Chapter 288
Harmon immediately refused to play the role of the sucker. He just got two monthâs pay as compensation and it would all go to a haircut?
Harmon threatened to call the cops, but the barbershop wasnât about to let go of this easy mark. The manager of the barber shop showed up. He displayed a clear and precise billing statement, all for products Harmon agreed to use.
The manager said, âYou can go ahead and call the police, but you gotta pay first, or youâre not going anywhere. Our prices are clear as day, and nobody twisted your arm. You agreed to it, and now youâre backing out. You think we donât have to pay for labor, utilities and rent?â
The staff of the barber shop huddled up. Harmon wanted to pick a fight? No chance in hell, he couldnât take them all.
With his date time looming, Harmon had to swallow his pride, reluctantly paid his bills. After leaving the barber shop, he got a call from the dating site manager, âMr. Alstrom, you there yet? Weâre already here, at Spirits & Suds.â
âIâll be there in a minute.â Harmon said.
Just thinking about seeing Anastasia, Harmon completely forgot about being screwed over by the barber shop. He immediately hailed a cab to Spirits & Suds.
At Spirits & Suds.
The dating site manager was a man, skinny and sly. You could tell from a mile away that he was a troublemaker. Harmon arrived at the bar, standing at the entrance looking around. The dating site manager spotted him and waved, âMr. Alstrom, over here.â
Harmon followed the voice, but only saw a woman he didnât recognize sitting there. She looked older than him, heavily made up, and reeking of perfume.
âWhereâs Anastasia?â Harmon asked straight up.
The dating site manager said with a grin, âEasy there, Mr. Alstrom. Iâm Putnam, in charge of your date today. This is Fidelia, she runs her own bookstore and was quite the go-getter. You guys get acquainted, Ms. Jewell will be here soon.â
Harmon wasnât interested in Fidelia, he just sat down and waited for Anastasia.
Putnam greeted Fidelia and then asked Harmon, âMr. Alstrom, whatâll you be drinking?â
Harmon wasnât in the mood for anything, said, âWhatever.â
Fidelia said, âThey have a new drink here thatâs not bad, give it a shot.â
Putnam chimed in, âLetâs go with that then. Fidelia, could you please put the order? Weâre not so familiar at this place.â
âNo problem.â Fidelia waved over a server to order the drinks.
Putnam took this opportunity to pull out some profile info of the girls from the dating site to show Harmon, trying to divert his attention. âMr. Alstrom, what do you think of this girl? Sheâs still a college student, twenty years old, and quite the looker. And this one, with masterâs degree and high IQ. She will be good to carry your future children. Ms. Jewell hasnât arrived yet, we can take a look at the others, maybe youâll be interested. The goal of dating is to keep your options open, and find the best fit.â
Harmon was totally engrossed in the profiles of his potential dates, completely oblivious to the fact that Fidelia ordered top-shelf drinks. She ordered two bottles and some other things.
Once the drinks were on the table, the three of them started drinking. Putnam was quite a schmoozer; in other words, he was full of hot air.
After about half an hour, Harmon couldnât wait any longer, and asked, âWhen is Ms. Jewell coming?â
As soon as he finished his question, Putnamâs phone rang, âLook, thereâs the call.â
Putnam picked up the call, but the person on the other end wasnât Anastasia. It was just a contact saved under the name Anastasia.
After hanging up, Putnam put on a regretful face, âSorry Mr. Alstrom, Ms. Jewell got tied up and wonât be able to make it. No worries, weâll reschedule. Since weâre here already, letâs enjoy the drinks.â
Hearing that Anastasia wasnât coming, Harmon had no mood to drink anymore. He immediately got up and said, âWell, I gotta go.â
âSince Mr. Alstromâs leaving, we should leave too. I need to get back to the office.â Putnam signaled to Fidelia, and then she called the server to settle the bill.
The server came over, went straight to Harmon and said, âSir, your bill please. Thatâll be two thousand eight hundred.â