Thanksgiving turned out to be quite different from what I had imagined. My first date with Ferry started out great and ended in disaster. Only too late I realized she was probably planning to spend the night. I screwed that by not telling her about my exercise routine and then announcing how I jumped rope naked to everyone at the dinner table. Stupid move on my part.
The evening was saved somewhat, when both Dido and her mother sent me naked pictures of themselves. They were bodies from which dreams were made. And I did dream about them all night. In the morning, I relived those dreams sitting at my computer. Shutting down my laptop, I stretched and looked outside.
Having an unexpected day off on the Friday after Thanksgiving, I was enjoying the freedom of doing nothing. The weather was clear and the temps were in the mid-40s. I decided it was a perfect morning for a run. I pulled on clothes and took the elevator to the ground floor. Each wing of the apartment building had its own elevator. I stepped into the hallway and started toward the lobby. I stopped when I heard a voice.
"Mom, come on. The car is already here."
That voice! It was Dido.
I stopped behind one of the columns that bracketed the entrance to the lobby. I peeked around and saw the back of a tall, young blond tugging a rolling suitcase. My eyes shifted to a taller woman talking to the desk attendant.
She had short-cropped dark blond hair and was wearing a green cape with her legs wrapped in black leggings. She finished her conversation and reached down for another smaller rolling bag. As she turned to go toward the front door, I saw her face.
"I know that face," I thought as my heart pounded. "Where do I know her from?" I stared. She was easily the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.
As the doorman held the door open an older woman entered.
She stopped and called out.
"Diana."
The two women air-kissed.
"Going somewhere," the older woman asked.
"Taking Fanny back to school. I should be gone a while. I have some business in the area I need to see to."
"So, it's not another jaunt for some fabulous photo shoot in Paris or something."
The laugh that always made my dick jump carried across the lobby.
"No, not this time. Take care, Marion. Our car's waiting."
"Have a good trip. Nice to see you again, too, Aphrodite."
They left.
"Diana? Photo shoot?"
I felt a gut punch.
"Jesus, that's Diana Xavier or Di X. She was a top model for years. On the cover of every major magazine, two-time SI swimsuit issue cover girl, spokesperson for the most expensive perfume in the world. Jesus, I've been flashing one of the most beautiful women in the world."
I abandoned my run and went back to the apartment.
I Googled Diana Xavier. Between Wikipedia and about a thousand other websites, I devoured every bit of info.
She began her modeling career at thirteen in Teen Vogue. Since then she's been at the top of everyone's A-list of models. She married a famous Greek movie director when she was barely 19 and had a daughter, Aphrodite, before she was 20. I did the calculations and knew that Diana was probably around 40. She and the director split and she never remarried. She kept a villa on an island in Greece, an apartment in France and was spotted in all the "in" places around the world. She seemed to have remained on good terms with her ex. There were many pictures of the three of them on holidays sailing in the Aegean Sea or shopping along the Champs Elysees. She was linked in the tabloids with movie stars, athletes and politicians, and with a couple playboy millionaires thrown in. She still worked and had morphed her career into being an owner and spokesperson for her own line of cosmetics and fashions geared to the middle-aged woman. By all accounts it was a smash success. Estimates put her net worth at over $26 million. She could have any man alive and she spent her time watching me whack off.
I was still digging through the web when my cell buzzed.
"Hi, Kyle. It's Dido."
"Hi. What's up?"
"Just wanted to say good-bye. I'm heading back to school. I won't be home until the semester is over."
"Ok. What school is that?"
She laughed, sounding exactly like her mom. "Nice try, dickhead. Anyway, I wanted to say thanks. It was a fun time."
"Well, I enjoyed it too. And, just to let you know, I've already deleted everything from my phone and have it securely hidden on my laptop."
"Did you look at them again?"
My voice caught in my throat as I answered, "What do you think?"
"Oh, I'd say definitely."
"Guilty as charged."
"And...?"
"I masturbated. Came really hard."
"Just what I wanted to hear," she said with a soft laugh.
"Which pictures turn you on more? Mom or me?" she asked. I could hear her mother reprimanding her in the background.
"Both and equally so," I said truthfully. "I think I have the privilege of seeing the two most sexy and beautiful women around."
"That's sweet, Kyle. Hey, I have to say bye, 'cause mom wants to talk. Can't wait to catch up in December."
