Black List Read Online Free PDF

immediately stopped.
    Nicholas’s heart caught in his throat as he introduced himself. For a moment, he was frozen with the notion that he had made the mistake of his life coming to the conference. Then someone broke the ice. “You’re actually a lot taller than I thought you’d be,” said the man in the Buddy Holly glasses. The group laughed and made room for Nicholas to sit down.
    They shared stories and bonded over drinks until it was time for the reception.
    It was a crowded event in an adjacent ballroom. The group managed to find a table and Nicholas was put in charge while the others broke into teams to get more drinks and bring back food from the buffet.
    Despite the impolite stares he inevitably received, Nicholas was having a wonderful evening. As much as he disliked going out in public, there was no substitute for real, human companionship.
    When nature finally called, he asked if anyone else at the table needed to visit the facilities. For the moment, everyone else was content to remain at the reception, so he excused himself, slid off his chair, and stepped away.
    Buoyed by alcohol and his overwhelmingly good mood, Nicholas paused at the ballroom door, and with an exaggerated bow, stood back to allow an attractive woman with short, dark hair and leather pants to exit before him.
    Instead of staring at him, as most people did, the woman smiled genuinely and said, “Thank you.”
    How Nicholas could enjoy himself any more was beyond him. The evening was just about perfect. All he needed to do now was find the men’s room.
    At the first set of restrooms, there was a line out the ladies’ room door, but he was able to walk right into the men’s room. The only problem was that the urinals were too high, and the lone handicap-accessible stall was taken. He waited as long as he could, but the pressure on his bladder eventually became too great and he set off in search of another washroom.
    Close to another cluster of ballrooms, he found one. It was completely empty. At least it was until he finished his business and was exiting the handicap stall.
    “Well, look at this,” said one of the drunks who had ridden with him on the elevator. One of his colleagues stood swaying next to him, trying to aim into the urinal.
    Nicholas smiled and nodded politely, but as he passed, the man stepped back and blocked his way.
    “Where are you going, little buddy?” the man asked.
    Nicholas didn’t answer. He had found that if he remained quiet, people often lost interest in him. Engaging them only seemed to act as encouragement.
    “I said, where are you going? ” the man repeated adamantly.
    Nicholas attempted to step around him, but the man quickly moved to block his path.
    “What’s your problem?” the drunk demanded. “Do you have a bridge to get back under, or something, you rude little fuck?”
    “He doesn’t seem to like you much, Stu,” said the other man.
    “Why do you suppose that is?”
    “Probably afraid you’ll make him turn over his pot of gold.”
    “Is that what you are?” slurred the drunk. “A leprechaun?”
    Nicholas remained silent and kept a neutral expression. He had no intention of giving these two assholes the satisfaction of knowing they were getting to him.
    “Do you have any gold?”
    “You can’t fucking ask him, Stu,” said the man at the urinal. “You gotta catch him first.”
    The drunk thought about it for a second and then lunged. With his short legs, Nicholas was unable to move out of the way in time.
    The man grabbed hold of Nicholas by the shirt and picked him up off the floor. “Now I want my gold,” he said, shaking him. “Give me my gold, you little fucker.”
    “Put him the fuck down, Stu,” said the man at the urinal.
    “Shut up,” said the drunk, turning his attention back to Nicholas. “You’d better have some gold for me, you little shit. Cough it up.”
    Having been set upon before, Nicholas always traveled with an ace up his sleeve. This time the ace