Phil Williams - 2050 - Psycho Island

“If you could have any woman in this bar, which would you choose?” Zhang leaned forward, appearing interested for the first time.

“I’m afraid it doesn’t work like that. It’s not up to me to choose. Typically, the woman does the choosing.” Jacob smiled, hoping his attempt at humor would stop this nonsense.

“You are wrong again, Mr. Roth. I can have any woman in this room. For this night, they are mine. Therefore, I will give one to you, any one you want.”

“Thank you, but I’m a married man.”

“If you’re worried about discretion, there is no need. After all, I’m also a married man.”

Jacob hesitated, thinking about the woman at the bar. “I couldn’t.”

“I understand. You must at least have a drink. On me.” Zhang gestured to the bar. “Maybe your wife will allow a harmless flirtation with the redheaded woman.”

Jacob’s face felt flushed. “Thank you, Mr. Jun.” He turned and walked to the bar.

The redhead continued to chat with the older man. Jacob sat at the bar, waved his chip card at the machine, but apparently it was an open bar courtesy of Mr. Jun. He tapped on the screen in front of him and ordered a scotch on the rocks. The robotic arm moved overhead, accessing scotch and ice and placing the drink on the bar in front of Jacob.

He sipped his drink, feeling lonely and self-conscious. As soon as I’m finished with this drink, I’m done. Jacob had never felt comfortable at bars or parties. Women flocked to the alpha males in these situations, and, despite Jacob’s wealth, he’d never been an alpha male. He was five eight, with skinny arms and a paunch.

He couldn’t even pass for cute. His forehead was too large, his face too long, and his eyes too beady. At his private high school, his classmates had called him Jewfro. He’d cut his hair short in response, but the nickname had stuck. Thirty-two years later, he still had the same short haircut.

The older man kissed the redhead on the cheek and walked toward the exit. She turned toward Jacob and smiled. He wasn’t sure if it was the scotch or her, but he felt woozy. Jacob smiled back, and she slipped off her bar chair and glided closer.

She put her hand on the back of the chair next to his. “Do you mind if I sit down?”

“Of course.”

“Of course you mind, or of course I can sit?”

“Please sit.”

She slid into the bar chair next to him, Jacob watching her every move. Up close, she was even more stunning than he’d thought from afar. She had a heart-shaped face with bright blue eyes and pale skin, tinted with red tones.

“You look like you’re having a rough night,” she said.

Jacob nodded. “I’ve seen better days.”

She nodded.

“Would you like a drink?”

“No, thank you. I’ve already had too many. A girl has to keep her wits about her.”

“Some water?”

“Sure.”

Jacob tapped on the tablet, ordering for the redhead. The robot arm set a glass of water in front of the lady.

“I’m Jacob, by the way.” He held out his hand.

She shook it with a confident grip. “I’m … Is it okay if I don’t give you a name? I’d like to be honest for once tonight.”

“Honesty’s overrated.”

“You think so?”

“If I told my shareholders the truth, … let’s just say, it’d be like yelling fire in a crowded theater. Then my company’s demise would trigger a meltdown for other companies telling similar lies about the health of their businesses. Before you know it, the whole thing would crash.” Jacob took a swig of his scotch. “Everything’s built on lies.”

“I guess we’re both beholden to lies.”

Jacob nodded and held up his glass. “I’ll drink to that.” They touched glasses and took gulps of their beverage of choice. Jacob set his empty glass on the bar. The arm cleared it immediately, the screen asking if he wanted another. He ignored the screen. “So, why are you here?”

She pursed her full lips. “I’m working.”

“Really?” Jacob glanced around the room at the other women. He noticed Zhang Jun and his fair-haired entourage leaving the restaurant. Jacob fixed his gaze back on the redhead. “For the others, it makes sense. I would think this is beneath you.”

“Why are you here?”

“I’m working.” He grinned.

“I guess we’re not so different, you and me. We’re both doing a job we’d rather not be doing.”

Jacob laughed; then she laughed.

She stared at him for a long beat, then said, “You’re one of the good ones.”

Jacob blushed, her flattery warming him from the inside out. “What makes you say that?”

“You’re the only man in here with a wedding band.” She tapped his ring finger that rested on the bar. “And you don’t fit in. I bet you love your wife and kids.”

“Guilty.” Jacob removed his phone and showed the redhead pictures of Rebecca and his children. He let her take his phone and scroll through the images.

“She’s beautiful. You’re a lucky man.”

A security guard approached the bar, making a beeline for the redhead. The massive man didn’t acknowledge Jacob. “Mr. Jun requests your presence in his suite.”

Jacob tensed, his body frozen to the bar chair.

“I’d rather stay here,” the redhead said.

“Let’s make this easy on both of us,” the security guard said.

The redhead set Jacob’s phone on the bar. “I think I’ll be going.” She slipped from her bar chair and took a step away from the security guard, but he stopped her cold with a large hand on her wrist. “Let go of me.”

“Please, miss. Let’s go see Mr. Jun. You’ll be well compensated.”

Her chest and face flashed scarlet. “This is not what I agreed to.” She tried to twist from his grasp, but he held firm with little effort, like he was restraining a child.

“I think you have the wrong woman,” Jacob said, his voice shaky. “She’s with me.”

The redhead glanced at Jacob, a thank-you in her eyes, then glared at the security guard. “I’m with him. Let me go.”

“Look, lady, if I have to carry you, I’ll carry you,” the security guard said.

“You can’t do this!” she said, still trying to twist from his grasp.

“She’s right. This is against the law,” Jacob said, his heart thumping in his chest.

The security guard yanked her toward him, causing her to stumble into him. He picked her up like a rag doll, threw her over his shoulder, and started for the exit.

“Help me,” she said, looking directly at Jacob as she was carried away.

Jacob stood from the bar chair, his stomach churning, his armpits sweating. He looked around the restaurant, hoping for help to arrive, but nobody seemed the least bit bothered. He jogged after them, nearly tripping, his dress shoes providing little traction. Jacob caught them in the hallway, his insides feeling like mush.

The massive man pushed Jacob aside and said, “Stay out of it.”

“Mr. Jun said I could have her,” Jacob said to the man’s back.

The security guard didn’t respond.

Jacob watched him carry the woman into the penthouse suite.

Tears streaked down her cheeks. She mouthed Help me .

But Jacob’s hands were shaky, and his feet felt like they were stuck in concrete. This was a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don’t situation. Jacob thought about scenarios and probabilities. Zhang Jun surely had diplomatic immunity, and Jacob was certainly not physically able to intervene, nor would he want to be embroiled in this type of scandal. What would Rebecca think if she found out he was at a party with prostitutes and sex bots? He made the most logical decision and walked to the elevator.

Inside the shiny elevator, Jacob felt jittery. Sweat beaded along his hairline. He closed his eyes and saw the woman’s tear-streaked face. At the elevator ding , the door opened. He walked outside.