After Hours (5 page)

“It’s too dark,” Curtis said coming into the room. He turned up the lights.

Amera turned them back down. “I’m trying to create the perfect mood.”

He turned them up again. “I like to see what I’m doing.” Before she could respond he grabbed her chin and turned her head. “What the hell happened to your face?”

She jerked her head back, startled. “My face?”

“Haven’t you looked in a mirror?”

“I’ve been too busy working,” Amera said going to the bathroom, knowing she’d get no faint praise from him. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and gasped. She had a large bruise under her eye. She hadn’t seen it this morning because she’d been so busy. At least it explained why the hotel and wait staff had been looking at her strangely.

“So what did you do?” Curtis asked from behind her.

She spun around and saw him standing in the doorway, still in his overcoat, looking about as cuddly as a cactus. She did not want to tell him that she’d fallen on her face. She walked over to him and reached for his coat. “She’ll be here in a moment. You should get comfortable.”

“You haven’t answered my question.”

Amera draped his coat over her arm. “It’s not like you to care, sir,” she said, then made a move to walk past him.

He blocked her, making excellent use of his broad chest and height, but kept his voice low. “And it’s not like you to not answer me, Em.”

She raised her gaze and calmly held his intense dark eyes. “I don’t want to.”

“You have to.”

She lifted one of his hands and stared down at his knuckles. “It’s amazing how you’ve managed to walk upright for so long.”

Someone knocked on the door interrupting his reply. “That’s probably her. Now go sit down,” she ordered then opened the door. It was the jeweler. She ushered him in and gave him a few brief instructions before leading him to a small room. She hung up Curtis’ coat and again, adjusted the lighting.

She felt ashamed that she’d briefly wanted to trade places with Crystal. Organizing details and being in the background was what her life was about and what it would always be. She’d fallen short of her own rules. Rules she’d learned as a refugee. Don’t stand out. Don’t want what you can’t have. Don’t strive for mediocrity. Never fail. She didn’t stand out, she made sure of that, always wearing a handful of selected items to work, which she called her uniform. She was grateful for her job and her salary, which afforded her a comfortable living, but she had failed in getting funding for Peale House and taking care of Bill and his family and with each year she seemed to grow more restless. She couldn’t understand why. Since immigrating to America, she’d never had a cold hungry night, like what she had experienced when she was on her own in the refugee camp. Alone and afraid.

She turned to look at Curtis who stubbornly refused to sit, but instead stood by the window, his hands clasped behind his back, looking down at the street traffic. He was the embodiment of power and wealth, but strangely she didn’t envy him. The image made her sad because all she saw was stark loneliness that made her heart twist. She turned away disgusted with herself. She couldn’t afford to feel sorry for him. He didn’t deserve it. He liked his life exactly the way he designed it and soon--he’d have a fiancée and she’d never see him again. The jeweler sat quietly in the small room off to the side of the suite, looking out of place. He had wanted to show Curtis the collection of rings he had selected, but Curtis had brusquely said that he’d wait for his bride to arrive, before making a selection.

Amera pressed her hands together and did a final look around the room. Crystal will love this, she thought.

Unfortunately, Crystal didn’t show up.

Amera sat in a far corner of the suite waiting to hear from the front desk, but the call never came. After an hour, she sent Curtis a glance. He looked bored, but not angry. Twice she’d had to calm the chef who had prepared a menu consisting of an assortment of dishes that needed to be served within a certain timeframe. Her perfect proposal was going all wrong. Would Curtis think she did something wrong, like give Crystal the wrong address or time? She had been clear. Had Crystal been delayed? She was usually always on time. Amera took out her cell phone to call. It rang just as she started to dial. She breathed a sigh of relief when she recognized the number. She jumped up, said, “Excuse me,” then went into the bedroom suite and closed the door.

“Where are you?” she asked.

“Is he still there?”

“Of course,” Amera said surprised by the question. “He’s waiting for you.”

“Is he angry?”

“Where are you? Is something wrong?”

“I’m nervous.”

“Why?”

“He’s never done something like this before. He’s going to ask me to marry him, isn’t he?”

Amera hesitated, wondering if she should spoil the surprise. “Come by and find out.”

“Oh my god he is,” Crystal said with a note of terror.

“If you’ll just come and--”

“He shouldn’t,” she interrupted, sounding miserable. “He’s only doing it because that’s what our families want. Mainly, what his father wants.”

“I’m sure he wants it too. He takes commitment seriously and you should see--”

“I’m sure you did it all,” she said and Amera could hear the smile in her voice. “You’re the best. I know that all the restaurants, shows and gifts were because of you.”

“I just help,” Amera said embarrassed by Crystal’s praise. She was just an assistant doing the job she was paid to do. “I don’t--”

“He should marry you. You’re able to deal with him better than anyone. You’ve been with him long enough. Longer than most. He scares me.”

“I know marriage is a big decision, but just come over and have dinner with him--.”

“I was only with him because I was frightened not to be, but I can’t do it anymore. He’s heartless. Tell him I don’t want to see him again.”

“You tell him.”

“I know I’m a coward and I'm sorry to put you in this position, but I can’t face him. I’ll make it up to you.”

