Food has never been something I thought a lot about. Maybe it's because I spent so little time between family dinners and posh restaurants. By the time I was sixteen I had my first college degree, though I didn't graduate until I was seventeen with my masters in hand which I had setup that way. Before I was fifteen I had a company setup in my Dad's name and was running it through him. I never really wanted for money so I always ate the same way, just enough for my stomach not to complain. Don't get me wrong, I've always loved food.
Pulling up to the curb, I could see a sign that read 'Mastro's Steakhouse'. We were somewhere in Beverly Hills. Just a wild guess, but I figured this would be Bob's choice. They had fantastic steak and I had been several times and at least once every trip to Los Angeles.
I glanced over at Bob with a wide grin on my face. He looked down as to say "What".
"There goes getting out of my suit," I chuckled and let myself out of the car. Putting my hand out for Remy, she took it so I could help her out. Doing the same for Bob, he almost pulled me over even at my size he was a large man.
We walked up to the door where a gorgeous young thing, probably about 20 and a struggling actress, opened the door. Letting them enter first and following, I winked at the girl.
"Hi, Michael!" She said with a graceful smile. She was 5' 6" and maybe 120 pounds with all her clothes on and some lead bricks in her pockets.
"Hello, Michelle. How are you doing? Did you get that part?" I remembered talking to her briefly on my way out the last time I was in town. She had green eye and sandy blonde hair, very striking with her California tan and bubbling smile.
"I'm great! I did get the part! I did just as you said, I walked in and thought of being in front of kindergarten children performing for them. It was great! I wish you could have seen it!" She was so excited I couldn't help but give her a hug.
"You're too kind. I didn't do anything. You had to perform, not me. Well done," as I reached down and kissed her hand. "Why don't you stop by the table when you get a break?"
"Okay!" she grinned and blushed a bit at the same time.
"Michelle, these are my friends Bob and his wonderful wife Remy."
"I'm very pleased to meet you. Anyone who knows Michael is welcome here." She giggled and looked down.
We followed her through the second set of doors and she walked to the Host Station. She whispered something very gently into the hostess's ear and gave a little glance in my direction. The hostess tried very hard not to smile, but it was too much for her.
She walked over to me and put out her hand, which I took and kissed. "Michael, would you like your regular table?"
"Only if it's open, my dear," I tried to be as kind as possible. In Hollywood and Beverly Hills they would kick people out of tables if someone of importance came in. Not that I was, but they did know me which could justify removing someone.
As she was about to take us to our table, the General Manager walked over and cut her off. He whispered in her ear and she said, "Mr. Johnson will take you to your seats. Enjoy your meal."
Nodding to her as she went back to the mahogany podium, I gave her a wink. Turning to the GM and my guests we walked to the table. Toward the entrance was a spiral staircase that led up to the second level. As we came onto the second floor we walked to the Wine Room where there were tables setup
Two tables were separated by a stone mini wall of sorts. Each table had 7 chairs and place settings. I preferred the table to the right as it was a bit more secluded. There was an archway opposite the wine cellar with a black wrought iron gate-work in front of it. In front of the wine cellar were black wrought iron bars.
Modern yet a bit traditional with a depth of warmth is how I would describe the décor. The purple high hack chairs were nice and plush and very comfortable.
The Manager and three bus boys came in and cleared the extra four places and chairs. They left two on one side of the round table and one on the other. The restaurant knew me well. I would want to make it easy to talk so, across was the proper placement.
"Michael, would you like us to turn down the music or the lights?" he said to me trying to be as accommodating as he could.
I shot him a grin and chuckled, "Marvin, how many times have I been here?" I said it rhetorically and he was intelligent enough to catch it. "You know I'm low maintenance, man. Everything is great. Who is here serving today?" I had my fingers crossed when I asked.
"Whomever you prefer. Steve is here and so is Alley," just the name I was waiting to hear. Anticipation welled up inside of me.
"Hmmmm. Let me think," as smartassed as I could make it. He chuckled knowing who I wanted at the start.
"As you wish. I will send her up," he winked. "Do you want to start with your usual?"
"Please. And….." I pointed at Bob and Remy.
Bob looked up from his seat, "I'll have a Jack and Coke, please." Marvin nodded in acknowledgement.
Remy looked at me and raised an eyebrow. I knew what she wanted, "She'll have what I'm having."
"Very well." Marvin turned to walk away and then stopped and spun around. "Are we doing all the normal...…Craziness this evening?" He was smiling in anticipation. It always felt comfortable but a little stuffy for the staff working in this restaurant. I like to loosen things up.
"Absolutely! Let me think about what I want to do first, though," which made him smile even more. Marvin was so bored I felt sorry for him. At least I would give him a little joy tonight.
Turning my attention to my guests I sat at the single seat on one side. To the right was the wonderful wine cellar which I intended to pilfer frivolously for the rest of the night.
"So, how much have you been able to tell Remy about my proposition?" Of course, when would he have had time? His face really said it all. "Ah, right. Well, Remy, this is really simple. As I told your husband, I live my life by what Feels right to me. I go with those things. After Bob saved me and then finding out he was the instructor for a cop driving school and a detective all the pieces just fell into place and Felt right."
She looked at Bob and then back at me. "In place for what exactly?" She sounded skeptical and reserved. I expected nothing else from a cop's wife.
"I need someone to Drive me, be my bodyguard and personal assistant," pausing as some bread was dropped off in front of me and some in front of them. As soon as the boy that dropped them off was out of ear shot, "I want Bob to do this for me."
Again, Remy looked skeptical. "That's very strange. We were just talking about him leaving the force the other night," which was news to me.
"I didn't tell him that much detail, honey," Bob chimed in. He gave her a hard stare.
"Don't worry about it, guys. I'm offering $500,000 a year and you all move into my house. I want Bob around 24/7." Reaching for a piece of bread, something crossed my mind. What if he didn't go for it because she didn't like the idea or want to move?
"What's the catch?" she said with a serious tone bordering accusatory.
"I don't live in California. That's the catch." I put up my hand to caution them to silence as Alley came over to deliver the drinks. "Alley, sweetheart!" My grin was almost as big as hers. She put the drinks down on the table. To Bob and Remy's surprise she reached down and kissed me like we were lovers that had been separated for months. To say I was shocked was an understatement.
"Dear God, I missed you!" She kissed me again. I pulled her off my lap, and my face, and gave a glance over to my guests. "Oh! I'm so sorry! Please, forgive me!" Alley looked so much like Jennifer Anniston she could have been her younger sister, same eyes, hair, lips, cheeks, body and smile. The one thing that differed was her crystal blue entrancing eyes which always felt like they were drawing me in as if I was suppose to know them.
Remy and Bob both laughed so hard it made both Alley and I laugh with them. Remy was the first to catch her breath, "It's alright, dear. We understand what that's like," Remy grabbed Bob's hand as Alley caught her breath and smiled infectiously.
"I'm really sorry. Here are your drinks." If you looked at the three drinks it was pretty obvious who was getting what. Alley knew me and what I drank, which left another Dirty Goose and a Jack and Coke. After she delivered the drinks she came back over to me.
"Do you know what you want?"
A quick grin to Bob and I grabbed her and pulled her over my lap and with her back to the floor, kissed her elegantly. As I pulled her back up I said, "You." Everyone laughed under their breath.
She fanned herself with a menu off the table. Guess that made an impression of sorts. She turned back to me and winked.
I took a sip off my martini, "How about Caviar and some Oysters to start?" I looked over at my guests as they nodded with approval. "Thank you, Love." My hand rubbing her butt just enough for her to feel it.
"I'll be right back with that," she said breathlessly and with a huge smile.
She was out of the room when Bob said, "Damn! Guess we know what you're doing the rest of the night." Remy and he both giggled at one another. I took another sip off my martini with my eyes looking away and a sly grin.
"So, the other little issue would be that Bob would have to travel with me wherever I went. Make no mistake, I do travel quite a bit." Remy looked a little concerned and put her hand on his in a loving grasp. "The good news is I have my own Gulfstream that I fly around in. Usually, I make it home every to every other night," giving her a reassuring smile.
Remy sighed, "You have to understand that we wouldn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but this all sounds too good to be true." Bob put his hand on her back and started to gently rub back and forth. "We want Bob out of the department. It has become a major strain on him emotionally and the family has had a hard time because of that. We don't need to live in California. In fact, moving would be better for the kids." She took a gulp of the martini. "Lastly, if you can promise me you will have him home more than not home, then I don't see any downside to this."
