The Trophy
Chapter One; Alison
I stared into Gemma's eyes as the lift ascends; my eyes narrow before I coldly state. "I saw the way that Bar Man was looking at you."
"Jealous?" she gently teased knowing not to break away from my grip around her waist.
"No .....because I know you're mine," I respond pulling her closer. I could've been he was closer to her age than I was but what I built with Gemma transcended such limits as age; although I'll admit the status of a young attractive blonde girlfriend was powerful.
As her hands rest flat on my chest she tilts her head back and I kiss her passionately. As we embrace her hands move up around my neck and she clings to me while my hands move around onto her ass through the short dark red dress she wears, coupled with knee high black boots.
Unawares I'd watched her dress earlier. I knew therefore that matching black underwear and natural colour hold ups were worn under her dress. I kept her dressed in only the finest. I'd already planned exactly how I would undress her; spent the duration of the meal we'd just had mentally plotting how I'd use the young blonde. Constructing such a mental picture in truth had been infinitely preferable to her conversation about the latest happenings on her Beauty Therapy course.
The melodic chime indicating the lift had reached the 14th floor disturbs us as I press her against the far wall of the lift. Breaking the kiss Gemma looks up at me with a playful smirk
"Mind you he probably thought you were my Dad."
"Are you trying to get yourself in to trouble?"
I shake my head as the lift doors slide open behind me, "I was going to take it easy with you tonight."
"Oh please...." Gemma continues to playfully provoke, "When do you ever take it easy?"
Grabbing her waist I drag her from the Lift into the foyer that leads to the apartment.
"You'll regret that," I state adopting a menacing tone "I'm going to take you and....."
My words trail off as slightly off guard I realise we aren't alone in the foyer. Gemma laughing crashes gently against me under the momentum by which I pulled her from the Lift.
On the far side of the foyer a male and female stand at the doorway to the apartment opposite of mine.
In the two months I've lived here the apartment that shares the top floor has been empty. I'd heard comings and goings recently but not come across my new neighbours until now.
He's tall, fair haired with an athletic build and dressed in a sharp black suit.
She is a vision, her backless black dress clings perfectly to her every curve, I cast my eye along the seam that runs up the back of the hosiery that adorns her calf muscles, dissecting her lower leg all the way to the hem of the dress and presumably beyond from the strap of her expensive looking heels.
Natural hazel brown hair falls straight to her shoulder. She turns first as Gemma and I stumble into the foyer a smile comes to her demure face, the smile accentuated by perfect cheek bones.
"Oh Hi neighbours," I state as he continues to try to work the key card in the door but they seemingly can't gain access. "Having problems?"
She looks embarrassed as he turns on hearing my voice and then he looks over at me.
"These fucking key cards ......it's like a fucking hotel," he angrily interjects in response to my question. "All this fucking money and...."
"Not ideal I agree," I interject as I step towards the couple "Although you might find it's the door."
I step up to the door mentally noting how she instinctively steps behind him. Turning to face them I heavily pound my heel against the base of door. Taking the gold coloured key card from his hand I place it in the slot and resist a smug grin as I hear the door unlock.
"Speak to Frank on the front desk he'll get maintenance to look at it .....it's probably misaligned ....mine used to do the same."
I hand him back his key. "Logan by the way," and I offer him my hand "Logan Hughes."
He shakes my hand with a steel grip in response but doesn't thank me for my assistance I note "Mark Mathews," his tone is almost business like "My Wife... Alison."
"Hi there Alison." I smile at her.
"Oh please .....it's Ali," she states from behind him, "there's no need to be so formal."
I recognise the look of disdain he attempts to hide; despite her barely chastising him.
"Well Mark and Ali," I smile to her again, once again spotting a flash of his ire, "Good to meet you... oh I'm sorry this is my... this is Gemma ...my Girlfriend."
I flash a smile at Gemma having been so tempted to introduce her as my daughter in elaborate reversal of Gemma's earlier comment in the lift. I realised immediately just how wrong that would look.
Another round of polite hello's ensues as I slip back in Gem's direction.
"Been anywhere nice?" I state to be civil as we turn backs on one another.
"The French place by the water front." Mark answers, "Abysmal service and awful food. "
'Thanks for the Trip Advisor review,' is the unspoken comment that runs swiftly through my head. "I've always found it quite pleasant," I instead honestly counter.
Opening my own door imagining him sneering Gemma heads in first "See you around" I state looking back as he nods while ushering Alison almost in through the door. I glance one last surreptitious look over her as the door closes and I enter my own place.
"They seem nice," Gemma offers.
"He's a Wanker," I curtly reply.
**********
Gemma lays face down naked on the King Size bed; the white cotton top sheet falls across her lower back, her hair disheveled and she breathes deeply in exhausted sleep.
I stand watching out across the plaza bathed in sunshine through the floor to ceiling window, as naked as they day I was born.
I watch people go about their lazy Sunday morning business. My mind is active thinking of the ever-growing list of tasks I need to prioritise and complete before the Club can finally open. Things were dragging on far too long for my liking and draining my finances far too quickly. Loans were looking increasingly necessary.
I spot her as she weaves between a group of kids, diagonally crossing the plaza heading towards the main entrance of the Apartment block.
Gemma stirs, "Do you ever lie in," she mumbles wrapping herself in the bed sheets.
"I was just thinking about getting us coffees," I state pulling in a pair of navy sweat pants over my naked lower torso.
"We have coffee in the cupboard."
"And Pastries?"
