(fiction) Trade Show

     "Don't get your hopes up, Honey, he'll just break your heart." The blonde said to the other woman in the restroom while applying makeup.
     "What are you talking about?'
     "Harry."
     "I don't understand. What about him?"
     "He's 'not available'; believe me, I'm not the only one who's tried."
     "Are you saying he's already seeing someone, or are you saying that I don't have a chance with him?"
     "Not seeing anyone on the show circuit, but also, you have no chance. Don't get me wrong, he's not gay or anything. And, he's fun to hang out with and whatnot, but, he'll go just so far and no further. It doesn't matter how hard you try."
     "Just how far is that?"
     "He'll flirt and talk sweetly to you, maybe a kiss on the cheek to say goodnight. He's so damn charming about it that when he turns you down, he does it in a way that makes you want him more."
     "I take it that means that he's turned you down before?"
     "Yes, more than once."
      "Maybe you're just not his type. Maybe I am."
      "That's not it. I don't know if he has a type, if the category is wide enough that it includes me, at least somewhat. One of the times that I made a pass, he was 'ready', at least he felt that way when I 'accidentally' brushed the front of his trousers, but he still turned me down."
      "Did he say why?"
      "He said that he'd never be unfaithful to his wife. When I told him that she wouldn't have to know. He told me 'that wasn't the important part, he would know'."
      "Oh, he's married, is he? and what he said, that made you want him more?"
      "No, when he said that if I were his wife, he'd cherish me and would never be able to be unfaithful to me, so how could I ask him to be unfaithful to her? Then I wanted him more, but not just for a one night stand...why are the 'good ones' all taken? My 'ex' is such an ass." The blonde said as she started to dab the corners of her eyes with a Kleenex. "Dammit...dammit, I'm going to ruin my mascara."
      "Here, let me...look up." The other woman instructed as she assisted with repairing her makeup.
      "Thanks." She said and started to fiddle with her hair.

     "Hey Molly, looks like we've got more competition. Some new girl was on Harry's arm....oh, I see you've met." The woman who just entered the restroom said.
     "Hi, I'm the 'new girl', I guess. And you are?"
     "Bianca, nice to meet you?"
     "Okay, you're Bianca, and I've already met Molly, I'm Zoe, but everyone calls me 'Zee'. Just how much competition do I have? How many ladies are after Harry?"
     "Like I said, there isn't exactly any real competition, unless you count Harry's wife. But, if you meant among us girls working the trade show, maybe half a dozen or so." Molly answered.
     "Six?! and you're all working the trade show, you're all models?"
     "No, I'm too old for that now, I've moved to management at the agency, but I used to work the floor." Molly answered.
     "And I'm a vendor rep, a 'closer', same as Harry. But, yea, for the most part models, or speakers, or booth 'talent' of some sort.  There are six or eight of us, We don't all work the same shows on the circuit but a subset of us would either work together at at trade show or would unwind after, at whatever hotel was affiliated with whatever conference center." Bianca added. "I haven't seen you around, are you a local or did one of the vendors fly you in? Which agency are you with, Zee?"
     "Um, I freelance." She hesitantly offered.
     "You're not a 'working girl' are you? The hotel management will give you heat, or shake you down for a cut, and I'd rather you didn't get Harry mixed up in..."
      "Oh no, nothing like that!"
     "Hey, I'm not shaming, everyone's gotta' make a living, a bunch of the models might've been in the 'biz' at one time or another..."
     "I get it, don't worry I'd never do anything to hurt Harry."
      "Good, I owe him a lot and I wouldn't not forgive..."
     "You owe him? What did he do?"
     "I don't want to get into it, but he took care of some creep that was giving me a hard time."
     "That wasn't just some creep, we found out after the cops dragged him away that they were looking for him, he was a serial rapist or a murderer or something." Molly added.
     "Jesus...he just tried to drag you out of the hotel lobby?" Zee asked.
     "No, the bastard grabbed me in the parking structure. Before I knew it, Harry was there and the scumbag was on the ground, Harry had knocked him out cold."
     "I didn't know that Harry was so bad-ass." Zee commented.
     "I can't even...I know it's corny or whatever but, Harry's my hero. That guy was twice his size, but Harry didn't even hesitate. I was so scared, and when he held me after I felt so safe...I could've died, he could've died, and at the time Harry barely even know who I was and...now whatever he wants that I can give, he can have..." She was staring at her reflection in the mirror, as if talking to herself instead of the two other people in the room.
     "You alright Bianca?" Molly asked.
     "Eh? Yea, sure...Anyway, Zoe? was it? My point is, you're in line after me."

