Free The Game by Camille Oster

arrival.  She wasn’t entirely sure how she felt about it.  Maybe it was normal for him.  Maybe he’d just forgotten that he hadn’t asked her, but he did remember what she ordered before.
    The drink arrived and she grabbed the heavy glass.  It felt strange taking a sip of something that had been imposed on her; although there had been so many things imposed on her in this job, so what was a drink? 
    It wasn’t a huge drink, but they didn’t water drinks down either.  The bitterness was actually perfect to clear the creamy pasta taste from her mouth.  Now she’d had two strong drinks and she was starting to feel a little relaxed.  It could be said that this slight relaxation was being imposed on her too because in no way did his company feel relaxing.  It felt strange being lulled by alcohol in company that was clearly dangerous.  Not dangerous in the way that he would do anything to her, but he had so much more power than she did, and he would destroy her prospects if it hadn’t been for the support Mr. Carmichael gave her.
    “You ready?” he said before long, and she nodded.  They got up to leave.  It was dark outside now.  The distant view had been replaced by a landscape of disembodied lights arranged in strange patterns that highlighted the streets and buildings, and the surprising number of boats in the water not too far away.
    “It really is a beautiful city,” she said unguardedly.
    “Yes,” he said.  He pressed the button for the lift and they waited.  She kept her eyes down, he was watching her, she felt it.  His shoes were beautiful, probably Italian.  He did like dressing well.  The wait was unbearable.
    She wondered what it would be like to actually be his date, for this to be the end of the evening as they were ready to head back to wherever it was he took his women.  She couldn’t help but feel her stomach flip like it did when you drove fast over an unexpected depression in the road.  Not that she was his date, or ever would be.  This was the alcohol ’s influence, she decided, it made her think stupid things.
    They stood facing each other in the lift.  He looked relaxed like he had no concerns in the world.
    “The Clarion people are very keen on a deal,” she finally said.  She hadn’t really achieved anything during the dinner.  She had to get on with her plan on getting them all on the same page.
    “Of course they are,” he said.
    “They seem to have a lot of respect for you.  They are very keen on working with you.”
    “I don’t make deals based on flattery, Jane.  You should learn not to get distracted by such tactics.”
    “I’m not distracted,” she defended herself.  “And they were complimenting you, not me.  It’s a good deal.”
    “It’s a risky deal.”
    “They have excellent resources.”
    “They’re also in bed with the competition.”
    “ As is everyone in this industry.”
    “I don’t like working with partners that don’t have any skin in the game.  Clarion has no stake in the success of our bid; they are just as well off with the competitors.  We can get a better partner.”
    “Except our response time has effectively been slashed to nothing.”
    “It’s my bid, Jane,” he said with finality.  “If Carmichael wants to run it, he’s welcome to, but he’s not here, is he?  I’m not having him ramming stuff down my throat.”   Jane felt the intensity of his words.  Jane felt warning bells go off in her head.  Damon was angry and she had just provoked him.
    “I’m just saying we should hear them out.”
    “You know full well that Carmichael is doing more than that.  Don’t lie to me Jane, I don’t like it.”
    “I’m not lying,” she said.  He stepped a bit closer and she was about to take a step back , but she forced herself to stay.  He put up his hand toward her back and indicated toward the opening lift doors.
    “After you,” he said.  He didn’t look angry, maybe a little amused.
    “You’ve got