The spring clean continues. Set in s1, a re-imagining if you like...
Eternal gratitude for the reviews of previous chapters! xx
The heavy door came to a close behind Cal as he stepped into the darkly lit bustling restaurant. He'd never been to it before, but knew all about it and its reputation for discretion. Politicians and higher-ups choosing it to wine and dine their mistresses with no questions asked and second glances.
"Table for two?" Cal asked in a muted voice, hands dug deep into his pockets as he scanned the rooms.
The maitre'd ran a pen down his list and looked over his glasses at him, his head still bowed. "Where is your other party?" he snarled.
Cal looked over to the busy bar, finding a blonde smiling at him but looking away when their gazes met. Bingo. He pointed with a grin, "Over there."
"Very well," he sighed, looking between the two and scribbling on his page.
Cal patted his arm as he past, making his way over to the girl. He squeezed himself into a gap in front of her. "Hi," he smirked.
"Hey, I'm Amber," her head tilted to one side, feeding the thin red straw between ruby red lips.
"Cal," he smirked, taking her hand and placing a kiss on her fingers. "Amber, will you do something for me?"
She smirked, "...Probably."
He grinned, watching her tongue wrap around the straw. "Fiesty, I like that." He motioned for the bar tender, ordering a round for himself and Amber. "I have some...business to attend to. Will you come find me in ten minutes? Tell me the table is ready?"
Her hip cocked to one side, "hmm... what will that get me?"
"Eternal gratitude and a slap-up meal with yours truly?"
She pretended to think about it. "Go on then."
Cal smirked. "Excellent. Ten minutes, beautiful." He turned into the bar, cleared his throat and straightened his shoulders. Pulling the scotch to his lips, he turned on his heel and looked into the other room, between the tables of hushed-toned couples and dark suited businessmen.
He watched as Alec Foster whispered something into the ear of a stunning blonde woman.
She laughed, her cheeks blushing as she brought a hand up to cover her mouth. Alec leant back, grinning, obviously very proud of himself. His smile quickly faltered when he set sight on Cal.
Cal whispered "Show time," to Amber and meandered over to his table, acting oblivious to the scene he'd just witnessed.
He took a deep breath, burying the white hot anger that bubbled in his stomach. "Alec! I thought that was you. How are you, mate?" he spun the free chair around, not waiting for the invitation, and sat with his arms across the back. He leant over the table and slapped Alec's arm - maybe a bit harder than he had intended. "I'm just waiting for my table," he looked over his shoulder to where Amber was watching. She gave a little wave. "Gorgeous, isn't she? Speaking of gorgeous," he turned to Alec's lady friend, "Where's his manners, eh? I'm Cal Lightman, friend of his wife, Gillian. Wow, you really are beautiful. What are you doing sat with this guy, eh?" he laughed, slapping Alec's arm again, enjoying the flinch of pain that flashed across his features.
"Hi," she smiled widely. She was playing the innocent act well, but Cal could see the fear in her eyes. "I'm Christine."
Cal shook her hand, "Lovely to meet you. You've known Alec long?"
"A-a few years," she faltered, her eyes flicking to Alec.
"Cal-"
"Oh, so you must have met Gillian then? His wife? Lovely woman. Really. Beautiful, intelligent... only a fool would want to lose that."
"Cal."
Cal dropped the smile, his eyes narrowing and jaw setting. He could have played that game all day, but the fear was more than evident on Alec's reddening face. "Okay, here's what's gonna happen. I am not going to tell Gillian what I saw here, and believe me, I saw enough. But neither are you. You are, however, going to break up with her. You're going to tell her that you're using again, back on the white stuff. She will never know about Christine here. Never. And it's going to happen by the end of the week."
Alec shifted in his seat, fingers rubbing at his furrowed brow as he tried to save some semblance of his masculinity. "And if I don't?"
Cal didn't say a word. Didn't need to. He just darted his tongue out to lick his lips and continued to stare directly at him. He watched as Alec swallowed and dropped his eye line.
"End of the week," Alec nodded.
"Honey? The table's ready," Amber announced behind him, rubbing a hand over his back.
Cal snapped back to the smile, turning the intimidation act off like a switch. "Coming, love. Alec, always a pleasure. Christine, lovely to meet you." He tucked the chair back beneath the table, wrapped an arm around Amber's waist and guided her back to the bar.