Chapter 4
A few days after the incident, Jen and I went to meet with a couple of clients. I finished my day and headed out to meet my clients for dinner. I took along my trusty assistant Jen. She is a feisty petite blonde with a zest for life and loves her job. She is great to take along on client meetings because she is outgoing and puts everyone around her at ease with her comfortable attitude. No matter the setting, whether its dinner and drinks like this evening or a meet and greet at a local sporting event, she always comes through and helps to ensure the clients are relaxed and happy. Tonight, was no exception; we arrived at the restaurant just before the clients so that we could be seated at the table ready to greet them upon their arrival. Jen always insisted on us sitting across from each other at the table so that we could engage the clients from both sides. Keeping this in mind, I chose a seat across from her. She excels at gaining and acquiring the client’s attention immediately.
Tonight, she was dressed in a simple black dress that accentuated her petite figure, allowing for a tasteful glimpse of her small round mounds poking out of the top of the thin satiny fabric. She stood up and greeted the clients as soon as the host brought them over to our table. Offering her hand and a sweet smile, I could see the clients begin to relax immediately within her presence. That is what I bring her for, I thought to myself as I offered my hand and introduced myself once again to each of the individuals who would be seated at our table.
Jen is great at everything she does, she was the one who was there when my husband Brad passed away. She was the one who picked me up off the floor at the lowest point after his death. She made me get into the shower and wipe off the days of grime off my body, she helped me to feel normal for at least a few minutes. Jen showed up and dragged me out of the house, forcing me to eat and just all out leave the house, something I hadn't done in days. I will forever be greatful for her friendship and her pulling me out of that dark dark place.
We settled into idle conversations around the table until our waiter arrived taking our orders for dinner. We ordered appetizers and bottles of wine along with steaks for everyone. We discussed business and some upcoming promotional sales that the client would be having that my department could do the artwork for and set up the sales flyers. My assistant was busily putting everyone at ease around the table with her playful banter; I could see everyone relaxing into easy conversations and casual discussions. Our food arrived and everyone continued to relax more with the wine, appetizers, and excellent steaks. After dinner, we concluded with signing the contracts for providing our services to the client, and after a brief set of goodbyes and paying the bill for the dinner, my assistant and I walked out of the restaurant.
“Hey, do you want to go grab a drink at that new bar down the road, I heard it’s really fun,” Jen asked me with a smile upon her face.
“How could I resist?” I responded with a grin, I know Jen was just trying to get my mind off the incident in the parking garage. She was trying to help me get over it. I really didn't feel like going anywhere, but I guess maybe it would be good for me to get out and not be alone tonight.
“I will follow you,” I said as I got in my car; she nodded her agreement. I really was not sure what bar she was talking about, so I did not want to go to the wrong one. That’s city living for you, always either a new trendy bar that everyone is dying to go to, or else a fresh coffee shop opening on the corner. I hardly ever go to bars since the passing of my husband Brad.
We pulled up to a little place that had stylish neon signs indicating it was called Maurice’s Bar and Grill. I got out of my car and followed Jen up to the front door; we entered the bar beneath the neon sign that flashed the name in bright bold dazzling letters for the world to see.
Walking in I noticed the dark décor, the waiters and servers were all wearing dark black clothing with glow-in-the-dark jewelry, the tables were all darkly colored, and there were neon lights everywhere in the bar. Along the back wall the area was more brightly lit as I saw pool tables and dart boards. The long black marble topped bar was U-shaped and you could see all the liquor bottles neatly lined up along the wall behind the bar on glass shelving. This place was very chic, even in the darkness it had a clean, and sparkling feel to it, from the polished table tops to the trendy bar stools at each table and the bar. There were vases with white fake roses and little whisps of gold mixed in on each table to give it a more elegant feel.
As we took a seat at the bar, I thought I saw a familiar face over in the corner, the gentleman from the parking garage, that cop what was his name I thought to myself. When I looked again he was gone. Must have been my imagination I thought as Jen and I found a spot to sit.