“Jessica? Where the fuck have you been? It’s crazy out here!”
He’s a big guy but the way he’s talking to her immediately puts my back up. But before I can intervene, Jessica puts her hands on her hips.
“Seriously, Mark? It’s been like 90 seconds. Calm down.”
When she says that, he glances at me and smirks. Okay so much for sticking up for her. I think Jessica can take care of herself. I mumble a quick “see ya” and walk back down the dark hallway to the bar. It’s one of those places that keeps the lights low not just for ambiance but to disguise how shitty everything looks. Several televisions hang around the room blaring a basketball game and there’s about a hundred more people crammed in here than there was before I snuck off to the bathroom for what should have been a quickie round of fun.
There’s not much fun about discovering that your equipment is out of service so I approach the bar to settle my tab.
But before I can get there, I’m stopped by a peal of laughter coming from the corner of the bar. Mya stands with a few of our other co-workers taking delicate sips from the beer in her right hand. Funny, I never knew a succubus could consume human food.
“What can I get for you?”
The other bartender, a guy who looks barely old enough to serve alcohol, has a white towel slung over his shoulder and a permanent scowl on his face. By the crowds of people waving for his attention, I can understand why he’s pissed. Jessica bailed and left him alone to deal with this.
“I’ll have a beer. Whatever you have on tap.”
He nods briskly and then moves on to the next person, taking orders while he’s pouring. My beer is thunked on the bar unceremoniously before he moves on down the line.
A hand lands on my shoulder. I don’t have to feign surprise at the sight of Seth Barrington, venture capitalist and richer than God, sitting on the bar stool next to me.
“Whoa! You made it. Should I get my camera? I never thought I’d see you sitting in a dive bar amongst the unwashed masses.”
He chuckles and raises one finger to get the bartender’s attention. And just like everyone else in Seth’s life, the bartender rushes to do his bidding. But before he can get there, Jessica steps in front of him. It’s like I suddenly don’t exist. Now she’s only got eyes for Seth. Not that I’m surprised. He’s dressed in a suit that probably cost as much as my car and the guy even smells like money. I can see the dollar signs in her eyes from here. She’s fishing for a bigger catch now.
“Hello, sir. What can I do for you?” Her voice is sultry as she twirls a lock of hair around her finger and sticks her chest out.
Seth barely blinks. “Macallan 25. Neat.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. We actually don’t carry that. We have Johnnie Walker.”
He starts to say something else but then glances over at me. “You know what, never mind. Just water. And bring my friend another of whatever he’s having, please. Thank you.”
Jessica glances over at me and her smile drops slightly. “Of course. I’ll be right back with those.”
Once she’s gone, his grin stretches across his face until it almost eats his face. “Dude, I could feel that tension. Is she an ex?” He frowns. “Or a not-yet-ex?”
I shake my head. “She’s an it-never-happened. Don’t ask.”
“Right. Not asking.” He looks around the bar. “It’s been a while since I’ve just… hung out.”
At his words I resolve to invite him out more often, not just when I’m trying to impress my boss. He’s a good guy and over the past year of working together, he’s become more friend than client. The guy has it made but barely leaves his office. He needs to enjoy life more.
“I’ve been telling you to get out. You work more than anybody I know. And in the advertising world, that’s saying something.”
He shrugged. “Business is the same way. This is all I know. All this other stuff, talking, socializing, it might as well be a completely different culture. I feel like everyone’s speaking a different language.”
Something about the way he looks around the bar feels eerily familiar.
He’s lonely.
When I first moved to D.C. I was ready to take on the nation’s capitol too. Then I discovered how difficult it really is to move to a new place all alone. My brother and my mom are both back in New Jersey and even though it’s not that far away, it’s far enough. I threw myself into work, aggressively pursuing new clients for Mirage to prove to James that he made the right decision hiring me.
But those sixteen-hour work days come with a price tag. I know that better than anyone.
“Then let me be your translator. First, the bartender was hitting on you.”
Seth chuckles lightly. “Even I caught that hint.”