[During] The State Dinner
Clay was dreading this State Department dinner for months, but it was one of those occasions that had to happen to maintain his cover. Usually, he managed to be out of the country for things like this, but since he'd become Deputy Director, he was behind a desk more often than he was in an airplane seat. Which meant, he had to go.
At seven o'clock he finished getting dressed, and spent another fifteen minutes dealing with his always crooked bow tie, remembering how much easier it was when Annie would tie it for him, she always managed to get it straight. He did the best he could.
Then he was off, via limousine, to the Willard Hotel in downtown Washington. Most of the State Department and most of those who say they work for the State Department were all there dressed perfectly. Webb picked up his place card, found his table and took his seat.
That's when he saw them, Annie and Jai. Annie looked amazing, a dark blue one shoulder gown, hair done perfectly, silver shoes, he swore he could feel his eyes pop out of his head. Clay got up and went to the bar. If he was going to make it through the evening he'd need scotch.
The dinner portion of the evening was rather uneventful. Clay enjoyed his meal and watched Annie from across the room. She looked like she was having a good time with Jai. Clay supposed he should be happy for her, when in reality he was angry at himself for letting her go.
Over the course of the rest of the evening he asked women to dance, all the while avoiding Annie. He toyed with the idea of asking her to dance every time she walked out on the dance floor with Jai. Asking Annie to dance would most likely result in him getting punched in the face by Annie, Jai or both of them.
But no matter how much he tried, Clay couldn't shake the memory of the last one of these dinners they attended together. Annie in red, wearing diamonds he bought for her. They were so happy that night, and then it all went to hell, thanks to him. After about an hour, of this, he walked over to Annie's table and simply asked, "Would you like to dance?" Maybe he'd be able to recapture a small part of what they had the last time, even if it was only for a second.
At seven o'clock he finished getting dressed, and spent another fifteen minutes dealing with his always crooked bow tie, remembering how much easier it was when Annie would tie it for him, she always managed to get it straight. He did the best he could.
Then he was off, via limousine, to the Willard Hotel in downtown Washington. Most of the State Department and most of those who say they work for the State Department were all there dressed perfectly. Webb picked up his place card, found his table and took his seat.
That's when he saw them, Annie and Jai. Annie looked amazing, a dark blue one shoulder gown, hair done perfectly, silver shoes, he swore he could feel his eyes pop out of his head. Clay got up and went to the bar. If he was going to make it through the evening he'd need scotch.
The dinner portion of the evening was rather uneventful. Clay enjoyed his meal and watched Annie from across the room. She looked like she was having a good time with Jai. Clay supposed he should be happy for her, when in reality he was angry at himself for letting her go.
Over the course of the rest of the evening he asked women to dance, all the while avoiding Annie. He toyed with the idea of asking her to dance every time she walked out on the dance floor with Jai. Asking Annie to dance would most likely result in him getting punched in the face by Annie, Jai or both of them.
But no matter how much he tried, Clay couldn't shake the memory of the last one of these dinners they attended together. Annie in red, wearing diamonds he bought for her. They were so happy that night, and then it all went to hell, thanks to him. After about an hour, of this, he walked over to Annie's table and simply asked, "Would you like to dance?" Maybe he'd be able to recapture a small part of what they had the last time, even if it was only for a second.