"Hey, Gordo, I need you to do me a favor," Alexi whispered in my ear. She was hanging on my arm, looking brilliant in a teal-green gown. I was wearing the same tux as every other man there. We were at yet another party in DC, at a hotel not far from my apartment. I had forgotten what it was about - all I knew at that point was that some publisher or another was putting it on.
"That depends on what it is."
"Great. I knew I could count on you. See that distinguished gray-headed gent over there?"
"Y-es." I looked in the direction she indicated, and saw him chatting with a gorgeous, tan, blonde in a bright blue dress that barely restrained two magnificent breasts. He was steering her toward the bar with a caressing hand on her bare shoulder, and smiled in our direction. Alexi's direction, to be precise.
"Carlton James. I've been trying to get him to talk to me for weeks now about a publishing contract. I can't get past his secretary."
"Sorry, I don't know him. Why don't you just go up and talk to him? He's obviously noticed you."
"Well, it may take more than just a little talk."
"So, what do you want me to do?" I groaned. Alex has involved me in a bit of raw work from time to time, but she doesn't normally go after married men.
"I'm sure I don't care what you do, as long as you keep her from interrupting us. I've heard she's kind of the jealous type."
"How am I going to do that?"
"You'll figure it out. Wish me luck." She kissed me on the cheek and floated off in a green satin haze.
"Hey, Gordon! Isn't the band great!" a tall guy said, jolting me out of whatever little world watching Alexi walk away sometimes takes me to. I had noticed him before; he was the only man here not wearing a tux, opting instead for the "tweedy professor" look.
"Sure." They were indeed a good band; they wouldn't be playing at a Marriott in DC if they weren't. But I needed to be looking for a wife. I chatted with my new-found academic friend, who knew of me from my Loyola days, and was now looking for tips on publishing. I was scanning the room while he talked, and noticed the blonde, now holding two drinks and looking around. I excused myself and walked over, coming up alongside her. "Hi. Two fisted drinker, eh?"
She seemed to be estimating the range to throw at least one of them in my face, but then she smiled at me in an icy sort of way. "One of them is for my husband. Maybe you've seen him? Carlton James? Tall grey guy, twice my age?"
"Sorry, no idea where he is." Which was true by now; I had lost sight of them almost immediately.
"No great loss. Well, have a drink," she said, handing me a martini. Not my first choice, but one does what one must. I thanked her and started sipping.
"Whose party is this, anyway? I'm here on my friend's invite, and I didn't really pay attention to the details."
"I can tell," she smirked. "Ours, actually. Carlton is the president of James Publishing House. His grandfather started it. Would you like to go out on the balcony? I need a cigarette."
I said I'd be glad to, and we walked out through some french doors onto a balcony, past a security guard, into the early spring night. We could look out and see the capitol dome in the distance, and the Washington monument, blinking at us with red eyes.
"Sorry. My husband took off and I'm taking it out on you. I'm Charlene James. And you are?" She found a pack of cigarettes in a small clutch she was carrying.
"Gordon Wainwright. I've got a couple of books to my credit, but my friend Alexi is the big-time author you invited." She put the cigarette in her mouth and handed me a lighter. I didn't want to talk about Alex too much, especially if Charlene had reason to wonder who stole her husband later, but the fact was that there was no good reason they would have invited me.
"Pretty girl in the green dress?" she asked. Busted, in all likelihood. Jealous wives have a radar about these sorts of things, and she had probably noticed the two of us together anyway. "Light me?"
"Yep, that girl." I lit her cigarette and handed her back her lighter.
She noticed the bemused look on my face. "It's so much nicer when a man does it for you, don't you think?" she said, smiling up at me and blowing smoke just past my face. I was trying to keep my eyes up at her hairline, and not entirely succeeding, especially when she flexed her arms which were folded under her breasts. Her nipples were beginning to harden a bit in the cool air. We were both facing the rail, looking at each other.
I noticed that the balcony was empty except for the two of us. "I'm surprised there aren't others out here taking in the view."
"They can't get past the security guard. This is our own little spot for Carlton, me, and any special guests."
"Really?"
"Yeah, but everyone can see through the windows, so don't get any ideas," she laughed. "You can just barely see the White House from here."
"Where? I can't quite spot it."
"Get behind me and look where I'm pointing."