The Finale
DISCLAIMER: The story you are about to read is purely fictional. Any possible similarities between the characters and events with people in real life are purely coincidental.
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This story doesn't begin on a Tuesday the way the others did. No walk to have lunch with my wealthy friend Robert. No moment of sharing a smile with his beautiful assistant Jacqueline.
No, today is actually Friday. I took the day off and have been cleaning up my house and getting things ready for a romantic evening. It's actually been a month now since my birthday, and things have changed for the better.
After my exhausting romp with four "nurses", I went to dinner with Jacqueline at that French bistro. We had a lovely dinner and talked for two more hours after that over a bottle of wine. Our second date was more typical...a movie. A new period piece drama was mentioned in the first date, so we made plans to go see it. Afterwards we ended up having drinks and talking late into the night, topped off by a short, but sweet goodnight kiss.
The third date is when the heat turned up. I scored two tickets to the theater for a big stage production show. Jacqueline looked stunning in one of her "little black dresses" with heels and a nice shawl. We saw the show and took a romantic walk in the park. A look into each others eyes turned into a kiss, then a deeper kiss, then making out under the moonlight.
Strangely enough...that night didn't end with us going to one of our respective homes and tearing each others clothes off. When we left the downtown area after our steamy makeout session in the park, Jacqueline asked me to just take her home, stating she was very tired and needed sleep. Now I could have thought she went cold and lost interest, but she did have a hard time getting herself to leave my car when we kissed goodnight.
Thankfully though, interest wasn't lost. She wanted to see me again, and thus I had suggested a more low-key night with a candlelit dinner at my place and she quickly accepted my invite. I did have hopes this night would be the moment we go all the way, but I'm a patient man and would wait for Jacqui.
So that leads us to today. I had taken the day off to prepare everything. I went to the market and picked up a beautiful fillet of salmon, some fresh asparagus, and a tantalizing dessert. Also picked up some white wine and the fixings for the martinis I kept seeing Jacqui order on our previous dates.
The rest of the day was spent getting the place together. It was also the time to clean my house of the remnants of my wild birthday month. I had tossed out the thongs Sarah and Elena left me, as well as a nurse's hat I found under the bed, and a half-used bottle of lube Zhanna probably left. With Ashley's box of condoms, I didn't want them going to waste, so I put six in my bedside table and hid the rest deep in my closet.
Six PM and I was all set. The asparagus was steamed and seasoned, the salmon ready for broiling, and the wine chilled. I was showered, dressed, and even a little nervous for Jacqueline's arrival...maybe more giddy. I was also happy it had been almost a month since my birthday...thus giving my body and especially genitals time to rest and recuperate.
6:30 and the doorbell rang. I opened the door to find my lovely lady awaiting me with a smile. She looked good, dressed in fitted jeans with a sexy top, her hair hanging long and silky, eyes that I could get lost in.
Jacqueline:
"Hey handsome."
David:
"Hey sweetie...come in. Welcome to my home."
I let Jacqui in as she took a moment to look around in awe.
Jacqueline:
"Wow...this place is huge!"
It did seem big for just one person, but she knew my story about my past, my divorce...so a single divorced guy in a big house isn't all that abnormal. I noticed Jacqui was carrying a garment bag and a larger bag with it.
David:
"Whoah...moving in already?"
Jacqueline (giggling):
"No silly...unlike you I did have to work today. This is just my work clothes and some stuff to get ready for now. Can we stash these somewhere?"
David:
"Of course. Here, let me."
I took her bags and placed them in the coat closet by the front door. Jacqueline then immediately proceeded to jump into my arms and kiss me deeply.
Jacqueline:
"Mmmmmmm...I missed you."
David:
"I missed you too. Can I offer a lady a martini?"
After fixing us a few drinks, I gave Jacqui the nickel tour of the house. I showed her the downstairs, then upstairs. The guest room, then my home office before the master bedroom I hoped we would end up in.
