After I left the building, I wandered around for a while. I had heard about this place nearby from some of my co-workers. It was one of those late-night diners that served alcohol.

It wasn’t far, maybe a few blocks for the building. Which is good because in this neighborhood you wouldn’t want to wander too far. Even though it was mostly industrial, there were neighborhoods nearby that were pretty run down to say the least. People did live around here or at least I had seen people around in the streets during the day. At night however, it was a ghost town. Maybe there was a good reason for that? Maybe I shouldn’t be out late at night in this neighborhood.

The diner had one of those flashing neon signs that you see in the windows where at least one of the letters was not fully lit. It had a strange name and it nagged at me, like I should’ve known it from someplace, it was called The Droog. Whatever the name really meant I didn’t feel like it fit this place.

So, I walked in. I took a place at the counter. There were a few people in here, but it was not a very big place. For some reason I felt like I fit in here. The counter, the seats and the rest of the decor made it look and feel like a 1950s diner. I almost expected to look to my right and see James Dean sitting there. But instead, there was some haggard old man drinking a Bud who scowled at me. I must’ve looked out of place with the new suit I was wearing because the waitress gave me a weird look.

“What can I get you?” I know it was supposed to be a generic question, but it came out more like, what are you doing in a place like this!? Her tag said that her name was Maggie. I thought it was fitting. She looked like a Maggie. She was pale white in skin tone and had a crop of brown hair in tight curls that hung down to her shoulders. She had eyes that had life to them which I hadn’t expected from a waitress at a place like this. She also had a cute smile than showed her dimples.

“I’ll just have a beer,” I told her.

“Any particular brand?” She asked.

“Whatever is easiest for you to get,” I replied.

She nodded. “You look like you just came from a club.”

“Yeah,” I said. “How did you know?”

“Because you’re still wearing the mask. From that weird club, the one that’s up in that strange building around the corner,” she pointed out. “Not that I’ve been to it, but I’ve heard some strange things about it.”

It was then that I realized I was still wearing the mask. I turned it around to the back of my head and had completely forgotten about it. I guess my mind was just on other things.

“Sorry,” I said. I took it off and sat it down next to me on the counter. “I didn’t realize I was still wearing it.”

She smiled at me, it was one of those warm and inviting smiles. While at the same time she grabbed me a beer from the fridge behind her. She shrugged and said. “There’s no need to apologize to me. I’m just serving you a beer. You can wear whatever you want.”

She seemed sweet, in a Midwestern Federation of States sort of way. There were maybe three other people in the whole place. She decided to clean the countertop in my immediate area. We made small talk for a little while and then I took out my vape.

“Oh, they don’t like people smoking those things in here,” she said. But she seemed disappointed that she had to say it. Then she rolled her eyes and added in a lower voice. “I know, I know, it’s stupid, but it’s one of the boss’ little rules. I don’t like it either, I smoke one myself. But you know what, since it’s nearly my break and were not very busy tonight, maybe I can stand in front, keep you company.”

So, we stood outside chitchatting for a little while. I asked her if she actually uses nicotine drops in her vape pen.

“Not anymore,” she responded. “I just use the enzymes or whatever it is supposed to be. But during quiet times like tonight, I like to put THC drops in. Most of the time the customers don’t seem to notice.” That brought out a cheeky smile on her face. And those dimples? I could just eat them up!

“Do you have any on you right now?” I asked. “I could be persuaded to try it.”

“Sure,” she said. And she pulled out a tiny eyedropper. Then she said. “Are you sure? These drops can be pretty strong!”

I said to her, “I think I can handle it. I mean I do work for The High Castle Corporation. You should see some of the stuff they can produce!”

Well, Maggie’s eyes lit up like it was Christmas! She got visibly excited. She had this cute, quirky smile that made a dimple appear on the side where she curled up her lip. It was irresistible! I thought that even all her freckles like the ones that went across her cheek across the bridge of her nose were simply adorable. Maggie put a drop in each of our vape pens. She was right of course, the THC droplets were pretty strong, but compared to what I had been smoking over at Jacob’s apartment, it was really nothing.

“So, what is it like working there?” Maggie asked eagerly. “I’ve heard a lot of things about what goes on there, but I never actually met anyone who worked there. Is it exciting? Or is it just weird?”

