Ethan- An Open Heart Story

Chapter 11- Business

Something was needed to be done about Harper.

She was irking me to such extends- the simpler version of my current job was to be the negotiator in the business party?

I was sitting in the posh bar of a glittering shiny hotel and waiting for the dealers to arrive. If you thought that it would be those dealers, I will murder you in your sleep. I wasn't that degraded to sought the solace of world destroying, mind disturbing and thought destructing treatments. Even I had the polar patience of more than two decades to not go on that repudiate path.

There was another simple thing- I had the luxury of a partial day off which was now getting cut short by mere hours. Because Harper hadn't learnt any of those dealing abilities. Dealing as in buttering and serving a roasted turkey on the plate. I rolled by eyes. What made her think that I had too? I wasn't a good negotiator because I never negotiated. I always acted before the opposite party had forwarded the deal. Being steps ahead always came handy when you would be tackling...pretty non-decent human beings. 

And when I was not negotiating( which was primarily always), I never paid attention to improvise my communication and soft skill development. How was I supposed to seal the deal with the adamant ridiculously low price for the buying? The hospital was not a starving house. Why they had to always entente with the medical side with budget cuts and doctors turning diplomats?

Oh wait. The hospital was indeed a starving sorority. While the research and development faction got all the sweet candies received. 

This bar was a boring place. There were richer and finer people around who knew how exactly they could buy and waste the night in a dust basket. People always expected hatred from my side towards them. It wasn't always that. I never hated people just because who they were. 

I just...didn't like human being in particular. Again, there were few exceptions. Alas, those exceptions were spread around the world like ionized plasma particles held each other in different continents. 

And then there was Dolores...who was not there anymore. 

I wanted to drink but forced myself otherwise and looked around to shake her memories from my mind. I would regret doing that later. 

The dim lights concealed the people who did it in the shadows. My eyes narrowed on a corner of the bar where it was so dark that none could see the couple fondling openly with each other in presence of everyone. The man had his hand under the girl's skirt and the girl seemly enjoyed it. Her head was rolled on to the man's shoulder, eyes closed with bliss.

My eyes focused on her face to observe the pleasure which was rolling into her. She was pretty by standards. If I would have had met her at a different place, things would be different.

Suddenly as if feeling my eyes on her, she opened her eyes and stared straight into me. I stared back, unflinching as her body rocked against the man. Her focus was on me and her lips were widening to foster a grin.

People change people just like the seasons.

I dragged my eyes away from her and remembered that I was here to satisfy the needs of my work place. Not myself. Not that I would need to. After Harper, it had been none and I supposed it would stay that way from now on. I should be glad that I was willingly not even think about being in relationship. My mind was going crazier day by day and I was feeling that something inevitable was near.

During my high school, I had a lot of friends. And we were jocks. And popular among everyone. And the girls. Jesus. There were so many that I have forgotten their faces.

And then came responsibilities and my life turned into something else.

My time in New Orleans was narrowed between chasing/running in the swamps or being prosecuted by something. There was occasional partying and flings but that was that. Ever since I landed in that location, my life changed. And ever since I had left that hell hole, my life had changed too.