Sigma One (16 page)

Suddenly, Cherisa quit scanning the crowd, turned around in her stool and faced Amanda, pretending to pay attention as she did.

Amanda didn't notice her quick movements having briefly looked down at her wine glass the moment Cherisa spun around, and continued to offer an explanation for her earlier actions at work. "I didn't tell the other girls for the simple reason that I thought it might distract them from their work if they thought SIGMA ONE was going to be cancelled. I felt Mr. Huxley had enough problems of his own without having to answer the countless questions he would get if the other girls found out."

Cherisa nearly gagged as she listened to Amanda's explanation and squirmed in her chair, the reason being that she had seen Pat and Senator Radcliff earlier, and Pat was now making his way toward their chairs. She hoped Amanda wouldn't see him, but no sooner than she thought this, did Amanda finish what she was saying and raise her voice to call him.

"Mr. Huxley! Mr. Huxley!" Amanda called down the bar while she waved to get his attention.

Cherisa grabbed her hand to quiet her. She didn't want Huxley to see them and she certainly didn't want Amanda to meet Radcliff or vice versa. Radcliff might not be the greatest in bed, but being one of his chosen ones (and Cherisa knew she wasn't the 'only' girl in Washington with whom the senator was sleeping) did have its advantages. And Cherisa did like those advantages. Amanda was very attractive, just the type the senator might find to his liking, and Cherisa didn't want to risk the potential loss of her celebrity status at the NSF if worse name to worse and the senator and Amanda hit it off. But she wasn't quick enough and Amanda succeeded in attracting Pat, who, on noticing them, staggered forward to join them.

"Amanda and Cherisa." Pat slurred. "What a surprise to see you both. What are you two doing here? I didn't know we paid you well enough to come to a place like this." Pat was referring to the price of the drinks. He then backpedaled slightly, "or do you two have a couple of hot dates?"

Both Amanda and Cherisa could see he was quite drunk and ignored his comments. Huxley was normally very professional at the office, and it was the first time they had seen him in such a state. Amanda thought it was quite funny to see her boss act this way, but she also thought his 'more relaxed state' was warranted, too: Knowing the pressure he was under, she thought it was just what he needed to do--go out and let off some steam. She decided to play along with him in spite of the cautionary tug Cherisa was giving her skirt and the warning to end the conversation soon which was in her eyes.

"Mr. Huxley," Amanda said sweetly batting her eyes, "we're not waiting for anyone. We just came here because of the beautiful view." She pointed out the window to the tranquil scene which lay before them. The Washington sunset had long since passed, but the beauty of the twinkling lights was still breathtaking. "What about you?" she added.

Before Pat could answer, Cherisa indicated her disgust by getting up and excusing herself to go to the restroom.

Pat watched her walk away and admired her curvaceous hips as they swayed sexily under her cotton, skin tight skirt. He then turned to Amanda and answered her question while he looked past her out the window. "We came here for the view, too." He laughed and then offered a reason why he was there in a bar, high atop the Washington countryside, and not home with his wife and daughter even though Amanda hadn't asked. As he was talking, he draped his arm over her shoulder and brought his head close to her ear so he could whisper to her. He was slurring slightly as he talked. "I've got friends in very powerful positions in this city, Amanda, and I had to meet one of them here after work to discuss SIGMA ONE. It'sh very important, you know, to talk about our current problemsh and come up with an ansher. In fact, I was just telling my friend that I have the commitment of all my employees and that that commitment will help get us over this hump." He then pulled Amanda closer to him, "I do have your commitment, don't I?"

Amanda felt slightly uncomfortable with his advances, but nodded in agreement just the same.

"Well, anyway, that's why I'm here and not home." Pat said sensing her mood and backing away ever so slightly before continuing. "I'm trying to help the project, the all-consuming project." He then removed his hand from behind her neck and stared out the window. "It seems that's all I ever do now, is worry about the project. Nothin' more, just the project."