“Well,” I replied giving it some real thought. I looked up at the sky. The night was moonless, but it was warm (being the summer) and there was a gentle breeze. “I guess it’s a little of both. As you know they have a nightclub and a restaurant. But did you know that there actually apartments on the third floor?”

“That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard!” She commented. Maybe it was just me, but she seemed to be hanging off my every word, like I was suddenly someone important. You know, like somebody cool she had just met and wanted to get to know. I was loving this girl, she was sweet!

“I know,” I replied. “Isn’t it though!? And do you know what’s even crazier? I live in one of those apartments!”

She couldn’t believe it, she thought it was just too much. And when I told her what I was paying for rent, she dismissed it in disbelief. She thought I was lying, but I insisted it was true.

We went back inside. I took my seat at the counter. She had a chair she sat in on the opposite side and we continued to talk. Finally, she said. “I just have to see this magical place of yours.”

“Well, when is your shift over?” I asked her.

“I’m done at midnight,” she replied.

I said. “Well, that’s only an hour away and the building is only a few blocks from here. I can stay and have another beer and then I can show you my apartment afterwards.”

She thought about it for a few moments and then she nodded. “All right,” she said. “I just have to see this place!”

“I’ll take you to Jacob’s place,” I said. “He can act as a chaperone, and I’ll show you the kind of weed that they grow at the Corporation they will make your THC drops pale in comparison.”

“Who is this Jacob and where is his place?” She questioned.

“He’s a co-worker of sorts and he lives only three doors down from mine,” I replied.

She did not take much convincing. It was settled. I had another beer and we talked for that whole hour. No other customers came in during that time. She told me she was from Kansas, just the other side of the Missouri state line. She had one younger sister named Mallory. Father worked in insurance, and mother worked part-time at Walmart. She told me much more, but I forget most of it now. Some of the facts were so generic as to be unimportant.

Of course, I was taking a risk that Jacob would actually be home and that he wasn’t still at the club past midnight. But I figured he wouldn’t want to stay late, since he could easily go back to his place and do what he likes to do best, which is to hit the bong.

By the time we got to the building, it was only ten after midnight. That’s how close I lived to her work. The building looked different night. All those glass windows that reflected the light that seemed so bright in the daytime, now looked like the depths of a black hole and appeared to absorb any light rather than reflecting it. I thought the effect was odd, almost intentional, but I didn’t think the company was that good. Of course, Maggie peered up at all five stories of this imposing glass edifice, built almost 100 years ago, yet completely resurfaced to look modern. She was enraptured, as if she beheld a rare and valuable piece of artwork.

When we pass security, they tipped their hats to me and call me sir as we got into the elevator. She seems so impressed by this, but I worked and lived here. They knew me personally as I saw them every day. But in her eyes, it must’ve seemed like I was a prince coming home to his palace. Those beautiful green eyes, I was as enraptured with her as she was with the building.

As soon as the elevator doors closed and we were alone inside that small metal box that counted down the numbers the floors, she cornered me and began kissing me deeply. It was weird, both a surprise and something I had expected in a strange way and yet it still caught me off-guard.

When we got to my floor and the doors opened, she pulled back. The first door on the left was Jacob’s. I approach the door and knocked. I could already hear the music blaring from inside, so I knew he was home. Maybe he couldn’t hear the knocking because he didn’t answer. But I knew he was inside, so I tried the doorknob. It was unlocked and opened freely. As the door swung open, our ears were assaulted by the sounds of heavy metal music.

I peered in and called. “Jacob!?” But I could already see him prancing around inside. So, I simply stepped across the threshold with Maggie beside me and close the door behind me.

We came into the living room which was the main common living space in our open concept apartments. It was a crazy chaotic scene. Jacob had a long coffee table that was surrounded by two sofas and a couple of chairs with a large 8K OLED TV at the far end. What we saw as we came in was Jacob walking down the center of this coffee table with the bong in his hand. He was still wearing the mask from the party. He was singing along to the music, which was the song flying high again by Ozzy Osbourne. When he reached the end of the table he bent down. He handed the fully loaded bong over to Jaz. I was startled, I had never seen Jaz in here before. I had never seen him smoke anything before, not even vape pens and the majority of people use those these days. But there he was right before my eyes, hitting the bong that Jacob had just handed him. I got a say, I had seen some surreal things on this trip I’ve been having, but this was the craziest one yet!

