The Antagonist

"Jeff, we have a court at 11:30 and lunch with Henderson at 1:00. Is that going to be enough time?"

Jeff Huber turned his attention from the briefs on his desk and grinned at his friend.

"When has it taken you longer than twenty minutes to blow me away on the court?" He grinned.

His friend, David slapped his hand against the doorway of Jeff's office, then winked and passed on down the hall.

Jeff pressed for his assistant. "Carla, can you bring me the Henderson file?"

There was no response; instead a pretty dark-haired woman entered Jeff's office. She laid the file on his desk.

"I heard David's comment, thought you'd want the file. Oh, and if you want my opinion," she hesitated until Jeff waved her on. "David might beat you on the racket ball court but he doesn't hold a candle to you when it comes to class."

Carla's advances were always clear to Jeff, and as always he sidestepped her.

"I wish my wife agreed with you on that point. But, thanks for the vote of confidence."

"Well, anytime she's ready to pass the torch..." Carla didn't need to finish the sentence. She had said it all before.

Jeff Huber was the idol of the office with his good looks, impeccable style and charm.

The inner buzzer sounded.

"Your wife is on two," Carla announced.

"Libby," Jeff answered the call.

"Jeff, didn't you tell me the furnace man was coming on Thursday?" Libby Huber asked.

"Libby, don't bother me at the office with your household problems." Jeff hissed into the received. He was annoyed, irritated by her constant need of reassurance. Why couldn't she do things on her own? Must he do everything?

"I'm sorry. You know if I do it wrong you get angry with me, I was just trying to..."

"To bother me. I am the one who works a job, you know. I have to make the money to pay for everything."

He emphasized everything in a slow drawl that made Libby cringe.

Carla buzzed him. "Mr. Henderson is on line one."

Jeff disconnected his wife and pushed line one.

"Mr. Henderson, so glad you called. I was just going over your file for the meeting today." Jeff hoped he sounded efficient.

"That's what I like about you, Jeff, always on top of things. I'm calling to tell you a change in the restaurant for lunch. My secretary couldn't get reservations at 'La Bodice's but she did make 12:30 reservations at that new place by the park. It's called Marcello's. Do you know it?"

"Yes Sir. That's a nice place. I hear it's a four star. 12:30 will be fine. I look forward to our meeting. I'm hoping with the new proposals I'll be able to persuade you to increase your account with us."

"Fine. If anyone could do that, it would be you Jeff. See you at 12:30."

Jeff jotted down the restaurant name and time in his date book. He leaned back in his chair swiveling so that he could enjoy the view from his ninth-floor office.

The city was spectacular today. There seemed to be a golden glow bouncing off the rooftops, gliding up and down the external elevators, and even glowing off the baldheads of pedestrians.

Jeff smiled. He knew that golden glow was all for him- the golden boy. The Henderson account was in his back pocket. There was no one to stop him now, certainly not David, and not Libby.

"Hey Buddy," David called from the office doorway. "You about ready to go?"

"You run on ahead, Libby's got a problem at home with a workman. I'll run by the apartment and check it out and meet you at the club. Oh," Jeff handed David a stick 'em note in his handwriting. "Henderson called. There's a change in the restaurant and time. 1:30 at Benedictine's on Madison."

"Cool. See you there, pal."

Jeff arranged the file and other papers in his leather case. He was smiling. His dimples pressed into clean-shaven cheeks as he mentally practiced the explanation for the mix-up. 'Sorry David, Henderson's secretary called after you left the office...I had no way to contact you...the workman at the apartment took longer than I expected...Libby was giving me grief.' Any one of them would do. He'd be forgiven, he always was.

"Carla, I'll be out of the office until around 4:00."

"No problem, Jeff. I'll be here if you need me."

Jeff heard the extension on 'me' but pretended he didn't. He pressed the down button. As soon as the elevator doors closed Carla Rouser hurried into Jeff's office.

She closed the door. She carried another Henderson file. The original and correct Henderson file, not the one she gave to Jeff. She placed the call.

"Libby? Hi, this is Carla. Jeff was hoping you could meet him at lunch at 1:30 at Benedictine's on Madison? Oh good, and Libby, a little girl advice- wear that blue one you wore to the company party. Oh yes, girl that one always gets action."

Carla smiled as she placed the call.

"Mr. Henderson's secretary, please." She studied her nails as she waited to be connected. "Louise? Good job. Who did you get to make the call? Sure he bought it. Thanks again, sweetie."

Carla Rouser smiled. "Men, they are clueless." She tucked the correct file into her briefcase and headed for her appointment with Henderson at La Bodice's.