Amanda, on hearing this, felt a little sorry for him. It was obvious he cared a great deal about the future of SIGMA ONE.

Pat quit looking out the window and turned toward her. "We're going to talk about how we can save SIGMA ONE and if we don't get the solution, well, we'll all just be out of a job. It's as simple as that." When he finished, he lowered his head slightly and let out a deep sigh.

Amanda cringed, but it went unnoticed by Pat as he continued to stare silently at the bar. Finally after two or three minutes without saying anything, he popped his head up and continued his conversation as if no time at all had passed. This time, he sounded less drunk.

"You seem to have a pretty good head on your shoulders, Amanda, and I think you might be able to help. Don't you?" Pat moved closer and put his hand around the back of her neck again.

She didn't like the suggestive way her boss was stroking her hair. It made her uncomfortable and she started to lift his arm from around her shoulder. Before she was able to, though, Pat moved closer and gave her a peck on the cheek.

"Join us for a drink---pretty please?" He whispered into her ear while he waited for a reply.

Amanda had had quite enough. Drunk or not, he was overstepping his bounds. She grabbed his arm and started to remove it, but before she could completely take it away, Pat yanked it back himself and then stood up. It was as if a light had gone on in his dull mind. He started to explain himself.

"Oh, I get it! You're still mad for the way I snapped at you today. Aren't you?"

"Which time?" Amanda replied.

"Well, young lady, I am the head of the NSF and I can't have my employees unhappy--especially one as pretty as you. So I tell you what. I'll make a deal with you. You come over and join us for a drink and tomorrow you'll start in the research department. You'd like that wouldn't you?" He didn't wait for an answer. "I'll clear it with Mr. Stokes in the morning, but this promotion is conditional." As he spoke, he leered at her.

His stares made her even more uncomfortable, but the thought of a promotion and the pay raise caused her to overlook it. She rationalized his actions as being alcohol-induced, and tentatively asked "just what are the conditions anyway?" She hoped it was no more than a drink.

Pat heard the way she sounded, somewhat afraid, somewhat timid, like a kid asking the doctor who was holding the needle behind his back if it was going to hurt, afraid of the answer. He shook his head violently. "No, no, no, Amanda. You've got it all wrong!" He then stepped back and put his hands out to his sides, palms up elbows slightly bent. "It's nothing like what you're thinking." He was grinning from ear to ear. "I'm a married man. All I want you and Cherisa to do is to join me and Senator Radcliff for a drinky-poo. That's              nothing more. I promise." He sounded and looked like a little boy whose hand had been caught in the cookie jar as he spoke and Amanda felt a little more at ease noting the similarity. She also felt slightly embarrassed at her previous misinterpretation of his suggestions.

"Okay, Mr. Huxley. I'll join you and the senator for a drink but first we have to wait for Cherisa to get back. Okay?"

"Okay. We'll wait." Pat said and then took the seat next to her at the bar. As he did, Amanda noticed he seemed to be sobering up slightly and wasn't slurring quite so badly. At that moment, she also realized how attractive her boss was, now that he was behaving like a gentleman. His chiseled jaw line, his hair slightly graying at the temples, his boyish grin and dancing eyes were all very appealing. Amanda didn't really think that Huxley had a senator at his table and she wasn't quite sure he meant what he had said about the promotion, but both these things didn't matter. At that particular instant, he seemed so nice -- like the kind of person she would like to get to know alot better. She also thought as she looked at his face, he wasn't the least bit hard on the eyes either. She would have joined him anyway, with or without a senator, with or without the promise of a promotion, with or without him being married.

Pat and Amanda sat at the bar for five more minutes while they waited for Cherisa. During that time, Pat ordered Amanda another Chardonnay, but got himself a ginger-ale instead of another drink. He knew he was getting a little drunk and said so to her which she thought made him even more desirable.

