3
VICTOR
“So, the firm will keep my interests secure and you can handle all the contracts?” Andrew Barber, CEO of one of the newest investment firms in the city, sat across from me drinking his gin and tonic. His cheap suit humored me, given the fact that he was trying to break into one of the wealthiest games out there. Still, I had to admire his gumption.
I couldn’t decide if he was a frugal man who didn’t care what people thought of him, or if he really didn’t have a clue what it took to run an investment firm. For a moment I thought to give him some advice about what his client’s would be expecting from his firm, but I held my tongue as Adam, my business partner, chimed in with an answer to his questions.
A loud laugh across the room drew my attention. I’d been on more than a few dinners with prospective clients to know this partnership was likely in the bag already, so I allowed myself the moment of freedom to take a peek at the woman who had half the room looking her way.
A stunning blonde, she had the most radiant smile. Across from her sat another woman, both of them laughing at something, though the redhead appeared a little underdressed, and her hair stuck up in pointy spikes. She distracted me for a moment, the sweatshirt and skinny jeans coupled with combat boots. Thick, bright red lipstick smeared on her lips had left a ring on her wine glass too.
But when the blonde said something and they both started laughing again, I found myself smiling. Her baby blue eyes glistened with mirth; drawn out by the pale green sweater she wore. Her cheeks were pink, flushed with drink, and when she spoke, she was animated, gesturing with her hands. I found myself being captivated by her, even from across the room.
“Victor?” Adam’s voice pulled me back to our table, and I blinked my eyes, focusing on his face but not before catching Ivy’s glare. Her eyes seemed to shoot daggers at me, though it wasn’t the first time she’d been like this. She had a bad habit of trying to mother me.
“Uh, yeah, sorry. We have paralegals who can do the contracts at no cost to you, so you’re all set there. And we can discuss all the terms in detail to get them drawn up.” Having been distracted, I hoped that was a proper response.
“He asked about a meeting later this week or next?” Ivy raised an eyebrow at me, and my smile faded.
“I apologize.” I sobered, sitting up straighter in my seat. My eyes flicked back to the two women across the room for a second before settling on Andrew’s face. I prayed my distracted attention came across as more of “what’s all the ruckus” and less of “fuck she’s hot.”
“No problem. It is quite rude for someone to make such a fuss in a public place, isn’t it?” He scowled in their direction and rose. “I will look forward to our teleconference invitation to get things settled. Thank you, gentlemen, for dinner. It was a pleasure meeting you, Ivy.”
After shaking each of our hands, Andrew left and I relaxed back into my seat, my eyes instantly drawn back to the mysterious blonde woman. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ivy take a drink of her wine, and unconsciously I picked my wine glass up too.
“Seriously, Victor. You’re going to blow this thing.” Ivy set her glass down a little too hard and looked over her shoulder at the women too. “You need someone to make you laugh like that. Maybe you’ll loosen up and stop being a curmudgeon.”
Ivy, an old friend from high school who needed a hand a few years back, always had a way of making me connect my business life to my personal life. I’d offered her the job as my assistant when she fell onto hard times, and I never looked back. Not only was she great at her job, but she knew me, and I appreciated her propensity to perceive my needs proactively.
“Yeah, well I think he just needs to get laid.” Adam lifted his wine glass to his lips and grinned as he sipped. “Though, that one looks a bit young for you.” With a wink, he finished the contents of the glass, and I returned my gaze to the women, who were a bit quieter now.
“I agree. No cradle robbing for you, mister.” Ivy took the company card back from the waiter who had previously taken it to run the bill. She nodded and smiled, slashing her name across the receipt, and adding a generous tip before the waiter strolled away. “And none for me either. I’m going home to sleep.” Ivy stood, stretched, and picked up her purse and jacket.
“When you get in on Monday, make sure you set up that Zoom. If we do this right we will lock in with Barker and as he grows, we grow.” Adam slid his arms into his trench coat before standing. Ivy stepped to the side.
“You want me to walk you to your car?” She looked down at me as she returned the credit card to her wallet. Her slender fingers worked the clasp and I noticed she’d had her nails done recently. She always did like to take care of herself like that. I could learn a lesson from her about self-care.
“Nah, walk Adam. I’m going to have a few more drinks. Maybe a slice of that cheesecake.” I waved her off and she shrugged, taking Adam’s arm.
Adam nodded and tapped a knuckle on the table. “See you Monday,” he said before walking away. Ivy wiggled her fingers over her shoulder and stared at the blonde and the redhead as she and Adam walked past their table.
My gaze followed my colleagues until they fell on the perfect pouting lips of the blonde across the room. Something about her was so familiar, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. The high cheekbones, the cute dimples when she smiled. Even a few expressions she made as she talked. I felt like I knew her.
I must have been staring as I drank my wine, because when the waiter returned to fill my glass, he chuckled.
“They’ve been pulling quite the reaction from the room tonight.” He stooped, picking up my glass and pouring more of the burgundy, sweet drink.
“Yeah?” I wasn’t really interested in what the young curly haired boy had to say. I was far too interested in trying to remember this woman. A ghost haunting my memory, I couldn’t pull my eyes off her. He mumbled something, but I paid no attention. It was like her name was on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t say it.
I wondered, had I represented her in a case? Had someone in the firm? Did I meet her at a dinner or symposium? Or maybe I’d seen her in a shop. Maybe she was on a billboard or in a magazine, but I knew I’d seen her somewhere.
“Sir?” The waiter held a note pad poised as if he were taking my order again, but even the thought of cheesecake had escaped my mind for the moment. I looked up at him briefly then back to the blonde. “I said, would you like another drink? Slice of pie?”
“I am good, but…” A thought occurred to me, and I pondered for a moment. “What is she drinking?” I nodded her direction, and as if she heard me whisper her name, she looked my way. For a split second we made eye contact, and I saw the look of recognition on her face, though I still felt completely in the dark. I held her gaze longer than I had expected, but in that fragment of time, I realized—she recognized me too.
“They have a nice house wine. Would you like to try it?”
I squared my shoulders, pulling out my wallet and retrieving my card. I handed it to the waiter. “Fill her glass and tell her who sent the drink.”