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“All men are idiots.” She sipped her tea. “Some are just half-idiots.”
“I take that as a compliment.”
“It wasn’t meant to be.”
“I’ve got to go before I puke.”
“Yeah, I’ve got to go before I’m bored to death.”
I stood, left some money on the table, then took my iPad. “See ya.”
“I hope not.”
In my hotel room, I started a pot of coffee, then forgot about it.
Noon came, and still I worked at the computer.
At mid-afternoon, I sat back and folded my arms, staring at the screen.
Wow, 115 pages.
I was suddenly hungry and sleepy. Unable to decide which to do, I poured a cup of tary coffee.
* * * * *
Thursday night. I sat at the cafe table, watching Prija work. I tried to write, but it was nothing more than typing. She was very busy.
My phone played Johnny B. Goode. “Hey, Number Three.” I listened. “Yeah, I’m awake. What time is it in L. A.?” After a moment. “About 1:30 a.m. here.” I didn’t really want to talk to him, but we had to get this issue settled. “I couldn’t sleep.”
“I’ve worked out new profit and loss projections,” he said.
“Why?”
“We think we could buy the heavy equipment for the project, then sell it when we’re finished. It would be a lot cheaper than renting or leasing the equipment.”
“We?”
“Number Two and me.”
“But we can write off leasing to reduce our tax obligation.”
“We can amortize the purchases,” Three said.
“No, it won’t work.”
“I’m sending you the P & L projections.”
“Send them,” I raised my voice. “But I’m telling you it won’t work.”
“Problems?” Prija took the chair next to me.
“I gotta go. We’ll talk later.” I tossed my phone to the table.
“Who was that?”
“Business partner,” I said.
“What kind of business?”
“Hospital renovation in Los Angles.”
“Sounds hard.”
“Yeah,” I said, “hard to get everyone on the same page.”
“What page?”
I glanced at my watch; after 2 a.m., I tossed money on the table and grabbed my iPad to leave.
“Why are you spying on me?”
“Actually, I thought I’d get away without seeing you.”
“You’ve been watching me all night.”
“I’ve been working all night.” I held up the computer for her to see.
“I hope it’s not the same twaddle you were writing last night.” She sat at the table, but I didn’t.
“No, this is mostly drivel and tripe.”
“Should be an improvement. Sit down. You look like you’re about to take a runner.”
“I guess it’s too late for that.”
I took the chair across from her. She waved the waitress over.
“So you’re like a voyeur?” She spoke to the waitress. “Hi, Ringy. Can we have two root beers?”
Ringy smiled and went away for the drinks.
“Why are you nice to her?”
“She used to work the street until she got too old.”
“That will happen to you, too. Probably next week.”
“Funny. Why do you come here?”
“I thought I might find intellectual stimulation, but all I get is boring conversation.”
“Stimulation cost money.”
“But boredom is free?”
“Until I get a paying customer. How about you? Wouldn’t you like to buy some real stimulation?”
I laughed. “Why would I do that?”
“Why does any man?”
“Because they can’t get a date with a real woman.”
“You don’t think I’m a real woman?”
“I think you’re a–”
Ringy brought our root beers and set them on the table. Prija sipped her drink, then raised an eyebrow.
“I think there’s a time for banter,” I said, “and a time to shut up.”
“Why? Last Saturday night I called you an old American bastard.”
“The truth never hurt anyone.”
“Then tell me the truth about me.”
“All right. You’re a beautiful young woman.”
“Blush.”
“And working the street because you can’t make the same amount of money in a store or a factory.”
Her phone vibrated. She looked at the message but didn’t reply to it.
“Why is Siskit happy working in an export office for a fraction of the money you make?”
“Because I won’t let her work here.”
“Oh, but it’s okay for you?”
“I know what I’m doing.”
“What are you doing?”
She stood. “Going back to work. You can pay for the drinks.”
I watched her walk away, then I left money for Ringy.
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