The sun, red and angry was just starting to set. I stopped pacing long enough to look out over the city. My wife, Jill and I had a wonderful view from the eighth floor of our hotel room but I wasnât really in the mood to enjoy it. My brother-in-law, Conrad had been nominated for a regional music award and I had just learned he had given my ticket to the event to an old friend of his.
âSo, whatâs the big dealâ Jill called out from behind the bathroom door. âYou didnât want to come in the first place, in fact, I thought you would be happier..â
âWell, have a nice timeâ I muttered, glaring out the plate glass window.
âWhy donât you just call up a friend?â Jill asked, choosing to ignore the sarcasm âItâs not like you donât know anyone hereâ.
I realized she was right. I pulled out my wallet and fished around for a slip of paper I knew was buried deep within. As Jill came out of the bathroom I picked up the phone and began dialing.
A loud knock on the door meant Conrad and Cassie had arrived to take Jill to the awards show. Jill opened the door to reveal my in-laws, waiting impatiently.
Cassieâs lithe body was sheathed in a strapless, white lace evening gown. Starched, scalloped lace at the mid-calf hemline and along the plunging bodice contrasted with her smooth, darkly tanned skin. I savored every inch from painted toe to carefully coiffed, honey blonde hair. A long string of gumball-sized white pearls hung at her throat and disappeared into the dark crevice of her cleavage. My worshiping was broken as I noticed, from the corner of my eye, Jill waving goodbye. I waved back halfheartedly and continued staring at Cassie. The four inch heels of her white sandals accentuated her thin calves. The slim straps wrapped tightly around her petite ankles and feet. As she pivoted to turn her firm thigh and long lean legs flashed in the side slit of the dress. A cascade of smooth blond hair was framed by the expanse of warm, inviting flesh from the middle of her back to the top of her delicately sculpted shoulders.
Cassie leaned away too far and reached suddenly to Conrad for support. It was only seven oâclock and she was already inebriated. Our eyes met and I realized Cassie was sneering, at me. Jill slammed the door behind her as a voice on the phone called out to me.
âKoffi, pleaseâ I asked and waited as the receptionist tracked him down.
A few minutes later and Koffi was on the phone. I explained my situation to him and he agreed, wholeheartedly to coming over after his afternoon shift, for a few drinks.
I hung up the phone and thought about the last time I had seen Cassie in an evening dress. I couldnât imagine anything comparing to that memory. But as it turned out, I was wrong.
At nine I left the room and went down to the hotel lounge. The mellow sounds of a live jazz band greeted me. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light I realized the place was almost empty. I chose a booth in the back corner and ordered a highball from the disinterested waitress.
I had been waiting for about a half hour when a flash of dark flesh and white fabric caught my attention. Cassie teetered into the lounge, heading straight towards me. Her long slender neck and wide, soft shoulders perfectly complimented the simple elegance of the white evening gown. The figured cloth clung tightly to her and I enjoyed the silhouette of her shapely figure. Her firm, pointy breasts pushed out sharply against the material. She came over and sat down heavily, a pained look on her face.
âHe didnât win, did he?â I asked carefully.
âNoâ Cassie said looking sullenly at my drink. âThey gave it to some eighteen year old bimbette.â
I stifled a laugh. That bimbette was the best talent this city had produced in the last fifteen years.
âLet me guess, you made a scene, and they politely asked you to leave?â I was pretty sure I knew what the answer would be.
âNot so politelyâ she muttered, still eying my drink.
âCan I buy you a drink Cassie?â I finally asked âItâs Mai-Taiâs you like, right?â
She nodded and I waved down the waitress for help. I stared at Cassie from across the table. She had pinned her long honey blond hair up away from her face, away from her light blue eyes. She eyed me suspiciously but smiled back, her brilliant white teeth framed by full, deep red lips.
âThatâs new, isnât it?â I asked, referring to the dress but taking the opportunity to stare at her breasts.
âAre you alright?â she asked with contempt.
âYeah Iâll be fineâ I said, hoping I wasnât staring too much. âI was just thinking about the last time I saw you in an evening dress.â
Cassie rolled her eyes, irritated.
âIt never happenedâ she said firmly.
âYeah, okayâŠâ I said, unconvinced.
The discussion ground to a halt as the waitress set the drink on the table. Without a word of thanks or acknowledgment Cassie brought the straw to her lips, her cheeks sucking in deeply.
My eyes were once more locked on to her ample cleavage when a familiar voice boomed out from across the room.
âBob?â I looked up, annoyed at the interruption.
A dark figure of a man closed in on us.
âBob, how are you?â asked a deep voice with a heavy accent which was hard to place.
âKoffi?â I stood up and shook his outstretched hand.
He was exactly the same as when we had met, a few years earlier. He was still a stocky black kid with a warm, friendly disposition.
He had shown up one morning looking for work at the shop I was managing. He seemed like a good kid who needed a break, so I hired him. It turned out I had done him a bigger favour than I had known. His working status was running out and if he hadnât found work on that day he was going to be sent back to Nigeria. He told me later, if he had boarded the plane, a death squad would have been waiting for him to touch down on the other side. Less than a year later business had slowed down and I was forced to lay off Koffi along with a dozen others. He found work elsewhere but would drop by the shop from time to time. He always felt he owed me for helping him.
âAre you with someone?â he inquired, his eyes sopping up Cassie.
I introduced him to my sister-in-law and he flashed a bright, wide smile. He wore dress pants and a pressed white shirt, his skin, the color of black velvet.
âWould you like to join us?â I asked him, watching for Cassieâs reaction out of the corner of my eye.
Koffi looked Cassie over, waiting for her response, his broad smile growing and infectious. Cassie smiled back, so I quickly nodded for Koffi to sit. Over the following hour we all got to know each other better and enjoyed more drinks. Cassie was fascinated by Koffiâs hands, I must admit they were huge, a feature I had never noticed when he worked for me. We kept Cassieâs Mai-Taiâs flowing.
At one point I needed to relieve myself and when I returned I was surprised to find Cassie and Koffi sitting closely together.
âKoffi was just telling me, where he comes I would be treated like a Goddessâ her voice was a little slurred but she sounded excited too. The condescension she had regarded me with earlier seemed to be waning.
We talked some more of Koffiâs land before Cassie got bored and started fidgeting restlessly.
She nuzzled into me, cheek to cheek.
âHeâs very sweetâ she said softly.
She was beginning to regard me like a trusted conspirator, once again.