A Spilled Glass of Merlot

A Spilled Glass of Merlot

by: Kristine Mannion

Claire hung up the phone after the hours long conversation with her best friend Rose. She couldn't begin to put a name to the feelings that were churning around inside her, but could only say that she was consumed. Her gut rolled, her breath came in gasps, and she felt like pulling her hair out by the roots. She had held it together for the sake of her friend, not given into the depth of her own emotion, but now there was nothing, and she reeled. When her breathing evened out, she planned.

Within the hour, her plan was formed, and she began.

It was Saturday, a good night for a date. She dolled herself up, took a selfie and created her profile on Sugar Babies. She was going out on the town tonight and it was going to be fun. Within 10 minutes she was getting pinged – must have been a good selfie she thought. She swiped through all her potentials, but no one caught her eye, so she went for a workout. She had all that emotional energy to vent and she needed to be at her best tonight. After her shower she checked her profile again, after swiping through a dozen potential guys – there he was, the man she was looking for. He was perfect and she made the connection.

Hey Baby, you are so gorgeous. I'd love to take you out to my favourite restaurant tonight. Wanna join me? He wrote

Oh ya, she thought. Sure thing! I'd love to go out with you! Where can we meet?

La Maison Blanche tonight – 8:00

I'll be there <3

This is gonna be perfect she thought. And so she prepared.

She got out of the cab that evening, wearing the perfect little dress. A deep blue to match her eyes, it held her breasts high and free, cut low to show off her skin. Skinny shoulder straps and a loose and flouncy skirt, with pockets that held her phone and cards. Her dark blonde hair was wavy and soft and her make up perfect, with the bright red lips she thought he'd love. She took a deep breath before entering the restaurant, starting to feel nervous about all that might happen now that she was here, and considered for a moment just leaving. She turned back to the cab, but then shook her head. Adjusting her bra and all within, she resolved to see this through, and turned back towards the restaurant, giving her hair a flip before she entered.

And there he was, by the bar. He looked pretty good. Brown hair, slicked back. That wasn't her favourite style, it looked like it wouldn't move even in the strongest wind, but it seemed to suit him. He had hazel eyes and was wearing a dark grey suit. He was perfectly put together, maybe a little pale, like he didn’t get outside much, but then his profile had said he worked on Wall Street, so maybe that much was true. He was lean, and looked like he was in this thirties, and was leaning on the bar and chatting to the bartender when he turned, like he could sense she had entered, and they locked eyes. He walked towards her, turned to the maitre d' and said,

“This one's with me, we'll wait for our table at the bar.” He grabbed her elbow and directed her towards the bar as he leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Hi Claire,” then he touched her chin, tilted her face up to him and said, “You look stunning, I'm so glad you came.”

Claire couldn't stop the smile that formed on her lips, “Well, thank you, you look pretty great yourself Chad.” She was all in now, and was going to make the most of this night.

As they walked towards the bar Chad let her lead the way with his hand on her lower back.

“Would you like something to drink, young lady?” the bartender said. Claire looked back at Chad, and tilting her head up to his ear, whispered, “I don't have a fake I.D. do you think you could order my drink for me?” as she looked into his eyes and thrust out her chest just a little.

“No problem pretty lady,” he replied, “What would you like?”

“I'd love a glass of Merlot,” she replied.

“Ah, a lady with good taste,” he said with a smile. “Your finest glass of Merlot for the lady and another scotch on the rocks for myself.” he said to the bar man.

“Coming right up,” said the bartender.

Chad turned to Claire and said, “You never put your age on your profile – how old are you?”

“Oh you know how people get about age,” she said, “it's all so dumb.” She flicked her hair back and as she lowered her arm, her strap fell down her shoulder “Look, I'll be 18 in no time, I'm not even living at home, and I pay my own way. If it's an issue for you, I can go.” she said as she turned away, lowering her eyes, and shrugging her bare shoulder just a little.

“No, it's fine,” He said as he reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear, “Let's consider the subject closed.” and he tilted her chin up so that their eyes met again. Then he leaned closer, so slowly and kissed her. Gently and just for a few seconds. He moved his hand to her neck, stroking the back of his fingers down her shoulder to where her strap lay. As he lifted her strap back gently onto her shoulder, Claire felt her breath stop, and couldn't form a word as he looked into her eyes again.

“You are just so lovely.” he said softly, and she blushed, whispering, “Thank you.”

“AND, here's a glass of Bright Cellars for the lady, and some Macallan on the rocks for my boy Chad.” said the bartender with a wink for the man.

