Struck by Love

After work, Laura met her best friend Sarah at their favorite lounge, Painter’s Cove in Brooklyn. It was a cozy little place with live music and murals all over the walls, which were painted by local artists. Laura loved the place. It was their neighborhood haunt. The drinks weren’t too expensive and the people were friendly and welcoming. Not like the places in Manhattan, where they felt the heat of condescending, disapproving looks for not being up to snuff. The two 28-year old friends had tried it once, but had felt very uncomfortable with the rest of the patrons. The women looked like they came straight of the fashion magazines they were so done up and wearing expensive designer clothes and shoes. They were also stick thin, unlike Laura's and Sarah’s curvier forms. The girls also got sticker shock once the bill came. It was $20 plus tip for each of their glasses of wine. Way out of their budgets. Since then, they had stuck closer to home, where they fit in and didn’t h

“Do you need to go?” he asked. He gave her a compelling look, one that said, Don’t go. “No, I’ve got a couple of minutes,” she said, now gazing at his pillowy lips. She thought of how good it would likely feel to kiss them. “Good,” he replied. “There a table over there,” he said, pointing to a cozy corner spot. “Allow me,” he said, as he reached for her work bag. “Okay, thanks,” she said, trying to come out of the erogenous trance he had her in. His hand brushed her shoulder ever so slightly as he took the bag off of her shoulder. Her skin tingled with exhilaration. Calm down, girl, she admonished herself. She was stunned by the strong reaction she had to this man. Angelo pulled out a chair for her. She sat down. She straightened out her slim-fitting skirt that had ridden up her legs a little. He stole a glance at her shapely legs as she adjusted her black skirt and then placed her workbag on an extra chair. He slid the other chair a bit closer to hers and

Laura walked into the office the next morning a little bleary-eyed and foggy-brained. She’d had trouble sleeping, wondering when or if Angelo would call, even though it had only been one day. He was already consuming her thoughts. As a result, she was running late and hadn’t had time to stop for a coffee. Not that she expected him to be there again. She was just longing for a good, strong brew. Raquel came charging around the corner, her high platform heels clicking on the warm, honey-colored hardwood floors that were present throughout the Kinetic offices, except for the corner offices and conference rooms. “Good, you’re here. Come with me. We have a big day ahead of us.” “What’s going on?” Laura asked as she followed her. She dropped her bags off at her desk as they passed by. She threw her coat on top of them and hurried after her boss. The walls of Kinetic were adorned with abstract paintings from local artists. It was one of the ways they supported the community a

That night after work, Laura picked up the phone and called her best friend. “Sarah,” Laura said, “it’s me. I hope you don’t think I’m crazy, but I need your help.” “Sure, with what?” “I need your reporter skills. There’s a problem I’d like you to investigate.” “Of course,” she said. “Are you in trouble?” “Not me, someone else.” She hesitated. She wasn’t altogether sure if she should be doing this. “Who then?” “It’s about Angelo’s business,” she said. “Say what?” “I don’t want to talk about it over the phone, can you come over?” “Yeah, of course, you’ve got me curious. I’m just having dinner, can I come by in about an hour?” “Sounds good, thanks,” Laura said. “See you then,” Sarah said and hung up the phone. Laura decided to make some notes while she waited. She sat down at her computer and did a search for negative news on Tsar Enterprises. She found over a dozen instances. All recent. All saying similar things. All anonymous. S

Laura slept fitfully that night. Her phone never rang. She had waited so long, hoping it would ring, that it was too late to call Sarah by the time she finally realized that Angelo wasn’t going to call. How did he think it was okay not to call her under the circumstances? With her boss brazenly hitting on him? she wondered. She was tied in knots. He obviously didn’t care. On one hand, she dreaded going into work that morning, and yet on the other, she was anxious to get there to get a sense of where things were at. She walked past Coffee Haven. She hesitated, considering going in, but decided to keep walking out of spite. He probably wasn’t in there anyway, she told herself. Just keep walking and don’t let them make a bigger fool out of you. She reached the office and went around back to see if Raquel’s car was there. It wasn’t. She set her shoulders and tried to quell the upset feelings that were gripping her. She’d definitely be calling Sarah tonight. She’d give her