[Write the Story] A Strange Proposition from a Stranger
Prompt: A Strange Proposition From a Stranger
Words: sequin, luncheon, designer, toolbox, measurement, force, dented, cellular, banish, lock
Story
“Are you going to be finished soon?†the sequin-festooned matron prodded the toolbox with her designer-shoed toe.
“I hope to be, but this broken lock is being a challenge. It would go faster if I didn’t have someone hovering and distracting me.â€
“Fine. But the luncheon begins in an hour, you must be gone well before that.†The woman sailed off in a huff.
Richard gave her a moment to leave the room before checking the time on his cellular phone. He still had time. He could still back out. Just pick up and go. But no. He had to banish the thought. He pulled the top tray from the dented toolbox with more force than was necessary. He only needed one more measurement. Then…well, he didn’t want to know what happened next.
“How’d you get yourself into this, Richard?â€
He still didn’t know the answer. He wasn’t sure how the stranger found him. But they’d met at the bar down the street from the hotel, bumped into one another. The stranger, Tom maybe, knew things, hinted things, proposed things. Now here he was “fixing†a lock that wasn’t broken before a gaggle of old, rich women had lunch.
“Well?†The matron was back.
“Finished. You’re all set now. Good luck.â€
They were probably going to need it. But he needed the money Tom promised more. The message sent. Time to go.
Word Count: 232
Written: 1/21/18