“Crystal you’re just--” Amera paused when she heard a click. “Crystal? Crystal?” Amera silently swore, then called her back, but the phone kept ringing. What should she do? She hadn’t planned for this. She’d at least hoped Crystal would have shown up. Not only hadn’t she shown up but she’d talked nonsense. At one moment calling Curtis ‘heartless’ then suggesting Amera marry him! Was she saying that Amera was cold too? Amera shook her head. She couldn’t worry about that now. She stared at the bedroom door. It was the only thing that separated her from an awful task. She rehearsed in her mind different ways to break the news. She could lie and say something unexpected had come up. Or she could question his judgment about Crystal’s suitability. But he’d see through both. Being direct was the best option. She would tell him quickly and then go home. He’d just nod his head in a stoic manner and then dismiss her. She took a deep breath then returned to the main lounge. Curtis had returned to his post at the window and had his back to her. “Sir--”

“Did you bump into a door or something?”

Amera blinked. “What?”

“I’m still curious about that bruise. Come here.”

She knew he was just toying with her and she wasn’t in the mood for his strange games. She stayed put and folded her arms. “I just spoke to Crystal.”

“It’s snowing. I didn’t think it would.”

“And Crystal said--”

“Come and see it.”

“Sir, I’m trying to tell you--”

“I thought you liked snow. Come here.”

Amera threw up her hands in exasperation. The man was insufferable. He never cared about her feelings before and she couldn’t understand his strange calm. She made a crude gesture, behind his back and mimed strangling him with her hands and wringing his neck then joined him at the window. She saw the tiny white lights on the trees surrounding the hotel and the car beams piercing the black night, but she didn’t see any snow. It was barely past five o’clock but looked like midnight. “I don’t see anything.”

He pointed to a lamppost. “You can see it falling there.”

He was right. Under the yellow glow of the lamppost, she could see the soft white powder falling. She couldn’t understand his interest, considering the woman he’d hoped to marry hadn’t shown up yet. “It won’t stay.”

He nodded. “You’re right.” He tapped the glass. “Do you know what’s good about this window?”

“What?” Amera asked with little interest.

He looked at her, a faint glint of humor in his eyes. “I can see what’s going on behind me.”

She stiffened, her cheeks burning, remembering the gestures she’d made behind his back. She lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry, sir. It was a moment of frustration, especially since...” she let her words die away.

“Since what?”

Since you’ve dropped me after five years of excellent service, giving me only two weeks’ notice without the decency of telling me why I’m being let go. Even though you know I’m the best and I deserve better.
But Amera wisely kept those thoughts to herself. She took a deep breath and raised her eyes to his dark gaze. A look that had never intimidated her. “Since I’ll be gone soon.”

His eyes became as flat and unreadable as granite. “Right,” he said, then shifted his gaze back to the window.

“Sir, about Crystal.”

Curtis turned to her then said in a bored tone. “She’s not coming.” He motioned to the waiter and walked over to the dining table. “Let’s eat.”

The waiter eagerly dashed off to let the chef know they were ready.

“But--.”

He sat down. “But what? I’m hungry.”

Amera sat in the chair in front of him, not sure he understood the severity of the situation. “Sir--”

He held up his hand. “Wait until the third course.”

Amera sighed and they ate the first two courses in silence. When she was finished she said, “Crystal doesn’t want to see you again.”

“That’s a relief,” he said, just as the waiter set down the third course, one of Crystal’s favorites: roasted leg of lamb, garnished with slices of stewed guava jelly, a sweet tropical fruit, served on a bed of white rice, French beans with sliced almonds, and a side order of freshly baked rolls, and, of course, champagne.

“A relief?”

He lifted his utensils and shook his head. “Come on my little parrot. Don’t tell me you’re really surprised.”

“I at least expected her to show up. It’s not my place to know the inner workings of your personal life, but this is odd even for you.”

“Even for me?”

“The woman you’d hoped to marry says she never wants to see you again and you’re eating dinner as if nothing has happened.”

“I figured as much.”
“And you don’t care?” Amera shook her head, realizing how ridiculous her words were. “I’m sorry, of course you don’t.”

“And if I did care, is that going to change her mind?” He shrugged. “Disappointment is a part of life.” He pointed at her plate. “Your food is getting cold.”

Amera glanced down at her plate and calculated the six course meal in despair. She’d ordered too much, but Crystal always liked to have a choice. “We can’t finish all this.”

“Let me guess,” Curtis said spearing a bean. “You want to donate the leftovers somewhere.”

“It’s a thought.”

“Will you regain your appetite if I say yes?”

She nodded.

“Fine. Tell them to bag the rest and send it to whatever address you want.”

“Thank you, sir,” she said then began to eat. She’d never eaten alone with him before. And in such an intimate setting, she felt stiff and awkward. He was a jerk, but his table manners were impeccable, something she’d taken years to learn. She remembered that at the second orphanage where she had lived, which had been established by a strict English socialite, education, ‘social’ manners and graces were emphasized. Knowing which fork or spoon to use, and when, was paramount to good manners, and Amera had been one of her favorite students.

“A bird?” he said when the fourth course came.

“I’m sorry?”

“That’s how you got the bruise.”

“Why do you keep coming back to that?”

“Because I find it amusing that my perfect Em has a few failings.”

“I got caught in a hold up and the criminal exchanged gunfire with the police and I got cut by the shattering glass.”

He looked at her for a long moment then shook his head and returned his gaze to his meal. “No, I bet you just tripped and fell.”

She rested her napkin on the table and stood. “I’ll go now.”

“Not yet.”

“You need something else?”

“I want you to choose a ring.”

Amera fell back into her seat. Maybe he hadn’t understood her before. “Crystal isn’t coming. She--she doesn't want to see you again.”

“I know that.”

“Then why do you want to give her a ring?”

“The ring is for you.”

Amera placed a hand on her chest, her heart picking up pace in growing anger. “Are you trying to mock me?”