New Beginnings

There she was, just sitting at the bar with an empty martini glass. She had her back to him and he noted that it was hunched, shoulders up against her ears. Her fingers loosely clasped the stem of her glass, her head bowed. Donovan took a deep breath and pushed through the glass door into the bar and strode toward the young woman who clearly wished to be alone.

"Heeey!" He grasped the woman's bare shoulders, her skin was clammy and warm.  She flinched and shifted away from his shadow. "Fancy seeing you here gorgeous." Her face turned and she glowered at him. Such a beautiful face with a perfect scowl. He held his hands up and took a slight step back, "Sorry!" He said. Her expression remained the same.

"Why...?" She closed her eyes and looked away.
"It's been such a long time since we last saw each other, isn't it?" He beamed, "Miss me?"
"How?" She said firmly. Her palm pressed against her forehead as she rested her elbows against the bar. He tugged at the stool next to her and pulled himself onto the seat.
"Well, since you asked. This establishment is walking distance from your apartment, popular with the Quads and it's discreet. Plus I talked to the manager and it turns out you have an arrangement... So, not that discreet then."
"Fucking Bill." She groaned.
"Hey, don't be like that with Bill."

Donovan felt strangely protective of Bill. The guy hadn't been particularly forthcoming in the first instance. It had taken a large wedge of rolled up bills to get him to talk and even then it had been through gritted teeth. It was that or he had said it very quietly just to be obnoxious. "Come on Bill, speak up." Donovan had told him and the man earned his exceedingly large tip.

This had been the fourth bar he had frequented and it had taken some time to determine how she operated. Regardless he had attracted some attention and his nights sitting in bars until closing time in the Financial District had been a fruitful expedition. He hadn't had to pay for all of the company either.

She preferred midweek and somewhere quiet with a high class clientele. Donovan had no interest in such quiet bars and these were not on his usual rotation when in the city. Luckily his father's secretary had been more than willing to suggest nice bars for quiet 'dates'. The secretary would have loved an invite but her teeth were too big for her mouth, Donovan didn't like the way her face looked when it broke into an uninhibited smile. Didn't she get dental as part of the company benefits?

This bar wasn't the worst one he had sat in. He noted that the lighting had a soft golden hue which was both flattering and alluring. She looked entrancing regardless of the lighting but this was extremely complimentary. Although he was struggling to read the drinks menu without squinting. Perhaps he would ask her what she was drinking. Couldn't go wrong with a martini to be fair.

"Donovan!" The menu slipped from his hand and slapped against the metallic bar. She sighed, "I'm busy. You need to leave." She said firmly, her eyebrows knitted together in a frown, her mouth set in a full lipped pout. He admired how the shade of pink complimented the tone of her skin and didn't make her look at all cheap like it would have done on any other woman.

"Come on, I just got here." He said, "I'll buy you a drink." He then quickly added, "As a friend."
"I'm meeting someone in," she checked her phone, "Ten minutes."
"Whatever he's paying, I'll pay double." Donovan said smoothly.
"No." She replied.
"Triple!"
"Donovan!" She snapped, her palms slammed against the bar and her back straightened.
"Sarah!" He responded, bolted upright to attention.
"Why are you doing this?" She was pleading with him. "Please, please just go."
"Hmm. No." He smiled. "I offered you triple. Come on, that's a good deal."

Sarah picked up her phone and tapped furiously at the touch screen.
"Cancelling?" Donovan asked hopefully. Perhaps this was an aggressive approach.
"I will tell you where she is if you leave me alone right this second." Sarah said looking at him sternly. He took a moment and exhaled slowly. This cat and mouse game suddenly fell apart quite quickly. But-
"If I leave this second you won't have time to tell me. That wouldn't work." He said. He couldn't stop a smile spreading across his face.
"I don't know where she is right now, but I will tell you when I do." Sarah said. She looked tired.
"So you want me to leave and then you'll tell me? When will you tell me?" He asked.
"As soon as I know." Sarah said firmly and gave her phone a quick shake. She glanced at the door across the room and rose to her feet. She waved at the bartender, "Please could I have the same at my table?" The bartender nodded as she sidled past Donovan. "I will let you know." She said under her breath as she walked away.

"I'll have what she's having." Donovan said to the bartender. He was presented with a martini glass with a wedge of lime and filled with water. He nodded with an impressed smirk. Clever girl.