32. The Gathering Storm
Bob Short helped Fiona up off the shower floor and into the radiant heated bathroom. He toweled her dry from head to toe and proceeded to brush out her hair.
Fiona acquiesced to all this attention and wondered why he was not married. If Bob took care of all of the women he met like he was taking care of her, he would be a wonderful protector, a good provider and an experienced lover.
Bob finished with her hair and told her to lie down and rest. Dinner would be ready in forty-five minutes and he would come and get her. Fiona started to argue, but Bob looked at her, sternly, and she backed off.
Fiona started walking toward the second bedroom, but Bob intercepted her and took her to the master bedroom. She said to him, "I thought this was just for show?"
Bob said, "It is for show, and I am going to show you a lot!" He proceeded to pull down the spread and folded it neatly at the base of the bed. He pulled down the blanket and the top sheet and folded it into a neat triangle. He moved Fiona into position by the bed. He removed the towel from around her body, sat her naked body down, picked up her legs from the floor, and slid them under the covers, thereby forcing her to lie down. He covered her body, up to her neck, kissed her on her forehead and said, "Rest. I will be back in a while to get you. Nothing and no one is going to hurt you or bother you while you are here, with me."
Bob had many talents, but he could not boil water without having a major industrial accident. However, he did know every good restaurant within a half mile radius of his home and every restaurant owner and manager knew him. Tonight, he thought he would treat his special guest to some exquisite Thai food.
He first stepped around an enclosure to make sure that Fiona was asleep, and then stepped to the far end of his apartment and made a call, to his friend Angus McFarland. Angus owned "The Lotus Flower," a small and delicately appointed Asian restaurant, a few short blocks away. He explained his predicament to the transplanted Scot and in his big Scottish brogue, Angus said, "Shall I come over and cook it myself, so I can see the lass?"
Bob said, "No thanks, Angus. She will be enough for me to handle, by myself. Just send me over the best that you have, from soup to nuts, including wine, preferably from that other transplanted Scots vineyard in Australian that you love so much."
Angus laughed and said, "When do you want it, lad?"
"Now!" said Bob. "On real plates, real silverware, real glasses, the whole nine yards, Angus. Do not screw me up on this, or I will put roaches in your kitchen."
Angus roared with laughter again and said, "Oh good, more for the rats to eat."
Deep cover operatives took care of one another. Angus McFarland had spent nearly 30 years roaming around Burma, Thailand, South and North Vietnam, as a reporter for communist-leaning magazines, endearing himself to tyrants and communist governments in the region with his reporting of their ideology and their good works for their people. The Russians and the Chinese even took him into their confidence on many occasions. His reports back to MI-6 and the Central Intelligence Agency were code named "Lotus Flower" which was how his restaurant got its name.
The food and wine showed up quickly and the table was set perfectly. Bob handed two one hundred dollar bills to cover the cost of the meal and their services, to the three young women, who were employed by Angus. He let the aromas waft around the rooms and permeate the air, with their rich scents. He then went to awaken his charge, bringing one of his short silk kimonos with him. He kissed Fiona on her lips and she barely moved. He slid the blanket back and sucked on her left nipple and she moaned. He went back, kissed her lips and squeezed her nipple at the same time, and Fiona's eyes opened.
She said, "I thought you said, 'Nothing and no one was going to bother me while I was here with you.' Here you are bothering me."
"That is true, girl, but I am your master for as long as I wish, and I get to change the rules as often as I want. Your forty-five minutes of peace and rest is over. I have slaved and hurried over a hot stove and cleaned up the mess, so that we can be together after dining, without delay. I do not desire that the fruits of my labor be cold because you tarry under my warm blankets. Now get up and put this on and let us eat, before I forget dinner and start with my dessert."
Fiona folded herself out of bed and raised herself up. She looked down upon her
'master'
and tried to give him her most menacing look. However, being naked did not help very much.
He opened the silk kimono and she bent her knees and slid her arms into it. She tied the belt and she realized that it barely covered her private parts. She looked at Bob in dismay.
Bob smiled saying, "Being a
'short'
does have its advantages." He escorted her to the table and sat her down.