FOUR TO THE DANCE FLOOR
A Novel by Lubo DoBrev
Copyright 2006 Lubo DoBrev
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Podnovella#4
WWW.LUBODOBREV.COM

Part Two
"Dancing with the Bears"

Chapter III.

High in his dark Upper East Side apartment, Andy Clifford stared down on a lively Thursday night; people buzzing to the bars below, taxicabs flying up and down the avenues, even the warm, late April weather was festive. But Andy was unmoved by it all. His employer, Telecommando Incorporated, had announced massive job cuts after the market's closing bell that evening.  Andy feared that his promising marketing career at the firm was coming to an abrupt end.  He was alone at his apartment, but he had company: a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of chilled vodka. 
Andy raised the bottle to his mouth.  "The bastards, they always get rid of people on Fridays."  He lit a cigarette.  "Why fucking me?"
Just yesterday, Telecommando was going places.  The once sleepy manufacturer of employee time cards, of all things, had spectacularly transformed itself into a worldwide telecom colossus.  The Newark-based outfit's phones were sleek, and they ran on a sexy technology – the mobile internet – that aroused investors' desires.  Telecommando's stock was the darling on the Street, and the firm was the leading mobile internet player, but there was just one problem: the mobile internet didn't really work.  The profits disappeared and the shares tanked.  Now came the layoffs, and the thought of them made Andy hang his head.  
New York City felt like the loneliest place in the world.  Andy's girlfriend was out of town for a pharmaceutical conference, and Kelly had no idea of his misfortune.  For the third time in the past hour Andy considered calling Kelly, but when he envisioned the ensuing conversation he became sick to his stomach.  Kelly would profess sympathy and understanding, but regardless of what was said Andy would still be without a job, and Kelly wouldn't be able to help him.  He wanted to hear her supportive words, but decided to keep it to himself.
Andy stared at the ground, twenty-two floors beneath, reached for the bottle of vodka, then dropped his cigarette out the open window and watched it fall.  Red sparks flew as it hit a tree below.  Andy exhaled heavily.  He lifted the bottle to his mouth again and grimaced.  The bottle was placed on the ledge and his body was slumped at the open window.  Andy closed his eyes.  He lost track of time when he felt a rush of blood to his head, then panicked when he heard the faint sound of keys rattling.  He turned towards the front door and froze.
The door was opened and light from the hallway illuminated the dark apartment.  The shadow of a tall and relatively thin man revealed itself.  A cloud of cigarette smoke engulfed his silhouette.  The man had long hair and in his right hand clutched a peculiar object, which had the appearance of a small suitcase.  He turned on the lights inside the apartment, and Andy, still standing by the open window, covered his eyes.
"Nico?" said Andy, squinting.  "What are you doing here?"

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