One phone call changed the entire course of my life.
I was a successful businesswoman and at the age of 28 I had a multimillion dollar businesses. I was recently featured in the top 30 businesswomen under 30.
I was offered 50 million dollars by a conglomerate that was looking to increase their portfolio. I turned it down as I enjoyed the power and influence I had. I had over 100 employees and I was in total control.
The problem I found was that I had to devote almost my entire time and energy to this business. I never had time for myself.
It was almost 11.00pm and I was looking at the annual finance report. The job felt like it never ended. I had my dinner at my desk and I sometimes wondered if this was the life I wanted. I was successful but I had no time for myself.
My cell phone vibrated again. I knew it was my brother, Brian. He had been trying to contact me all day and I had been ignoring his calls. I had lost contact with my brother and father some time ago. My mother died when I was young and the home became very male dominated without my mother. I was lucky to be out at 18 when I moved to New York to study. I never looked back and started my own business at 24. Within 4 years we had undergone a dramatic growth and I had to answer to investors.
I was leaving the office and it rang again, he had rang at least 5 times now and I answered in an exasperated tone, "Yes Brian. What is it?"
He was eerily silent and then he said in a dead pan manner, "Lauren, dad died last night."
Then followed a deafening silence as I stood still in the office unable to move.
Brian then said, "Hello? Are you all right?"
I broke out of my shocked state, "I will catch the next flight out." I then disconnected the call.
I flew out the next day to my hometown. I went to the family home and not much had changed. It was still a homage to Brian's sporting achievements. He was the High School quarterback until a knee injury ruined his hopes of a scholarship. He now worked in the family car dealership.
I had been taught the value of business from an early age by my father who had made a great success of the dealership and kept Brian gainfully employed.
Brian explained that dad was working in his office and when Brian went to check up on him for closing he found him collapsed over invoices on his desk. He had suffered a stroke and by the time the paramedics arrived, it was too late.
It was a bleak picture and made me think about my life. I was a spinster, I spent all my time looking after my company that I had no time to enjoy my life.
Maybe my father was teaching me a lesson with his death. I needed to reassess my priorities in life.
Brian was married and had 3 sweet kids. His wife was really sweet. Her name was Kavita and she was originally from India. She had this sweet caring nature and I instantly warmed to it. I felt terrible that I had not come back for their wedding. It felt nice spending time with the family and I had missed that connection.
I went back to New York having to return to the needs of the business. It was another late night in the office and I found that old email from the agent with an offer for the company. 50 million was enough to retire with or even take a break. Maybe I could take a break and I could set up another business. I could take a break and maybe write a book. I had so many endless opportunities if I was not stuck in this place.
I sent an email to the agent saying I was ready to sell. The next day arrangements were made for the sale and before I knew it I was in my Manhattan apartment able to enjoy a day without the need to be anywhere.
I took a walk in the streets and I felt I could enjoy the city without the pressure of needing to work.
I had been back a month and after processing my feelings I was able to concentrate on my book. I was initially a buzz with ideas but soon the reality of writing took over and I was struggling. I tried a couple of dating apps but there was no one that interested me. There were too many alpha male types that wanted to impress me with the size of their wallet or jobs. It was a major turn off for me as I was more successful than most of the types that tried to impress me.
I turned back to my writing and I even managed a chapter on male jerks.
One night I was unable to sleep. My body was on fire. I was literally burning up. I was covered in sweat. My breasts felt tender and even my vagina felt tender and my vagina lips were swollen.
I did not know what was wrong with me. It was too early to be going through menopause and I went to see my Doctor. His first question was direct and personal, "When was the last time you had sex?"
I stammered and stuttered. I was taken aback by the question and all of a sudden became shy, "18 months. Maybe longer."
Saying it out loud made me realise how barren my sex life had become. I was at the peak of my sexuality but I was stuck at home. Was I setting my standards too high?
He then asked me more questions about my periods and a brief examination. He took some samples and said he will have the results in a couple of weeks.
It happened around once a week. As I waited for my results I began to google my symptoms. The one constant on all the websites was that my body had a hormonal imbalance and it was caused by a lack of sex. My nipples and vagina lips were becoming engorged to attract males. My body was regressing to some type of primal urges.
I went to see the doctor and he prescribed me some medication that would help me balance out the symptoms. I was able to concentrate on other things.
It was a few weeks later that Brian called me and he said they were having a gathering as Kavita's nephew was coming from India to study in New York. I really enjoyed my visit and I felt a closer connection with my brother and his new family.
I went over to visit for 2 weeks and they had arranged a stay in our family log cabin. I met Kavita's nephew, Rami. He was quiet and kept to himself but I spent most of my time with Brian and Kavita. Brian's car was full and Rami had to come in my car as we drove up to the log cabin.
We arrived at the log cabin early but the weather was beginning to turn and it began raining. It was heavier than usual rain. We quickly went inside and got a log fire started.
I tried to get a call out to Brian but I was unable to make any calls. I then received a flurry of texts as my phone received service. They were from Brian and the first few said they were running late and I thought typical Brian. Then they said the kids are becoming restless and the roads are treacherous so they would turn back try again if it cleared up.
I thought to myself if they planned this getaway why would they not check the weather? Brian was always so unorganised and on the spur of the moment.
I told Rami and he seemed a little lost. He didn't really know me and he was only 18. I put my arm around him and said, "I am sure they will come tomorrow when the weather clears up."
We eased into the log cabin. It is by the lake and we were unable to leave the cabin due to the treacherous conditions outside. The cabin was spacious and could accommodate a family. We had plenty of food to last a week but I hoped the weather cleared up by the morning.
I found Rami open up more as the evening wore on and I learned a lot about him and the family history. Rami was the son of Kavita's sister. Kavita went to America to work and met Brian. She never returned to India but stayed in touch with the family. His family were not wealthy but they were able to send him to America to study medicine.
There was something about his nature that I found very sweet. Maybe it was the fact that he would always call me "madam". He seemed harmless and I liked his company. If I was stuck here with him it would not be so bad after all. He was not the usual jerk men I was surrounded by.
We began to play a game of Monopoly as we continued to talk. He asked, "Madam, how is your company? Aunty told me you have a big important company."
I had to correct him, "I had a company. But I am now taking a break and writing a book."
He had an inquisitive mind and he asked, "Oh. What is the book about?"
I told him about my ideas for the book and the feminist ideals behind it. He seemed genuinely interested rather than the dismissive tone I had received from men recently.
We retired to bed as it was getting late. I picked my usual room and he picked Brian's room. I guess Brian and Kavita would be taking my parents room, if they turned up.
Since I started taking the tablets my body felt a lot more relaxed but tonight I felt a familiar tension in my body. Maybe I was just nervous at being back in the family log cabin. It was late and then I got a knock at the door. It freaked me out a little but then I knew it was Rami and said, "Rami are you ok? Come in."
He tentatively opened the door, "Aunty Lauren, I am really sorry to disturb you. I was unable sleep and scared. I keep hearing noses."
It made me smile thinking about his vulnerability, "It is just the wind and nothing to worry about."
He was nervous and looked back outside the door, "Aunty I am really sorry. I am really scared. I know I should not be but I really am. Can I sleep in here with you? I will sleep on the floor. Anything."
I motioned him over, "Don't be silly. You can sleep in my bed. Close the door and come here."
He entered the bed and slept on his side. We fell asleep soon enough.
It was during the middle of the night it felt like I was having an out of body experience. I had the most erotic dream where I was having sex with a much younger man.