I woke before Elise and left her sleeping peacefully. I got dressed in my jeans and shirt and made coffee. I would have gone for bagels or something but I did not know the security codes for the bar so I settled for some cheese and salami.

“Morning lover.”

I turned around and Elise was in a t-shirt dress again with her nipples poking it again.

“I was afraid you were gone but glad you are still here. I fell asleep thinking about what you said and have to admit you were right. You have made me realize how stupid I had been trying to protect myself from being hurt. The only good thing is it is you that made me think and let me make the change in the way I feel. I just wish you had been around before I shut myself off to feeling something.”

“It takes a lot of courage to face your own fears and once you do they are no longer fears.”

“Yes, I can understand that now. Back to the present though. How long will you be at your office?”

“To be honest I have no idea how long it will take. I have to go through the Canada project and review upcoming ones. Probably a pile of paperwork to do along with meetings so it is looking at all day. Talking of which I really need to get home and change. Sorry, Elise.”

“I’ll miss you.”

She gave me a hug and slow kiss.

“I’ll let you out.”

Another hug and kiss at the bar door and I hailed a taxi.

Sitting in my office after being home it was back to the reality of work. When it was time for the meeting I headed to the small conference room where the department heads were gathered. After the usual hellos and greetings it was time for business. The Canada report was straight forward and everybody was satisfied especially with the customer feedback.

The discussion of future projects took a while as one of them was going to be a big one.

“Ger, we want you to head this one. You will not be slipping coveralls on as is your usual want to help out, this is very important for the company. It means you being away for three weeks in the UK and be in direct contact with the client.”

“Three weeks?”

“Unfortunately, yes. If this goes ahead without a hitch we are looking at a multi-million dollar engagement for future projects with them.”

My mind was in turmoil, I realize how important it is for the company but three weeks away from Elise would be hellish.

“The only good part, Ger, is that you will be with the client weekdays only. This would earn you a large bonus if all goes well and you could take a weeks holiday there, bills covered by us, up to a point. No Saville Row suits though!”

The time scale for this was two weeks from Monday and I had to make a trip to the East coast for two days in between. My mind was racing as to how I could maximise my time with Elise.

“Apart from the little project on the East coast I would like to work from home until the UK project if possible.”

“I can see no issues with that but if we need you in for a day or two you would need to come in.”

“That would be fine and if I am needed here then it is not a problem.”

“We’ll get your travel and documents sorted for the UK. The customer has friends in high places and will assist in expediting anything needed. Have a good weekend, Ger, and keep in touch.”

“Thanks.”

The meeting broke up and I headed to my office to think. This was not going to go down well with Elise but as she said we both have our working lives to contend with as well as our relationship. A moment of clarity came to me and I was going to maximise the opportunity to the fullest. All I needed was Elise’s agreement and I hoped it would be positive.

It was just after six when I left my office with a pile of project work and ensuring that I could access our computers OK.

I drove to my house and took a long shower wondering how to put this to Elise so she would accept what I had conceived. There was only one way to find out.

I dressed quickly and rode the bike to the bar. I was thinking of buying flowers but decided not to because if I turned up with flowers it would seem strange. Parking in the lot I went over my ‘plan’ in my head, it seemed to be the best solution to everything. One way to find out!

I entered the bar to find it jam packed with most of the crowd at the stage area. I got a friendly greeting from Bill and Ted as the door closed behind me.

Looking at the stage it was set up for a band. Must be a popular band judging by the crowd.

I got too the bar and Elise saw me and came up with a beer.

“At last the wanderer returns!”

“Sorry, Elise, things got complicated and I didn’t get home until seven.”

“Nevermind, you are here. You’ll never guess what has happened and the reason for the crowd tonight. Suzanne got signed to a subsidary of a major label! Word got out and she asked if she could do a farewell gig here. It was a heck of a rush to get it organised but as you see it is happening.” She had a big smile on her face.

“That is good news and great for her as she has a real talent. She will do well. We need to find some time to talk, Elise. Something has come up with work that I need to tell you.”

Elise’s smile evaporated.

“You got fired?”

“Unfortunately, no. It is something I need your help with.”

Her face brightened visibly.

“In that case it will have to be after closing as I can’t leave the bar with so many customers, would not be fair on the crew.”

“I need to get back, Ger. It can wait, can’t it?”

“It can. Go work your ass off then!”

She made a show of walking provocatively down the bar swinging her hips. She turned and stuck her tongue out at me and I had to laugh. I saw her laugh too before becoming business like and dealing with customers.

I was on my second beer when the crowd went crazy, whistling and stomping their feet, cheering and clapping. The band had come on stage and little Suzanne was at the mike smiling and then used her hands to calm the crowd down.

“I take it you guys have heard the news.”

The crowd erupted again and Suzanne let it die down.

“I am glad you liked it but not as glad as for what it means for us so tonight is going to be special for us all. Hopefully it will work out for us and we won’t forget you guys or this place. I have to thank Elise for giving us the chance to play here initially as we were struggling at the time, so, thank you Elise from the bottom of my heart. It was here after last week that we were approached by an A&R guy for you know who. It has been a hectic week for us so we are going to let off some steam tonight! OK let’s get this show on the road!”

The crowd went crazy and it took a couple of minutes to die down before the band launched into Heart’s Barracuda.

Rapturous applause greeted the end of the song and the band went straight into Walking in Sunshine. Without pause it was Led Zeppelins Rock and Roll. At the end of this Suzanne said,

“OK folks, we are going to tone it down a bit.”

I wouldn’t call Janis Joplin’s Cry Baby toning it down! The crowd were loving it. The band played a couple of their own songs

The Cranberries Zombie was next and it was like a list of the most powerful female rock vocalists that followed.

After Kim Carnes Bette Davis Eyes, Suzanne announced the band was having a short break.

The crowd at the bar deepened and the waitresses were going back and forth non-stop to the booths and tables. I had to wait until I managed to catch Sean’s eye to get another beer. He brought it to me and said.

“This is nuts! Never been like this on a Thursday before but as long as those registers keep going kerching, no complaints here.”

I watched Elise serving drinks non-stop to the crowd.