Trigger (7 page)

“I read the article that came out about you today,
Miss Mason. It’s wonderful to see young entrepreneurs like you are
alive and doing well in Virginia.”

“Thank you. Its hard work and very challenging, but
I like both.”

“Hard work and challenge?”

“Yes, sir.”

“What are your goals?”

“To do my best and take care of the company,
employees and make a good life for all of us at Stalwart Companies.
I have no ambition beyond that.”

“The article said you don’t have a boyfriend. You
are a lovely, intelligent young woman. Why hasn’t some handsome man
won your fancy?”

“That is really none of your business, Governor, but
since you are a very good dancer, I’ll tell you. I don’t have time
for anything or anyone other than the company and working out.”

He laughs out loud. People stare at us.

“I saw you with Simon Perry.”

“Simon and I are competitors.”

“Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies
closer?” He laughs again.

“Except for work, I like to shoot and box and I’ll
be testing for my third level black belt in Kempo-Karate in a
couple of weeks. I like to run, when I have time and space. My
trainer is Steven Harter. He owns Straight Train, a very dedicated
athletic club. Good people go there because Mr. Harter is good
people. Do you work out, Governor?”

“Actually, I like to box. I won a Golden Glove, when
I was much younger.”

“You should visit Steven’s club. You are about the
same size as Steven. `It would be fun to watch you and Steven spar
some. He never hurts anyone, but he’s tough and very demanding. He
expects a lot out of the people he trains. Actually, his club is
closer to your office than mine.

“I go to Steven’s at lunch time. When we’re done he
makes lunch for me, it’s this horrible green/gray sludge. But I
feel good and get a lot of work done in the afternoons.”

“Straight Train?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll look into it.”

“Maybe we could spar some too. I’m getting really
good with my combinations. Steven hand picks sparing partners for
everyone to make sure it’s a fair fight. But he might let us get
into the ring.”

“So you have the desire to hit me, Miss Mason?”

“No. I don’t know you well enough to want to do
that. But I do like to kick ass!” He laughs again.

The music stops and Mr. Post is beside her.

“Thank you Miss Mason. I had a delightful time
dancing with you. Don’t forget your gun when you leave,” the
governor smiles.

“That’s not going to happen, Governor.”

Charlotte is waiting at the table. She’s busting out
to hear everything. “It looked like you were both having a good
time.”

“Miss Mason, may I have this dance.”

Charlotte’s face falls and I know the voice.

“Sure.” She puts her hand in Simon’s like Steven
showed her. Sparks and heat burn her hand as he slowly walks her to
the middle of the floor and then takes her in his arms with a
flourish turn and they’re dancing. He’s taller than Steven or the
Governor and for a second she’s afraid her strapless dress is going
to become unanchored.

“Don’t get all girly about dancing with me Miss
Mason. I wouldn’t know how to handle it.”

Of course, Simon is a better dancer than Steven or
the Governor. It’s like he’s bred to be perfectly charming,
accomplished and arrogant. She’s not being fair. Simon has been
nice to her all evening and put up with her attitude and smartass
mouth without complaint.

“I’m sorry I embarrassed you in front of your
parents. I really didn’t mean to be that way. It just popped
out.”

“Is it true?”

“Yes. My Dad beat my Mom ever since I remember and
then finally beat her to death and threw her body in the alley. I
found her when I was walking home from school. He didn’t even get
arrested.”

Simon pulls her closer and she lets him.

“I’m sorry, Judy.”

We dance without speaking for awhile. “The Governor
asked me if I was with you.”

Simon laughs. “I can’t wait to hear what you said
about that.”

“I just said what I said at the dining table.”

She thinks Simon just smelled her hair. She
trembles.

“Do you want to know what he said?”

“Probably something like, keep your friends close
and your enemies closer. He’s never been very original.”

“That’s exactly what he said.” She looks up
surprised Simon would know that.

“He says that all the time. It’s one of his
favorites.”

“Oh.”

“Am I your enemy Judy?”