Jacqueline was admiring my home office and a painting I had on the wall from a local artist she apparently knew. Small world. She passed over my desk and suddenly picked up what looked like a business card.
Jacqueline:
"High Class Personnel – Finding the right fit for your needs"
Oh crap. That's the business card Zhanna left me when she kept trying to "sell" me on having her back. I tossed it on my desk and forgot about it last month. I grew a little nervous.
Jacqueline:
"This is that service Robert uses to send high-priced escorts to clients. What are you doing with this?"
Before I could even answer, Jacqui's face went from bewildered to a mixed state of shock and upset.
Jacqueline:
"Ohmygawd...you're that 'very important client' Robert was sending hookers to all last month???"
David:
"Well I..."
Again, before I could formulate an answer, Jacqueline cut me off. She set her drink on my desk.
Jacqueline:
"I'm out of here. I can't believe I fell in with another one. I thought you were different David."
David:
"Jacqui wait..."
Jacqueline then headed into the hallway. I tried to grab her arm when she forcefully pulled it away.
Jacqueline:
"DON'T TOUCH ME! What was your plan David? Get me into bed like those hookers? Another notch on your bedpost?"
That was the point when I had enough. I then stopped Jacqueline from leaving, holding her arms so I could get a word in.
David:
"FIRST OF ALL...CALM DOWN!"
Jacqueline:
"Calm down? Fine. Just tell me the truth, were you this 'special client' Robert was sending women to all last month?"
David:
"I'll tell you the truth, then I want you to hear me out rather than rush off on conclusions. Hear me out and then you're free to walk out of here and never see me again."
I gently released Jacqueline's arms and she took a step back. I calmed my voice and let loose.
David:
"The truth is...yes, I was the person Robert had been sending escorts to over the course of a month. My birthday was late last month and Robert surprised me with all this."
Jacqueline:
"And that's supposed to make me understand?"
David:
"You know, I'm not going to apologize for having a past before we started dating. You know my story. I've spent so long trying to please everyone in my life and I ended up finding the person I was supposed to trust running around behind my back. You also know this reality from your own exes."
Jacqueline crossed her arms and looked down as I continued.
David:
"Geez Jacqui. I could sit here and try to somehow paint all this in some way that makes you not believe whatever you think of me, but you know I'm not some pervert or player. The truth is that experience broke me out of a shell I've been trapped in ever since my ex betrayed me. You've seen it. I suddenly dress differently, gained a backbone, even broke down and asked you out when all I could do was share small talk before escaping into Robert's office."
"If I only saw you as some lay, I would have been trying to get you drunk that first night. I would have been driving some fancy car or doing the usual douchey things that I'm sure past men in your life have done."
"I won't lie. Sex with those girls was fun to an extent, but I would have given them all up to be with you. To have that lovely evening at Bordeaux. The intelligent conversation after the movie we saw. The show and that romantic walk through the park we had."
Jacqueline:
"You're just saying that because I'm here."
David:
"Jacqui, have I betrayed you?"
Jacqueline:
"It's not the..."
David:
"Have I betrayed you?"
Jacqueline stood there for a moment in silence before answering.
Jacqueline:
"No. You didn't."
David:
"I would not have gone through all this to just have sex. The real truth is...I love you. I've felt strongly for you the moment I first met you months ago. We could look at this past experience as me banging hired women...or the nudge that finally pushed me to take a chance and make us more than just idle chit-chat."
"You know in your heart I'm not a pervert or player. You know I'll never hurt you the way your exes have."
Jacqueline stood there for a moment. I guess I must have said something right because she didn't immediately leave. She was looking down, and I could see her lips trembling a little.
Before I knew it, she jumped into my arms again, kissing me deeply, holding me tight. We kissed for a few moments before she buried her head into my chest, my arms holding her.
Jacqueline:
"I'm so sorry. You probably think I'm some crazy..."
David:
"Shhhh...don't worry about it. In all honesty I can't blame you for getting upset at first."
She then looked into my eyes and said something I'll never forget.
Jacqueline: