Chapter 1

Work…and life…had become incredibly unfulfilling. I signed papers and filed papers and copied papers. I had never been so sick of papers in my entire life. I would return home to my cat, Othello. He’d greet me with his sleepy, green, cat eyes and scurry off somewhere. I’d make dinner for myself, watch television, and go to bed. Then, begrudgingly, do it all over again the next day.

I owned my own publishing company and had a respectable amount of money for someone my age. I shouldn’t be complaining, but I really wanted something more from my life. I only worked often because most of the time I had nothing better to do.

“Hey, Mr. Basso, I have this month’s reviews all done.” I looked over at Emily, my assistant. She was a young woman, about nine years younger than I was. I was 31 years old, but sadly only barely looked older than 18. My baby face and short, slim stature often mystified people. I guess it was a blessing and a curse.

“Thanks Emily.” I smiled. “You’re a life saver.” She smiled and flipped her wavy blond hair over her shoulder. “You can leave early today if you want.” It was Friday and she seemed to have a life outside of work, not everyone was boring and monotonous.

“Oh, thanks Mr. Basso.” She grinned. She was up to something. “Do you want to go out with me and meet up with a friend of mine?” I felt my face burn red. I should've said yes. It was an opportunity to have some fun.

“Oh, I don’t think you’d want to hang out with me…” I said as I focused on something other than her. She laughed.

“It’ll be fun!” she said enthusiastically. “We can meet up here at eight.” She turned on her heel and strutted out of my office. I guess I had to be here at eight.

I went home and got changed. It took me an entire hour to decide if I should change or not. I mean, I was at the office until six, so I thought it would be okay, but then I was scared I would be the only person in work attire.

I spotted Emily standing by the entrance to the office building and she waved me over. She wore a tight red dress and heels so tall I hoped she wouldn’t fall. She stood about four inches taller than me with them on. I was about 5’6.

“Hey Mr. Basso,” she said with a smile. “My friend will be meeting us at the club.” She flipped her hair.

“Oh, okay….and you can call me Robin outside of the office.” She smiled. I was a bit embarrassed by my first name. It didn’t seem masculine enough. My parents both were very into birds when they had me.

“So, are we taking your car or mine?” she asked. “’Cause my car might clunk out on us.”

“Oh, then we can take my car.” We walked over to where I parked and she got in. I got in too. She directed me on where to go and I pulled into a parking lot. The club’s name was “Dudes” and Emily and I went up to the entrance. The bouncer let Emily go on ahead.

“I.D,” he said in a deep, bored voice. He was very tall, and I think he might have been Native American. He was wide and his hair was long and black.

“Oh, okay…” I pulled out my wallet from the back pocket of my jeans. I pulled out my driver’s license and handed it to him. He looked at it, then at me.

“This is a great fake I.D, kid.” He grinned. “Who’d you get it from?”

“It’s not a fake” I said. “I am 31, so don’t call me kid.” He laughed at me like I was foolish and I think it upset me more than it should have.

“Go on in, man.” I walked past him and caught up with Emily. She had stopped to wait for me. She was so smiley…like, all of the time. We found a table close to the main stage and sat down. I wondered where her friend was. Would they meet us here?