Tony arrives home at 05:30, after doing some grocery shopping. He is in a good mood, his conversation with Jennifer had released that pressure. He is looking forward to his evening alone with Angela, talking about what had happened between Jennifer and him and hopefully some relaxation. ~Maybe some cuddling.~ He thinks. ~Or maybe more.~ He smiles at his last thought.
That's when he notices the light on the answering machine flashing. He puts the groceries on the side table and hits play.
"Hi Tony. I uh I will be later tonight, probably not in time for dinner. Jack and I are negotiating with Mr. Stevens. He likes the campaign and signed on to the bower agency. He is leaving tomorrow so the contract must be drawn up tonight. We might just order food. I am sorry for this late message. Bye." His heart sinks when he hears that last click.
"There goes our night." He says to himself, grabbing his groceries. He puts everything away and decides on making himself a grilled cheese sandwich.
XXXXX
"You know I won't sign this tonight don't you?" Cal says when Angela walks back into the room.
"I wasn't expecting that Cal." She smiles. "This is just our first draft, maybe you can add somethings or maybe you want some things left out of it. But I wouldn't make any decisions before talking to your own lawyer."
He looks at her in surprise.
"You seem surprised?" she asks.
"Well yeah, most companies just want to make a quick buck and here you are advising me to let this be checked out by my lawyer."
"Like I said before, I am very proud of my agency and its employees. I pride myself in trying to be as honest as one can without losing business." She winks. "And besides I have put my name on this agency, so it has to be an agency I am proud of and can stand behind."
"I knew I choose the right agency." Cal smiles. "Jack here told me about your method of shooting commercials and which direction you usually take with the advertisements. As we want to get now on the East Coast I do rely on your experience here."
"Did you also see that we do have quite some experience on the West Coast? I know your products are better known there, but it might be an idea for you to also advertise there. Of course this all your own opinion. Just know that you have divers options with this campaign."
"How much extra will that cost me?" Cal laughs.
"It will mean some more investment on your part and I understand if you don't want or can invest right away. Just know that we can provide on the West Coast."
When Angela looks at her phone it's already 8pm, her stomach is growling.
"Jack, I think we've got this now. Please thank Carol for me and say hi." Angela smiles.
"Thanks boss!" Jack smiles. "Nice doing business with you Mr. St.. I mean Cal!"
"Thank you Jack, can't wait what the future holds for our companies." He shakes hands with Jack as he winks at Angela.
She gives him a soft smile. "See you tomorrow Jack."
"Good evening." Jack leaves.
"So Angela?" Cal gets up.
Angela stretches her back. "What is it Cal?"
"You must be starving!" He smiles. "I know I am! Would you like to grab some dinner together? Sort of celebrate our corporate venture."
Thinking about Tony she wants to say no, but her stomach is telling her to accept. "That would be lovely."
"Great. What's good around here?" Cal smiles.
"There is a great little diner a couple of blocks from here. We could go there."
"Sounds great. Let's go, Angela." He offers his arm.
Angela doubts for a second, then takes his arm. "Let me get my coat and bag first."
XXXXX
Tony turns on the TV. Flicking through the stations he doesn't see anything he likes, but eventually settling on the best of the NBA.
Then the phone rings, he immediately picks up. "Angela?"
"No dad, it's me!"
"Sam! Hi sweetheart, how are you? How is Florida?"
"It's really lovely here. I've made some friends. Work is fun and well the weather is amazing for now. But they say it's going to storm for the next couple of days."
"Oh stay safe sweetheart!"
"I will dad, don't worry. So did Jonathan leave today?"
"Yeah he did, it is going to be quiet with everyone gone."
"When will he arrive in Congo?" Sam is curious.
"Some time tomorrow morning. I think about 4 or 5am. Depending on the wind I guess."
"How is Angela doing under the circumstances?"
"She was quite sad when Jonathan left, but in the afternoon she presented that new campaign to her new client."
"Her new client? She banked it didn't she?" She proudly asks.
"Yeah, of course she did."
"I am so proud of her!" Sam meant it.
"Me too."
"So whattya doing dad?
"Watching the best of the NBA. Nothing special." He gives a sad chuckle.
"Where is Angela? Isn't she home?"
