What Happens in Vegas

eep sea fishing. There was a near poster-sized image of him that hung in the hallway not far from my office. In that one, he was ice-climbing.

“I was hoping to talk to you about your employment with the company,” the man said.

I squinted a little, waiting for the other shoe to drop. It never did.

“I’m no longer employed with the company,” I pointed out.

“Unfortunately no,” Jack said politely. “But that’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. It’s a little late tonight, but can I take you to lunch tomorrow?”

The boss — the big boss — wanted to talk to me. Apparently, as soon as possible.

“No, I’m sorry,” I said. “Tomorrow’s no good.”

“The day after then?”

“I’m flying out tomorrow,” I explained. “If you could tell me what this was abou—”

“This sort of thing needs to be done in person,” he said. His voice was amazingly deep and authoritative. Exactly the voice you’d expect him to have, judging from his pictures.

Your exit interview — the one Lilith never got to give you. That’s what he wants.

My stomach dropped. For the past few years I would’ve been overjoyed to sit down with this man. But now…

“I’m afraid it will have to wait,” was all I could think of to say.

“Until you get back.”

“Yes.”

The sigh at the other end of the phone wasn’t exactly frustration; it was more the sound of someone not used to hearing the word ‘no.’ I could hear Jack Garfield shifting in his big leather seat, maybe even switching the phone from one ear to the other.

“Breakfast then, before your flight,” he said. “There’s a place on the corner of east 31st and 3rd. Do you know it?”

Accessing my mental map took all of two seconds. “Moonstruck. Yes.”

“Good. Let’s say, seven o’clock tomorrow morning?”

Damn. The man was nothing if not persistent.

“You sure you’re up that early?” I teased, without even thinking.

For a moment I thought I’d gone too far. Then I heard the deep chuckle at the other end of the phone.

“Ms. Adamo I’m up at four-fifteen, running five miles before I shower.”

“Every morning?”

“Every morning.”

I swallowed, dryly. “Shit, that’s impressive.”

I didn’t have time to wonder whether my curse was appropriate He answered immediately. “For some people, yes.”

After a small stretch of silence I realized he was still waiting on an answer. I shrugged and gave him one.

“Okay, fine. The Moonstruck. Seven o’clock.” I paused, then added: “This won’t take long though, will it? I really can’t miss my flight.”

I couldn’t believe I was talking like this… to the man who ran the whole company! Only it wasn’t my company anymore. He was just another man.