It's All a Matter of Choice

by Liberty Allure

  “You’re good at screwing, Emmet,” Anita grinned at him.

  Emmet grinned back and kept working.

  They set up the desk, then the computer and printer. Both collapsed on the couch, Emmet smiling at Anita.

  “That’s done,” he said smiling at her and handing her the remote control for the TV. “Do the honors.”

  Anita turned on the television and clicked through until she found an old movie she liked, and they spent a quiet evening watching television.

  When they retired that night, Emmet slept in his striped pajamas and Anita in her long nightie. She gently informed Emmet that she wasn’t up to having any sex because she was still sore, and she’d let him know when she was ready again.

  This didn’t sound promising to Emmet at all, but he spooned around her obediently, his erection pressing into her buttocks stubbornly as Anita fell asleep.

  Emmet found he couldn’t sleep. Not because he was horny…which he was, but because he was thinking about Anita’s father.

  Anita told him that John Bowen usually showed up at her job, asking if he could stay with her. More than likely, that was what he was going to try again. But this time Anita would say she didn’t have her own place, but was staying with someone.

  Emmet imagined that might throw her father for a bit, but he might insist on staying with her anyway. Then he would have to step in.

  Emmet’s brown eyes narrowed. John Bowen had been in prison for much of his life. More than likely, if he were in decent shape, he could wipe the floor with Emmet. Emmet didn’t think he was much of a fighter and anyway, he didn’t want to come to blows with Anita’s father even if he could beat him. He doubted he could though, and that wouldn’t be a satisfactory answer to the problem anyway.

  Emmet analyzed what he knew of John Bowen much like he would do when analyzing a company he was approaching. What was John Bowen about?

  Not much. He was someone who lived off others like a parasite. The bottom line was he was a man of very little conscience, always looking to take advantage of others and for a handout at every opportunity. The fact that he would spend weeks searching for his daughter showed he was truly set in his ways. He was also an alcoholic as well as a criminal, though he hadn’t committed any crimes lately.

  Hmm. All right. How could Emmet get him off his daughter’s back?

  Well, he would have to confront him. Emmet didn’t see any way to avoid that, given Anita’s way of running from him all the time. He thought it would be better to do this without Anita present.

  Now, when he confronted him, Anita’s father might threaten him with violence, if not actually be violent. Emmet had the impression the man might be a bully, the way he forced his presence on Anita time after time.

  Hm. But as a convicted felon, John Bowen would probably get in trouble faster than another man with a good record if he assaulted anyone. Emmet could provoke him, take a beating, then have him arrested…

  Emmet winced. He wasn’t into pain and didn’t like the idea of being beat into a pulp either. Well, maybe he could provoke John and tell him he would have no problem having him locked up, since he believed he should be locked up anyway for stalking his daughter the way he did.

  John wouldn’t like that, but it wouldn’t necessarily mean he would leave Anita alone. He might still come around and ask for money.

  Emmet paused.

  Money.

  Maybe if John Bowen had enough money…he’d leave town and go someplace else to start over. Then again, he might stay in town, squander the money and return to extort more. Shit.

  Emmet thought about this

  How about giving him part of a large sum of money, buying him a bus ticket to wherever he wanted to go, and when he got to his destination, he could go to Western Union and pick up the rest of it? That would assure him of leaving town, and Emmet could make sure he went far enough away that it would be difficult for him to get back. Someplace like Hawaii, or even Mexico. With a large amount of money, John Bowen could live like a king in Mexico.

  Emmet thought about this. He didn’t believe John Bowen was on parole because of the way he moved around and occasionally got locked up for being drunk and disorderly. If he were on parole, he would have been violated by now and sent back to jail. So there wouldn’t be any reason for him to be confined to the United States.

  Emmet sighed. He wished his computer was hooked up to the net. He’d check the price of tickets to Mexico. Anita sighed and shifted closer to him. Emmet absently kissed her on the top of her head, and she smiled in her sleep.

