I guess the cougar wants my piece, not me. Although I’m not sure I should be shocked by this turn of events. After a beat, I answer. “Come on, Christine. You know I killed that story a long time ago.”

“Yes, I do. But you wrote it with intentions to publish. Didn’t you?”

I raise my brows. “Of course I did. Why do you want it now?”

“Do you really need to ask? It’s breaking news. Front-page news, even. It was the catalyst behind everything that has happened.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Ben. No more games. You and I both know what happened. I’ve been around this business too long.”

“Well, I don’t have it.” The muscles in my jaw tighten. All I want is to put that part of my life behind me and move forward. “That story is old news. You know I’m good at my job. I can help increase the paper’s circulation. You know I can.”

Her stare is relentless.

My wasted brain assesses the situation, but there’s no way out of this that will end well. I need some time to think. I set my glass down and decide I’ll hit the restroom. But my shaky fingers let go too early and the goblet tumbles over, spilling the wine everywhere. I grab my napkin and quickly start wiping it up. Her hand covers mine and she leaves it there.

“Christine, what are you doing?” I mutter with my voice a little strained.

She looks at me, and her eyes narrow.

“What?” I ask.

“Dammit, Ben! You worked for me. You owe me. Give me something.”

“I owe you? Like you said, you know how this business works. No one owes anyone anything.” I sit up straight and look across the table into her eyes. Now she looks really pissed. What the f**k? Her lips curl and her nostrils flare in the most unsightly way. She reminds me of one of my mother’s friends, one that I’ve never cared much for. The thought makes me wince. The waiter comes to the table to take our order, but he receives another wave of the hand. This one more exaggerated as Christine barks, “Our check. Now.”

He sputters but doesn’t dare speak.

My stomach lurches and I make a gagging noise. She shoots me an annoyed look.

“Excuse me.” I stand up and race to the bathroom. Fuck, I feel sick. I make it to the bathroom and puke my guts out. A cold sweat coats my body. Not sure if it was the sushi, my nerves, or the wine, but all I know is I have to get out of here. I trudge back to the table but remain standing next to her.

Her stare is unrelenting. The candlelight reflects red on her skin, making her look even angrier. I bow my head and tuck my hands in my pants pockets and try to sound contrite. “Christine, I’m sorry, but I have to leave. I feel really sick.”

Her lips purse in silent rebuke as her glance sweeps me from head to toe before she waves her hand toward the door.

I manage to keep my voice even as I say, “Goodnight, Christine. Think about what I said.”

There’s no response as I turn to walk away. I don’t even care how much the f**king cab costs me because there is no way I can walk home.

“Taxi!” I yell, as soon as my feet hit the pavement.

The road is dark and the streets are bustling with people milling about as I sit in the back seat and close my eyes to block it all out. I wish I could just wake up from this nightmare of a life I’m leading.

When I finally unlock my door, I go straight to bed. The room spins with reflected images from outside onto the ceiling. Again blonde hair morphs into red and pearls turn into twinkling green emeralds across my mind’s eye before there is darkness.

Chapter 6

Sail

I spent the morning on the bathroom floor dry heaving for hours before I felt well enough to make my way back to the bed, where I can’t even pull my shit together long enough to get up for a cup of coffee. Around five, I grab my phone and notice I have a message from Christine. I’m shocked when I listen to it. “Ben, it’s Christine. I thought over what you said yesterday and of course I have a position for you. You start Monday, nine a.m. sharp. See you then. Toodles.”

Fuck me—I didn’t give in and she’s still giving me a job. I instantly feel better. My life is turning around. I can feel it. I head down to Four & Twenty Blackbirds to grab a drink, a sandwich, and a slice of pie with a feeling of hopefulness I haven’t felt in a while. The chick who’s usually behind the counter isn’t there, but then again it’s later than I usually come in. She’s probably already off work. I order my stuff and sit at my regular booth near the window.

“You do that a lot,” a raspy voice says.

At the sound, I look up to see counter girl with her apron off but grasped tightly in her hands.

“What do I do a lot?” I ask her.

“Stare out the window and just look at the people walking by.” She takes a seat across from me.

“They’re interesting to watch.” I point out the window at an older man walking his dog. “See him?”

She nods.

“He’s trying to get his dog to listen to him. He thinks he’s training the dog, but really the dog is training him.”

She laughs. “Yeah, I can see that.” Then she points to a woman with a young boy. “What about her?”

I offer her a big grin. “Oh, that’s easy. Her son wants a toy and she has somewhere to be so she’s telling herself she’s compromising but really she’s bribing.”

She nods again. “Fascinating.”