Elle soon had reason to regret having made the requested to be properly wooed.
Flowers were arriving at work by courier each day and the women at reception were generating the rumor that Elle must be spreading it around as no one male would be that devoted, even to someone as glamorous as Elle.
Hannah had been over the moon when arrived home that evening of Elle's return to see her again. Donovan had dropped Elle off at the apartment to have a long sleep to reduce jet lag. The hugs and kisses bestowed by Hannah made up for Ellen missing out on bonding of that intensity with Donovan.
Elle learned that yes Joe and Hannah were an item and yes they were 'canoodling' and no they hadn't gone to bed yet and why was Elle asking such intimate questions.
"Because you are all light-headed about it all and want to talk to someone about it."
"Oh Elle, you are so wise and I have s-o-o-o missed you."
"Is he good and kind to you and excellent with personal hygiene?"
"Yes and unexpectedly good in fact."
"What does he do?"
"A little bit of this and that."
"What does that mean?"
"I don't know Elle. He seemed embarrassed when I tried to probe."
"Good heavens perhaps he's Mr Big in a porn ring or some other racket?"
"I worried like that too but he assured me it was all above the board and he had a rule of trying to keep his business life and his home/social life separate as much as possible."
"That does sound suspiciously like involvement with call girls doesn't it?"
"Ohmigod do you really think so?"
"No I don't. In all probability he runs a major law firm."
During the first few days of arriving back Elle was interviewed for five print publications and appeared in Brigit's Young's 'Women at 2:00' show on afternoon television and was recalled by popular demand. That produced another two interviews for women's magazines.
She and Hannah opened the invitations and they accepted some, Elle declining others. One was the opening of the ballet's new season, accepted of course. Elle decided to invite Donovan to go with her but he had a business meeting in San Francisco that evening which he could not miss and Hannah was invited to go in his place.
Joe invited Hannah to accompany him to the ballet but she said she was already going with someone else. He looked disappointed but two days later presented two tickets to Hannah to the function afterwards where members of the cast would be circulating.
"Ho, ho, ho," Hannah said, waving the tickets at Elle. "This is LA High Society, very black tie and you'll see some celebrities very close up. How on earth Joe managed to snare these ticket's I'll never know, he refused to say."
But on the night they found out.
At the conclusion of the program there were some short speeches, and the major sponsor, Mr Joseph Field, president of Californian Freightways and Logistics Corporation was called to the rostrum.
Hannah and Elle watched politely then suddenly Hannah clutched Elle and breathed, "Ohmigod – it's Joe."
Elle who's not sighted the man so far said, "Ohmigod" and took Hannah's shaking hand. "Little wonder he was evasive about the nature of his business, Hannah. He's big time and was apprehensive about scaring you off."
"Oh yeah, I'll be asking him to appoint our company to look over his empire to identify what needs shaking up," whispered Hannah. "In business one has to work your contacts you know."
At supper Hannah introduced Elle to Joe, who was charming and said he'd heard so much about Hannah's friend Elle that he'd assumed she was a woman approximately Hannah's age rather that a beautiful Hollywood starlet."
"Joe I think I'm going to like you," Elle giggled, pleasing him no end.
He was called away.
"Look he's greeting Barbra Fairchild," Hannah said in awe, Elle replying "How wonderful" without knowing who was Barbra Fairchild but appeared to be wearing diamonds possibly equivalent to the value of Elle's inheritance; the poor unattractive woman was dripping in them.
Later when Joe returned briefly Elle asked who Barbra Fairchild was.
"She's the only daughter of mega rich parents and unofficially the registrar of the city's over 40's social register; if you're on her list people who are into that kind of thing know your really are somebody and they get invited to a variety of events. Personally I think it's so false, such a bore. However, it is useful to use on occasions like this."
"But you didn't need to twist her arm; you are here as the major sponsor?"
"Yes but I squeezed Barbra for two tickets to give to Hannah for this function though don't tell Hannah that. I rather fear she'd not want to know me if I spent some of my time with wealthy people like Barbra."
"I don't think Hannah's like that – she's a very cheerful social woman who's gotten it all together and has style."
"Don't I know it; would you like to meet Barbra?"
"Yes if you know her well enough to introduce her to me."
"She saw me talking to you earlier and asked who you were. She's asked for an introduction."
"Very well but where's Hannah?"
"Over there being introduced to two of Hollywood's top female film producers."
