Chapter 8 - Chronic Halitosis

Stuart Potter had been lounging in a reclusive section of Club Atlas with several of his cohorts for the better part of an hour before Sarah entered the vibrant nightclub. He was informed of her arrival by a text message from the sentry he had stationed at the bar facing the entrance – this was a surprise. Stuart had expected to be informed of her presence by the frequency scanning application he had built into his Palm Treo PDA. Immediately he knew that adjustments were necessary. But why so early this evening?

Sarah passed through the crowd surrounding the front bar and headed towards the VIP rooms in the back of the club where she knew she would have easy access to two private bars. As she strolled past the spacious dance floor she saw several regulars and gave them a cunning wink and smile as a social nicety and token of recognition without the burden of stopping for a conversation. Aren’t they glad to know me – she thought.

Joe Reynolds, the young hard-working assistant manager, approached her with glowing smile. Sarah knew Joe was infatuated with her – which she used to her benefit more often than not. Although Joe earned a decent living and was well connected through his position at Atlas, Sarah considered him to be an inferior male compared to the likes of the club’s VIPs that she preferred. Also, Joe had been known to make poor choices in the woman he took home with him which Sarah considered to be fundamental flaw in his reputation with which she never wanted to be associated.

“Buona sera, signora Simpson” Joe uttered in a slightly nervous and fake Italian accent. “Good evening to you my friend” Sarah replied. “Would you like a drink? Your usual?” Joe responded. “Yes, please. Thank you dear. I’ll be in the red room” Sarah countered. “Have you seen Tony tonight?” she asked as she parted. “He’s already back there” Joe called after her – an answer that was expected and one that Sarah paid no attention to. She knew Tony was here because his elegant black Maybach was parked in a reserved spot in front of the club. Sarah, like many other beautiful woman, was drawn to Tony Gautrachs like a moth to a flame. She proceeded towards the private red room where she knew he held court on Friday nights.

Joe headed to the bar to fetch a very special chocolate martini for Ms. Simpson. Joe was back on duty and ready for anything the crowd Sarah hung out with could present him with tonight.