Arthur Turner:
Cigarettes, alcohol, and the unmistakable scent of grilled meat. That's what hit me first when I walked into the place, a mix of coworkers and friends clustered around sticky tables.
My name is Arthur Turner, I work at an international company in an analyst position. I've been with them for the past five years.
Currently I'm 27 years old, and have a beautiful ongoing relationship that it's best defined as work-home.
Standing at the head of the table, I realized my friends had other plans. Bruce and Alfred, married men with little patience for my "contented bachelor" act, had dragged me out to… I wasn't sure. Maybe to get me drunk. Maybe to set me up. Probably both.
We usually don't go out in this part of the town, as it is relatively far away from where we live, but we decided to hell with it and go for it. My surprise happened when I found out a bunch of my work colleagues use this place for their outing. Namely a group of three people I found here: Angela, Mike and Dustin.
The assholes who dragged me here are my two best friends Bruce and Alfred, and they don't seem to understand that I'm not desperate to find a partner. I assume they just want to drag me down the rabbit hole, since both of them are married.
But I'm happy, no wife, happy life.
"So Arthur, did someone fancy your eye yet, ey?" Bruce asked me, with a raised eyebrow, teasing me, trying to make fun or conversation. I'm not sure which at this point.
But I threw him a side eye first before starting my own round of "making fun"
"Oh yes, I think I saw your mom walking by the window a couple of minutes ago, other than her I can't say I have."
Alfred nearly choked on his drink, spilling a bit onto Bruce, but neither seemed to care.
Across the table Mike and Dustin were looking at me in astonishment, unused to this side of me, as at my workplace I'm more composed. While Angela just looked at me, the curve of her lips sketching a small smile.
Truth to be told I'm not against going out, we just do it very rarely, as these two idiots are already having enough troubles with their little kids, not to mention the wives at home, probably fuming at this point.
As for my work, I try to keep it separate from my usual life. It's better to not mix both of them so I keep an amicable relationship with people but it doesn't go to friends or anything from that point.
But if I have to be honest I'm a man so I can't say that no female colleague ever caught my eye, but it's for the best to not mix pleasure with business.
"So, what do you guys do? We know about Arthur, obviously, but what about you two?" Mike asked my two friends, giving me a chance to be at peace for once ever since this night started.
"I'm the owner of a small shop in a district from where we're from," Bruce said.
But small was an underevaluation, he's the proud owner of the most prestigious restaurant in the district.
"I'm merely working at this 'small shop' of my 'master'" Alfred added, hiding his laughter behind the cup full with beer raised just enough to drink.
"So have you thought of hiring this guy there too, only that so we can finally get him off our backs for once?" Dustin added jokingly.
"I don't think I'm that bad, sure I might be on the stricter side at times, but it's all for the good of my paycheck, isn't it?" I responded, in a calm demeanor, not wanting to give my coworkers satisfaction.
But that backfired pretty fast.
"Your salary is fixed, the fuck you talking about?" Mike asked me confused, clearly the joke running above his head.
Angela couldn't help but sigh at the scene in front of her.
I took a look at her, and our eyes met, she just shrugged at me while displaying a warm smile. I chose to not put much thought into that reaction. Angela was beautiful, not so tall, always dressing professionally, brunette, long hair, slightly darker eyes, she had a feminine charm that it's hard to describe unless you see her in person.
Something dominant but also gentle, a soul capable of not bothering anyone, yet also fierce enough when push comes to shove... as it was proven when a coworker of ours pissed her off. That was a sight none of us want to see again.
Slightly younger than me, if I remember correctly two years, but I can't say for sure at this point. It's pointless to keep track of so many birthdays, especially when people aren't close to me, what matters are the free snacks and drinks we get that day.
...
The night went on. Drinks. Food. More drinks. More food. Ribeye, pork chops, roast chicken, tuna steak, apparently, our collective appetite for meat was insatiable.
But the night went on for a little while longer until the confession time started. Everyone's a bit tipsy, but not enough to call them drunk.
"So" Mike started "You guys have wives right? Tell us more details about them"
"Hey, hey, do you not know you don't usually ask people you just met about their wives?" Angela pointed out.