“Well yes. The Wade deal was huge for me and was
going to allow me to grow. You’ve made everything very complicated
and stressful. What really bites my ass, Simon is that he isn’t
good for you. I can’t image why you would deliberately hurt your
company just to keep me in my place.”

“Is that what you think I’m doing?”

Simon pulls back and looks Judy squarely in the
eyes.

“What other reason, Simon. He doesn’t fit your
company. Shockley either.”

Simon is startled. She guesses that he didn’t know
she knew about Shockley.

“You’re wrong Judy. But I’ll fix everything if you
go on one date with me.”

She stops dancing and pulls away from him. Her voice
is so low, she can barely hear it, but it’s intense enough to
startle her.

“No.”

“The deal is not worth one date with me?”

“No.”

She hadn’t noticed before, but Simon has a crease
like Steven’s and apparently it works the same way.

“I know your reputation. I witness your arrogance.
I’m not for sale, Simon. I don’t do dates. I’ve never had a
boyfriend and to be honest I doubt that I ever will.”

“You’ve never had a boyfriend. Have you ever been
kissed?” His eyes are incredulous and smirking.

“No.”

“So you’re a . . . ?”

“Yes, Simon, I’m a virgin. But that doesn’t make me
stupid enough to sabotage my own company.” Her voice took off from
low to moderate and then nearly high volume.

She walks away and she can tell by the way dancing
couples get out of her way that her angry words were overheard.
News flash folks, she hasn’t had sex, therefore, she must have some
other disease and you should get out of my way. Oh God, she knew
this evening would be a nightmare. All she wants now is to get her
gun, slip into Big Boy and peal the Hell out of here.

She quickly walks to the door sure that one of the
many photographers got a picture of her walking fast. Now Steven is
really going to be pissed.

Steven picks up the phone so quickly she’s not sure
she even heard it ring. “Judy, are you all right?”

“Yes. I know it’s late and I’m sorry if I disturbed
you. I just wanted you to know I was home and safe. When I left the
club, it felt like you were worrying about me.” She feels better
hearing his voice.

“I’m watching the news with you dancing with the
Governor. I think it’s on every network.”

“Am I doing it right? Like you taught me?”

“Yes.”

She breathes relief. “Oh good, I didn’t want to let
you down. The governor was a Golden Gloves. Did you know that?”

“Yes.”

“I told him about you and your club and invited him
to come and train with you during his lunch. Boxing is still his
preferred method of exercise. So if he calls, it’s not a joke.
Okay? Oh, he’ll want your green/gray sludge too.”

“You were talking about me while you were dancing
with the governor?”

“Mostly. Some about the company too.”

“The news says you walked in carrying a concealed
gun. They have footage of you pulling up your gown and handing your
gun to the security guard. Deidre said it’s on You Tube. You look
wonderful, Judy. I guess your stunt worked out all right this time,
but you should have listened to me. It could have caused you
trouble.

“They could have legally prevented you from going in
even if you did hand over your gun. Or they could have arrested you
until they were satisfied that you had no criminal intent.”

She doesn’t know what to say.

“Did the governor say anything about the gun?”

“He just told me not to forget it when I left.”

Steven bellows.

“I thanked him for reminding me.”

He laughs harder.

“I’m tired now. I don’t think I got more than an
hour’s sleep last night.”

“Good night, Judy. I’m proud of you.”

With those words she’d never had spoken to her
before, she relaxes and drifts. “Good night Steven. Thanks for
everything.” He didn’t hear her. He’d already hung up.

The futon in her
one-room flat is lumpy and uncomfortable. Judy groans in pain and
it’s louder this time, but it’s not from the futon.

She’s laid for hours replaying yesterday on the
ceiling. Each time she runs the memory footage it gets worse.
Floozy, flaunting, taunting and impertinent, she watches herself
move through yesterday. Her face is burning with embarrassment and
shame. Run!