      As the three ladies exited the lounge, they were confronted with the sounds of cheerful squealing.
     "SQUEEEEE! That's wonderful! When did he do it? How? Let me see the ring!" A young woman exclaimed to another woman she was hugging while jumping up and down excitedly.
     "Congrats! I'm so happy for you!" A third woman added.
     "So, Harry, do you have a kiss for the bride to be?" The recently engaged woman asked.
      Harry raised his eyebrows and looked to the side, as if thinking it over. Unbeknownst to anyone else in the group, Zoe and he exchanged looks and she gave him a subtle nod.
     "Of course, sweetie. Congratulations." Harry said as he opened his arms to her. She rose on her tiptoes as she wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a more than friendly kiss on him. Not to be outdone, Harry returned the kiss and then 'dipped' her, replicating that famous photo from Times Square of the sailor and the nurse on V-J day. The ladies is the lobby whooped and cheered.
     "Whew!" She said as they broke their kiss. She fanned herself, visibly flustered and blushing. "That was some kiss, you keep that up and you'll give me second thoughts on whom I should marry." She added in what could be interpreted as a joking tone.
      "Sorry, I'm taken." Harry responded.
      "Leave him alone! You've got yours." One of the onlookers commented.
      "Hey, Harry, can I have a kiss like that too?"  The tall redhead asked.
      "Sure thing Mindy, as soon as you get engaged."
       Most in the group laughed, Mindy pouted.

     Sometime later, the whole group was at back section of the hotel bar. Celebrating the recent engagement and sharing stories. The bride-to-be was starting to slur her words.
      "Laura, you did what?!" Zee asked the bride-to-be.
      "I bribed the housekeeper to let me into hish room, and I waited for him in hish bed, nekked."
      "Really? And did you and Harry have a nice night of love making? Or, did he get mad and kick you out?"
      "Neither! He jusht climbed in with me like it was nothing. He shpooned me and, I thought we were going to...you know... and when I tried to turn over he told me; 'that either we can both go to sleep or that he'd sleep alone on the couch, but nothing was goin' to happen.'"
      "What a tease! You hear that Harry? You're a tease. Poor Laura went to all that trouble and you practically ignored her! You're worse than a tease, you're a meanie!" Mindy scolded.
     "Now, don't be so hard on me. I did let her stay, and have a nice cuddle." Harry replied to Mindy's scolding.
      "Laura, how did you deal with him in the morning? You know sometimes men are 'ready to go' even before they wake up. If you know what I mean." Zee asked.
      "The jerk woke up before I did, doted on me, gave me breakfast in bed. We chatted over coffee and I didn't realize he was dressed for the workday until my second sh-cone, so I didn't get a chance. I'm a failure as a woman! I threw myself at him and...and...Harry! I'm not married yet, this is our last chance, take me to bed!"
     "I will not. I'm speculating that you don't have an 'open' relationship with your fiancé, so a fling is something you'd regret in the morning, you cannot un-ring that bell. Besides, you're drunk."
     "Jeez Harry, don't be so hard on her. She just wants some affection. You don't need to violate your wedding vows...The last time I had too much to drink, you had no problem taking care of me and tucking me in afterwards." Kristy, a brunette model, chastised him.
     "Stop trying to imply something happened that didn't. You didn't just have too much to drink, you were beyond stumbling, and I would take care of any of you in that situation. We're not going to let Laura get to that point, are we girls?"
     "I was just ordering her a club soda, no more shots." Someone answered.
     "And just how did you 'take care of her', Harry?" Zee asked.
     "He was very sweet. Got me a bucket and held my hair when I needed to puke. Cleaned me up afterwards. I made a blatant pass, and he turned me down, but in a way that made me happy."

