The Returnee

Chapter 1

Warm red and browns bleed out throughout the room with the odd extra colour popping out from time to time. It spread throughout, mixing into the air alongside the gentle elegant music that played from unseen speakers. There was a piano sitting to the side, unused but clean without a trace of dust. Sometimes they had someone playing but not tonight. Tonight was a regular night of the week, with the everyday man treating themselves to a fancy meal out. This place balanced the line of high-end and plain fancy, which let a reassuring air that allowed people to relax while pretending to be living in a dream.

The family next to them was celebrating their child's graduation. Snippets of the conversation slithered through during the occasional lull of conversation. Nothing exciting but there, adding the ambient as expensive food filled the table and glasses of wine sat slowly sinking. A drop of red sat unassumingly on the white cloth from Andrew's shaky hands, failing to pour the bottle as perfectly as the waiter.

Lee watched as a waiter showed another couple to their table, the lady wearing an expensive brand while the gentleman wore something a little more low key but no less exclusive.

"You're on your way to a second breakdown if you're not careful," Andrew said, piercing through the distracted haze of people watching Lee existed in. The man battled through a steak dinner, celebrating their victory with food to fill his stomach and settle the primal desire in him to revel. The battle won for the moment, and HJ Incorporated would run smoothly for as long as it took the next idiot to make a risky gamble with a bad investment. 

Lee's phone sat on the table, almost waiting for the next call to come in despite Jeremy's promises to stop them. The idea of turning it off and placing it away in his bag or pocket sent trails of anxiety racing under his skin—whispers of scolding words wisped in the back of his mind. None of them would be impressed with it, yet the itch that would arise from having the phone put away would be ruder than having the phone out in the open.

"I'm free for the next few weeks. I'll recover before attempting to head back on assignment." Lee waved the concern off, taking another sip of his meal, soup, thick chicken soup with plenty of vegetables and a healthy side of bread that remained untouched for the moment. Another bad sign. His stomach struggled to be interested in food on the best of days, but after weeks of coffees broken up with pastries, soup allowed some measure of decent food in him.

A whisper peaked in his mind, one taking a more personal tone of disapproval. Grant would have him over his knee and on a strict diet plan again faster than Lee could blink if he knew how badly his eating habits had deteriorated. He would be happy Lee was eating soup, but the failure to keep to a solid meal pattern over the last few months would have him frothing at the mouth.

Grant wasn't here. Lee could fix this; it wasn't that bad, given the soup settled some of the nerves. He might even make it to the bread. Grant taught him well how to get himself back on a healthy diet. Everything was fine.

"Until you get a phone call begging you for a consult."

"Jeremy shares your concerns. He won't let anyone get a hold of me until he's certain I'm in the safe zone again."

His stomach cramped, and his spoon clattered against the bowl as he stopped being able to eat for a moment. The delicious liquid turned to a heavyweight in his stomach. He resisted the urge to check the screen.

"Lee Johnson, why do I not believe you?" Andrew put his fork down with a little more force than necessary. One or two people glanced over but mostly ignored them. One set of eyes prickled the hair on the back of his neck. Lee's arm ached. He didn't look over. He couldn't deal with both them and Andrew right now. "You need to take better care of yourself!"