“Oh my God! JR, I didn’t think I was going to see you again tonight!?” Jacob exclaimed as he suddenly realized that I was standing there. It was only the two of them, yet I felt like I was interrupting some sort of party.

I said. “Sorry guys that whole thing at the club with the masks, that’s just not my thing. I just want to return this mask that you gave me before I went home.” I tossed it on the side table between one of the chairs and a sofa.

“What did you say to Tammy?” Jacob questioned. “She seemed depressed the rest of the night and then she went home early which she would never normally do.”

“Oh no, nothing bad really. I just wasn’t in the mood for chit chat tonight, that’s all,” I replied.

She had seemed so aloof. I didn’t realize that I had had that kind of impact on her. Maybe I had not really paid attention that closely to what she was really trying to tell me. I thought she was just being friendly and trying to make some small talk. Was she really interested in me? Had I spurned her? Was she depressed now?

“Who’s the lady?” Asked Jaz. The way he said sounded like he was trying to be slick, acting as if he was cooler than he really was, but he was so fucking high that he just squinted at us with a permanent grin on.

“Oh sorry!” I said. Apologizing to both her and the two guys in the room. “This is Maggie. I met her earlier this evening. She works at the diner around the corner.”

“Have a seat, relax!” Jacob said to us. “We’re just trying out a little something I had stashed away. You’re cool, right?” He pointed at Maggie as the two of us both took a seat on a sofa that looked like it would’ve been at home in Louis XIV’s palace, but seemed totally out of place in this modern day apartment. I had to say Jacob’s apartment did seem pretty eclectic. No two pieces of furniture were from the same era or look like they even belong together.

“Why don’t you hand me that bong and we will find out!” Maggie challenged. There was that sparkle in her eye again! I was just in love with it!

Jacob’s face split with a wide grin and he took the bong back from Jaz. He reloaded it and handed it over to Maggie with the lighter they had been using. I took out my vape and puffed on that while I was waiting since I knew would be handed over to me next.

Next to me on the sofa was a book. I picked it up. “Neuromancer by William Gibson,” I said reading the cover. It looked old and dog-eared in the corners.

“That’s a classic!” Jacob said. He took the bong back from Maggie as she choked. “Have you read it?”

“Of course,” I said. I opened it and read the first line which was a classic. “The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.”

“One of the best opening lines of all time,” Jaz told me.

“I mean it is good, but I could top it,” I said with a smirk.

“Let here it,” Jacob said as a challenge.

“The sky above the port was the color of cocaine, snorted from an emaciated hooker’s ass,” I said rifting on the original line.

They all looked at me stunned. Jacob handed me a fully loaded bong.

That just blew my mind, man!” He said to me while in inhaled.

After that the bong made another round.

“Oh, Dominic was looking for you,” Jaz commented. “It took us a while to realize you left the party. You didn’t even say goodbye to anybody.”

“I know, I know,” I replied. “I’m sorry about that. I just wasn’t in a good mood. But then I wandered down the street and I found this little place and I met Maggie here. Well, I guess I’m feeling a lot better.”

By now Maggie was coughing out the last remains of the second bong hit she had just taken. She handed the bong back to Jacob but when she looked at me there was something in her expression. Something that told me I had said the right thing... Or that she desperately needed oxygen. It was hard to tell the difference in these moments, right?

“I will apologize to Dominic when I talked to him tomorrow,” I added. “But he had these two women with him, and I don’t know if you saw them, but I just wasn’t interested.”

Jaz nodded as if he understood what I was talking about, but Jacob just flopped down one of the chairs and I think he was just too high to comprehend what was going on anymore. His eyes were bloodshot. He looked like he was in a different world. Of course, Jaz didn’t look much better. I was worried about Maggie getting much higher than she already was. She seemed more animated before, but now she was sinking down into the plush folds of the sofa and she had grown quiet.

