Elise - S01 E07

Story 8 months ago

Elise - S01 E07

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 7

As Elise was toweling I got her clothes from the washer dryer. I put them on the bed that minutes before had been the scene of our passion.

I pulled on fresh jeans, a Pink Floyd t-shirt and black Asics trainers.

Elise put on her panties and posed provocatively in front of me.

She giggled and pulled her jeans on then covered her beautiful breasts with her t-shirt. Boots were next and then her jacket.

"To work, James." She said in a mock English accent.

"Yes, milady," I replied. "It will be the automobile."

Elise threw her arms around my neck and said, "One bike ride is not enough" and crushed my lips with hers.

When we got back last night it was dark and Elise did not really see my car as it was hidden by a dust cover. I pulled it off to reveal the car.

"No way! A Mustang? That is just as good as a Bonnie!"

I owned a fully restored 1967 black convertible Mustang. I had been offered large amounts of money for it but I would never part with it.

"Hop in and we'll go."

Elise grabbed her helmet from the Bonnie and got into the car.

We got to the bar just after 12.

Elise got out and said, "Park it up and I'll make you coffee."

I turned the car into the bar's lot as she disappeared into the bar. I came to the entrance and went in. Funny how bars are never the same in daylight. I could detect the faint smell of stale beer but otherwise it wasn't too bad.

There were a couple of patrons in a booth with shots and beers.

Elise was behind the bar at an Italian coffee machine.

"Expresso or an Americano?"

"Americano, please."

She busied herself at the machine as it hissed steam into a little jug of milk.

She put the coffee and milk on the bar and came around to my side of it.

"Best ever coffee, Brazilian. Costs more but worth it. Enjoy."

The barman I recognised from my previous visit to the bar came out of the stockroom with an armful of liquor bottles.

"Oh! Look what the cat dragged in. Afternoon, boss!" His accent wasn't American but I was sure English was his native tongue.

"Are you really looking for a pink slip, Sean?"

"No boss. Yessum boss. Whatever you say boss."

He laughed and racked the liquor bottles.

"You just can't get the staff these days and have to put up with a shit like him. A likable shit but still a shit."

"If you didn't pay so well I'd be off like a rocket."

"Nobody in this town would hire you. You know what side your bread is buttered on and would never go."

Boss?" I questioned.

"Yup, boss. This is my bar and I own it all, warts and cheeky bartenders included."

I was dumb with shock at the revelation that the bar belonged to her. Elise could not have been older than 30 by my reckoning, maybe younger.

"If you are wondering, it was my dad's bar and I inherited it when he died a couple of years ago."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Elise. That must have been hard on you at the time."

My mind worked out that it happened while I was still with Julie and I never knew about it.

"Well it is the past and nothing can take away my memories and love of my dad. He brought me up single handed when my so called mother fucked off when I was two."

I could hear the vehemence in her voice.

"She nearly broke my dad but he was strong enough to overcome it and give me a life that I would not trade for anything. He was more than just my dad, he was my best friend as I grew up. I loved him so much until he died of a heart attack."

I saw Elise's eyes well up and got up to comfort her.

"Don't, Ger, I'll be ok. Right, that is enough maudling shit for one day."

Elise looked at the bar and saw a business card tucked into the bar towel.

"Sean!"

"Yo"

"Has that fucking asshole been in here again?"

"Yes, he was in earlier looking for you but I told him you were away. He said to call him."

"The fuck I will. This bar has been independent since it opened and it is going to stay that way despite those corporate bastards trying to wheedle their way in."

"Ger, I'm sorry but I need to do the work thing now. Come round on Friday night, there is a great band playing."

With that she kissed me deeply and went through the bar to a door at the back of it.

Sean looked at me and said in his accent quietly, "You must be something special as she never brings anyone to the bar let alone kiss somebody in front of me. She is totally business in here. Might chat to customers but keeps herself to herself. You are the first guy I have ever seen her with in a long time. You are privileged indeed."

He headed back to the other side of the bar.

I finished my coffee and went to the car. I sat there and realized I knew virtually nothing about Elise apart from what she told me today. I was still getting over the fact that she owned the bar. This accounted a lot for her self-assurance and directness.

Four days can either be a short time or it could be forever depending on circumstances. For me it felt like forever until it passed. I didn't phone Elise as I did not have her number. I could have phoned the bar but that would seem like an intrusion into her space so I toughed it out until Friday came.

I'm not a clothes horse. My preferred attire when I am not working is t-shirts and 501s. Buttons over zips anytime as I once caught my foreskin in a zip, a painful experience never to be repeated.

Yes, I can wear pants and jackets, even suits but mainly for work as I said. As a senior commissioning engineer I was not expected to get down and dirty on installs but liaise with the customer's reps and maintenance management. I always had coveralls in my travel gear and would help out the install squad if there wasn't much to do with the customer. I did their job long enough before getting pushed up a few rungs within the company.

Tonight was my time so it was my go to clothes. Just a plain black t-shirt, black 501s and black boots were the choice. A blue denim Levi jacket completed

I wasn't wanting to get to the bar too early so I waited until about 8.30pm before taking a taxi to it. I got out at the bar and paid my fare, tipping the driver ten bucks. He thanked me and said, "Any time, buddy."

I entered the bar and took in the view. The first time I was here I just went straight to the bar and ordered. I noticed that flanking the door were two well-built security guys wearing dark blue polo shirts with the bar logo. They were on stools and for comparison looked like those stone lions that flank pseudo mansion driveways except these 'lions' were constantly alert scanning the bar area and incoming patrons.