Explanations and Vacations
Standing dripping in the salon, I was overcome with emotions that were difficult to separate: shame, anger, and defiance were all there. Monique in her robe looked from Eve to me. With her Gallic shrug, she sat down on the sofa, and crossing her legs carelessly lit a cigarette.
"How did you find that?" was all I could think of to say.
"I didn't
find
it. It was right there when I sat down. You really ought to close your browser window when you're done."
With a sinking feeling I realized that I was responsible for my own discovery, as I had hurriedly responded to a client request that morning, and had forgotten to shut down the browser.
"Now I know how you can afford to buy me those clothes. When were you going to tell me?"
"I wasn't. It's my business. I mean it's my affair."
"Mom would have a fit. You'd be grounded for life."
"You wouldn't tell her." Pause. "Would you?"
"Maybe I will, maybe I won't. What's it worth to keep me quiet."
Monique spoke quickly in French, "She's teasing you, don't worry."
"What do you want?"
Eve stood up and kissed me, running her hands through my wet hair. "You big dummy! Do you think I'd do anything to hurt you? Your secret's safe with me."
Monique giggled. "I told you."
"Told you what?" Eve asked.
"That you were teasing me. I wasn't sure."
"Thanks a lot for the vote of confidence."
"Sorry."
"I think it's cool. Your pics on the site are too hot for words. Both of you."
"Could you recognize me that easily?"
"Easy. 'Course I've seen your bod up close. Now go finish your bath. I'm going to look at the rest of this."
Later, the three of us talked until the early hours. Eve wanted to know everything: who the clients were, what we did with them, how much they paid. I wasn't in a mood to be too explicit, but Monique answered every question Eve put to her. Her description of my first time with Jean especially fascinated her. Every detail of the Sologne chateau, every sexual position were subjects for more questions.
"You really fucked him in the ass? That would have been something to see. I bet that hurt."
"He was fucking me at the same time, so he was distracted," Monique added.
"And he took you to Switzerland? What did you do there?"
"I took some ski lessons and ate fondue in the lodge while he was meeting with some UN guys."
"And then?"
"Then we had a gang-bang with twenty of his friends."
"Wow! Really?"
"No, dummy! We just had normal sex. At least pretty normal." I had also opened a bank account to stash my earnings, but I didn't mention that to her.
"He has a private jet. That must be cool."
"I love that part. He had his secretary with us, so no messing around in the air. Plus it was a short flight."
"I'd like to meet this guy."
"That can be arranged," Monique said before I could warn her off.
"Really?"
"He likes Meredith so much I'm sure he'll like her sister. Besides, we've been invited next week."
This was news to me. "When did he call?"
"This morning. I agreed for myself, but I didn't commit you. His yacht is at Nice and he wants us for the week. He said his sons will be there."
"His sons? Does he want us for himself or them?"
"Who cares?" said Monique with a shrug.
"I want to go" said Eve.
"I'm sure we can arrange something," said Monique.
"Absolutely not!" I broke in. "It's OK for us, but you don't need to get mixed up in this."
"What's mixed up? A week on a yacht in the Med with the super-rich? I'm in!"
"We're not being invited for our personalities you know."
"You've gone places with him, and nothing bad has happened to you. What's the problem?"
"The problem is fucking for money. I don't know who else is going to be there. I never met his sons either."
Monique spoke up, "I've met the older one. He's a playboy but nothing to worry about. The younger one is your age I think. He's in school. Maybe he'll fall in love with one of you and you'll be set for life."
"Yeah, right! People like that don't fall in love with the hired help."
In the end my objections were overridden, and Monique called Jean the following day to announce that Eve was available to join us. She also reminded him of his promised bonus in her regard. Jean answered that it would be no problem as long as everything passed satisfactorily. In the few days that remained before the trip, I met no clients and accompanied Eve on various errands, including a private clinic where blood samples were taken from us. I explained that we were always tested for diseases before visiting Jean, as he did not support either being infected or using condoms. I made sure that Eve's birth control was current.