"Ok. And, Dido?"
"Yeah?"
"You could always send me more pictures."
"Right. You could do so, too."
"Yeah. Bye."
I heard rustling and then Artemis was talking to me.
"Just wanted to let you know that I'll be gone for a bit."
"Sorry to hear that. I'll miss you."
Artemis sighed, "I'll miss you, too. It's funny how close we've grown together. At least, that's how I feel. I didn't mean to speak for you."
"No, I absolutely feel the same way. You're like my best friend right now."
"Better than Ferry?"
"God, I'm not sure she will even speak to me again. But, yeah, I really like being able to talk with you."
"Maybe, I could call you while I'm gone. Would you mind if I called you on your cell now that I have the number."
"No, feel free. I guess you'll probably block your number."
She hesitated before answering. "For now, yes, I will. Sorry, Kyle."
"It's ok. As long as I hear from you, it's cool. Hey, I'll put the number in my contacts as Artemis, so when you call I'll know who it is."
"Maybe, I could make up for it by sending a picture now and then. You know, no faces, but other things you might enjoy."
"Thanks, Artemis. Now I'm as hard as a rock."
She laughed. "I take that as a yes."
"Definitely a yes. Send me anything. So, where are you going?"
"Ooh, you are trying to be clever. Let's say I am dropping Dido at college, visiting with friends and then taking care of some business. I might not be back for about a month. Dido and I will probably be getting back to the city around the same time."
I could already feel the pain of being separated from our nightly pastimes.
"I'm going to miss you."
"Me, too."
"Artemis, would you do me a favor and think about something?"
"Ok, what?"
"When you and Dido get back, could we meet? I would love to go out to dinner with you, actually with both of you."
A long pause began to make me feel I've crossed the line.
"Kyle, it's not because I—make that we—don't like you. But, I'm not sure I'm ready to expose myself—excuse the horrible pun—to you yet. Let me think about it, though."
"Ok. As long as you think about it, I'll be happy."
We talked a little longer and then ended the call.
I went back to Google and with a bit of work discovered Dido, or Aphrodite, was attending school around Boston. Fanny is a nickname for Aphrodite. I also discovered that Diana's firm used an ad agency from there.
I sat back feeling proud of my detective work.
Suddenly, I remembered my pledge to both women that I would protect their intimate pictures and not try to discover their identity. Was I violating the spirit of that promise by digging into their private lives? Diana was strong in her desire to protect her identity. I made a decision to do no more searching and to let events play out as Diana wanted. I also told myself to only think of her as Artemis.
I spent the rest of the day doing some recreational reading and relaxing. Saturday morning I rose early and dreaded seeing Ferry in a short time. Would she still be pissed at me? I guess I was going to find out.
I arrived before her and started in on the pile of work that our legal assistant had left in our in box.
Ferry appeared right at 9 am. She dumped her purse on the floor and draped her down coat on the chair in the corner.
"Morning," I said.
Looking at a file on her work area, she quietly said, "Morning."
No more. I figured the frosty temperature outside had now penetrated our cubicle.
We worked hard all day. I took a quick break at 2 to grab a sandwich. I brought a bagel and water back to Ferry.
She never looked up and said, "Thanks." She didn't touch the food.
At 6 o'clock Martin came by to say we could go home. Well, he said we could leave as soon as we finished what we were working on. Fortunately, we had just wrapped up the memo to the partner whose case we were supporting.
On the sidewalk, I asked Ferry if she wanted to get a drink or something to eat.
"No, thanks."
"Look, Ferry..."
She turned on me, her eyes ablaze.
"Don't fucking 'Look, Ferry' me. I'm pissed. Get it? Pissed."
I nodded.
"Good. Now just leave me alone. We have to work together for a couple more months. Let's just get through it."
I decided to not push it. I said good-night and we went our separate ways.
After a dinner of hot dogs and scotch, I crawled into bed.
My cell phone woke me. Before answering I saw it was almost 10 am.
"Speak," I said, my voice sounding husky.
"Oh, I woke you."
A clear voice with perfect diction filled my ear.
"S'ok Tiffany. What's up?"
"Just calling to say hell-o and to ask if you want to come down for lunch of leftovers."
"Sounds great. What time and what can I bring?"
"Around noon and I think we have everything covered. Except..."
"Yeah?"
After a pause, she added, "Bring your jump rope."