  Emmet thought this could work. He knew this wasn’t a sure-fire way to get rid of John Bowen, but it might work. If it didn’t, then he would have to come up with something else.

  He wasn’t going to lose Anita.

  He began to go over what he would say to John in his head, just like he would do when going to a closing. And it was a closing in a way. He just had to get Anita’s father to bite.

  *

  The next morning, Emmet and Anita showered and dressed for work, finishing off the Captain Crunch for breakfast. Emmet took out a porterhouse steak for dinner and put it in the fridge. Hopefully it would be defrosted by tonight. He planned to cook Anita a great dinner, and hopefully she might have sex with him.

  When they got to work, they both went down to personnel and put in their change of address. Mrs. Walker, the secretary, looked at the addresses then at both Emmet and Anita. Emmet had certainly changed. He was quite good-looking now.

  “An item, eh?” she asked them, smiling.

  Anita looked at Emmet and smiled.

  “I guess you can say that,” she said as Emmet grinned. He didn’t blush either.

  Emmet walked Anita to her desk, kissed her on her cheek and headed for his cubicle. He had an early interview and needed to get his literature together. He waved at Herman, and noticed Brandon heading toward the elevator with his briefcase and the old familiar predatory look on his face he wore when heading for a closing. He must have got his fire back. Emmet smirked. It only cost Brandon about a grand to do.

  Herman peeked over the cubicle wall at Emmet.

  “Hey Emmet,” he said, smiling.

  Emmet turned.

  “Hey Herman,” he responded.

  Herman was still sporting his bald cut and was noticeably slimmer.

  “How are things going with you and Anita?” Herman asked.

  “Good, Herman. Very good,” Emmet said, beaming.

  Herman studied him for a moment. Then he walked into the cubicle and said in a low voice, “It happened, didn’t it Emmet? I can tell by just looking at you. You slept with her.”

  Emmet looked at Herman soberly.

  “A gentleman doesn’t discuss things like that, Herman,” he said evenly, though he still wore a rather stupid smile.

  Herman chuckled.

  “In this case, he doesn’t have to,” the associate grinned. “Good for you, Emmet. She’s a nice girl.”

  ”Yes, she is,” Emmet agreed. Then he thought of something.

  “Herman, would you sit down a minute? I want to ask you a favor,” Emmet said to Herman, his smile fading.

  “Sure Emmet. What is it?” Herman said, taking a seat in the folding chair next to Emmet’s desk.

  Emmet sat down in his swivel chair and leaned in toward Herman.

  “Listen, Anita might get a visitor today while I’m out. I’m not sure what he looks like, but it’s her father. If I’m not here, I’d like you to tell him that Emmet Barrows, the man who lives with his daughter would like to speak to him this evening and will meet him in front of this building at seven o’clock. But it’s important that Anita doesn’t find out. You can’t tell him in front of her. Can you do that for me?” Emmet asked Herman.

  “Living with her? You’ve moved in with her, Emmet?” Herman asked, surprised.

  Emmet nodded.

  ”It could be temporary, but yes…I live with her,” Emmet replied.

  Herman shook his h
ead.

  “Man, she must have put it on you,” he said with a low whistle.

  Emmet frowned at Herman, then asked, “Will you do it, Herman? It’s important.”

  ”Sure Emmet. I don’t have any interviews today. I’ll keep an eye out. Her dad you said?”

  “Yep. Her father,” Emmet replied.

  “All right, I’ll tell him,” Herman said.

  “Thanks, Herman,” Emmet said as Herman stood up.

  “Well, got to get back to cold calling. Good thing I’m free today or I couldn’t have helped you out,” he said, walking out of the cubicle.

  “I appreciate it, Herman,” Emmet said, checking over the items in his briefcase.

  “No problem. See you later and good luck on your closings,” Herman said, leaving.

  Emmet made sure he had everything he needed, shut his briefcase and headed out of the cubicle. Anita was busy filling out paperwork. He looked at her, and all of the office girls looked at him.

  “Anita, I’ll see you later,” he called.

