and that he’d threatened to go to the authorities. It had all been idle threats at first, aimed at scaring them into compliance, but it eventually became clear that nothing was going to happen.
So, he’d reported them to the authorities. He’d been afraid that nothing was going to happen, and that the company he worked for had paid off health and safety to get them off their back.
But today, he said, a very, very angry boss came to him, looking as though he’d just been put through the ringer, and told him in no uncertain terms that he’d been fired. When Nico had asked why, the man said that he knew what he had done.
Juliette found that she was struggling to focus on the story. It was interesting, sure, and made Nico sound like some kind of workers’ rights avenger, which she had a soft spot for. But his voice was deeply distracting.
Before they’d sat down in the bar, she’d only heard him speak in little offhand sentences, and hadn’t gotten to hear the rhythm of his words. But now, heard long form, she was treated to the full music of them.
They were speaking English, which Juliette thought was best to maintain the illusion that she was just a short-term visitor here, but even so, the Italian music filtered through. Nico was perfectly fluent in English, and his was the rare case where his accent added more to his speaking of the language, rather than taking anything away.
While they were talking, their drinks arrived. Juliette thought for a moment that Nico wasn’t going to acknowledge the waiter, but then he turned with a smile and a quick but gracious “ grazie.”
She saw now that the drink she’d ordered had been a mistake. It was a tall, confusing mix of fruits, strong-smelling liquor and something else that she couldn’t quite identify. She should have kept it simple, she thought. She should have taken it slow. She’d agreed to stay to the second drink, and she’d always been a bit of a lightweight where alcohol was concerned. If she wasn’t careful, this drink would be her undoing and she’d end up breaking the solemn oath she’d made.
When Nico had finished his story, he leaned back. He seemed ready to move on, but Juliette wasn’t ready.
“So, you saved lives today—that’s what you’re trying to tell me?” she asked.
Again, she had found her way beyond her usual reserved demeanor. Something about the confidence of the man and his exciting story made her want to needle him, just a little. It wasn’t that she doubted his story, really, but she had a strange feeling that there was more to it than he was telling her.
Nico seemed to like her needling him, anyway. He leaned in, snatching up his drink and taking a little triumphant sip before answering.
“Well, not today . I didn’t report it today. I just found out today that I’d had an effect.”
“That must be nice.”
The words slipped out of her mouth without thinking, and she hadn’t meant them to sound the way they did—dejected and a little bit bitter. In spite of herself, she’d gotten pulled back into the life that was waiting for her back in Wisconsin; the one where she’d have a hard time getting a job and doing much of anything worthwhile.
But he wasn’t put off by her attitude. If anything, it only brought him even a little further forward in his chair.
She liked him like this. She’d heard the phrase “hanging off your every word,” but she’d always thought it was an exaggeration. But with the way he was sitting, now, it really did feel like that.
“Do your endless business meetings not make you feel effective?” he asked.
For a moment, Juliette forgot the persona she’d put on for him when they’d met by the fountain. She’d thought it would be good to be outside herself for a little while. A night of complete freedom before a lifetime of drudgery. That was all she wanted.
She was beginning to regret the mask
So, he’d reported them to the authorities. He’d been afraid that nothing was going to happen, and that the company he worked for had paid off health and safety to get them off their back.
But today, he said, a very, very angry boss came to him, looking as though he’d just been put through the ringer, and told him in no uncertain terms that he’d been fired. When Nico had asked why, the man said that he knew what he had done.
Juliette found that she was struggling to focus on the story. It was interesting, sure, and made Nico sound like some kind of workers’ rights avenger, which she had a soft spot for. But his voice was deeply distracting.
Before they’d sat down in the bar, she’d only heard him speak in little offhand sentences, and hadn’t gotten to hear the rhythm of his words. But now, heard long form, she was treated to the full music of them.
They were speaking English, which Juliette thought was best to maintain the illusion that she was just a short-term visitor here, but even so, the Italian music filtered through. Nico was perfectly fluent in English, and his was the rare case where his accent added more to his speaking of the language, rather than taking anything away.
While they were talking, their drinks arrived. Juliette thought for a moment that Nico wasn’t going to acknowledge the waiter, but then he turned with a smile and a quick but gracious “ grazie.”
She saw now that the drink she’d ordered had been a mistake. It was a tall, confusing mix of fruits, strong-smelling liquor and something else that she couldn’t quite identify. She should have kept it simple, she thought. She should have taken it slow. She’d agreed to stay to the second drink, and she’d always been a bit of a lightweight where alcohol was concerned. If she wasn’t careful, this drink would be her undoing and she’d end up breaking the solemn oath she’d made.
When Nico had finished his story, he leaned back. He seemed ready to move on, but Juliette wasn’t ready.
“So, you saved lives today—that’s what you’re trying to tell me?” she asked.
Again, she had found her way beyond her usual reserved demeanor. Something about the confidence of the man and his exciting story made her want to needle him, just a little. It wasn’t that she doubted his story, really, but she had a strange feeling that there was more to it than he was telling her.
Nico seemed to like her needling him, anyway. He leaned in, snatching up his drink and taking a little triumphant sip before answering.
“Well, not today . I didn’t report it today. I just found out today that I’d had an effect.”
“That must be nice.”
The words slipped out of her mouth without thinking, and she hadn’t meant them to sound the way they did—dejected and a little bit bitter. In spite of herself, she’d gotten pulled back into the life that was waiting for her back in Wisconsin; the one where she’d have a hard time getting a job and doing much of anything worthwhile.
But he wasn’t put off by her attitude. If anything, it only brought him even a little further forward in his chair.
She liked him like this. She’d heard the phrase “hanging off your every word,” but she’d always thought it was an exaggeration. But with the way he was sitting, now, it really did feel like that.
“Do your endless business meetings not make you feel effective?” he asked.
For a moment, Juliette forgot the persona she’d put on for him when they’d met by the fountain. She’d thought it would be good to be outside herself for a little while. A night of complete freedom before a lifetime of drudgery. That was all she wanted.
She was beginning to regret the mask
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