates to manage the sales department. I'd already run an add on that. I still had to meet with building services on Monday. He was on vacation.
Then...
"Ready for another?"
Julies bright smile greeted my eyes as she removed my empty glass, wiped the bar in front of me and replaced the cocktail napkin.
"Maybe one more."
I turned slightly to my left to look around at the slowly filling lounge. The two girls at the far table were now four. The three Amigos were gone, their empty glasses being collected by another white shirt, black vest and skirt. Not quite as sharp looking as Julie, but very nice. Long legs, flaming red hair, caramel skin and large, gold hoop earrings.
"Easy their Tiger. That one is already taken although you'd never know it."
I turned my attention back to Julie.
"You just take it easy. Another hour or so... A good-looking, well-dressed man like you..."
She winked.
"What makes you think I'm looking?"
"Pleeeasse..."
She turned away and with a teasing shake of her hips, was gone. She was right of course. It was after eight, the place was slowly filling, and the three-piece band were joking as they set-up. I focused on my Booker's and occasionally on Julie. I'd been in this situation many times before... I'd stay a little distant. Above it all. It usually worked pretty well for me.
Then the second stool on my right was filled with a young lady that demanded my attention: a trendy maroon, halter style dress that was just clingy enough to let me know she wasn't wearing a bra. When she turned her well-tanned shoulders towards the bar, her left hand that held a plain black clutch settled into her lap and her right rested delicately on the polished bar. A deep pearl colored her nails. Her tumbling highlighted hair shone while obscuring the rest of her face.
Julie was there the moment after she lightly rocked her hips to settle into the low backed, leather covered stool.
"May I help you?"
I saw her tug at her ear before smiling softly.
"I'm not sure."
Julie returned her smile and then asked her for some I.D. The young woman's cheeks colored a bit as she searched the small purse in her lap before removing her I.D. Julie smiled as she returned it.
"I just have to make sure. You don't look twenty-three. White wine?"
I couldn't resist.
"Have you ever had a Vodka Lime and soda?"
The young woman turned to me and raised her chin ever so slightly. Her emerald, green eyes sparkled above high cheek bones and straight nose. I fell in lust with her coral tinted smile.
"Hmmmm... That sounds good. Thank you."
"Top shelf on that please Julie."
"Of course, Sir."
Julie's blue eyes twinkled.
"And put it on my tab."
Julie moved her already placed cocktail napkin just a bit more toward where I was sitting. I extended my hand.
"Michael."
The chestnut and gold-haired beauty paused ever so slightly, and then took my hand.
"Sophia."
I locked my blue-gray eyes onto her deep green ones, trying not to notice the gentle movement of her unfettered breasts.
"Do you come here often?"
"Occasionally... I like the band."
The scent of Black Opium, the same scent Renee used to wear, announced she had just freshened it.
"I love your choice of fragrance's. Black...."
She blushed as I acted to search for the word.
"Opium. Black Opium."