Running faster than she ever has, Judy’s flying
through the dawn-quiet, garbage-filled streets of her neighborhood.
Focused only on her feet striking the sidewalks, her mind is turned
off and she’s given control to Coping Rule No. 1. Run until her
body and mind are in synch. It took an hour to get there and turn
toward home.

Frantically pulling out the hairpins that hold her
upswept eighty-dollar hair style, they catch in the curled tendrils
that were gracefully placed to compliment her face. She’s only gets
about two minutes of hot water so she’s washing her hair with one
hand and scrubbing her body with other while rinsing at the same
time.

It’s been twenty minutes since she finished her run
but she’s got to get out of here. Jogging the two blocks to get to
BB, the site of his garage home always excites her. BB will be
there. Shiny, perfect, excited to see her, she trusts him
completely.

Sunlight rushes through the rising garage door hits
the white gown bag. She’d changed out of the gown into damp smelly
running tights so she could get home safely. She’d left it there,
hanging on a rusty nail. She feels her face heat with disgust for
the dress.

However, the dark haired hooker two blocks away,
took the gown with a glowing smile at the unexpected gift and Judy
felt better that it was gone from her life and found the home it
deserved. She’d miss the shoes. They were the prettiest shoes she’d
ever had and they were very comfortable. She didn’t even have
blisters or sore places from wearing them for the first time.

She sighs for the shoes, but Sunday morning chores
must come before anything else. Judy’s out of clean underwear and
her workout clothes have a sickening sweat-on-sweat smell. Wearing
her ugly tan wash-day slacks and foregoing underwear to ensure that
everything she has will be clean, she covered the rest with a faded
green sweatshirt long enough to cover her butt.

The laundry near her office is usually empty this
early on Sunday morning, but today an elderly man, is struggling to
decide if white boxers, undershirts and socks should be washed with
his dark pants. Going for cheap, he finally dumps everything in one
load and hits start.

Her office suite is her haven, her real home. If she
could she would move in permanently, but it’s not allowed. She
walks through turning on every light and peeking into each office.
She never disturbs anything or noses around her employees’ desks.
If she needs anything and can’t do without it while she works, she
always leaves a note. However, she has, on occasion stolen a candy
from Charlotte’s candy dish.

Sunday is also the best day of her week, she can
work uninterrupted. Her best ideas came from Sunday in her office.
Judy never leaves until she’s organized and excited for the
upcoming week and she’s determined that today – the day following
yesterday – will be exactly like that.

She drank the entire pot of coffee and is making
another when a nagging pain makes her wince. She looks at the
clock, eleven-thirty, she laughs relieved. This much caffeine and
no food doesn’t really work for her. She grabs a piece of candy
from Charlotte’s candy dish and makes a mental note to bring in a
replacement bag.

Sucking on the sweet butterscotch candy and carrying
a fresh cup of coffee, she walks down the hallway to her office.
Simon’s face floats up ahead. Handsome, beautifully groomed, eyes
that twinkle with joy and excitement, she can hear the tune his
rhythm of life plays. She feels the urge to dance in time with it.
Graceful, thoughtful, intelligent, clever, caring and responsible
to his parents and family, Simon’s life rhythm is so more beautiful
than her own that changes from day to day.

Less than a year after she opened her business she
went to her weekly entrepreneur meeting. It was a good place to
talk to people starting their own businesses and she traded useful
information with the members. They’d elected George as head honcho
for the year, because he promised to bring an expert once a month
to talk with them. This month Simon Perry was the guest
speaker.

She’d written him off as just a pretty face and was
studying the tax information Fred had brought for her. It was like
his voice didn’t get louder but what he was saying began to reach
her consciousness. Logistics strategy was his topic and he was
making sense. Clear, concise he was giving her information that was
useful and dispelled some of the homemade strategies she had
developed on her own.

She was engrossed. He had woken her up. She quickly
looked around the table and so hadn’t everyone else.

“I have time for discussion.” He smiled, looked
around the table and sat down. His eyes settled on her. They were a
breathtaking dark blue that went well with his hair so dark black
that it had a dark blue tint that nearly matched his eyes. She held
her breath until she looked away.