�It was an EARTHQUAKE!�
�That�s what the newscaster with the helmet hair keeps saying when he breaks into my show,� Scarlett said. I heard her flipping channels through my receiver. �At the time I was more shocked by Russell Junior�s hand on my thigh.�
�Still, did you have to spill your Merlot on Junior�s Armani suit?� I took the cordless into the kitchen.
�It was an accident.�
�An accident?�
�Maybe it was the earthquake.�
�Wish there was an earthquake every time Russell Senior sexually harassed me.� I set the microwave timer for three minutes.
�Should be part of the benefits package. I can�t believe senior citizen Crane�s even more of a letch after marrying that bimbo. She�s like twelve years younger than Russell and�Hey, microwave popcorn?�
�I�ll count points tomorrow.�
�You know, Russell�s never even looked my way before tonight. Guess he�s taking up the family business,� Scarlett said with a giggle.
�I thought Junior brought Miss Perfect Personal Assistant along because he needed an �Asian face� for Mr. Sato,� I said between crunches. �So why aren�t you all red-faced at some karaoke bar?�
�Dinner ended early.�
�Because of the earthquake or the accident?�
�Because of the potato and cheese perogis I slipped into Russell�s borscht. He thought they were dumplings. With his lactose intolerance, his bowels will register a 5.2 on the Richter scale tonight.� Her cackle sounded malevolent.
�Gross, Scarlett.� I put down the half-empty bag of popcorn. �I guess Polish is off the list for the monthly father-son dinner tomorrow.�
* * *
As Mr. Crane spoke, he winked at me every third sentence. Whenever I scooted away from him in the booth he scooted the same direction. He continued to top off my wineglass, though I�d only taken a few sips.
�Is the wine not to your liking?�
�I have to drive home,� I said, lancing a shrimp with a tiny fork.
�My driver can bring you home�or you could take a room at the St. Francis, on the company of course,� he said and winked.
�When�s your son joining us? It�s too bad we have to work on the Hamano merger during your private time together.�
�Yes, well, Scarlett called my cell on the way here,� he said, pouring more wine, �Russell�s not feeling well from last night, and I�m letting him take the lead with Sato on the Hamano deal. So tonight we�ll just have the pleasure of each other�s company.�
Suddenly, the shrimp flew off my fork. It rolled down Mr. Crane�s silk tie, leaving a trail of cocktail sauce.
�I�m so sorry, Mr. Crane,� I said in my meekest voice.
�Accidents happen,� he said, scooting out of the booth. �Shellfish give me hives, but my tie will survive. If the waiter comes by while I�m changing ties, you know what to order.�
When Mr. Crane returned, he received a call from Russell. While father and son discussed Sato�s potential weaknesses, the waiter brought fettuccini carbonara for me. For Crane, he brought cannelloni�seafood cannelloni.
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