Ch. 16
What if you fall in love with a dominant girl?
*** MID-OCTOBER ***
The machine in Stuttgart had a lot of customer-specific modifications. It took us more than a week to get it running as specified. That meant that Mike and I had to spend the weekend in Stuttgart.
Stuttgart is also the hometown of Mercedes and Porsche, and Mercedes has a very competitive Formula One team. Mike and I discussed Formula One often. He's a fan of the Mercedes team and Lewis Hamilton. I find Max Verstappen of the Red Bull team a better driver. Hamilton is the seven-time world champion, and Verstappen has been world champion for the last three years, including this year.
This weekend is the Grand Prix United States in Austin, Texas. We decided to watch the race in a bar packed with Mercedes fans. My Dutch accent made it clear that I was a Dutch fan cheering on Verstappen, who won. Verstappen won almost all races this season. What surprised me was that the Mercedes fans all congratulated me. I don't think Mike would have gotten the same kind of treatment in a Dutch bar full of Verstappen fans.
*** END OF OCTOBER ***
Eindhoven Dutch Design Week (DDW). The whole city of Eindhoven is one giant exhibition center. Visitors were using special taxis to the different venues. Most venues are former Philips factories like Strijp-S and Strijp-T, recently renovated and developed for art and design purposes.
Many objects are more about design and conceptual, using newly available technology.
It is also the moment for graduates of the Design Academy to show their work.
For Denise's styling team, this week is an opportunity to get to know new artists. They need many items for their property development.
I tagged along with Denise. I had my personal secret project. Denise was too busy with her people to notice my actions.
One item that impressed me most was a large wall with hundreds of images of extreme Tinder profiles. The artist had searched and found these profiles, printed them, and put them on a wall. It made me realize that the experiments Denise and I were doing were plain vanilla compared to what these profiles implied.
*** NOVEMBER ***
One late afternoon, Kelly was waiting for me at the gym.
"Hi Mark, you're alone today?"
"Yeah, Denise wanted to prepare dinner tonight."
We both had to laugh. Kelly was Denise's old roommate, and we knew that Denise wasn't a talented cook.
"Maybe I'll visit and help her."
"Kelly, I will be very grateful if I can eat something decent tonight."
Thinking nothing, I did my exercises and went home. To my surprise, Kelly was waiting for me in the living room.
"Hi Mark, I helped Denise. Dinner is in the bedroom. I'm sure you can find your dessert by yourself."
She winked and left, leaving me wondering what was going on.
Denise was waiting for me on the bed, naked and covered with sushi. Due to the sushi, she couldn't move. The sushi would fall off her.
Soja, hoisin, ginger, and wasabi were waiting in small bowls next to the chopsticks on the nightstand.
She gave me a weak smile, "Kelly arranged this. She came by with the sushi, claiming you needed a decent meal."
I took one piece of sushi and put it in her mouth. Then I took another one, dipped it in the soja, and got an idea. I picked up the wasabi and showed it to her.
"Denise, remember your threat? Jean and Chris holding me, you smearing chili peppers over my cock and balls?"
She gasped, "No. It was a joke. Honey?"
"Let's play a game. You know the rules. I ask a question, and you answer it truthfully. If you don't answer, or if I sense you're holding back the truth, I will put some on your nipples. Clear?"
Meanwhile, I gave us both another piece of sushi.
She mumbled, frustrated, something about me having a typical fragile male ego.
"First question. Does your styling team consider my taste?"
I wanted to know if I had anything to say about our new house.
She sighed, relieved, "Yes, it will be our home."
I gave her another piece of sushi.
"Do I get an office with French doors to the garden?"
It was my only request for the new house. She hesitated and sighed again, "Honey?"
I picked up the wasabi.
"Yes, we wanted to keep it a surprise."
"I appreciate that," and gave her another piece.
"Was it your idea to buy me a new car?"
"No, it was Mom's. Aron thought you liked driving the old car. Mom wanted you to drive in a safe car. A new Volvo seemed sensible."
The new Volvo was yet another attempt from Sandra to protect her family as much as possible. It certainly was meant well.
I added some wasabi to the soja and dipped the sushi.
"We're going to change the game. I say something about you, and if I'm right, you'll say, 'I love you,' if I am wrong, you'll say, 'You're a terrible liar.'"
She nodded, "Okay."
"You're the hottest girl I know."
She smiled, "I love you."
We each had another piece of sushi.
"You're the most loyal and loving person I know."
"I love you."
We both had another piece.
"You're a great cook."
"You're a terrible liar!"
We both had to laugh.
It was time for more serious questions, "You know I love you."
"I love you too."
"You're my life partner."
She hesitated. I knew it! Let's try this again, "You love me, and I love you."
Her face was now panicking, "I love you."
"I am your life partner."
"I love you."
I gave us another piece of sushi.
"Denise, why would I be your life partner, and you're not mine?"
She sighed. She had tears in her eyes, "Sometimes I'm wondering if I'm the right fit for you. I know I can be difficult and bitchy. You said it yourself. Why not find a nice girl?
Then I see you with Clara and Gabrielle. How easy and natural you are with them.