They went over to Mrs Glitter, in her glittering dress that was dulled by glittering diamonds.
"Barbra dear, may I introduce a woman of the moment Miss Elle Jamieson."
"Thank you, Joe, now run off. Girls, may I introduce the very sweet New Zealander Elle Jamieson. You all would have read about her."
Before long Elle have found some of the women thought she was a fortune teller while a couple thought she was a futurist while yet another asked in a whisper what was her favorite party pill. Elle decided it best to answer questions rather than make conversation, but one question she asked floored her.
During a quiet moment she asked Barbra had she known Joe for long.
"I should think so." Barbra said, fluttering her eyebrows theatrically. "He's one of my former husbands. I'm married to Brian O'Brien-Gapes at the moment. Do you know him?"
Leaving the function and pleased they weren't the only ones without chauffers in limos and going off by cab, Hannah and Elle exchanged notes.
"I saw you chatting to Barbra Fairchild and was so envious. She'd currently married to Brian somebody."
Elle said, "Brian O'Brien-Gapes. Apparently he's a leading architect and esteemed as a sculptor. She told me one of her former husbands was Joe someone."
"Out with it Elle; Barbra must have told you his full name; names are everything on this circuit."
"Joe Fielder."
"Good heavens and that's amazing but I suppose since he has been married he'd have an ex-wife."
"Yes quite. Someone had told Barba who I was. She saw Joe speaking to me and asked to be introduced. Joe waited until you were talking to someone else."
Hannah said, "How sneaky of him."
"Hannah how much have you had to drink? I would think the word for it was 'discreet' not 'sneaky'.
"I suppose you're right. One needs to behave correctly on such matters by not confronting others with something that could shock them unexpectedly. When are you resuming sleeping with my son?"
The cab swerved at the same time Elle yelled 'What!"
"Sorry ladies," said their driver. "My attention wandered."
"I bet," Hannah whispered and the women lapsed into giggles.
Elle had just snuggled down into bed when her phone went. She heard heavy breathing.
"Donovan?"
"Right in one. I like to think you might not know any other heavy breathers."
"Have you been drinking?"
"Yes quite substantially over six hours."
"I'm not sure that it's proper for a courting man to phone the woman of his attention after midnight when she is in bed and not wearing anything."
"Not even knickers?"
"Correct but is this type of conversation a courting man should be having?"
"It's difficult to say."
"Why."
"Because I'm new to courting."
"Yes, I suppose that's true – with a body and a personality like yours you're bound to have had an adequate supply of women coming your way."
"More than adequate I would think."
Elle pulled out a haughty look even though he could not see her, being on the phone. It was consistent with the theory that you sound how you look. "It is acceptable to lie when answering such a question like that to maintain the impression that you are fresh goods."
Donovan sucked in his breath quite audibly, caught by surprise and then the Donovan of old returned. Calmly and without emotion he replied that one never lied to a lady.
"At this point it is timely for me to say goodnight. Thank you for your delightful call," Elle said, switching off her phone.
Delightful?
Yes, that word hadn't just popped from her. The poor boy was suffering, in need of tidbits. She felt she was holding the winning cards but didn't enjoy the feeling – what she ever wanted with Donovan, within hours of first meeting him, was to be in his arms, with her arms encircling him. Nothing less, nothing more and she couldn't imagine that ever changing, at least not in theory.
Elle drifted toward sleep imagining being in Donovan's arms and that idyllic thought changed to them being stripped of clothing and engaging in something that never could be disclosed – it looked too real for that despite the absence of grunts, moans and perspiration. She placed her hand on her uppermost breast and her breathing sounded like purring.
In the morning Elle stretched, jumped out of bed and dragging on her sexy short silk gown and went and made coffee. She took the two exquisitely hand-painted French china mugs on a matching hand-painted tray to Hannah's bedroom.
Hannah looked in surprise at the call 'Room service!' with glasses perched on her nose and propped up on cushions, looking damn attractive.
"If Joe could see you like this he'd be unable to restrain himself."
Hannah dropped the book, releasing a peel of laughter.
"I wish. We've talked about our desires including that topic, and he gives me the distinct impression that once in a blue moon is his preference."
"And why would he say that?"
Hannah looked puzzled then threw back the bedclothes saying, 'Hop in' – an intimacy that had not occurred between them before.
It marked another stage in their relationship, they now slipping into mother-daughter mode.
