TIME TO GO
I sent the office twink home.
I called my partner twink and told him I was running late.
I need to go home.
My head aches. The lights in this office are killer. I hate any kind of flourescent lighting, even the so called office-friendly versions. Note to self: tomorrow send the office twink out to buy lamps and soft pink light bulbs. I'm not going through another day like today. I pop two more Advil and wash them down with singed coffee. My stomach hurts. Too much acid, not enough food. But I'm into this Birken idea. I just want to get some ideas solidified before I leave.
"Hello, Beautiful. Working late?"
His voice hits me like a machete. I jump three feet out of my chair and swallow my heart. Gasping, I swivel in my chair to find Bob perched on the corner of my desk. How a moke like that can move in utter silence and get through any locked door is still a mystery to me. He gives me that raping you with my eyes stare of his and I shake my head. "You broke into my office?"
He picks up a picture of Justin and me that resides in a silver frame on my desk. It was taken on that long ago weekend we spent in Asheville. We need to do something like that again. Just get away from everyone and everything. He grimaces at it and puts it down. "Front door was wide open."
The office twink let me down. "What do you want Bob?" I haven't seen him around in awhile and that's a good thing. In fact, has be been around since Brog arrived? I don't think so. I'm not looking forward to that meeting, if it happens.
"What do I want? What a loaded question, Hot Ticket."
This little obsession he has for me has mutated into a joke. He does it just to bug me now, of that I'm convinced. It works too well. "It's late, I want to go home. How did you find me, anyway?"
He laughs. "Please, Brian."
True. I underestimate him. "Where have you been? You look tan."
"Let's just say the desert. On business."
I mentally check off if any mid-Eastern leaders have been assassinated lately. That could be the business. I know not to ask. I switch off my computer and start to put a few things in my briefcase. My thought train has gone off track now and it won't come back tonight. At least I can go home. "I'm leaving, it's been a long day."
I pick up my cashmere overcoat and sling it over one arm. I hope my forward motion will move him, but he watches me from the edge of my desk. He suddenly reaches out and grabs my arm. I try to struggle free but stop when I realize it isn't happening. He's still as strong as an ox. "Where's the princess?"
I stare at him. "What princess? My life is full of princesses."
"Teri. Where's Teri?"
The missing Teri. I haven't paid much attention to that drama. I know Phillip is worried. Justin even said something about it. But what do I care? I like Teri in a strange way, better to say I respect certain things about him, but his life is his life. He doesn't check in with me and I tell Bob just that. He stares at me.
"I have to find him."
"Have you talked to Phillip?"
"Of course. He convinced me he don't know shit about where he is. I buy it. He's worried."
"If Phillip doesn't know, I sure as hell don't know, Bob."
"I have to find him," he repeats and I shrug.
"Good luck with that." I motion to the door and he gets up and walks out with me. I lock the door. And the front door to the suite. In the elevator, as I'm getting into my coat, he grabs me. Totally unexpected on my part, he pushes me up against the wall and spreads his hands on my chest. His tongue darts out to lick the side of my neck above my collar and I wince and try to push him back, but it's like moving a brick wall. I can smell his heat, his sex, his desperation. He scares the shit out of me, always has. I freeze, which seems to work better with Bob. Struggling just turns him on.
"Christ, I love the feel of you," he says, running a hand down my torso. "The smell of you, the taste of you. I still want to fuck you, Beautiful."
"And I still want to fuck Brad Pitt, Bob, but neither one of us is getting lucky any time soon."
He smiles and releases me as the doors open on the lobby. "You never know."
"I do know," I straighten my coat, recapture my dignity. My heart is still hammering with fear. I think of Brog. I wonder what that was like, how horrible it had to be. I remind myself of the good Bob, of the things he sacrificed to save Justin and those little girls and me. It's the only way to keep from finding a way to have him dropped in the East River clad in cement. I hail a cab and as I start to get into it, he takes my arm and says,
"If I find out the princess is shacked up with some other guy, there will be shit to pay."
"Don't look at me, Bob. I have a partner, and I never went in for transvestites."
"I'll find him, Beautiful. And when I do..."
I close the door on that threat and direct the driver to take off. I glance back and watch Bob's image grow more distant. I can finally breathe. I call Justin. He answers right away with, "Where are you?"
"On my way. PLease tell me you have no idea where Teri is."
"Why?"
"Please."
"I have no idea where Teri is. I'm worried about him."
"Don't look for him. Crazy Bob is back. He's already confronted me. Stay far away from that disaster, Justin. I mean it."
"Does Phillip know?"
"Yes, he said he's talked to Phillip. He's in his out of control mode, Justin. Avoid."
"Did he hit on you?"
"Of course."
"Are you okay?"
"I could use a shower." My hand's shaking as I light up, ignoring the no smoking sign. At least I'll get a couple puffs before the driver shuts me down. Justin senses something in my voice.
"I'll have a nice warm bath drawn and a scotch in hand."
"Thanks."
We hang up. Sometimes it's nice to have someone who cares waiting for you at home. Okay, it's always nice to have someone who cares waiting for you at home. I close my eyes. What a day. What a fucking, fucking day.