But my two friends didn't seem to mind.
Bruce started "My wife's name's Selina, she's the same age as me, we met back in college and to be fair we've had kind of an on and off relationship. Meaning for a good while we couldn't define what we were, friends, enemies, lovers? It was a blur line."
Silence set a bit over the crowd, until Dustin asked "So how did you clear that line?"
Alfred with a menacing laugh already started taking initiative "Well that's how their child was born"
Everyone was a bit speechless, but Bruce didn't mind, that was the truth. He obviously loves Selina, but at the same time they got together only after they had enough sex for a child to spawn into existence. That's when they decided to get married, and I was one of the best men at their wedding.
"That's heavy dude, but hey if you enjoy your life right now then." Mike continued.
"Yea I do, I really love my wife, and my child is so sweet, she just... she just turned 3 years old, she's growing up so fast." He's the type of person to get pretty emotional when drinking, also when it comes to his little girl, Laura.
"What about you, Alfred?" Angela, asked.
Alfred was taken a bit by surprise but he is too... a softhearted man at core.
"I've met my wife working, we were both in training and we kicked it off really good, right now we have a one year old child, the love of my life."
"Yea, you could say I found your wife, now only if we could find one for this guy, ey" Bruce added.
Alfred's wife is a woman named Julia, and their child is Esme. He's not the type to enter a lot in details about his personal life. I was also the best man at his wedding.
I swear some day I'm gonna make these guys pay me to hell and back for all the money I've spent on suits and gifts.
But their families are close, so their kids will probably hang out together.
Alfred and Bruce had always kind of a close relationship, sort of like brothers. I'm here hanging more as a pet they decided to pick up randomly to be honest. Feels like I'm adopted to a degree and now they are trying to match me with someone just so that I can either hang out with them more, or get me off their back.
But anyway they are great people, these guys have been with me for a long while, ever since before college. And we managed to keep in touch, and keep our relationship.
They have helped me get through heartbreak, diseases, and a lot more, obviously I did the same for them.
I guess I could say I found two friends for life at this point. And this thought is already putting a big smile on my face.
But my reality was soon to crumble.
The atmosphere was nice, the chat was going but it was getting late, even if it's a weekend tomorrow, these guys have to crash somewhere, it's too late to get them home by now, so we will probably find a hotel nearby.
Bruce put his hand on my back and used me as a prompt to get himself up, he then extended his hand to Alfred and said "M'lady"
Everyone started to laugh, but Alfred only shook his head in response, and dragged him down when he was extending his hand to accept the help.
"Tourist" Alfred said snickering.
I got up on my own and extended my thanks and farewells to my colleague.
We started to go on our way but suddenly we stopped.
These two guys seem to be planning something, but I'm not sure what, as I could see their grins up to their ears.
"Time for some action!" Bruce said, stretching himself.
After seeing this display I did what's the most natural thing in this situation and started to run away. But even tipsy these bastards caught me, and put me face to face with the entrance of a ... brothel?
"What's up with this?" I asked.
They exchanged a glance and looked back at me.
"Well you know, since it's been so long..." Bruce started
"We thought you might need some 'action' to get you back in the game. A little 'professional assistance." Alfred continued
Are these two idiots for real?
"So you're gonna pay for a prostitute now? Are you guys nuts?"
"Ummm... Maybe" they said in sync.
I'm at this point half scared, half bewildered.
"Not in a million years, no." I exclaimed
"Why not? We pay, you don't have to do much, well not right now anyway" Bruce said.
I'm against this kind of thing. I honestly dislike the idea, it's a hygiene problem on top of a lot of other problems, the list is too long to even start.
"What would your wives say if they knew what you guys spend your money on?"
I asked... never expecting what's coming... they were in on the idea.
Not having too much room to negotiate at this point, and these two guys having already booked only two rooms in a hotel... I have no choice but to take it I guess.
I can be easily convinced at times, especially if my friends persuade me.
I entered the room, talked to the staff, and to my surprise, my friends already picked someone 'special' for me.
What is so special, I don't know, but her name is Clara Uriel.