Their conversation, if overheard by anyone else, would have been mistaken for that of two sweethearts out on their first date. They immediately blended together, and, in spite of their age difference, him being forty-one, her being twenty-two, they connected. During that time together, they exchanged personal likes and dislikes, their opinions on favorite movies and actors, Pat saying he liked Humphrey Bogart because of his strong character, and Amanda retorting with her admiration for Katherine Hepburn in her opposite role in Jungle Queen for similar reasons. To her, Hepburn's self-confidence and unswaying drive was something Amanda longed for, but was having trouble obtaining because of her past.

They continued their conversation discussing politics and religion, and finally Pat opened up and told her about his love of flying, and how his career was ended and the reason for his limp. This was something he normally kept to himself, but something about her young innocence made Pat want to talk. Amanda sensed she was being told something very personal by the way Pat hesitated in the middle of his story and responded in kind, by offering up part of herself as well. After he was through, she told him of the death of her mother and father in a freak automobile accident, resulting in her being orphaned at the early age of eight and the reason for her lack of self-confidence. By the time she was through, the two of them, in that very short span, had gotten to know one another quite well. Even before Cherisa returned, the beginnings of a lasting friendship between them had been born.

Cherisa stepped out of the restroom, resolved to get out of that bar as quickly as she could, with or without Amanda and strode briskly up to where the two were seated and interrupted them.

"Amanda, I'm not feeling well," she said. "I think I'd better go home now." As soon as she made her announcement, she noticed the dour look on both their faces.

"Please don't leave now, Cherisa. Mr. Huxley just invited us over for drinks," Amanda pleaded and then, in a whisper added, "he wants us to meet a senator!"

Cherisa had expected as much and weighed her decision carefully before answering. If she left, Amanda would probably stay anyway, and by the looks of it, would likely join both the men. She didn't think that would be such a good idea. Knowing Radcliff, he might try to make a move on her, or if he didn't do that, because he was probably drunk, if Pat's condition was any indication as to how much the senator had had to drink, he might say something untoward regarding their relationship. If he did that, it might jeopardize her chances to continue her new-found friendship with Amanda. In either case, leaving didn't seem the best thing for her to do, even though she wanted to. If she stayed, on the other hand, at least she could see if Radcliff was interested in Amanda or not. In addition, staying might give her the opportunity to find out just how serious SIGMA ONE's problems were. She had only heard Radcliff's version, and she was dying to know how Mr. Huxley viewed the situation so she could have one more up on her co-coworkers and use that information to needle them.

Her mind made up, Cherisa accepted and the trio left the bar and made their way toward Radcliff. When they arrived at his table, Pat quickly introduced Amanda to Radcliff, her being the newcomer to-the group. Even before the introduction Amanda recognized the senator. She had seen his pictures innumerable times on the news defending this bill or that, dedicating this public works project or that. When Radcliff stood, she also noticed how much taller he was in real life and how much older he looked in person than on the news. She also thought to herself that the news make-up artists who had to work on him must really know their trade. On TV, Radcliff showed no indication of the bags that were evident under his eyes now, and his hair seemed three shades more gray even in the dim light of the bar than under the video spotlights. On TV he looked like he wasn't a day over fifty-five. Standing in front of her, he looked at least seventy.

Amanda extended her hand toward the elder statesman as soon as Pat finished saying her name. Radcliff reached out and gently grabbed it and kissed the back of it, impressing her and causing her to giggle slightly. His bushy gray moustache tickled. Radcliff then moved around and repeated the chivalrous act with Cherisa, although when he was done kissing the back of her hand, he held on to it and guided her to the chair next to his and sat down, an action that made her happy her secret lover was paying more attention to her than Amanda.

Once seated, Radcliff ordered a round of drinks, two Chardonnays for the ladies, a straight up vodka for himself and, to his surprise, another ginger ale for Pat, who after talking to Amanda was starting to realize he had better maintain his sobriety and not make a fool of himself.