Chapter 12
Nice doing business with you...
Mary and I had been wading through the corporation division by division of Jimmy's complex business when my Blackberry buzzed.
"Please meet me for dinner in about a half-hour. I'll be downstairs."
I remember looking at the phone so puzzled by his abrupt summons but decided that he was just busy with something and didn't realize how he sounded.
When I had entered the dining room twenty minutes later he waved me over to his table. As I approached he pulled a chair out for me and said, "Good evening. What would you like to eat tonight? Along with the usual we're also having Chinese."
I was going to get in cafeteria line but he motioned me to sit back down and said, "I'll just get a little of everything for you."
I watched as he almost ran off to the serving line and quickly loaded a plate for me, seemingly forgetting I was a slim woman watching my waistline, especially now that I had a reason to watch my figure. Half the time we were together I was either on my back or on my knees.
Thinking back to that last thought, I now know how quickly nature made that desire impossible.
Setting the plate before me he patiently waited for me to start eating before beginning to talk.
He took a long drink of his iced tea.
By that time, I was sure he lived on the stuff. Something I knew I had to remember for later and knew that I had better quickly learn to make it the way he liked it.
"How are things going with Mary? Is she showing you everything? I know it is overwhelming having everything thrown at you but you're probably the smartest person here. I know that you're smarter than I am... a little bit, maybe."
He laughed, waiting for me to understand the joke. Of course, I discovered later that while it had been true, I had only edged him out by five points. Once you get above an IQ of 150, though, did it really matter anymore? I still smile about it, though... 158... Being 'intelligent', though, doesn't mean you're 'smart'.
"After you've finished here... no, take your time, that's all good...
Today if I have enough time I want to show you how I work, how I think, how I pick people that work for me. If I'm not around and you can't reach me you'll know what to do and... Alessa, I want to do it with you."
In the elevator heading up to the office levels I had hoped whatever we had together, whatever was our relationship was, it would not be destroyed working this closely with so much money at stake and that our sex life wouldn't be like a Fourth of July rocket, shooting high into the sky and exploding all over everything and then disappearing forever except in memories.
One long wall was a continuous bulletin board, its grey surface covered by maps of all sorts, aerial photographs, charts, graphs, names and positions of local and state politicians. I approached, following the progression down the wall, pausing occasionally to inspect something closer.
"Wow!"
"Yes, it is something, isn't it? I always start like this to see everything at once. It helps me visualize connections that would be lost just looking at computer files."
"Sweetheart, you and I, we can make this happen. Together, you and I can change the way the state... the country does urban redevelopment, education, medical research."
He moved behind me encircling my waist, breathing warmly on my neck.
And there he was... holding me... not very businesslike but the touch of his hands, his physical presence made me feel like... Whenever we were together I went from a serious, business-like person to that of a... a what, I have always asked myself... a slut... that wasn't right, I just wanted him... his personal slut? That seemed more to the point.
I had been willing to do whatever he wanted and many times, what I wanted.
It was a magical time for us... for me.
I leaned back against him, inhaling his breath, savoring his aroma, holding my breath to keep his essence inside, feeling heady as my body was running out of oxygen and I began to feel faint.
"Oh, God, yes," I whispered just loud enough for him to hear.
I moved my head, exposing more of my neck for him to kiss. He kissed behind my ear and then started slowly licking my cinnamon skin.
"You're like a sweet caramel..." he struggled to say as he started little love bites.