"Come on, Bernie, let's go," Vic said.
The company had bad news this week, we were going to be taken over soon and half of the work force was going to be out on the streets. We were strong in our industry, xxx, but there were others bigger, stronger, and more efficient than we were. And so we were about to be eaten.
A group from the finance department was going to get together and go to a pub that had great happy hour eats. Their hamburgers were big enough for at least two meals and were fantastic; garlic and blue cheese inside the patty. The other big bonus was that the place was far enough from the office we wouldn't be likely to run into anyone from work while we gossiped.
"I was going to go with Mark and Toni to the Alchemist," I said. I opened my desk drawer and fished my purse out.
Tuesday nights were quiet almost everywhere and there was going to be a rehash of everyone and everything at the office to make our own shortlist of who would stay and who would go. Before, I wouldn't have had the time or felt free to go out with anyone from work; there was always another job to go to or more chores to do for Grady. Now that I was free and had adequately licked my wounds, I looked forward to the odd happy hour after work.
"You promised," Vic said. He had a hang dog look about him, like I had forgotten his birthday or eaten the last brownie in the pan. "It's important. Please?"
I knew exactly what he was talking about. Another business to check out and preview. Every time he took me to preview someone's dream business, it went under in less than a year. I'm far from being psychic but whenever I got a hit or a vibe somewhere, I just knew. Never had I been anywhere and not been right. I didn't want to burst anyone else's balloon - not since I was probably going to be job hunting again by the end of the week. "I'd rather cook dinner for you or clean your apartment," I said. "You go and have a good time and I'll take care of things at your place."
"It's opening week," Vic said. "I want someone else to look at the place before the official grand opening happens. I want a woman's perspective."
So much for the plan to go to Boston Market and buy one of those family dinners, take it out of the package, put it into my own tupperware, and put it on the counter while Vic was gone. Then again, there was no way I could pass off a roasted chicken or a scratch meatloaf in under two hours.
"They won't let me in," I said. "It's a men's gym."
"Sure they will," Vic said. "We don't cater to the fairer sex, but we don't discriminate either."
I said nothing for about ten seconds. and then I got the look. The same look I get from my doctor when I tell him my idea of exercise is xxx. What? There's never enough time and then there's the extra laundry; and gym time could be time better spent napping or getting ready for work the next week.
I held my breath to see if he'd actually call me on it.
"I'll get you a discount on the membership. Be your workout buddy. Please?"
Damn. I do have a membership at the city gym and have for three years. I drive there, sit in the parking lot, balance my checkbook, break into a sweat, and go home. It works. I do it all in about half an hour and never have to disgrace myself in front of anyone. The added plus is I haven't had to buy new workout gear since I joined.
"Would you believe I worked out this morning?" I asked.
"No. I picked you up this morning and dropped Louie off at doggy day care just so we could be gone for a while."
Busted. Just like Benjamin Bunny in Farmer XXX's XXX patch. You'd think I had a half eaten carrot partially hidden behind my back and I was talking with my mouth full of carrot crumbs.
"Bernie, come on. Chris's partner's brother is a partner in this place. It's a family thing."
Yep. Chris's partner had about fifteen brothers by my last count. Each one of them wanted to be an entrepreneur and they all looked to Chris for extra security. Just like Billy and Big Bear's Bistro that specialized in Bison Burgers. The house special desert was Twinkie's Cakes with Special Cream Filling. That family business didn't last long at all. Then there was Clyde's Cleaning and Catering; they went bust when they couldn't get their own stains out. Then there was Phil's Photography with a specialty in boudrdour(sp) images; it closed when a jealous husband came home early and there was no chip in the camera and there were no lights on in the boudoiur(Sp)."Tell me again where we're going and will you feed me before?" I put my purse on my shoulder, straightened my desk one last time, and tucked my chair under the desk.
"Jake and the Former Fat Man Fitness Fanatics," he said. He smiled.
"Wasn't that a TV show?"
"Who knows? It won't be that bad. Promise. I won't work you that hard. Chris and I have a date tonight after."
~~~
tbc
word count 923
No comments:
Post a Comment