Eileen Slovak

Chapter Fifty-eight: Off Her Game

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and locales are products of the author’s imagination. They are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is coincidental. Copyright © 2024 by Eileen Slovak.

Scarlet    

A Monday morning hangover, I can’t think of anything worse right now. I’m giving up wine forever. All morning I’ve had the feeling I forgot something. When I reach the office, it hits me.

      “Sca-let, I’m hot brokin. Ya’ fa-got about me.”

      “Dominick, I’m so sorry. Can we reschedule for tomorrow?” 

      I’m such a mess. I left the box of samples at home.

      “No can do. I’m flat out. I gotta go outta town tamarra. I’ll put you down fer next Mondee. If anythin’, changes ‘tween now and then, I’ll fit you in.”

      “Thanks Dominick.”

      Frank will have a conniption. I’m keeping the missed appointment to myself, forging ahead with the second group of meetings with the new inventors. Frank is so preoccupied that it may not even come up. I’ll push back the meeting I scheduled with Allen as well.

      I ask Emilie to screen my calls. If Scott calls, she’s to say that I’m unavailable, forever. In the absence of a love life, I’m back to working long hours. Frank is so relieved things are finally back to normal again, he doesn’t even ask for a thing. His expectations are annoying me as well. I call Barry to gripe, but the conversation goes in another direction.

      “I’m in, if Larry wants me to start spending more time in New York.”

      “Wow, why the sudden change? I mean, you’ll be a rock star here, Red Hot, but a few weeks ago you were staying put.”

      “I may be outgrowing my job and my life here.”

      “Well, all right. I’m meeting with Larry this afternoon, should I tell him the good news?”

      “Definitely. Thanks Barry.”