CHAPTER 1
Three months after being divorced by his wife who'd found in mid-life she was romantically attracted to another woman, Bob Doe finally came out of sulking. Reading the signs, daughter Mira decided to introduce him to Mrs Apple, the widowed mother of one of her friends.
The good intent was in vain. Verity Apple's breasts were too large for Bob's liking and he preferred a woman who was a better organizer and more intelligent that he was because that meant he was told what to do and how to do it, the theory being there would be less arguing. Verity proved to be flighty and a little lazy and dumber than Bob so when finding she was rather appalling in bed, choosing to lie cast and contributed nothing much beyond panting, he was rather elated when she asked did he mind her saying she might prefer your pal Tom Saddler.
As they sat at the table after dinner having this amicable conversation, Bob stupidly said he'd been about to ask Verity to move in with him. She expressed surprise and cupped her chin and said perhaps she would consider the best offer. She asked what was he offering?
"Er nothing," Bob said beginning to panic. "You just move in and do all the housework, cooking, do the roof when it needs repainting, attend to the trash..."
"Bob I must say this with as much kindness I can muster: Shove your offer."
Bob fought to conceal his relief.
Eyeing at his reddening face as she finished her coffee Verity said, "Oh you poor guy. I've offended you by turning you down and now you are angry with me."
Exhaling, Bob said he'd get over it.
They kissed goodbye outside Verity's apartment block, she making it quite clear this was their finale and he has not being invited up.
He gave her a little dig, "What no more sex?"
"Thankfully no; your problem is you don't know when to stop."
Bob mistook her disapproval for a huge compliment and almost swaggered to his new black all-wheel-drive Cadillac SRX that Verity adored.
In an attempt to make sure Verity did not return, Bob called Tom Saddler and said, "You skunk, I attempted a big hit on Verity Apple but was rebuffed. She told me she was going soft on you."
"Oh yeah? I thought the reverse applied. She told me you had zoom to burn."
"Well apparently she's off zoom."
They chatted and when running out of things to say inside ten minutes, Tom said, "Thanks for that tip off. I aim to give Verity all my attention."
At home Bob, feeling the passion of a freed man, looked at the local Real Estate newspaper insert from the morning's newspaper and when on his second whisky decided to put an offer on one of the four penthouses in the new Apollo apartment tower that was almost ready for occupancy. He called Linda Shadbolt, selling agent for the developer.
"Hi Bob, has it fallen off yet?"
They were old friends and used to fuck before he became engaged to Stella. Linda said she'd heard he'd sold his business and he said yeah, to a management buyout.
"Good money?
He was cagey and said he was happy. "Although I'm only forty-eight I am going to try early retirement."
"Are you calling about Apollo?"
"Yeah."
"The premium apartments with the river view are gone or are under contract but some of those agreements could be a mite shaky. I'll try some pressure to force a cancellation for you."
"What about a penthouse?"
Linda was good but he heard her suck in breath. He smiled.
"Which one would you like?"
He grinned and said it would depend on an inspection but first he wanted 15% off the advertised price.
"Bob I could try the CEO of the development company on that but I don't know. She may agree to 5%."
"Linda you need one of those sold to initiate further interest. Tell Mrs Vaughan I'll sign tomorrow at the advertised asking price less 15% and the only counter-offer I'm interested in hearing is an ever larger discount."
"I'll make sure she gets that message Bob. Um do you want me to come over now?"
"You're married to a great guy baby. Don't be stupid and risk it."
"Yeah right. What time do you wish me to call in the morning?"
"I'll meet you outside the entrance to Apollo at 8:00 sweetie. Let's get this cracking."
"Yea I agree. Listen I haven't said this but less fifteen is pretty close to current market price."
"Understood."
New day Bob and Linda agreed one apartment had the edge and he returned to her office and signed the preliminary agreement to buy Penthouse 1 for the asking price less 15%.
A couple of days later Bob received a call. The voice was that of a young woman.
"Mr Robert Doe?"
"Yes."
"I'm Rosalie Apple also known as Rosie Apple."
"Verity's daughter who was returning from overseas?"
"Correct, I arrived three days ago. I would like to meet."
"What coffee or lunch?"
"Over light lunch would be fine. I'll pay."
They agreed on the time and café.
A super looking chick with rosy cheeks and hand-sized boobs came up to the table and Bob decided she couldn't be but she said hi Mr Doe. He sprang to his feet.
"Miss Apple welcome. You are swell looking," Bob said, aghast his touch of sophistication had deserted him.
"Oooh and what it is about me that appeals?"
"Um you face," Bob said looking at her breasts and he looked up into a knowing smile.
Her eyes were bluest blue. He almost groaned. "May I call you Rosie?"
"Help yourself," she said with a thoughtful smile.
Bob had expected the meeting would be about her mom who would have given Rosie an earful about Bob Doe being the only date she'd had in years who really meant anything to her but that his sexual horsepower was too much for her. This chick would be wasting her time. Her mom would have to put up with being driven round in Tom's eight-year-old Ford Ranger pick-up and being taught to play poker and being asked to help in the garden.
"You must be enjoying been back home?" he asked, not knowing what else to say.
"Well yes, I was homesick. But without wishing to sound disloyal mom is so full of complaints. I never thought I'd hear this from an older women but she even complained about having too much sex."
"Er I have been dating your mom."
"Yes she told me and that she's dumped you for Tom Saddler in an effort to have a more leisurely life."
