"Oh, perfect, I had no idea you were in town. Yes, we will be there in an hour." James' voice echoed through the office as the click of his office phone ended with a chuckle. "Wouldn't ya know it, the bastard is here in town." He said.
"Great. I'll grab my things and meet you in the lobby."
"Don't forget that severance check, Jeanie, it'll help you with the move." He smiled and winked as I waved behind me.
"TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS?" I yelled at Sheila.
"Yes, Mr. Ainsely felt that cash was acceptable. If it's an issue-" I put my hand up.
"No, no issue." I smiled and pocketed the money. My wallet felt a little fatter, today. I walked to the corridor and saw Mr. Ainsely in the main lobby, waiting.
"James, what are you doing?" A booming voice called down the corridor.
"Taking Jeanie to lunch?" He smiled, looking back at Mr. Jones.
"So you find out she's a whore and you sample the merchandise?" He asked.
"Actually, no, I was taking her to lunch to fire her, like you asked me to do." James replied, softly so I would barely hear. I hung my head in shame. Sample the merchandise? That one cut deep. The CEO nodded softly and carried on with his day.
"Did he not realize I can hear him?" I laughed, James opening the door to his red Ford Explorer.
"More like didn't give a shit." He smiled, closing the door and walking to the driver side, nodding to the valet.
"Gotcha. So, what's your buddy's name?" I asked, genuinely.
"Well, we call him Axe, but, his name is Axel." He smirked and pulled into the parking lot of a local pub. I walked in to see a very tall, very broad man with dark brown eyes and a bright smile staring back at me.
"You must be Jeanie?" He asked, reaching to take my hand.
"And you're Axel, pleasure to meet you." I smile, sitting at the barstool he gestured to.
"Indeed. Drink? I mean, you don't have to go back to work, today. I can learn a lot about a woman based on her drink." His smile sent a jolt through my core, my heart skipping a beat with his laugh. Just as I planned to turn down the drink, James ordered an old-fashioned. "See, my man James here is a classic. He's high-strung, a bit of a worrier, and devilishly handsome. His drink matches. So, what'll it be?"
"Well, what does it mean if a person orders a different drink based on their mood? Sometimes, I just want to sit on a bar top and have an ice-cold beer. Other days, I want to pour myself into a bottle and drown. So, what's that say?" I looked back with a smile. This was, hands down, the weirdest interview I have ever been on.
"It means you have dimension. So, is today a liquor day or a beer day?" He asked, turning to the barkeep. "I'll take a whiskey sour and my friend, here will have a-" he gestured for me to continue.
"Jack and coke." I smiled, both men's eyes opened wide.
"A whiskey girl? Rare find." Axe smiled and lifted the glasses to the barkeep, tipping him generously.
"It's my favorite, versatile and strong, and smooth if you age it right." I winked as they both chuckled to themselves.
"Like a good woman." James interrupted. All three of us laughed and did a fake cheers before taking a drink and ordering lunch. Axe took the liberty of ordering us all burgers and fries. "The best in town." James suggested.
"Ok, I have a few questions for you, Jeanie." Axe began. "Well, one is a demand." I looked at him with my eyebrows slightly cocked.
"I'm an open book, Sir." I smiled.
"Cut the sir, shit. And don't call me Mr. Ainsely, that shit is annoying, too."
"Mr. Ainsley, wait, you're-"
"Brothers." They both smiled, glancing back and forth, amazed that I didn't know.
YOU ARE READING
Love and War
Romansa"All's fair in love and war, or some shit, right?" He said, his smirk drawing to a slight sneer as he padded towards the open balcony. He rested his hands on the guardrail before letting out an exasperated sigh, thunder rolling behind it. The rain c...