  Anita looked up and smiled.

  “All right, Emmet. Good luck today,” she said.

  “I ought to be back by lunch, but if I’m not…don’t wait for me,” he said.

  “All right,” Anita replied, still smiling.

  Emmet suddenly put his briefcase down and reached into his back pocket. He pulled out his wallet and took out his credit card. He walked over to Anita and handed it to her, kissing her quickly on the lips.

  “Hang on to that,” he said softly.

  Anita didn’t protest this time. Her co-workers just stared at the card in her hand. It was platinum. Emmet walked over to his briefcase and picked it up. He looked toward Anita once more and she gave him a little wave, putting the card in her inside pocket.

  He smiled started to leave.

  “Bye Emmet,” the girls all said in a chorus, some batting their eyes at him.

  “Bye,” Emmet said, giving them all a wave and heading for the elevator.

  “God, Emmet is absolutely dreamy now,” Melanie said.

  Anita snorted. She was sure Emmet passing her his credit card had something to do with Melanie’s comment.

  Susan, who was once again checking her make-up in her compact frowned. Jennifer was frowning too. It was easy to see Emmet was quite generous with Anita. Damn, why hadn’t she paid attention to him when she had the chance? So what if he had been a geek. It was clear he was a good guy. A very good guy. By the shameless way he kissed Anita when he gave her the card, it was easy to see she had fucked him. She had to.

  Feeling jealous, Jennifer couldn’t help saying something to Anita.

  “So, you popped the geek’s cherry, Anita?” she said a bit viciously.

  The other girls all stopped working and looked at Anita curiously. Had she slept with Emmet?

  Anita scowled.

  “That’s none of your business, Jennifer,” she snapped at her.

  The girls all looked at each other as Jennifer gave Anita a nasty, knowing smirk and turned back around in her chair.

  “It’s no big deal if she did,” Susan said suddenly, not looking away from her mirror. “Any one of you would lay him just to get hold of that card. Plus, he’s kind of cute now. I’d give him a tumble.”

  Anita stared at Susan, who turned and looked at Anita soberly for a moment, then she gave her a wink and turned back around.

  Anita shook her head as the girls all muttered under their breaths and returned to their work. Jennifer looked at Susan narrow-eyed. So, Anita had an ally and with one sentence, made her relationship with Emmet acceptable. Jennifer had hoped to start a cycle of vicious gossip about the couple. Now it looked like it wasn’t going to happen. At least not with the girls. Maybe some of the associates might be interested.

  Jennifer returned to her work, intending on passing the news on during lunch break.

  *

  John Bowen exited the bus and began walking down the street, his duffel bag thrown over his shoulder as he read the numbers on the buildings. He found the one he was looking for. He had a slow start this morning and had meant to get here earlier. It was lunch time now. Anita might have gone out for lunch. But that wasn’t a problem.

  He’d just wait for her.

  John pulled open the door and walked into the lobby. There were several elevators on the left and a sign listing the location of the different companies in the building. He ran his finger down it.

  “B, B & B. Fourth floor,” he said to himself as he pressed the elevator button.

  Emmet was on his way up to the office, having got on the elevator in the parking garage. He was a little late because he had to stop by the bank. As he rode, he hoped Anita was still in the office so they could go to lunch together. On the main level, the elevator stopped and the door slid open.

  Emmet watched as a man in a denim jacket, t-shirt and jeans with a duffel bag thrown over his shoulder walked on to the elevator and pressed the fourth floor button. His brown eyes met Emmet’s for a moment, and Emmet knew those eyes immediately. Anita’s eyes.

  This was John Bowen.

  John lowered his duffel bag to the floor as Emmet looked at the back of his head. Hesitating for just a moment, he moved up so he stood next to him. John swiveled his head and looked at Emmet for a moment, then returned to watching the red numbers that announced the floors. They had just passed the second.

  Emmet cleared his throat as they passed the third floor. It was now or never.

  “Um, Mr. Bowen,” Emmet said.

  John looked at him, startled.

