Second Chances

10 Lords A'Leaping, 9 Ladies Dancing

Inside the Bellevue Loft, Kendall Pitman weaved her way through groups of attractive people decked out in stylish holiday attire with cocktails in hand conversing, laughing, and dancing. Moving briskly through the throng, her Jimmy Choo's CLICK-CLACKED across the polished hardwood floor.

In an adjoining guest room, Kendall found George pressing an ice pack to his knee. "Oh, my heavens! Mister Spiros, my sincerest apologies."

"Please call me George."

"Of course, I'll replace your exquisite suit and cover any medical expenses. You really should have a doctor examine you as soon as possible."

"It's a bruised knee," he replied. "Believe me, during my hockey days at  Amherst, the nurses in the ER knew me by my first name."

"I'm sure they did."

"I lost count of how many times my shoulder was dislocated."

"My ankle was broken once." Kendall grimaced. "And I recall the tragic platform shoe incident quite vividly."

"Ankle injuries. Don't get me started."

"I'll find those responsible for this unfortunate mishap and, I assure you--" She turned with fiery eyes when Maddy entered with a glass of champagne for George. 

"Thank you." He smiled. "Where's yours?"

"I—"

Kendall cut her off. "Madison, I'd like a word with you."

Maddy's stomach tightened.

"Could it wait for a few minutes?" George asked. "I'd like to test this knee on the dance floor with this young lady."

"Yes, of course," Kendall replied.

"That is," he smiled at Maddy. "If you'll do me the honor."

"I feel obligated to warn you, my dancing is even worse than my circus acrobatics."

"I'll take my chances." George took a gulp of champagne, then escorted Maddy into the adjoining room.

As they moved to an open space among the dancing couples, Maddy said, "I wonder if the DJ is aware that there are other Christmas songs not sung by Michael Buble."

George took her in his arms and said, "I hadn't really even noticed the music." Maddy and George chatted and laughed while they danced. He held her uncomfortably close. 

Kendall watched, the gears turning in her head. Haley and Sophie looked on with envy.

"Damn," said Sophie. "His hand's on her ass."

When Kendall hissed at her like an aggressive cat, Sophie lowered her head, her face pink.

Haley heard Leopold behind her. "That chick in the red dress," he said. "She's been checking me out all night."

Haley's eyes swung from Maddy and George to the young woman in red across the room. "The blonde? With her hair up?"

"She's definitely into me."

"If you'd ever been out on a date you'd realize how insane you sound right now."

Sophie laughed.

He scouted the bevy of attractive eligibles. "Or maybe that chick in the green is more my type."

"Your type? Really? Leopold, your only hope is finding a desperate woman who has given up any sense of standards."

"Well, ouch."

........

It was a low-energy morning at Pitman Strategies & Solutions, the recirculated air thick with dread. Maddy remained in her cubicle, head down, steering clear of The Pitbull. She'd see her soon enough. The team would be convened for an event autopsy and, given the transgressions that had occurred the previous night at the Loft at the Bellevue, there was no doubt in Maddy's mind that Kendall would be breathing fire.

On her way past Maddy's cube, Sophie grumbled, "I knew it." Her face was the color of dishwater.

"What?" Maddy asked.

"The hors d'oeuvres. Of course, they sucked. Why did I even bother?"

"When did she say that? Did I miss the meeting?"

"Nope. She's calling us into her office individually."

Maddy gulped.

"Apparently, I should have never ordered the ricotta crostinis."

"They were delicious."

"The Pitbull said it looked like we were pushing a vegetarian radical left agenda."

"What? Ricotta crostinis are part of the Socialist food pyramid? That's insane," said Maddy.

Overhearing the conversation, Haley joined in. "So, we're all screwed. Except for Leopold, right?"

Sophie shrugged.

"The banner will be somebody else's fault. Probably yours."

"I need a cigarette," Sophie said.

"I didn't know you smoked," said Maddy.

"I'm gonna start." Sophie trudged away.

"So anyway," Haley said. "How was he?"

"What are you implying?"

"You were drinking champagne and grinding on the dance floor all night."

"I was not grinding!"

"And now you're gonna tell me that you went home, put on your jammies, and slept all alone?"

"Pretty much like every night of my exciting life in the big city."

Maddy's phone chimed.

"Shit. It's The Pitbull."

When Maddy entered the office, Kendall pointed to a chair. Maddy sat.

"Whether he wants to take you to Paris or ravish you in the back seat of an Uber, you'll do what George asks. With a smile on your face. Is that understood?"

"Uh, excuse me?"

"Do not disappoint me, Madison."

Kendall shoved a credit card at her. "The intern's out today. I need you to go to Macy's, or to some damn place. Get me something nice I can send to a little boy. As if I have time to waste at some snot-nosed brat's party."

"Something nice? What does he like?"

"Legos? Robots? How the hell would I know? He's not my kid."

"Why don't you send Leopold? He's a boy. Sort of."

"Because I'm sending you."

"Okaaaaay. So, how old is he?"

Kendall burst out of her chair. "He's a little boy! About this big." She held her hand waist-high, lowered her hand, raised it. "Maybe five, or eight, or something."

"Seriously?"

"Go on. And get it wrapped. Not by some Humane Society volunteer at the mall. Tastefully wrapped."

Maddy bit her tongue.

"Why are you still here? Go! Go! And don't take all afternoon. We have a lot of work to do for Davenport."

Maddy rushed out of the office to her cubicle, where she stuffed her arms into her coat. Haley poked her head in.

"Where you going?"

"Toy shopping for her majesty." She looped a plaid scarf around her neck.

"Why are you upset? You'd rather stay here?"

"I'm all about shopping online. The last time I went Christmas shopping in Manhattan, I thought a knife fight was gonna break out in Bloomingdale's juniors department."