(Author's Note: Legal Disclaimer: All names, places, trademarks and copywrites belong to their respective owners; I have not intended to defame them in anyway, nor claim to own any of the advertisements in this fan fiction. This is for entertainment purposes only.)
Chapter 4: The Blue Lagoon
When Stan said this place was swanky, he meant it. Everything was brand new and sparkled in the lights of the hanging crystal chandeliers. The floors gleamed with wax and the bar looked a mile long, under-lit with blue neon lights. Mike's cab pulled up to the front door's where a valet opened the car door and waved him on. The cover charge was an insane 20 dollars but once inside, he knew why.
It looked like everyone from the office was at the gathering: Stan and Peggy were sitting at the bar talking, Ken was dancing with a girl on the floor, copied by Harry who clearly had no coordination whatsoever. Some of the secretaries were crowded at the bar and the others, who were prettier, had been asked to dance and were gallivanting about. Mike stood still by the entryway for a moment; his eyes quickly scanning the room. He saw Roger and Don sitting at the far end of the bar. Don looked, saw him, and waved him over.
Mike crossed the dance floor, avoided the flock of dancers, and approached Don and Roger.
"There he is, the man of the hour!" Roger was clearly already drunk at this point. "I hear you grabbed us the account today."
"Well Don really had the grip on that…"
Roger cut him off. "Oh don't be so bashful boy, you earned this. 3 days after we hire you, you land an account? I don't even think Don could do that." Don laughed half-heartedly and turned to the barman. "Hey could we get three cherry hookers over here?"
"Well thank you none the less."
Roger smiled drunkenly. "Enjoy the drink." The barman came over and put the drinks down."
"I thought you said you weren't coming?" Mike motioned to Don
"I wasn't, until this old bear made me his ride home." Don smiled at Roger who was clearly deep in thought staring at the wall.
"Wouldn't want to crash that nice car." Mike took a sip of his drink.
"Certainly not." Don concluded. Just then Peggy walked over
"You really stitched up that deal today Mike. Nice job." She smiled and he returned the favour.
"Thanks Peggy. I'm starting to see how this place works." He paused a moment then looked over to Stan, who was now drinking alone at the bar. "Go ask Stan to dance." Mike said broadly.
"Huh?" Peggy seemed taken aback.
"Go ask him to dance! He's probably been waiting for it. Go ask him!" Peggy started blushing.
"Oh I don't know, he's a work colleague, I can't get into anything inti…."
"Just ask him, to dance" Mike repeated gesturing to him. Peggy thought a moment, flipped around and began walking towards Stan. Mike looked over and after a moment of them talking Stan stood, smiled, and walked Peggy to the dance floor.
"And a matchmaker to boot, where'd you say you were from?" Roger leaned over and almost fell back off his chair. Just then, Ken ran over.
"Mikey! There you are, thought that you'd ditched or something."
"Couldn't miss the party of the year." He chuckled.
"Walk with me." Ken asserted. Mike waved to Don and Roger and followed him away. Eventually they walked up to a beautiful young girl, maybe in her early to mid-twenties. She was wearing a pretty green dress with paisleys all over it.
"Michael, this is my fiancée, Cynthia. Cynthia, this is Michael Falco, a new associate at the firm."
"Pleasure to meet you." She said excitedly. Mike took her and shook it
"Likewise." He looked over to Ken and back to Cynthia. "You hold on to him. He's something else, that's for sure" They all laughed.
"Did you see Harry and his wife? The guy needs to go to a dancing class or something." Ken spun around just in time to see Harry drop his wife onto the floor, and pick her up again.
"Oh lord" he laughed. Suddenly Mike felt a hand touch his lower back and wrap around.
"Hope I didn't miss anything." A high voice said from beside him.
"No Joan, I think you walked in just in time to see Harry kill his wife while dancing" Ken pointed to the dance floor. Joan began laughing as she watched Harry do twirls.
"I hope he realizes that she is supposed to twirl."
"Oh he has no idea." Mike smiled. "Can I buy you a drink?" he motioned to the bar.
"I'd like one, thank you." Mike lead the way and they both took seats on two open stools.
"I hear from numerous sources you took a stand in the meeting." She waved the tender over and ordered. "Just a brandy."
"I'll have scotch on the rocks. You could say that. He just needed a nudge in the right direction. Don had it completely under control though."
"Your modesty surprises me. Most men in this business aren't afraid to yell to the heavens how great they are."
"I guess I'm a rare breed then." The drinks arrived and Mike took a sip. "What drew you here? You don't seem like the partying type. And where would Mr. Harris be this fine evening?" Mike cocked an eyebrow with the glass to his lips.
"I felt like I needed to get out." She took a small sip. "Honestly I don't know. He's in Vietnam somewhere but he isn't allowed to say. He signed up for the army because he thought it was an easy out and I wouldn't have to work. I guess the game fell against his favour." Mike sat in silence, took a large swig, then said calmly,
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry. I shouldn't have asked." He looked into the bar mirror distantly.