I put my elbows up on the table and laced my fingers. Looking at them both thoughtfully, "I think, Remy, you might have missed a question in there." She looked puzzled again.
"And what is that?"
"How big is my house?" We all laughed together. "So, Bob, it sounds like the final decision is up to you. What do you think?" My Dirty Goose was going down like water.
"Wait," Remy's tone was serious and alarming. "Michael, don't get me wrong, but look at this from my point of view. I'm a mother of two children and my husband I love very much." She took a drink, "Look at you," her hand waved at me, "You are a very young man. Mature, yes, but young none the less. You drink a lot, women love you, money doesn't seem to exist in your world and you want me just to allow you to be in an environment where you would be a role model for my children?!" She shook her head and chug the rest of her glass. "How could I, in good conscience as a loving parent, allow such an environment around my children," Bob put his hand on hers.
I reached out placing my hand over her other and let go all my emotion, "No harm will ever come those children as long as I live. This, I give you my word," her eyes glowed with understanding. "My house is large enough that we probably won't see each other unless it was coordinated," I let go and sat back. "As far as your husband goes," I sat back and took a drink, "couldn't be any dangerous than what he does today. Hell, I'm not a terrorist being hunted."
She nodded and by all accounts she looked of understanding. With what flowed out of me though, I knew she felt what there was to understand. She looked over at Bob, "What do you think, honey?"
Staring into my eyes, a smile crossed over his face and the weight of the world had just left his body for the first time in a long time. "I've been a cop for over 20 years. Other than the birth of my children and the day I married Remy, this is the happiest moment of my life!" He leaned back and put his hands behind his head.
"Glad to hear it!" I got up and walked over to him putting my hand out. We clasped hands and shook vigorously. Many things in my life had felt right, but none of them to that moment felt as right at this did.
Just as I turned, Alley was walking back into the room with the Caviar and Oysters. I motioned to them and she knew to put the food in front of them. Reaching into my inside jacket pocket, I pulled out my cell phone and hit some keys. I grinned as I put it up to my ear.
"Alexander, I need you to write up an employment agreement for," I looked over at Bob with my hand over the phone, "Stansell, right?" His jaw dropped open and he nodded and then shook his head as he reached for an Oyster.
Remy looked perplexed, "What?"
"I'll tell you later," he gave a chuckle and looked away.
"Stansell. Yes, S-T-A-N-S-E-L-L. Yeah, that's right," I waited for a second. "It's for $500,000 a year. I also need you to get that to payroll and then call Alice. Have her setup a moving company to move a family of four, two adults and two children, into my house." I pulled the phone away as Alexander yelled at me. "No Alex! I'll explain later. Just do it!" I shut the phone.
"So you know," I wanted to clear up some details before we drank through the night, "Alexander is my attorney and runs the attorneys for the companies. Alice is my secretary for the Main Holding Company. Remember the names because you will be talking to them more than I will." I would have smiled larger if I could.
Alley was still standing there. "What would you all like to eat?" She gave me a devilish grin.
"Alley, what time are you off?" I was feeling really good and spontaneous.
"In about 2 hours. Why? What'd you have in mind?" she said with a wink and a bump of her hip.
"Get Marvin for me, please, doll," she ran off. "Now that business is concluded, let's have some fun, shall we?" Grabbing up my martini glass, I raised a toast. "To Bob. May he forever be happy with this decision!"
"Here, Here!" Remy threw out. "To Bob!"
We all drank as Marvin came into the room as if something was on-fire. "Michael, is everything alright?"
"Ah, Marvin. Do you have another server coming in?"
"Yes, in about an hour. Why, sir?" He didn't look troubled, but he had to be wondering why I wanted to know.
"Please, call them and ask them to come in now. Tell them you will give them $100 extra if they do." My face was still bright and shining as I couldn't help feeling so good. My eyes began to twitch and roll back along with a bit of a haze. "Megan. Ask Megan if she would please come in for me." The image of her name was gone almost as fast as it came on.
"Yes, sir. No problem. Why are we doing this?" he had his hand up looking for an answer.
"Because I want Alley to transfer her tables, change and come have dinner with me." He didn't look surprised in the slightest.
"Yes, Michael. I'll take care of it. Anything else?"
"Yes, can you send Steve over to wait on us, please?" Right now I was feeling like I was outstaying my welcome at a relative's house.
