CHAPTER FIVE

 

 

The chamber held their meeting in a business center near my condo, which was handy. It was too cold for me to walk. At least it was a short drive. I approached the double doors to the cavernous room. Soaring ceilings, white-linen-draped high-top tables, and tinkling music greeted me. Over one hundred people milled around, like at happy hour. Somehow, I’d expected something more businesslike, dry and boring, frankly.

“Do you need to check in?”

I turned to the young woman in a fitted pinstripe suit seated at a folding table off to the side. “Yes, I guess I do.” I gave her my name, she checked in the appropriate spots, and then I was sticking a name tag below my right shoulder. I offered a thank you before entering the room.

Muted conversation abounded. Since everyone I saw carried a cocktail, I scanned the room for a bar. Ah, there it was, on the far wall. I made my way along the perimeter of the room, pleased to see a wide variety of people socializing. I loved the diversity in NYC and would have been disappointed to lose that here. Once I reached the bar, I kept it simple with a glass of white wine and then headed into the crowd.

Thirty minutes of exchanging introductions and elevator pitches of our businesses later, and I drifted toward an unoccupied high-top table to rest. I was pleased that my anxiety had thus far not surfaced.

“Catherine.”

A woman approached me, a partial smile on her face. It took me a moment to place her. “Hi, Robin. How are you?”

“Wonderful. So glad you could make it. The councilwoman will be pleased.”

She was telling the truth. “That’s great.” I uttered the words, unsure what else to say.

“I’ll let her know you’re here.”

“Okay,” I responded to her back. She had already turned and quickly melted into the crowd. Simply bizarre.

A few more people paused at my table to introduce themselves and then I saw Robin about twenty feet away. Beside her walked a tall brunette, age anywhere from 40-60, in a burgundy dress with matching nails. Even from here they looked like talons. A chill passed through me at the sight of her. I gave a tiny shake of my head. I let Robin’s obsequiousness invade my brain, clearly. I hadn’t even met the (probable) councilwoman and already my subconscious was telling me to be careful.

“Ms. Rodham? I’m Councilwoman Barbara Knollman.” Her smile revealed a row of small sharp teeth. There was an aggressiveness in her stance. Showing me who’s boss?

I accepted her offered handshake and tried to clear my mind of these unhelpful thoughts. I kept my smile while she ground my bones together in her vise-like grip. When the shake lasted longer than was customary, I pulled my hand free. Was that a look of triumph?

“Good evening, Councilwoman,” I replied evenly.

“I’m so glad you were able to make it tonight.”

She was telling the truth, but it was incomplete. I took it at face value. “It’s important to me to be tied to the community, especially the business community.”

“Of course, that’s what we’re here for,” she agreed.

Now that was a lie. Why? An awkward moment passed. I felt increasingly uncomfortable the longer I was in her presence and I did not wish to prolong it.

The councilwoman’s smile broadened – at my discomfort? – and she leaned in. “What made you decide to come to Vegas?”

I gave her my standard response to the question while I considered her appearance at this closer angle. Her eyes were dark, nearly black. She had pore-less skin, which contributed to my attributing a wide possible age range. Up close, I guessed her in her fifties; maybe had some good work done?

“Hopefully you and Peterson’s will stay in the Valley for a long time,” the councilwoman concluded our conversation.

“A long time,” the talent agent beside her echoed.

They both lied, yet there was a sliver of confusing truth. “I hope so,” I responded blandly while my mind raced. The three of us smiled for a half second and then the women left, walking in lock-step toward another table. Stepford assistant, I thought with a laugh about the talent agent. The whole interaction was weird, and I knew something else was going on, but I could identify no objective reason why. Only my instinct about their truthfulness. Or not. I took a deep breath, made another round of the room and then called it a night. I was shocked when a glance at my watch informed me that it was already after nine.

Tension slipped away with every block closer I got to the condo. A meow greeted me when I opened the door. I scooped up my kitty and we bumped heads.

“Hey, Momma.” I scratched her behind the ear and set her down. “What an odd night.” She circled my legs, rubbing against the bare skin above my shoes.

“I’m getting your food. Don’t worry.” I spooned some Fancy Feast into her dish and set it on the floor. She licked my hand to say thank you and chowed down. I laughed.

“Let me tell you about the meeting.” I had already told her about the auditions from earlier, so I regaled her with stories about the men and women I met tonight, especially Robin and Barbara.

Momma finished her food and followed me as I moved through the condo to the bedroom. She jumped on the bed and watched me while I wrapped up the stories.

I hung the blue shift back in the closet and walked to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face. I mumbled my words trying to talk around the toothbrush in my mouth. Momma meowed at me.

“Okay, okay,” I uttered after spitting out the toothpaste. “Sorry, I know you can’t understand me like that.”

In bed, I pulled the earth tone comforter up to my chin, crooked my arm for Momma to curl up against me. “Interesting day,” I told her and drifted to sleep.

 

*****

I walked from the doorway to my office desk, an uncomfortable feeling growing within me. Fear. Why? Nobody else was present. Lights shone brightly. I heard faint noises from my neighbors. And yet… Fear. I placed a hand on my desk, steadying myself.

Was it really fear?

Maybe not. More like uneasiness or uncertainty. I sensed I was no longer alone. I spun around, my eyes met his green ones and I took a sharp breath.

“Alex! What are you doing here?”

“Hello, Catherine,” he ignored my question. He approached, his long legs making short work of the room. He stopped within arms’ reach and made no move to touch me. He simply looked at me.

Unsure what he wanted, and feeling a very different emotion building, I echoed his greeting. “Hello, Alex.”

He smiled his sexy smile and, incredibly, leaned in…to smell me. He took a deep breath and then exhaled out, his breath warming the side of my face. I involuntarily closed my eyes to enjoy the warmth and that broke the spell. The uncertainty returned and my eyes snapped back open. I stepped away from him.

Alex looked surprised. He turned up the wattage on his smile and moved toward me again. Our eyes locked, he reached his hand up, fingers lightly grazing my cheek. I tilted my head, wondering. Using both hands, he cradled my face, his eyes searching mine for…something. He moved closer still, yet our bodies did not touch. His hands slid down my neck, continued lower to take my hands in his.

“Until next time, Catherine,” he whispered.

“Next time,” I agreed.

 

*****

Abruptly sitting up in bed, I knew I was alone, and not in my office, and had just had one heck of a sensual dream.

“What the—” I began, before stopping. I could still feel the excitement in my body, my desire to have Alex touch me carrying over from the dream.

Momma, who had moved to the foot of the bed, now padded toward me. “Meow?”

I scratched her behind the ears and we bumped foreheads. “I don’t know, Momma.” As the feelings subsided, and Momma curled back up and began to lightly snore, I chalked it up again to my extended singledom.

I really needed to go on a date.