For the next three days, Sasha sat in her room without any word from Jay.
She'd not been summonsed once.
She left her room to eat, but when she got down to the kitchen to find her special meal waiting for her, Greg and Jay's were already missing.
Each day she went to the salon, and each day was the same. She'd wait in her room, television, books and movies at her disposal, and she'd wait and wait for the call from Jay.
At night it was the same. She'd crawl into her bed, thinking he may phone her or pop into her room, or call her into his. Nothing came. He didn't ring and he didn't' turn up.
It was as though he only wanted her for the creativity, in that moment, and now he was done with it.
At one point, Sasha approached Greg who she saw in a corridor. She'd asked him if Jay wanted to see her, that she'd been waiting for a long time. Greg replied that it was her job to wait.
"But... um... I have other reasons for wanting to see him."
"Such as?"
"Well, we slept together a few nights ago, and I feel a little strange that I haven't seen him since."
"Sasha, Jay is on fire. He's working harder and more efficiently than I have ever seen him work.
Whatever it is that you want from him will have to wait till you are both out of this artificial environment. But for the record I am glad you told me that you slept together. It makes it better for the creative atmosphere if I know all of his moves."
His moves? What was she a chess piece? Talking to Greg hadn't helped anything at all.
Truth was, she as losing faith in the magic of their night together. His instant disappearance had rocked her a little and she couldn't be sure anymore of the intensity that she felt between them. She had good old fashioned girly insecurities and she hated them.
But they wouldn't go away.
Perhaps he used her in every way to inspire his work.
The hours dragged on as she sat in her room.
She'd get up occasionally and walk to the window that looked out over the inner warehouse, staring down toward Jay's office. Occasionally she'd see a shadow pass across the drawn blind, but she was sure that would be Greg. Jay wouldn't get up from his desk. He'd work there as hard as anyone could, making the world a better place, changing the lives of millions of women around the world. Making the world just that little bit smarter with his skill.
Then she'd shake herself awake and reprimand herself for staring lustfully out into the abyss of the warehouse.
If Jay didn't need her, then she didn't need him. Period.
Then she'd turn on the television and try to immerse herself into a program. Or she'd pick up one of the many books on her bookshelf and read. She tried to avoid all the romance novels - and there were plenty – because it reminded her too much of Jay. She stuck to detective novels and murder mysteries to keep her entertained.
The mornings were easier because they were filled. As strange as these visits were, Sasha could see they were really working. After a week, her skin was the clearest and most beautiful it had ever been. Her hair lay in thick lustrous waves down her back and her hands and feet looked as though they'd neve been used.
The small thrills they gave her were also doing their job, and she looked well rested and relaxed.
But it was after lunch that she felt the loneliest. Greg visited her each day, but she soon knew to dread Greg's visit because it usually meant there wouldn't be a reason to visit with Jay.
After a few days of the isolation, she'd even started to hope she'd run into Jay's mother – just for something to do and some sign of connection with him.
Finally, after days of waiting, that night she was called into Jay's office.
Pulling her robe tight around her, she checked herself in the mirror and knew without conceit, she had never looked more beautiful.
She skipped down to Jay's office, thrilled to be of use to them again, and thrilled for the chance to see Jay.
When she walked into the office she stopped in her tracks, stunned by what she saw.
Fabric, mannequins and enormous flowers filled the room. There was barely room to stand amongst all the magical dresses, blouses, shawls, jackets and woollens she could see. Tall paper flowers, as tall as Sasha herself, beamed at her from all over the room, obviously used as the basis for a lot of the designs. Jackets sat next to them with large free standing collars (name) and hard pressed linen cuffs. The yellows, varied whites and greens of the lilies were used in the range.
In another section of the room red, orange and yellow tulips in the same paper design stood tall, surrounded by bustiers in the same colours, silks, satins and rich heavy chiffon. Heavy skirts, tighter skirts and shorter skirts to match the bustiers and to sit alone caught her eye.
What struck Sasha instantly was none of the clothes were about covering up a full figured woman. They were all about glorifying her, celebrating her and most of all, making her an object of erotic beauty.
Sasha was stunned. She understood in a heartbeat why she hadn't seen Jay for almost five days.