"No problem. Anything else?" Marvin really was a great GM. He was genuinely concerned and wanted to help.
"Alley will have a Dirty Goose." Marvin turned and walked down the stairs. Alley jumped into my arms and started kissing me. Giving in, I kissed her back. Why not?
Bob started to laugh hysterically, "How in the world did you get away with that? You are charming, but that was exceptional!" Remy too was laughing in a 'this guy is nuts' sort of way.
"Alley, baby, go change for me please." Giving me a salute she ran off to the stairs. "I'll let you in on a little secret that very few people know," they leaned in really close both chewing on Caviar and bread. "I'm the silent partner in the group that bought these restaurants from the Mastro family in 1997." I smiled and raised my brow. Remy put her hand over her mouth.
Through her fingers, "Does Marvin know?"
"Yes, but he is the only one. So don't let Alley know, please," with a wink.
"No problem," Bob said as he took a swig of his Jack and Coke. "Do you own any other restaurants in L.A.?"
"Yes." I could see more shock wash over them. "Several, but I'm silent in all of them. Hardly anyone knows."
"Why did you buy them?" Remy slugged an oyster off a half shell.
"Simple. They make money and I can always have a great meal made by a great chef wherever I am. I own many restaurants all over the world." More than anything this got their attention.
Remy leaned back and looked at her empty plate. Deep thought cascaded through both of them as the room was silent. The only noise was the classical music over the speakers in the ceiling and the bustle from downstairs.
"What else do you own?" Bob took another drink.
"Don't worry about it. I'll explain all that later. Let's drink and have fun." Just then Alley walked into the room in a pair of blue jeans and a form fitting white shirt. Her bright white running shoes matched the outfit perfectly. She dropped her bag on a chair in the corner and pulled another one up next to me.
Steve walked in right as she gave me a peck on the lips. "Oh, sorry."
"No, Steve. It's fine. Don't worry about it." I gulped down the last of my martini as he put one in front of Alley. She sipped it and smiled at me.
"Can you give us a bottle of the Caymus Special Select 1991." I looked around the table, "I figure since we're in California," shrugging my shoulders.
Marvin walked in as I said it, "I'll get that for you right away, Michael. Megan agreed to come in."
"Thank you so much, Marvin. You are wonderful, my friend!"
"Now, I'm guessing you also have other plans for this evening to be eventful?" His right eyebrow was raised and a grin was stretching wider by the second.
"Steve, we will take four Fillet's and four Kansas City Strips. Along with four sides of your choosing, except 1 has to be Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Tell Chef to cook the steaks medium rare and to make a different sauce and presentation for each." I stopped and looked around the table, "Does that sound good to everyone?" Nods, nods and more nods.
"Marvin, please, find the youngest couple in the restaurant on a date and tell them I'm buying their meal. Then put 2 bottles of Crystal on ice for later." I smiled and took a sip of Alley's martini.
"Yes, sir. That sounds like a lot of fun! " He looked a little taken back for a moment and added, "Wait, and...."
"Good man! Everyone that is here in the restaurant right now gets desert." I smiled all around the table. "Now that is fun!"
"Very good!" Marvin walked over to the Wine gate and walked in. He found the bottles he was looking for very quickly and came back with two bottles. "We have more. I know you like to drink the same thing once you start," he gave me a wink as he uncorked the bottle with a CO2 wine key.
Alley put her hand on my knee as Marvin poured out a tiny bit of the wine into a glass on the table for me to test. Swirling the wine first, I sipped it. It wasn't corked so I nodded. In the middle of the table was a large decanter he poured the bottle into. Then he poured a glass for me. I took a much bigger sip and leaned back with my thoughts off in oblivion.
Finally, the moment had come to think about what had happened earlier that day. I watched as Bob ate more Caviar and flashed the memory of him tackling me in my head. Those shots weren't meant for Fred Willis and I knew it. They were too close to my head. Fred was just the wrong height and in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It didn't surprise me that someone would try to kill me. It surprised me someone would do it in broad daylight. Risk versus reward can drive such a thing and they came pretty close. I didn't have any clue how I was able to spin out of the way how I did. Somehow I saw the bullet in my mind as it passed me.