Early on the day of departure we were driven to the airport, where Jean's jet was waiting. Within two hours we landed at Côte d'Azur airport in Nice, where a limousine was waiting to take us to the marina. From there a tender took us out to the yacht, anchored in the gulf. It was a boat worthy of Jean, probably fifty meters in length with several decks. A uniformed crewmember led us to individual adjoining cabins, while another carried our luggage. Neither Jean nor his sons were aboard, but were expected in the afternoon, and we were invited to make use of any of the yacht's facilities in the interim.
Both Monique and Eve changed into skimpy two-piece suits, and went to the fantail deck to sun themselves and drink mimosas. I was curious about the yacht, and asked one of the officers for a tour, which I found fascinating. Afterwards I took a nap until awakened by call to the cabin telephone informed me that dinner would be served at seven.
I bathed and dressed, then went out on deck about six. I was directed to the upper sundeck where I found Jean and two men sitting around a table. Jean and the older of the other two were smoking cigars. As I supposed, these were the sons. The older, Julien, looked to be in his early thirties. He did not resemble his father particularly, being short and stocky with thick black hair and a swarthy face. On being introduced, he gave me a rather sardonic smile as he kissed my cheek. His brother Marc resembled a young Jean, with the same slim build, high cheekbones, and prominent brows. He appeared to be in his early twenties and was quite handsome. He seemed quite embarrassed as we were introduced: when he took my hand, his palm felt sweaty in mine. I was given a drink and a seat, and shortly thereafter Eve and Monique arrived, each in light sleeveless dresses with scoop necklines that displayed plenty of cleavage. Julien obviously knew Monique well, and after the introductions they walked over to the rail and began to converse in a low tone. I thought their behavior unsociable.
We remaining four sat around the table conversing in English for Eve's benefit. Eve, having drunk three glasses of wine, became gay and chatty, answering all of Jean's questions without reserve. I saw that Jean was playing with her; while although his questions were innocent-seeming, they were opening lines of the sort of seduction he took pleasure in. For his part, Marc said almost nothing, responding with
oui
or
non
to questions Eve put to him. It came out that he had just gotten his degree in economics, and would be entering the prestigious ENA the following month. I was impressed by this fact, as the ENA is the most prestigious school in France, and all of the country's high administrators were selected from the ranks of its graduates. Even if he was not very sociable, Marc's eyes seldom left Eve.
It was the same at dinner. Marc was seated between Monique and me with Eve facing him and Jean facing me. Julien continued his dialog with Monique to the exclusion of the rest, principally about racing. Marc stared at Eve, who had become more demure, while Jean discoursed on the wines, the various dishes, our itinerary for the week, and so forth. On occasion, such as between courses, his right hand disappeared below the table, and I had the impression he was touching Eve's leg or thigh. She gave no outward indication, other than a start and a nervous smile at the first touch. I received no such attention from Marc, who scarcely turned my way at all.
After cheese and dessert, the men left to smoke on the afterdeck, and we girls wandered to the bow. Monique lit up a cigarette and said to Eve, "I think you've made a conquest."
Eve smiled contentedly. "Yeah. Did you notice how he was rubbing my leg. I had my dress hiked up pretty high, and I thought he was going to feel me through my panties."
"You're wearing panties? Oh la! But I was referring to Marc."
"Marc?" I said in disbelief. "He hardly said two words all night."
"That's right. I wonder if he understands English," Eve replied.
Monique disagreed. "He was looking at you from the first minute, and when I see that look in a man I know he has only one thought, to get into my pants. Take it from one who has some experience in these matters."
"He is handsome. I won't mind if you're right. You and Julien were pretty cozy. What were you talking about? It was rude not to speak English, you know."
"We are French in our own country, so who is the rude one?" She laughed and took a drag on her cigarette. "As it happens, he and Marc will be in Paris next week, and we were talking about attending some horse races together at Longchamps."
"Where is that?"