"It's alright. Life comes at you fast and hits hard." Mike quickly looked back at Joan,
"What's Rogers deal? Sometimes he's open armed; other times when I'm around you he's bitter and angry." Joan put the glass down on the bar and replied
"Roger and I were together years ago. He still feels like he owns me and that no one else can flirt with me nor talk with me."
"Do you love him?" Mike looked inquisitively at her.
"I care for him deeply but I've moved on. Roger has his new wife now and I don't want a hand in that. He's made his bed and so have I"
"To new beds." They both smiled and clinked glasses.
"Look at them. God Don I'm so old. I've lost the charm." Roger moped.
"Your wife is beautiful, you're rich, you have nothing to cry about."
"But he's flirting with my Red. He has my girl!" Roger nearly yelled this.
"You forfeited those rights long ago. Quick clinging to the sinking ship and let go." Don lifted his glass and finished it off.
"I can't, I still love her..."
"Get over yourself Roger. You've already divorced once and lost half of everything you own. You're never satisfied. Joan's married now anyway."
"Marriage never stopped me before" Roger winked drunkenly.
"We need to get you home." Don stood from his chair and paid their bill.
"Agh, you're such a killjoy." Roger stood up, stumbled around before he steadied himself. "Lead on Macbeth!"
"It's MacDuff." Don sighed, grabbed Roger by the shoulder, and began walking him across the floor to the exit. Before they got there Roger managed to get Mike's attention.
"You're playing with fire kid! You'll get burned!" He laughed loudly and stumbled out the door.
"I like fire" Mike laughed and Joan simply smiled. Suddenly the band switched from upbeat rock and roll to a slower song. Patsy Cline's Crazy came blaring through the speaker and a woman dressed in purple stood on stage.
"This one's for the couples." She began singing as Kenny and Harry grabbed their wives and took them to the dance floor. Mike's gut wrenched into a knot and the next words he said came out slow and jumbled.
"Would you care to... To uh... You know..."
"I'd like that" Mike stood with Joan and he escorted her to the crowded dance floor. He put his one hand on her hip and grasped her other hand in his. They swung slowly in the dimly lit ballroom to Crazy. Mike looked into Joan's deep blue eyes and watched her pupils dilate as she looked into his. Suddenly he realized how beautiful she was and how much he wanted her.
Joan's brain was pained with so many thoughts. Should I have danced with him? He is extremely handsome, but I just don't know. She looked further into his eyes and saw the good in him. Slowly she moved closer to him and wrapped her arm around his back and nestled her head into his shoulder. His coat was so soft and she could nearly hear his heartbeat through the coat. She smiled to herself.
The song jumped up a key and Mike knew it was coming to end soon. He began slowing dancing and eventually as the woman onstage belted out the last sentence he brought his hand to her silky face. Joan looked up and into his eyes. Mike leaned in slowly and began kissing her, at first gently then more passionately as the piano played them out.
As she stood there kissing him, Joan felt an odd ease. One she hadn't felt in a long time. She thought her stomach would tense up and become scared but it relaxed her and pleased her. The blood ran to her cheeks and they turned to rose. Mike opened his eyes just as Joan opened hers. He looked longingly into her eyes and clutched her hand for a moment before speaking.
"Shall we have one more drink?" Joan nodded smiling.
Oh Donna by Ritchie Valens began playing and Ken was still swinging with Cynthia. He was rocking her back and forth and realizing how much he loved her. Their first date flew by in his head, their first kiss, all the romantic outings they had. He pulled her away slowly and kissed her gently saying "I love you." Harry was trying to do the same thing but just much more awkwardly and drawn out.
20 feet away, Stan and Peggy were slow dancing.
"I was never one for this cheesy stuff. Slow dancing, I mean c'mon, how old are we?" Stan laughed looking around.
"Yeah I know right, it's not my thing either." The both of them wouldn't look into each other's eyes. "Well it's kind of okay with you." She turned to him finally. Stan turned to her,
"Yeah… You make this bearable. It's borderline alright."
"If they would just play a faster song..." Peggy was cut off by Stan's lips pressing upon hers. At first she resisted in horror but slowly as they kissed she let go. He was really quite good at it actually, compared to her last fling. Peggy and Stan kissed until the song finally ended.
The yellow striped Chevy Bel-Air pulled up out front of Joan's apartment building and she stepped out. Michael had found some quick excuse to admit they were heading the same direction, when in fact it was the complete opposite. Mike stepped out behind her and shut the door.
"And where are you going mister?" Joan played into it.
"I was hoping I could use the bathroom and then I could be on my way?" Joan laughed
"Yes I think that's quite alright." She led the way through the doors and up to her floor. Unlocking the door, Joan dropped her bag and removed her gloves. As soon as she had walked further in Mike put his arms around her and began kissing her again, quite passionately this time. Joan put her back into it and closed her eyes. He was forceful yet gentle at the same time.
Soon Joan was undoing the buttons on his shirt and he slowly undid the zipper on her dress and it slipped of her shoulders gently. She pulled herself closer and their skin touched softly. Mike wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tightly in. Slowly by the belt, Joan pulled him towards the bedroom.