    "More blatant that Laura's pass?" Zoe asked.

    "Oh, I don't know. I told him how in the situation we were in, some guys might take advantage of a woman's vulnerability...and that I would like it if he would."

    "That is NOT what you said." Harry interjected, then added in a falsetto voice: "I've had a fantasy about this exact scenario...be a brute and ravage me! please!" His impression garnered some laughter from the group.

    "Okay, that is pretty forward." Zoe responded.

       Kristy leaned over and whispered into his ear: "No fair, revealing my kink. One of these days you'll have to make this up to me." Then she playfully bit his ear before continuing he narrative to the group: "Anyway, like I said, he turned me down..."

    "Spill the tea! How did he say 'no' in a way that you liked?" Someone asked.

    "He leaned over me, gently held my hands...then pinned my wrists above my head and growled." She continued in a husky, gravelly voice, imitating Harry, "Ravage you? Yes, I'll do that, I will haunt your dreams. Be careful what you ask for, and from whom. One day you may get more than you bargained for." she continued in her own voice. "Then he told me to go to sleep, can you believe it? He pours gasoline on a fire like that and expects me just to roll over and ...

    "Sounds like you are both exaggerating" Zoe interrupted

    "She told me her 'safe word' she wanted me to be...forceful...she..." Harry replied.

    "Ahem...anyway, he turned me down. I had erotic dreams and I didn't realize that he slept on the floor, until I tripped over him the next morning. Bottom line is, Harry's good people, Zee. He's the guy you want in your corner. He'll look out for you and take care of you and never get handsy, even if you hope that he would."

     "Nobody's perfect." Harry joked.
     "Seriously Harry, isn't your relationship with these ladies a little more than 'professional'?" Zee asked.
     "Of course it is, we're like family. I love 'em all."
     "It doesn't seem that they want a 'big brother' though."
     "I wouldn't want to ruin it. Besides, you know me. I'd never cheat."
     "But if you were to, who would you pick?"
      The group was suddenly silent. Even the bartender seemed to be anxious to hear his answer.
      "Come on, Zee, don't put me on the spot like this..."
     "Answer the question." She insisted.
     "That's like asking a parent to name his favorite child..."
      "And every parent secretly has one ..."
     "I could never choose, it would damage friendships. It would ruin the dynamic. I like the status quo, the way it is now."
     "You like them each trying to 'get' you?"
     "Of course! It is fun and what guy wouldn't? I mean I feel like to protagonist in some wish fulfillment story. One of those 'harem animes'. Regardless, I don't want to discuss a hypothetical..."
     "What if it wasn't? What if your wife gave you a free pass for the night?"
      The ladies followed the conversation like a tennis match, heads moved in unison between Harry and Zee, anxious to hear his answer, hoping he'd say their name, dreading hearing another's.
      "Seriously?" Harry asked.
     "Why not?" Zee answered.
      "Well then, in for a penny, in for a pound, I'd want 'em all: singly, in pairs, in groups, whatever way they'd have me. I'd need more than a night, and probably some little blue pills. And I'd want you to play too."
       Zoe laughed at his response, "You still refuse to choose!" She exclaimed while several of the ladies blushed or gasped at his reply.
     "Harry, you sure are bold. Didn't you just meet her?" Mindy asked.
     "But, Harry, who would go first?"  Someone asked.
     "I'm in." Molly said.
     "Me too." Bianca added.
     "Me three."  Laura slurred.

    "You're drunk and engaged, your vote doesn't count."
     "What's the point?" Mindy added while pouting. "We're still talking about a 'what if'..."
     Kristy nodded, either in agreement to Mindy or the group as a whole.
     "The trade show is just about over, could you all extend your stay?"  Harry asked.
     His comment silenced the group. After a moment, they all nodded in the affirmative.
     "Um, Harry, don't tease us. It's not like your wife is about to allow you to stay in Vegas just so that you can have a few days of debauchery." Mindy said.
      "It was sort of her idea, so I think she's okay with it." Harry responded.
      "What?!" several people asked at once.
     "I'm sorry, I didn't properly introduce myself. I'm Zoe, Harry's wife. Let's all have some fun together."


end