Caleb - 11:00 AM
Caleb Winthrop Harrison, the Second, impatiently waited in line at the coffee shop. It was one of those hippy places. He had thought about leaving when he noticed the nose ring, the female clerk was sporting. The woman in line behind him was wearing an exquisite floral scent, and he had decided to stay, in the hopes that he could strike up a conversation.
This was unexpected, but he had long since given up being surprised at his own behavior. It was surprising because he was going to propose to his girlfriend tonight. It was Valentine's Day, and they had dinner reservations at the Plaza. The ring was to be brought out with dessert, at which point he would get down on one knee. He hoped that the videographer he hired to record the entire thing would be able to see his face in the dim light.
He was three people away from ordering, so he turned to chat with the woman behind him. "Hi, Caleb." He stuck out his hand, at the same time his eyes ran up and down her body.
He thought she was a businesswoman. Her heels were black and pointy, her skirt was skinny and tight, with a slit on the side, and her snow white blouse had three buttons undone. He could see a hint of lace, and imagined it was her bra.
"My eyes are up here, buddy." He noticed she didn't offer to shake his hand or provide her own name.
"I'm sorry, I missed your name?" he held his hand out again.
"My name, is how about you mind your business and stop bothering me." She said it like it was a statement and not a question.
"Ohhhh, playing hard to get. I like that." He whipped out a business card and handed it to her. "Call me sometime. I'll make sure you have a great time."
She rolled her eyes, but took the card, and smiled wanly at him. "I'd love to call you, but I am cleaning my cat litter for the next six years."
He was pleased with the way the conversation had went, and it was now his turn to order. He was was proud of his name, so when the woman at the counter asked for it, he brusquely informed her, "Caleb, the Second, and don't forget the second."
He was too self-absorbed to notice her eye-roll and would have thought her opinion of him, unworthy of his consideration, if he had. She worked in a coffee place, after all! This was not his usual stop for coffee, they knew him well there, and no longer asked for his name.
He missed the derisive chuckle that came from the woman in line behind him. He certainly didn't see her throw his card away. In fact, it never even occurred to him, that she would throw the card away. He was clearly wealthy, and in great shape, and what woman didn't want someone like him?
No, he was mostly annoyed by this interruption in his day. Typically, he would be at work by now, but today he had to pick up the ring. He had been dating, Elsie, his girlfriend for a few months, and felt that she would make a proper wife, one who would benefit his career, and impress his friends. He wasn't sure if he really loved her, but what did that matter? Love was not a priority.
He glanced at his Rolex, which was worth several thousand dollars, as he liked to inform people, and scowled. It was taking forever. He didn't have time to go home and change after work, so he made sure to not lean against anything. He wanted to look his best on the proposal video, as he had no doubt that Elsie would be delighted by his offer of marriage.
Annoyed that his drink wasn't done, he checked e-mail, on his new I-Phone. He soon lost himself in the seductive song of technology, as he opened and deleted messages.
Lost in thought, he missed it when they called his name. Even if he had heard it, he would not have gone up for the drink, as they were calling "Deuce," and no possible way was that his drink. Work crisis averted, he surfaced from the intoxicating depths of the smartphone and went to check on his coffee.
He was instantly angry when he saw it on the counter! Why didn't the stupid barista, call his name? "Dude, we did, chill." She informed him. "You were buried in the phone, and oblivious to the people." She gestured at the coffee shop around her.
"Power to the people, man!" She flashed him a smile and a peace sign and went back to work.
She blew him off! He had half a mind to complain to the manager, except she was older and dressed nicer, and it looked like maybe she was the manager. Oh well, he would never come back here. He scanned the coffee shop, and that was when he saw her.
Rachel. Rachel walking on the sidewalk, talking on her phone, hurrying somewhere. Rachel wearing a short dress and an open trench coat, carrying a bag over her shoulder. Rachel, the woman he had mad passionate sex with last night. She seemed to genuinely want him to stay, and it looked like she enjoyed herself; both were new experiences for him. He had promised to call, in the morning. He didn't call, because he never did.
The thrill for him was in the chase, and once he captured his quarry, and had sex with her, he moved on to new pray. Seeing Rachel, brought back memories. Her long, lean legs, and flat stomach. Her large breasts, and trimmed vagina. She had a nipple piercing and was a real tiger in bed.
He smiled and decided he wanted more sex with Rachel. What he wanted he took, so he dashed out of the coffee shop and reached out a hand to grasp her shoulder. She turned and smiled when she saw his face.
Elsie - 2:00 PM
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Elsie stepped into the hot, fragrant bath water. She used a lavender bath bomb, and the smell permeated the small room and washed some of her tension away. It had been a long tiring day at work, and she was looking forward to her date with Caleb tonight. She just wished she wasn't so exhausted. The Boys and Girls Club was not an easy place to work, and today had been particularly troublesome.
She loved the kids, and loved her work, she just sometimes needed a moment of peace. The kids were needy, the parents were needy, that's why they came to the club. This afternoon she just needed to not be needed.
She sank into the hot water, so only her eyes and mouth were exposed. The heat penetrated her aching muscles, the lavender soothed her racing thoughts, and tension flowed from her limbs.
Her thoughts turned to her boyfriend. She loved going out with Caleb but felt guilty about the time she spent with him.
He was rich, stinking rich actually, and shamelessly spoiled her. She enjoyed his pampering but thought perhaps he was taking things more seriously then she was. She didn't like feeling that she was using him for his money. On the other hand, she was dirt poor, had grown up dirt poor, and he was showing her a side of the city she would have never been able to afford.