"No, she left a message, her client is leaving tomorrow so she needs to seal the deal I guess. I don't know, but she said she'd be later. So I'm just waiting up for her."
"Dad, did she tell you what time she'd be back?"
"No, she didn't. But I hope she won't be too late. I was looking forward to a nice movie night and support her now that Jonathan is so far away."
"You were looking forward to a night alone dad?" Sam presses.
"Yeah.."
"To do what dad?" He could hear the smile in her voice.
"Sa-man-tha." He warned.
"It's okay dad, you've just told me enough!" She laughs.
"Call me after the storm dies down okay?"
"Will do dad! Love ya!"
"Love you too sweetheart."
XXXXX
Cal pulled out the chair for Angela.
"Thank you." She said before sitting down.
Cal sits opposite of her and smiles. "So what's good here?"
"Well actually a lot of things. It's not really chic food, but actually anything on the menu is pretty good. Depends on what you're craving."
"Well I'd love some steak." He smiles.
"I'd like a burger." Angela smiles.
"A burger?" Cal says in surprise. "I am quite surprised, I mean I even feel weird taking you here. You're the type of woman I'd usually take to a fancy French or Italian restaurant."
Angela shyly smiles. "I am also a woman who loves food in general. And tonight I am really craving a burger. The burgers here are really so good!"
"Really good?" Cal smiles.
"Yes they are."
"Can I get you nice folk anything?" The waitress asks.
"I'd love the classic burger with fries. And a lemonade." Angela says.
"Make that two. But I'd like a coke, no lemonade for me." Cal smiles. "And can we get some onion rings and mozzarella sticks?"
"Of course sir." The waitress disappeared.
"You come here often?" Cal was interested in getting to know the interesting business woman opposite of him, she intrigues him.
"Well just sometimes for work. Or when the kids come to the agency."
"Kids? How many do you have?"
"Two." She instinctively says and smiles at her own answer. Samantha had really become her daughter, even if she didn't come from her body, she was her little girl.
"I have three myself." He smiles. "Two boys and a girl. What about you?"
"One boy and one girl." Her smile became sad. "We had two boys and one girl. We fostered a boy, because his grandmother became ill. But well when she got better, she could take care of him again and well he went back. We still miss him."
"We? Who is we?" Cal finds her more intriguing as the minutes pass by.
"Tony and me."
"Is Tony your husband?"
His direct question startles her. "Well actually, no he isn't, he is my best friend. His daughter Samantha and he live with my son and me. And when we were asked to foster Billy, we both just knew he'd fit in perfectly with the rest of us."
"You fostered a child with your best friend? Is his daughter yours? His your son his?" Cal was intrigued.
Angela blushed. "It's a little more complicated than that. You see.. well.. I am sorry I am not speaking very eloquently." She excuses herself. "Tony started working for me almost 7 years ago. He was, well technically still is my housekeeper. But over the years we've become very close." She puts her face in her hands. "I can't believe I just told you that."
"So wait.. you have a live-in housekeeper with a daughter that you consider to be your own, even though she isn't?" He was trying to wrap his head around everything she just said.
With her face still in her hands. "Yes." She looks up. She was a young girl when Tony and she moved in, I've watched and helped her grow into this beautiful, young woman. So yes, I consider her like my own. I love her and can't wait till she gets back from her summer job."
"And Tony loves your son?" Cal was direct, even though his questioning made her nervous, she appreciates his directness.
"Yes, yes he does. Jonathan was so little when Tony moved in. His father had already been gone for quite some time and well.. he needed a male role model. And here was this Macho Italian man wanting to become my housekeeper. So after careful deliberations and some pressure from my mother, I decided to take a chance and hired him. So what about you? Are your wife and you happy?"
"Well my ex-wife is very happy with her new husband." Cal laughs. "We have joint custody of the kids and I think we have well balanced life with our kids. We live nearby each other, so the kids can just go to their schools and one week with me and the next week with their mom. We split amicably, so no fights or hard feelings. And her new husband is an okay guy. He treats the kids very well. So are Tony and you involved?"
"What?" Her voice an octave higher than she intended. "Well no.. we're not."
"So you're single?" he asks.
