CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Mr. Rogers
Andie stepped off the elevator on the 10th floor. Debbie gave her a wicked smile as she passed the reception desk.
“Can your dress be any shorter, girlfriend?”
“Please, don’t start with me,” said an exhausted Andie.
“Well, judging from the way you’re all flustered, and that dress you’re wearing – my, God, where did you get that – I’d say the meeting went pretty well.”
“I’ll tell you about it later. I’m going to take an early lunch and try to make it home to get some more appropriate clothes.”
Suddenly, Harold walked to the desk. “Deborah, I need to – Oh, who have we here?” he said as he noticed Andie.
“Mr. Rogers, I want you to meet Andrea Jenson.”
“Deborah, please don’t call me Mr. Rogers. It’s not exactly the image I want to represent.” He extended his hand to Andie. “Hi, Andrea, I’m Harold.”
Andie had an abrupt change in attitude. She shook his hand and felt like a giddy schoolgirl. As his glistening eyes stared right through Andie’s, she tried her best not to let her knees buckle.
“Nice to meet you.”
“I have the strange feeling I’ve seen you before,” he said, with a knowing smile.
Hoping he wasn’t talking about the elevator encounter from earlier, she asked, “You think so?”
“I thought you looked nice with your wet dress and hair in a wet pony-tail, but this is quite an improvement.”
Andie was speechless. Here was this Adonis complementing her about the way she looked that morning, and even more so on her five-minute, quick-change makeover. She looked to the side with a coy smile.
“Thank you.”
“I hope I’m not being too forward, but if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to take you to dinner tonight.”
She was stunned. Her usual defense took over. “Oh, I don’t know. I’ve got this case to get ready for and…”
“For God’s sake, Andie, you have to eat sometime,” said Debbie.
“Deborah’s right,” said the insistent Harold. “I’m on a strict time schedule, also, but food is an essential part of surviving. I’ll pick you up around seven. Is that a good time?”
“How about I meet you somewhere around seven-thirty.” This would give her more time to get ready for the date with this god, who was making her wetter than the rainstorm from that morning.
“That’ll be fine. I’m new in town. Where’s a nice place to go?”
“Rollins Tower,” said Debbie. She was referring to the four-star, revolving restaurant, which sat on top of a 200-foot tall tower – nestled in the heart of downtown.
“Sounds good to me. How does that sound, Andrea?”
“It would sound a lot better if you would call me Andie, and yes, that definitely sounds good to me,” she said through her gleaming smile.
“I’ll see you there.” He turned to Debbie. “Oh, yes. I need those Verona files when you get a chance.”
“No problem, sir,” Debbie said, with a smile. “I’ll get right on it.”
As he walked away, he stopped, turned around, and said, “One more thing, Deborah – thank you.” He gave Andie a seductive smile and headed to his office.
Andie and Debbie looked at each other with a glare of amazement and said, in unison, “Oh – my – God.”
“I think he likes you,” said Debbie.
“I think the feeling’s mutual,” said Andie.
“What are you going to wear?”
“I don’t know. I have a lot of nice dresses, and…”
“No offense, sweetie, but I’ve seen your nice dresses. They make my grandmother look like a whore. Where did you get the dress you’re wearing now?”
“From LuAnn’s, downstairs.”
“Tell you what – when my relief gets here, we’ll take lunch together and pick you out something sexy to wear tonight.” Debbie was a horrible secretary but an excellent stylist.
“I don’t want to give the wrong impression,” said Andie.
“Sweetie, judging from the sweat from your forehead, that impression has already been given out.”
Andie was embarrassed. “You are so bad.”
“And here’s to you being that way, yourself,” said Debbie. They both put their hands over their faces and started giggling.
“I’ll be in my office. Come get me when you’re ready,” said Andie, who was still giggling as she walked away.
The phone rang and Debbie picked it up. “Thank you for calling the offices of Wainwright & Grimes. How may I direct your call?”
“Debbie, is that you?” said the confused voice.
“Is that you, Nick?”
“Yeah. What are you doing answering the phone? Where’s Ginger?”
“She called in sick. What’s wrong? You sound like hell.”
“Please don’t mention that word to me right now. Hey listen – can you and Tony meet me at Balls & Burgers tonight? I really need some friendly company tonight.” He was reluctant to mention Tony, but he knew they were a package deal. Debbie was stunned. She never heard Nick talk like this before.
“Yeah, sure. I’ll call Tony when he gets to work this afternoon. He gets off after eleven, though.” This was way too late for her to be out on a work night, but Nick sounded pitiful. She always put her friends needs before hers.
“That’ll be fine. I’ll be there. Oh, and ask Andie to come, too.”
Debbie stalled for a second. “I don’t think she can make it tonight. She has a huge case to get ready for.”
“Well, ask her anyway. I’ll see you guys tonight.”
“Okay, bye.” Debbie was worried. Nick sounded needy for the first time since she had known him. She decided not to tell Andie about the call.
Back at the Eagleton building, Benny was getting ready for lunch when his phone rang.
“Ben Myers here,” he said.
“Hello, Ben. This is Jamie O’Malley. How are you today?”
“Just fine, thank you.” Benny kept his cool. He wanted to tell her how he really felt, but it wouldn’t be nice to tell his future boss he felt like a Chihuahua run over by a Sherman tank.
“I’m in New York right now, but I’ll be there tomorrow morning. I have a meeting with Mr. Levon first thing, but I’d like to get with you and Nicholas Peltier right after that. It will be about lunch time, so set up a lunch meeting outside the office and I’ll meet you both there.”
“Yes, ma’am. There’s a little bistro a few blocks from here – French food, if that’s okay.”
“That’s fine. Leave me directions on my voice mail, which should be set up by this afternoon. I’ll see you and Nickster tomorrow. Good-bye.”
The way she said good-bye had such finality to Benny. The Nickster reference, coupled with the correct was she pronounced Nick’s last name, made him realize this was the same Jamie who wrecked his best friend’s life. He started shaking – he had to get in touch Nick. He called Nick’s apartment. The phone rang until the machine picked up. This time, Benny left a message.
“Where in the heck are you, Nick? I just talked to Jamie. She wants to meet with us tomorrow. Get your butt to work or at least give me a call. Please – this is serious. Are you there?”
Nick was listening to the message as Benny was leaving it. He still wouldn’t pick up the phone. He walked away, went to the kitchen to get a six-pack from the fridge, picked up his beloved Stratocaster, and started playing the blues.