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“Um.” She hesitated for a second, then rattled out the number.
“Mine is…” He gave her his number.
As it turned out, late afternoon ended up being six-thirty in the evening.
“I’m already out of the office,” Xolani said when he called her. “Sorry.”
“I can come to where you are,” he offered. “Are you far from the company?”
“No.” She revealed, “I’m at a bar close by.”
“What’s the bar?” he asked. When she gave him the name of a spot that he was familiar with, he said, “Okay, I’m on my way.”
She proposed, “Just let me know when you’re outside and I’ll bring the charger out to you.”
Whoa! No offer to even buy him a drink? She just wanted him to wait outside for his charger so she could get rid of him immediately after the handover.
That chemistry thing was looking decidedly one-sided.
Feeling increasingly dejected, Barry got into his car and drove to the bar.
5
XOLANI WASN’T PICKING UP HER phone.
Barry had called her as soon as he was outside the bar. Her phone rang, but no one answered. After multiple unsuccessful attempts to call her, he decided to just go into the bar.
Gazegas Sports Bar & Grill was a typical sports bar. Several rectangular tables occupied the center of the large space, and there were TV screens all around, each playing the day’s football game. At the far end of the bar were private booths with comfortable couches.
The other end of the spar had a long bar with several barstools, most of which were occupied. At the front was the kitchen, which was open to public viewing. Patrons could watch their food getting grilled, all while being teased with the heady smell of barbecued meat mixed in with alcohol.
Given its perfect mix of comfortable décor, great food, plenty of alcohol, and sports entertainment, it was no wonder that the bar was incredibly popular. Even though it was a weeknight, the space was teeming with patrons. Barry had to push his way past groups to get in.
As it turned out, he had exceptional timing. The bathrooms were close to the entrance, and just as he entered the bar, Xolani emerged from the ladies’ room.
“Barry?” She lit up as soon as she saw him, which immediately erased all the dejection he’d felt when driving over. Smiling, she greeted, “Hey.”
“Hey,” he greeted, noting that she’d discarded her suit jacket and was just wearing a white silk cami whose v-neck dipped enticingly between her perky breasts.
She stopped in front of him. “I thought you were supposed to call me when you got here?”
“I did.” He explained, “You weren’t picking up.”
“You must have called while I was in the ladies. I left my phone at my table.” She winced. “Sorry.”
“That’s okay.” He smiled. “I don’t mind coming in.”
“Your charger’s at my table too.” She added, “It’s this way.”
Barry followed as she led the way to her table. Her table was close to both the bar and the kitchen, but it wasn’t empty. There were two other women. Barry noted that one of them was Anika Jha from the Hybrid Vehicles Division. He’d noticed Anika this morning with Xolani but had been too engrossed with Xolani to even greet her.
The other lady was unfamiliar but definitely a stand out character. Most people in the bar were dressed casually or in their office wear. This woman had broken the mold and looked like she was on her way to a night club. She was wearing a tight, red dress that stopped high up her thighs. The dress was sleeveless and had such a low neckline that her breasts were spilling out. She’d caught quite a few eyes, including those of the four men seated at the table next to them.
The unfamiliar lady was the first to notice Barry and Xolani. She tapped Anika’s hand frantically to draw her attention. The ladies watched Barry and Xolani (mostly Barry) keenly as they came their way. Anika was a lot more subtle with her fascination, but the unfamiliar lady gave Barry a bold up and down onceover. Her smile and raised eyebrows said she liked what she saw.
“Hello?” The unfamiliar lady was the first to speak when Barry got close enough to their table.
Even though her intense scrutiny made Barry uncomfortable, he still smiled as he returned, “Hello.”