She didn't feel very comfortable with this question. "Well.. yes.. I am."
"I am happy I chose your agency Angela. You are a fascinating woman. You're honest, intelligent, have a great strategy and you're beautiful."
"Well thank you Cal." She shifts in her seat.
"Here are your burgers!" The waitress gives them their food.
"Thank you." Angela says, she feels very relieved
"You're not used to compliments are you now? Or at least not compliments about your looks." He observed her the rim of his glass, taking a sip. "Well you are a very attractive lady, both inside and out." He winks.
"I have to be honest with you Cal, you observation is correctly. But I also don't mix business with pleasure." She straightened her back. "I mean someone once told me I probably earned my promotion on my back. And I've always pride myself in working hard and not on my back. So to be honest that is why I am.. you know.. not so comfortable."
Cal sits back, cocks his head and smiles. "You see Angela, you got this job because your agency had the best pitch. I was hoping you would have the best pitch because I wasn't enamoured by the other pitches that were given. You kept it simple, you kept it honest and you kept it real." He takes a big bite.
Angela also starts eating her burger.
After he swallows his bite he looks at her. "You didn't get the client because of how you look. But I am a red blooded man and I appreciate beauty when I see it. I do have to disagree, where I am from business and pleasure can coincide hand in hand. I've always prided myself in having a strong personal bond with the companies I've worked with. I also usually take smaller agencies because I prefer to get to know the person I work with. With any ulterior motives."
Angela blushes.
"Don't be embarrassed, I know live in a big city like this is different and I definitely don't take any offense. I have to commend you on your honesty. You just said what was on your mind. Trying to let me down easy in the process." He laughs and takes another bite.
"I feel quite foolish now. But to be fair everything I just told you did happen, I had to fight hard for where I am today. When I worked for a larger company my vice president blatantly told Tony that I had gotten to the position of president due to my performance in the bedroom." Angela feels awkward confessing this to a client, but she does pride herself for having a strong moral compass.
Cal wipes his face and takes a mozzarella stick and eats it. And looks at the embarrassed woman in front of him. "You don't have to feel embarrassed for have standards. So what else do you like to do besides business? Any hobbies?"
"Well honestly owning your own business leaves little time for hobbies. But I like taking in a Broadway show, dancing at the country club and just spending time with my family. Family is very important to me."
"Good, because I 100% agree that family is very important. No one comes before my kids." He smiles.
"How old are your kids? And do you mind telling me their names?" She decides to take the friendly approach, it seems to be working.
Cal's face lights up. "Jason, 16, David, 13 and Maria 10. Hold on." He grabs his wallet and takes out a picture and hands it to Angela.
She watches the 3 smiling kids and the very proud, smiling father. In some ways Cal reminds her of Tony. Proud of his kids, a tad bit macho, funny and great looking. "They are very cute. Or I should say you have some handsome looking sons and a beautiful little girl." She smiles. "I know how teenagers can be." She laughs.
Cal laughs. "Well my boys aren't that bad, just yet." He smiles. "But you're right they probably won't like the term cute."
Angela finishes her burger, takes a couple of onion rings and a mozzarella stick. "These are great." She says holding a onion ring up.
"So would you like some dessert?" Cal asks after finishing his food.
Angela looks at her watch, almost 10pm. "No but I'd like a coffee, it's been a long, hard day."
"A hard day? I mean you got the account. Or did you forget?" Cal winks.
Angela gives a sad chuckle. "I know and I am very happy about it. But.." she stops for a second, trying to compose before going on. "Jonathan, my son, left for Congo today. His father has a job there and he asked Jonathan to come along. He'll be gone for quite some time. He has never been away this long. So.. yeah that was really hard." She bites her lower lip not to cry.
Cal looks at her mouth as she bites her lips. "A true mother." He gives her a warm smile.
XXXXX
Tony checks his watch for the 10th time. 10pm. He is starting to worry. He has called the office 3 times. He got the answering machine. He starts pacing as images of Angela being mugged roll into his head, he shakes his head only to form another image. Angela being assaulted. This time he shakes his head even harder. Angela in a train accident. "Stop it Micelli!" he says to himself.
