The opposite wall from the stage was broken up by two bars, both western-style with brass foot rails to rest your boots on, fixed bar stools and a lighted canopy. At the near end of the bar was a narrow hallway to the washrooms (men and ladies, I was interested to note).
“Just in here.”
The hostess led me through an access hatch in the bar to the door of the Manager’s office. She entered ahead of me, leaving me standing on my own for a moment. I smiled awkwardly at the bartender, who was stocking one of the multiple fridges lining the inner wall of the bar.
I heard a brief conversation, then the door opened and the hostess waved me in.
Now let’s get something on the table right now. While my experience with peeler bars was limited, I suspect my expectations regarding the owners of such establishments are typical. Overweight bald guys with hair sticking out of the back collar of their shirts, rings on every finger, and various scars that hinted at their management techniques. When Kara had told me that the owner was a lady, I had revised my mental image to include as an alternate an overweight frizzy haired woman with rings on every finger, multiple gaudy necklaces and a drinker’s voice. As usual, I was dead wrong.
The office was simple and professional. Oak desk, two simple visitor chairs, a bookshelf and a few old movie posters. Seated behind the desk was a petite lady wearing a tan jacket, black silk blouse open to the navel over a white tank top, and beige slacks. She wore funky oval glasses, with long straight brown hair swept back from her pretty face. Combining the look with her rather significant frontal globes, she had the sexy librarian look down pat.
It was official. The specialty courier industry had the hottest chicks. Hands down.
“Melodi Roberts.”
“Donnie Elder.”
She smiled, shook hands and offered me a seat.
“Would you like a drink?”
Lord, could I use a beer. “No thanks.”
She nodded, and the receptionist departed the room, closing the door behind her.
“So you’re working with Clay now?”
“Yeah. He was looking to take on a partner. Though I don’t think anyone anticipated the last two weeks.”
“Oh my God, yes. Kara was telling me about his heart attack. Is he alright?”
“I think so. He’s heading home tomorrow. Seems to be in good spirits.”
“Well, I’m glad.”
That was it for the pleasantries, and a split second gap in the conversation stretched into a pregnant pause. I focused on keeping my eyes up. For a second, I thought I saw a smile cross Melodi’s face, but that was no doubt my own paranoia.
“I thought I should apologize in person for my mess-up with your package yesterday.” Maggie had called to let them know while I was on morning deliveries. She said they were fine, but I was not. I couldn’t afford to screw up like this. Clay was depending on me.
“It’s-.”
I raised my hands, asking her patience to let me finish.
“I feel terrible about this. The last thing you need to worry about is whether you can trust us to service your company. It won’t happen again.”
“I know.” She smiled, and again I felt like I was missing out on something. “Kara called me, and told me all about it.”
Aaagh. It had never crossed my mind that Kara might speak to the Hidden Pleasures folks, let alone that she might be friends with the owner. What had she said? Did she make me out like some kind of jerk, trying to get in her pants? Who else had she talked to? I felt my ears and neck heating up, and here it came again. A blush crossed my cheeks.
Melodi burst out laughing.
“She said you would be embarrassed!”
I have come to believe that my primary reason for being on this planet is to provide women with a few laughs. Every day, I endure some form of confirmation of this belief.
“I just feel like a total ass. I mean, here she is, this wonderful lady, and I manage to spill a love potion on myself? A love potion? Come on. I’m a total dickhead.”
“Relax. She’s not blaming you.”
“Good. I’m trying to make a good impression, you know — as her boss and everything. And-,” I shrugged.
Melodi smiled, and said exactly what I wanted to hear.
“Don’t worry. Kara’s not mad. If anything, I think she’s as embarrassed as you are.”
“Oh God, I hope not.”
“She’s pretty embarrassed. One thing, though. I’m curious. When Clay was telling me about your coming on board, he said you had never had any exposure to magic?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“But the potion didn’t affect you?”
People kept asking me that. “Nope. I mean, not in the same way it seemed to effect Kara.”
“A quarter of the bottle?”
I winced. “Sorry.”
“No, it’s okay, it’s just — that’s quite a lot for it to have no effect on you.”
I shrugged. “Can’t explain it.”
“Hm. Interesting.”
I waited for her to follow up on the thought, but apparently it was something she wanted to mull over.
After that, we spoke about my background. I had a question of my own, though I was reluctant to ask it.
“You’re asking yourself how a lady like me ended up in a place like this.”
I am transparent to women.
I nodded. Don’t take me wrong, if Melodi wanted to work in a club, so be it. It was none of my business. Still, she didn’t seem the type, whatever that was.
“Well.” She leaned forward, a wonderful sight if I hadn’t been so focused on not looking. A perfectly manicured hand turned a picture frame resting on her desk towards me. The photo showed a father and daughter. Melodi and her dad, I presume. Dad himself was nothing like my mental image of the peeler bar owner, either. Tall, slim and well-groomed.
“My Dad and me. He started the club with my mother when they first moved here from Windsor. When my mom left, it was just him running the place, so I started helping out. A little time at reception, then the bar.”
I said nothing, but once again my poker face was not up to the task.
“No, I never danced. But when my dad passed away, I had a choice — sell the place or run it. I can’t say it was one of my lifelong dreams when I was a little girl, but it’s a good place to work. I get some of the best girls because of the way I treat them. And we have managed to maintain a high level of customer.”
“Makes sense, to be honest. Just wasn’t what popped into mind.”
“No, I guess not. But it’s worked out pretty well.”
“I can see that. Well, listen. I wanted to apologize to you, and to say that if there’s anything we can do to make it up to you down the road, you just-.”
“Kara said you would offer.”
I paused. I felt like I was a marionette, with every woman in my life holding the strings. Most days my mother was the number one puppeteer, but on other days it was just whichever woman happened to get a hold of the controls.
“Uh huh.” Master of witty repartee, that’s me.
“And there is something.”
The strangest feeling came over me. A mix of dread, anticipation, excitement and fear. Seemed like I was incapable of experiencing one emotion at a time anymore. Partly I was curious to know how I could help out around this place. Can’t say it seemed like hard time.
“One of my doormen can’t work this week, and we have a big convention renting the main floor on Thursday night. I wouldn’t worry about it, but the guy who can make it is pretty green. Kara said she thought you or your brother had worked door in the past?”
Kara had said? When the hell had I… Oh, yeah. We had talked about jobs in college over lunch the other day, and I think I had mentioned that Ted and I worked door at the University Pub. She remembered that?
“Yeah. We both worked door at one of the U of T pubs. Ted still works door on occasion. He’s done the Brunswick House, Horseshoe.”