Remembering every part of each event, from Bob's name and images of his family to Fred Willis' name flashing through my head, I could remember my eye's twitching just like with Megan's name each time I remember the haze over my vision. They were all sign's that had repeated in the same way when I saw all these things.
Leaning back in my chair I closed my eyes and focused on the moment I spun out of the way of the first bullet. Did I see the shooter's face? Focusing so hard and intense I could feel my eyes twitch as I saw that moment like I was there again. Spinning around the bullet in slow motion, I caught a glimpse on the roof of the building across the street. Slowing it down like going frame by frame on a video player, I could see the dark long hair of someone on the building but couldn't make it out. They were too far away for me to get a detailed look.
Opening my eyes, which were a bit hazy, I blinked to clear them. The room came back into focus as I saw Bob and Remy finishing the oysters.
"Can you pass the Caviar, please?" Bob slid it over to me and I put some on a cracker. It was so good and then I took a sip of wine which just made it better.
Bob looked at me, "You alright? You seem a little distracted all of a sudden." His concern was refreshing and I couldn't wait to have it around all the time.
"Yes, I'm great!" I put my hand on Alley's which was on my leg. "How could I not be? Great food, great drink, and even better company." She blinked as my eyes met hers and she gave me a kiss. I took another swig of wine.
My eyes twitched all of a sudden and I was pulled up out of my seat and over to the top of the stairs. To my amazement in the dining room below was Fred Willis. He was with four other men in suits and a woman in a velvet bright red dress. Deciding I needed to figure out what the hell was going on, I stood up from my chair and moved closer to the stairs.
I turned around and Bob was right behind me. "How did you pick this restaurant?" I was showing a little bit of tension.
"I heard two security guards at the building talking about the place when I was coordinating the search for the shooter. Actually, it was the door guy that said it to them. Why?"
My heart started to race and I could feel my breathing change. Looking down at the table Fred Willis was sitting at, I noticed one of the guys across from him, wearing a suit, had black tactical boots on. Pounding out of my chest, I could feel two hearts beating inside in an anxious double rhythm.
Bob grabbed me to hold me up when a young man in a shabby suit followed closely by a young woman in an elegant dress appeared at the top steps.
"Hey, are you the one that decided to insult me by trying to pay for dinner?!" Anger seethed out of the young man, who happen to be older than I was.
Bob jumped in before I could collect my thoughts. My vision was starting to haze over as Bob said, "You have the wrong idea. He was just trying to do something nice for someone." Bob placed his left hand on my stomach and pushed me back. His right hand was reaching behind his jacket for what was tucked in his pants.
The young man was too angry to quit, "So now I'm a play thing for some rich kid? Is that it?" He took a step further up the stairs. I could feel my left hand start to twitch and my eyes doing the same as I closed them. In my mind I could see the guy swing his right hand with a knife in it. As it came around I saw myself in my chair next to Alley.
"Oh my god!" from what sounded like Remy.
Blinking my eyes as I opened them, I could see Bob looking over his shoulder with his Glock in his right hand and the man's right hand in his left. Everyone in the room was staring at me sitting in my chair with their jaws wide open.
It was dead silent in the Wine Room as I reached for my wine trying to look like I meant to do whatever it was they were looking at. At first I couldn't remember what had just happened. I thought I might have spilled wine on myself as I looked down at my shirt.
Then it came back to me in a flash. I was at the top of the stairs looking down at Fred Willis and his table when the man came up the stairs angry at me.
He dropped the knife from his hand. "Umm," his voice was crackling and shaking. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!" as he backed down a step.
Bob decided to play along with it, "Don't you have something else to say to the man?"
"Oh, yes. Thank you. Thank you so much!" He retreated faster than Stonewall Jackson at Bull Run. He grabbed his date as they fled down the stairs.
Bob turned and holstered the Glock in his pants. He watched me all the way back to his seat. Crossing my legs as I held the wine glass in one hand, I put it up to my mouth and it started to shake violently and spilled all over my pants and jacket. Instead of attempting to put it down I just tossed it on the floor beside me and watched it shatter, splashing the rest of the wine all over.
Putting my hands over my face I leaned forward as my body started to shake from shock. Every tiny detail of every moment that just passed sparked into my mind. It threw me back in the chair which flipped backward onto the floor. I heard Alley yell out and what I could only guess was Bob's lumbering footsteps as I faded and then was totally out cold.