A woman alone in a crowded bar spots something in the mirror—a flick of a stranger’s hand over her drink. What follows is a chilling duel of wits between instinct and danger.
I caught it in the bar mirror—a flick of his hand over my drink. Too fast to be casual.
Did I imagine it? Or did he just drop something in my wine?
He was old enough to be my dad.I didn’t know his name. Late fifties maybe. Nice suit, dyed hair, the confident smile of a man who always gets what he wants. Tonight, apparently, that was me. I’d be his next conquest.
He picked up his glass and said, “Here’s good days ahead.”
I lifted my hand toward mine, then turned sharply and waved toward the crowd. “Marcia!” I called out to no one.
My elbow knocked the glass, spilling red across the bar and his gray pants.
“Oh no—I’m so sorry.”
He laughed, smooth as maple syrup. “No problem. I’m Matt. And you are…?”
“Me?” I asked.
That took him back.
He didn’t hesitate, “You’re the woman who will make all my dreams come true.”
He snapped his fingers at the bartender and waved a twenty. “Get this beautiful woman another of what she was drinking. Keep the change.
My drink arrived before I could take a deep breath. I took hold of it and pulled it close to me.
“Let’s start fresh. Hi my name is Matt and you’re . . .”
I don’t know why I didn’t walk away. Something inside me felt if I did, he’d follow me into the parking lot. I’ve got to stop watching the true detective stories on TV where trusting girls like me always end up in the morgue.
“I get it. You don’t know me. Why should you trust me? It was true about me thinking you are the girl of my dreams. I believe in love at first sight and you pushed all my buttons.”
I was afraid to take a sip of my drink. Maybe he was in cahoots with the bartender. After all, he gave him a huge tip for five dollar glass of red wine. I was trying to think of an excuse to leave. My mind felt like a gerbil on a gerbil wheel, going as fast and stuck in the same place.
“How’s the wine?”
“I haven’t tasted it.”
“Why?”
“That’s a really good question.”
“What?”
“That one too.”
“I get it, why and what are questions?”
“Gee, you’re so smart. I bet you went to college.” I zinged him. I saw him turn red.
“May I check your wine’s aroma? It could the wine’s not right..”
“Sure,” I said sliding the wine to him.
He was good. He smiled, reached for hand. My eyes wanted to turn away from he touching my hand. I couldn’t. I know he slipped something in my drink, but I’m sure I couldn’t prove it. It was so fast.
He lifted the glass, swirled it, and then sniffed. “It has a wonderful bouquet. You’ll love it.”
He slid it back to me and took his drink into his hand.
I opened my purse and pulled out my phone.
“What are you doing?
“I’m calling my boyfriend.”
“Your boyfriend?”
“Yes. He’s a cop. He’s working the evening shift.”
I watched his face drain of color. “He should be here any minute. I want him to test my wine.”
Sometimes intuition whispers before danger speaks. Have you ever trusted that quiet voice inside and felt it protect you when reason hesitated? Share your thoughts below—your story might remind someone else to listen to their inner warning light.
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