The last six months have been a difficult time for Brian Smith. His parents were murdered on vacation with friends in Mexico. They were vacationing with another couple and their best friend Max Burger; part of a swinger's group were members. His parents owned the largest sporting goods chain in America. When he graduated with his MBA, Brian worked for them developing a uniform and athletic ink screening company incorporated with the sporting goods chain.
His parent's friend, Max, whom Brian thought of as an uncle, owned an international company called Swingers, an exclusive club that brought people together for sexual connections. They and another couple had gone out for dinner when a gang came into the restaurant, killing everyone there in a gang-targeted attack.
Adding to this, Brian was informed of a family secret: His father was not his biological parent, and he was unable to have children, so Max was his mother's sperm donor, his biological father. His mom did not use protection when she made love with Max when they got together as swingers. Max had no family, so he willed his estate to Brian, the same as his parents. Brian now was in billionaire status and just recovering from the shock.
He had spent his time with two pursuits, learning both businesses and finding the people who murdered his family. The murderers had been captured, and his investigators had eliminated them, an eye for an eye, and the cartel leader who ordered the hit on the other gang which cost his family in the wrong place at the wrong time, went for a trip on Brians yacht, he never came back.
It brings us to today. Brian had turned down interviews, his PR team kept his face out of the media, so he was rich but unknown. Tonight, he was going out after six months in the office, at the Swingers Club in Seattle where he lived. "I have been watching you from across the room, I'm Brian, and you look somewhat lost." He said to a young lady he was extending his hand out to shake hers. "First time?"
"It is." She replied, shaking his hand. She was about 5'7" compared to his 5'10" frame. "I am not sure what to do."
"Well," Brian said, "Let me be your guide, I'm fairly new here myself. We can get a drink here then lets go into the dining room, we start with dinner or skip right to dessert which is in the bedrooms on the next level."
"A drink and dinner would be good," she answered back, looking somewhat embarrassed with the comment on dessert.
We went to the bar, ordered a drink, then went to the hostess to be seated.
"Welcome Mr. Smith," the hostess said. Who's your guest so I can check it off the list."
"I'm Lori McLord," she said.
"Lori will be my guest tonight," I said as she took us to a table in the back where we had a view of the dining room.
Pulling out the chair I sat down Lori then put mine next to hers as we were handed the menus.
"I see you already have drinks, your waiter will be checking back to see what you would like for dinner."
"Thank you. Tell him to take his time."
We scanned the menu and decided on our meal. The waiter left bread and butter after taking our order.
"Mr. Smith and this is Miss McLord I understand. I'm Terrance, the manager of Seattle Swingers. If there is anything you need, just let me know."
"Everyone seems to be attentive to our needs," Lori said. Adjusting her napkin onto her lap. "You must be important, the best seat and so far, everyone that has talked with you seems to know you."
"They probably have me mistaken for someone, but I'm not going to turn down the extra attention. Now, Lori, tell me, your first time here, what is the attraction?"
"My grandfather recently died and left me a small insurance policy. He told me to do something out of the ordinary, so I used it to buy an annual membership for Swingers and come and live for the evening like one of the rich, which I am not. It took almost everything I inherited, thank-you for the dinner, I hope your paying, because I don't think I have enough to cover it without using a credit card, and I think what you ordered for me would more than max my card out." She laughed.
"I hope I can make the evening make you feel you're wealthy. I think we all dream that. I used to dream I was royalty, but then I found out I either had to be born in it or marry into it. What do you do for a living?"
"I'm a schoolteacher. I work at Rainier Beach teaching business and history. I enjoy working with high school students, so young with so much potential." She said as our dinner was served. "Now, what about yourself?"
"I'm in business management, not much excitement there, nothing like teaching. I spend my day crunching numbers. How is your dinner?" I responded that I did not really want to get into my occupation.
For the next hour and a half, I spent time getting to know Lori, finding out about her childhood, her grandfather, and her parents. Eventually, I knew I could not dodge her questions about me for long, we saw businesspeople she knew about from teaching business and celebrities.
"Some of these people I would like to have spoken to my business classes, but they never return my call, I imagine they are really busy people." She said.
"Perhaps I can work something out for you. How does one of the newest richest billionaires sound as a surprise guest on Monday?" Brian said.
"You know him?"
"I do; we are personal friends. Will you excuse me for a minute, I need to use the boy's room and will check on his schedule on my way back."
When I got around the corner, I asked to see the manager. I told him I wanted Lori's membership refunded and she was given a Gold Star membership as a gift from Swingers. A trip to the restroom and then back to the table.
The chef came by to see if our meal was okay then returned to the kitchen.
"This is weird," Lori said. "I have never even met the person who cooks my food when I go out."
The manager came over with an envelope and handed it to Lori. "We are glad you are dining with us tonight, we hope you have a good evening. We wanted to give you our lifetime Gold Star membership. Your paid membership has been refunded. We look forward to seeing you on many visits." He concluded.
"I haven't been out for over six months. I am thoroughly enjoying this evening and the excitement you have shown. Lori, you are so real. I hope you will join me for some fun downstairs in one of the bedrooms. I am looking forward to sharing dessert with you. And you will have a guest speaker on Monday. I hope you will join me for dinner after school."
"Thank-you. Are you going to share his name? And yes, let's have dessert."
"No, I want to surprise you. I mentioned the DECA class you teach, that is his interest, your last class of the day so you will have to wait in anticipation till then." I responded, taking her hand and leading her to the elevator.
I had been given the key card to the Presidential suite when I arrived. Since Lori had never been here before, she would think this was what all the rooms looked like.