I went back to smoking my vape pen. It prompted Maggie to take out her own vape. I asked Jacob about THC drops and what he knew about them.

“Oh dude!” Jacob replied. “That’s one of the little projects I’m working on in my department. Let me show you something that I got.” Jacob got up. How? I have no idea! Sometimes the man could defy all logic. He went over to the sideboard. It was next the cabinet where he kept the masks. He pulled out a little vial and said. “Now this is something that isn’t in on the market yet, but if you want, I can let you have a little taste. I warn you now, it’s a little more than you might expect.”

He handed the vial over to me and I in turn handed it to Maggie. I smiled at her. “Go ahead, give it a try,” I said to her. Maybe I wasn’t as worried about her as I thought.

She held the vial up to the light and it seems so small, so dainty. It made you think that it just wasn’t important, that there wasn’t anything of value in. She loaded the chamber of her vape pen with a single drop. She thanked Jacob and tried to hand it back to him, but he waved it off saying. “Ah, don’t worry about it. That’s just a sample. You can keep it.” She looked at it with reverence before sliding it into the pocket of the black hoodie she was wearing overtop of her uniform.

We didn’t stay much longer. Jacob and Jaz were just too high to carry on any sort of conversation and I don’t think they cared whether we were there or not. Jacob thanked us for stopping by. Maggie thanked him for letting her keep the sample and the two of us left discreetly.

When we entered my apartment, I turned on the lights using the voice commands for google. She seemed surprised. She said, “I could never get this system set up properly.”

The voice activated systems could do a lot of things, if you knew how to use them. These apartments had better integration of the system then most homes, but that being said most people didn’t use them. Maybe it was just too lazy. What’s so hard about flipping a switch, right?

Of course, like any normal person Maggie was stunned by the size of the apartment.

“Can’t believe what you pay for this!” She said in disbelief. “If I wasn’t seeing it right now, I wouldn’t believe it!”

“I know, crazy isn’t it!?” I replied. “It’s twice the size of my old place in New York and at a fifth of the rent!?”

“Oh my God!” She said as if everything I reveal was somehow magical. “You lived in New York!?”

“Yeah,” I said. “And I went to school at Princeton in New Jersey.” I don’t know why I said that. To me it seemed stupid. But to Maggie it was like this mythical place, as if I had an education that she could never obtain. It impressed her to no end.

“Hey, you want to see my balcony?” I asked her.

“Wow!” She responded. “This place has a balcony!?”

Okay, now was she really that ridiculous or that high? I wondered. Or was I that blasé about where I lived and what I did!? Although the balcony was small, I showed it to her. And the view of the dilapidated building across the street wasn’t very impressive. Nonetheless she was fascinated that the place had a balcony at all.

“The company is so awesome!” She proclaimed.

“I don’t know if I would go that far,” I replied. But secretly I did think it was pretty cool. We had things… we did things that wasn’t like any other company. This wasn’t like any Corporation I had ever seen or that I’ve ever worked for. We seemed closer to Silicon Valley then Wall Street.

We settled down on one of my sofas after I got us a couple of drinks. My furniture came with the apartment and although it was plain and basic. But at least it all matched and I kept them clean and stain free. Maggie curled up in my arms and we began to make out. The sofa wasn’t all that comfortable so when she suggested that we moved to the bedroom. Hey, I wasn’t going to say no.

I turned down the duvet. I peeled off her hoodie. I stripped off her uniform. I unclipped her bra, while she kissed me deeply, never letting her lips part from mine for more than a few seconds.

The next thing I knew I was wearing only boxers.

My hands were cupping her small but sensitive breasts. They were like little teacups, but they looked so cute. They suited her form so well. I just had to kiss and lick them all over. She had these white lace panties that barely contained the patch of hair just above her vagina.

Maggie had never made love before. Not that she was a virgin, that’s not what I’m saying. It’s just that she had only ever fucked. It’s just one of those things. Even with people who have a lot of sex, a lot of the times they’re just fucking. The pure carnal act of getting themselves off.

But making love is much more like an art form, you would be surprised just how few artists there are in this world. So that night I had to slow Maggie down and show her what it meant to do more than just fuck. We were pretty high, so it lasted a long time. But in the morning, she was very eager to do it all over again sober.