“I live close by,” said Chad “I'm in here fairly regularly.”

“Ah.” she said, and, as she was nervous, she quickly grabbed her glass and took a rather large gulp. “Ooo.” she said as she, embarrassed, wiped away a drop that was left on her lower lip “that is really nice”

“Your table is ready Mr. Matthews.”

“Yay!” said Claire as she grabbed her wine to take with her, Chad downed his scotch, and followed her to their table.

Chad held out the chair for Claire. “Why don't you let me order for you,” he said “I know what will go great with that wine.”

“Oh, sure! That sounds great!” but as she went to sit, Clair tripped on the chair leg Chad was holding, and her glass of Merlot spilled all down the front of Chad's perfect white shirt and what was probably a silk tie.

“WHAT THE FUCK!” Chad yelled.

“Oh my god, I'm so sorry!” She cried, putting the glass down. “I can't believe I did that! I'm sorry. What can I do to help?”

He grabbed her arm and yanked her towards him. “You can come home with me and help me clean it up,” and then he pulled her even closer and growled in her ear “you stupid fucking cunt.”

Without letting go of her arm he dragged her towards the door of the restaurant, grunting at the Maitre d' as he passed. “We won't be needing the table, give it to someone else.”

Claire tried to calm her nerves as they got outside. It was hard because he was walking quickly, not letting her go, and she was having a hard time keeping up in her heels. As she struggled to maintain her calm, she tried to calm him too.

“Look Chad, please, I'm really sorry. It was an accident. I can pay for your dry cleaning... tell me what I can do.”

He didn't say a thing.

“Where are we going??” she cried

He stopped then “I live in that building right there, we are going up to my apartment and you are going to pay for that little accident you stupid BITCH!” and on that word, he slammed her face with his fist.

She stumbled and cried out, but couldn't fall because he still had an iron grip on her arm and had started pulling her forward again.

“Okay Claire,” she thought to herself through the pain in her jaw, “This is happening – time to smarten up and be ready.”

He pulled her into the lobby of his building and she decided she would go no further.

“Stop! STOP! I don't want to go up to your apartment with you! I'll just wait here and... and you can bring your shirt down and I'll get it dry cleaned!”

“Shut UP!” and he pulled Claire right up into his face. “You are coming with me. I am going to take you up to my apartment and you are going to learn what it means to cross me...you are going to learn it all night 'til you are fucking bleeding out of every hole in your body, and if you're lucky I'll toss you back down here in the morning with my shirt to go buy me a new one.”

That was probably enough, she figured. And before he took another breath she twisted out of his grasp, spun around and slammed him across the face with her left elbow. Then she pivoted and with a swift kick, removed his legs from under him. He screamed in anger and was starting to get up again when she moved behind him, bent down, and kneed him in the balls. He screamed in pain and she hoped she had busted them permanently. She grabbed his arms and taking a set of cuffs from her pocket, cuffed him behind his back, as he lay, crying, face down on the floor.

She stopped and looked at him for a second, as he tried to lean over on his side and say something. She didn't want to hear his voice again, so she kicked him hard in the gut, winding him, then took her phone out of her pocket.

“This is special agent Claire Rawlins requesting a pick up of a Mr. Chad Matthews for attempted sexual assault of a minor and the sexual assault of Rose Taylor.” “Yes,....yes.... We're in the lobby of the building on the east corner of West 14th and 23rd Avenue. You will need to check Mr. Matthews DNA against the DNA taken from the rape kit of Ms. Rose Taylor this morning, and check it against all outstanding rape cases.” She paused as she listened “see you in 5.” and hung up.

“You're not 17! You can't be!” screamed Chad, having gotten his voice back.

“No, Mr. Matthews, I'm not, I'm 21 – and I'm super smart, which is why I was recruited by the FBI. Of course, you didn't know that, and I've got everything we said to one another recorded for posterity.” as she tapped the wire she had in her bra “I just thought it would be good to add assault of a minor to the charges you'll be facing for the rape of my best friend last night. It's fortunate you were so willing to follow a pattern of behaviour, using Sugar Babies to find your mark, being super charming until some.... small spill reveals your true nature. I hated to waste the rest of that glass of wine – it really was quite nice. This, of course, is nicer” she said as she heard the sirens speeding towards the building. She took a deep breath, wishing she had been able to stop this guy before Rose ever met him, knowing this was something, but not enough. She hauled him to his feet and started reciting “Mr Matthews, you have the right to remain silent...”