  “How do you know my name?” he snarled at Emmet, looking him over.

  ”My name is Emmet. Emmet Barrows. I’m the man that lives with your daughter, Anita,” he said quietly. “And I’d like to talk to you before you see her. It will be worth your time, I promise you, Mr. Bowen.”

  John looked at Emmet speculatively. Was his daughter really shacking up with this guy? He dressed well, but didn’t look like much. Soft.

  “Why should I talk to you?” John said to him gruffly.

  “It could get you thirty grand for a brand new start, that’s why,” Emmet responded, knowing this reply would get his immediate attention.

  John stared at him.

  The elevator stopped on the fourth floor and the doors opened. Emmet and John looked at each other, then suddenly John mashed the “Close Door” button.

  ”So let’s talk,” he said, his brown eyes drifting over Emmet once more.

  Chapter 37 ~ John and Emmet Come to Terms

  Emmet and John rode the elevator back down to the parking garage and walked over to Emmet’s Honda. Emmet put his briefcase and John’s duffel bag in the back seat, before letting the man in, then walking around the car and getting in himself.

  “Have you eaten, Mr. Bowen?” Emmet asked him as he started up the car.

  John was feeling puckish.

  “No,” he said shortly, studying the young man his daughter supposedly lived with. He certainly didn’t look like much. John was sure he could knock the skinny associate out with one punch.

  “Let’s get some pizza. We can talk while we eat,” Emmet suggested, pulling out of the parking lot and driving up the block.

  The two men rode in silence, John trying to figure out what Emmet’s game was. Thirty thousand dollars? He’d better be talking about something solid, or John would kick his ass for wasting his time.

  Emmet pulled up in front of the pizza parlor and turned off the car. Both men got out and entered the store. Emmet walked up to the counter, John stopping beside him looking up at the menu. They served personal pizzas here rather than slices.

  “I want a meat pizza and a beer,” the man growled.

  “Ok,” Emmet said, placing the order. He chose a cheese pizza and a coke as John stood back waiting, noting Emmet paid with a credit card.

  Emmet walked to the back of the pizzeria, choosing a table in the corner. He slid in and John sat opposite him.

  “
Now, what’s your game, Emmet?” John asked him, wasting no time.

  Emmet centered himself. This was just like a closing. Describe the problem and the solution.

  “Mr. Bowen, are you aware that every time Anita moves, it’s to get away from you?” Emmet asked him.

  John scowled at him.

  “No,” he lied. “I just thought she wanted a bit of space. I give it to her then I come back.”

  ”Yes…and then she moves again. She doesn’t want you living with her, Mr. Bowen. Your…lifestyles are too different,” Emmet said, in what he hoped was a diplomatic voice.

  “Look Emmet. She’s my daughter. Family. She’s supposed to look out for family,” John said firmly. “I need someplace to stay, someone to help me out.”

  Emmet wanted to say he could get a job and look out for himself, but didn’t.

  ”That’s not Anita’s responsibility, Mr. Bowen,” Emmet said.

  “I’m her old man. She owes me,” John declared firmly.

  “No. She has a right to live her own life,” Emmet said, his eyes darkening a bit.

  John noticed immediately.

  “You look like you want to do something,” John growled at him.

  Emmet blinked.

  “No, Mr. Bowen…I just want to make you see that you aren’t allowing Anita to live a normal life. You’re chasing her all over the country. It’s not fair to her. She can’t settle down,” Emmet said.

  John’s eyes narrowed.

  “Oh, so that’s it. You want her to stay,” John said.

  “Yes,” Emmet admitted. “Plus, she lives with me now, so you can’t stay with us.”

  ”She’ll move out and get a place,” John argued, “I’ll ask her to do it. She will.”

  Emmet felt his gut tighten. Anita might fold and run if her father kept showing up, even if he didn’t move in with them. He could come home and find her gone.

  “Mr. Bowen, I have a proposition for you, one that could give you a new start. Have you ever been to Mexico?” Emmet asked, hoping the man had.