He walks into the kitchen, which he had already cleaned.. twice. He opens the refrigerator and grabs last night's left over lamb and a beer. He sits at the table and starts eating the lamb. Then opens his beer and takes a swig.
~What is taking her so long?~ he finishes the lamb without actually noticing. Like on automatic pilot he throws away the bones, rinses the plate and putting it in the dishwasher.
~What if he wants fringe benefits for her to have this account?~ He shocks himself. "No idiot, Angela would never do that." He says to himself. ~What about Grant? Wasn't she about to do it with Grant before she got that big promotion as president of Wallace & McQuade?~ His mind was playing tricks on him. He finishes his beer and grabs another one. ~If he makes her an indecent proposal or even thinks about it, I'll pound him.~ He takes another swig of his beer.
XXXXX
After their coffee Angela is about to say her goodbyes.
"I would have preferred it, if you let me pay for dinner Angela." Cal says.
"Well Cal, this is the Bower agency's way of thanking you for your business." She smiles. "I, in my own way, try to get a personal bond with my clients as well."
Angela looks at her clock, she doesn't feel like taking the train home. She is seriously considering to either take a cab or trying to rent a car. But at this hour? She sighs and settles on the train.
"Where are you going to?" Cal asks.
"Home."
Cal laughs. "I got that much, but where is your car parked?"
"Oh I am leaving by train."
"Well ma'am, as a southern gentleman I cannot allow you to go by train. Allow me to take you home."
"It's a long drive back and forth Cal."
"I don't mind and the chauffeur doesn't either. He gets overtime." He smiles. "Please allow me to drive you home, because if anything would happen this time of night, I will never forgive myself." He sees doubt in Angela's eyes. "Please." He pleads. "It's just a drive, nothing more, nothing less. I'd feel so much better knowing you arrived home safely."
"Okay then."
Cal's driver was already standing next to the diner and they got in. Angela rests her head on the neck rest and closes her eyes. Her mind goes to Jonathan, up in the air with his father and Heather. She just wishes she could talk to him. She looks out her window at the night sky, it's a clear night, the stars get brighter as they're leaving the City. She loves this sky, it reminds her of the time Tony and she were up on the billboard. She smiles at the thought of their closeness that evening.
"Penny for your thought?" Cal asks.
"I was just admiring the sky, reminds me of some great times I had with the family." Wise enough to not bring up Tony. "Isn't it beautiful?" she stares up.
"Yes.. yes it is." He says staring at the woman next to him. He couldn't help but admire her. She seemed to have it all, a successful business, a loving family, her own house, beauty, intelligence, grace and a pair of killer legs.
Angela spends the rest of ride talking about the campaign and what her plans were. Hoping he could have the contract checked over by his lawyer soon.
He promises her that he will have the contract drawn up soon.
XXXXX
Every car that drove by, Tony was on his feet, looking through the window. He already downed 6 beers when finally he hears a car stopping. He sprints towards the window and Cal Stevens open the car door then he watches Angela exiting. He feels a relief wash over him. She smiles at the man, they walk around the car and Angela turns. He can't make out what they're talking about, but he watches the scene at hand. Angela smiles at Cal and then he pulls her in for a tight embrace. Angela's hands are at her sides because of her bags. But then Cal kisses her cheeks and Tony doesn't see her pull away. His heart sinks into his shoes as he slumps into the couch.
Outside Cal hugs Angela.
"Oh." She says.
"Thank you for the lovely evening."
"You're welcome I guess."
Before she knows it, he grabs her cheeks and kisses both of them.
Angela quickly steps back. "I'm sorry, but this is just a bit too much for me. I'd like to be friendly, but not this friendly."
"Oh excuse me, you're so right. I apologise. I mean you're single.. I'm single. You're attractive and I am not at all bad looking."
Angela chuckles at his confidence. "I am single, but.." she starts.
"But you're not available." He adds.
She looks up at him. "I guess I'm not."
"I don't know who this Tony is, but he is one lucky guy."
~I wish he would realise that.~ she thinks. "Thank you Cal. Have a great evening."
"You too Angela, I will call you as soon as my lawyer is done."
Angela smiles. "Good night Cal."
"Good night Angela." He sits back in his car.
Angela watches the car leave before entering her house.