I was having dinner and drink at the bar of my favorite Ale House when I heard a familiar male voice say my name. When I looked over I saw a previous client of mine approach and ask: "Peter, have you got a minute?"
About to finish my third craft draft and knowing my steak and baked potato would come out at any minute, I impatiently looked him in the eye and said: "If you can make it quick." I hate to be bothered at dinner.
He said: "It's about the outstanding part of my bill, the new restaurant has just launched and things are a bit slow at the present ..." And I cut him off. "Look, Ray is it?"
"No, my name is Art." He answered.
"Well Art, I don't handle those things directly and to be honest, I really don't know what you're alluding to, call my office on Monday." And I handed him my business card.
He responded: "Look, I am in the rears for a little over four grand and I was wondering if we could settle it here, I don't want to lose my new business, it can do great."
"Four thousand and change will wait until Monday." I told him: "But if you have it with you, I'll hand write you a receipt and your worries will be over. Enjoy your weekend, after all, I am an honest businessman and I have never been out to hurt anybody." And I offered my hand.
"Mr. Swiftt, this is Hamari." He announced and a tiniest Asian girl stepped out from behind him: "Can we maybe move over there to our booth?"
I looked at the bartender and said: "Scott."
Who responded: "I'll bring it over when it comes out." And I got up and we seated ourselves in the corner booth with their ice waters.
"This is my wife." He said and then qualified in a low voice: "Mail order bride, if you get my drift? If you would consider waving the remainder of my bill, she's yours for ... let's say a week?" And I felt myself become angered.
When I looked over to get her reaction to that, she immediately looked down. She appeared to be only fourteen or fifteen and I asked in a firm tone: "How old are you?" And when Ray or Art or whatever his name was attempted to answer, I interrupted him with: "I ASKED HER."
She looked up: "Twenty three." She answered just over a whisper and looked back down at the table.
"They have to be over twenty one to come here for an arranged marriage like ours, through immigration and all." He added and she started fumbling through her purse and she did produce a Florida state I. D. that actually proved she was twenty three.
I looked to my left and saw Scott with my plate and a fresh beer walking toward us and I said: "Mr. Scott, false alarm, I'll be having that back at my barstool. These two are leaving. I took her hand, looked him in the eyes and said: "You have my card, phone the office on Monday and ask for accounts receivable." And I went back to my seat at the bar.
"Problem?" Scott asked.
"No, just some asshole trying to mix my pleasure with business." I answered.
"Never fails." He responded: "Hot sexy little Asian thing though." And though I totally agreed with him, I didn't bother to respond.
During my meal and the following three dark crafts I couldn't help but think with my dick, but my head considered the proposition to be on dangerous legal ground and considering it could be a scam, I decided to dismiss it.
I paid my tab, slipped Scotty a twenty and walked to my vehicle.
The second I hit start, I heard the Bluetooth tone and when I answered, I heard Art's voice say: "Mr. Swift, this is Art," and as I was about to end the call, he added: "Look, I just got home and found a collection notice in my mail. Sir, won't you at least reconsider and hear me out? Can we at least come to some payment arrangement ... Please?"
And I stopped to think: "Look, let me sleep on it ... call me first thing in the morning, we'll talk." And not waiting for his response, I ended the call.
Four am I was up and in my weight room for my morning workout, I was showered and sitting by my pool having an espresso and watching the sunrise by five forty five when my cell rang.
Aggravated by recognizing part of that number for the second time, and sure that it was him, I answered in an agitated tone: "Man, can't you just give it a rest?"
Then I heard a soft little female voice respond in a heavy broken accent: "Mr. Peter, this is Hamari, From last night, may I talk with you please?"
Wanting to make sure that this wasn't staged and she wasn't being forced or pressured into anything I inquired: "Are you alone?"
"Not in the house Mr. Peter but in this room, my husband is sleeping upstairs," She answered and from the tone in her voice I believed her, but I was cautious.
"What is it that I can do for you?" I was fishing.
"It is what I will do for you Mr. Peter. Please can we resolve this?" She asked.
"Are you in any kind of danger?" I came back with in response to her boldness.
"Just from losing our business, we have everything in it." She answered.
"Hamari is it? Am I saying it right?" I questioned.
"Yes."
"What is it you are proposing here?" I asked: "I want to be clear on all of this before I decide." I told her but most of all, I wanted the words to come from her in the event that this was some form of a set up.
"Mr. Peter." Her voice came firm and clear: "Is it possible we meet to discuss this in person?"
To say that I wasn't interested would just be wrong, any man given this scenario would have his interests peaked and it's the male human nature to at least consider it in ones mind, even if he hadn't seen her ... but I had. I remembered her to appear to be under five feet tall, a tiny girl, slender, round ample breasts with an athletic build and my mind, libido and emotions were running wild after hearing that question.
"There's a Madison Avenue Cafe near the Saint Armands Circle, do you know it?" I asked: "I'll be heading that way in about an hour to pick something up at my office." I lied and waited for her answer.
"I will find it ... say seven o'clock then." She responded and the minute that I ended the call, I had buyer's remorse.
"Why drag this out?" I thought to myself: "This whole situation is embarrassing in fact what Art suggested and the way he suggested it stinks. He's a punk and needs his ass kicked" I thought, but I knew I would keep that meeting.
I grabbed my laptop, accessed my office files and checked out the three clients who were in the rears. Two were only a matter of days, then him.
I walked into the Cafe at of around ten of seven and Spoke to Rodger the owner and I saw Hamari sitting at a corner table facing the door looking directly at me. She was real pretty, A lot more so than I remembered her to be from last night, so I excused myself, walked over and sat next to her so I could monitor where the other patrons were that might overhear our conversation and I asked: "Where's Art?"
She looked at me kind of surprised and answered: "Our place."
I said: "This is your meeting, I agreed to see you at your request, so tell me ... how can I help you?"
She answered in a soft low voice: "Mr. Peter, you know the situation, every penny we make goes back in the business. You heard my husband's offer, it is mine too, won't you at least consider it?"
"Look, I took the opportunity to check this out. With interest and late fees." I explained: "You're now up around five large. If I were so inclined, I could buy a lot of what you are offering me for that kind of money, professional women, don't you think?" And she just sat there looking down at the table.
Feeling kind of bad for coming across so strong, to break the awkward silence I asked her: "Do you ever smile?" And she just looked at me and I felt my heart kind of sink.
I called for her tab and I asked her to walk with me for a while so we could talk a little more privately and we left the Cafe.
"Just what is it you are willing to do for me?" I asked.
Without hesitation she answered: "Anything."
"Are you sure that you aren't in any kind of danger from your husband or anyone else over this situation." I asked again.
And she shook her head and said: "Yes I am sure."
"Do you drive?" I inquired.
"Yes I drive." She fired back as if she was a bit insulted by that question.