Jessica left the set and climbed into her Tesla. All she could think of was heading to her apartment and climbing into a hot bath. She still couldn't get used to the travel, the hours of shooting, the need to act spontaneous over and over until everything clicks in the scene. But the toughest thing is being alone. She realized that leaving Stuart was the right thing, but going to bed alone and waking up alone never got easy. She thought back to the last time she saw him. How sad he looked signing the papers. He never said anything, just looked at her as he dropped the pen, turned and left the law offices.
She pulled into the underground garage and parked in her slot, got out and headed towards the elevators. She was startled hearing her name, or rather her old name.
"Carol, stop. Can we talk?"
She turned and saw Linda leaning against the trunk of a car. "I'm sorry. I didn't even see you there. How are you? What are you doing here?" She said as she turned to greet her ex's wife. "I haven't heard Carol in a year. So it didn't register at first."
Linda smiled, "I know you're Jessica now. I thought perhaps you'd be afraid I was a fan or, you know, a paparazzi or something if I said Jessica." She hugged the blonde and held her at arms' length and admired her. "You look exactly the same. I don't know what I expected, but..."
Jessica blushed, "I am the same, just not exactly." She looked at the ring on Linda's finger, "It fits you well. I'm glad. It was his grandmother's and it means a lot to him. Look, I know our entire relationship has been in parking garages, but can you come up?" Jessica waved her hand towards the elevator.
"Sure, I'd love to. I wasn't sure you'd be happy to see me or not. I mean, I did sort of take your husband." Linda stammered.
"And I never did thank you for that. Come on, I am actually thrilled to see you. It will be the first dinner in over a week with company." She looked at the car, "Do you have bags? Where are you staying?"
"I'll find a hotel, don't worry about it. I came from the airport and didn't know what time you'd be back..." Linda said.
"Ok, you're staying here. I have a couple of extra rooms and you can tell me what brings you to LA." Jessica said walking to Linda's car.
After setting the bags in the room, Jessica and Linda went out to the deck overlooking the ocean with a couple of glasses and a bottle of Shiraz.
"Ok, I'm dying to know how you found me and why you're here. Is Stuart alright? I hope nothing has happened to him." Jessica said settling back in the soft deck chair.
Linda listened to the waves, smelled the salt air and sighed. "I can see why you live here. This is so relaxing." Seeing Jessica looking expectant, "Ok, sorry. Stuart's fine, I just wanted to talk to you. Stuart won't tell me anything about what happened when you got back from the week. One day he was telling me that he's really excited that your week will be over and he'll be back with you, and he is all set to forgive anything you did. I know, it's weird him telling me this while he is with me, but I understood." Linda said, "Then on Monday, he walks into the office, is all business and didn't even mention your name until maybe Wednesday. That's when he told me you guys were divorcing." Linda looked sadly at Jessica, "I know it's none of my business, but now that your show is on, and I do mean on. They must air each episode 40 times each week on their channels. Anyhow, he really has withdrawn emotionally. I need to know what happened between you two..." She looked at the blonde.
Jessica looked at her glass and then at the redhead, "I guess you should know. But I'm feeling this wine and I don't know about you, but I need to eat. Can I tell you after dinner?"
Linda nodded, "Sure, I have only had plane food all day. Let me help, what are we making, or do you order out?"
"Actually, I was going to make an omelet for myself. William Steven's cook, Robert showed me how to make omelets before I left and I was in the mood for that. I hope you like them. If not, I have pasta, vegetables, whatever you feel like." Jessica said getting up and heading into the apartment.
"I love omelets. What kind of vegetables?" Linda said following.
"That was incredible, thanks for sharing the recipe. I never thought of nutmeg before." Linda said picking up the plates and carrying them into the kitchen. After putting them in the sink, she turned and looked at the young blonde staring out the sliding doors. "Are you alright?" Linda asked.
"I'm fine, actually. I wasn't sure how to put it, but I was going to ask you that. I mean, you flying out here to see me. To ask me questions. Knowing Stuart...U hope everything is ok between you two." She tailed off, looking at the beautiful redhead. "Come on, let's soak in the hot tub while I find out what's bothering you and if what I have to say helps you in any way." Jessica stood up and headed back out to the balcony carrying the bottle and their two glasses, pulled off her clothes and climbed into the steaming water.
Linda shrugged and knowing she was being studied by the woman she replaced, stripped naked and climbed in. "I guess being naked makes it hard to hide anything." She chuckled. "Can you tell me what happened between you two? For a week, I heard over and over how much he missed you, then..."
"Hard to hide anything while naked, I found that to be true, also. Ok, what happened between Stuart and me? I guess I'll start with coming home." Jessica said before taking a sip, sighing and sliding down and closing her eyes replaying the scene.
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Carol/Jessica saw Marilyn looking so she gave a small smile and a reassuring wave before opening the door and stepping into the familiar entry. She took a deep breath, inhaling the smell of oak, carpet and strange perfume. Looking around, she though how surprisingly the same everything looked. Shaking her head, she walked into the living room and saw Stuart rising to greet her. She set down her pile and welcomed his embrace. After 5 minutes of being tightly held, feeling his hard cock against her, being caressed all over and kissed on her neck, Stuart pulled away and looked at her.
"I'm glad you're back. I've missed you. The last week was the longest month I've ever had to endure." Stuart said, stroking her face and running finger across her lips. "Whatever you did, whatever happened, I want you to know I forgive you."
Carol jerked back. "You forgive me? You fucking forgive me? Did I apologize? I mean, should I apologize? When did she leave?" She looked around at the stairs leading to the bedroom, "It had to be within the last hour. You want me to apologize for that too?" She sputtered.
"I didn't mean that. I'm sorry, I meant that you have nothing to feel guilty about. I understand that we both agreed, we both let this happen. I don't except you to apologize." Stuart said holding his hands out.
"But, what you are saying is you will never forget. I don't need to apologize, but you will have the images of me with other men in your head for the rest of your life. Is that it? Like with Tom?" Carol said angrily.
"I don't know. I cannot keep the images of you, naked, getting fucked by those men out of my head, but I know they'll fade, but what about the next men? What about those you'll be fucking in that penthouse? Anyhow, Tom was different. You knew him and liked him, so you let him fuck you. I forgave you for that immediately." Stuart shot back.
"WHAT? You forgave me???? You let that sick fucking bastard basically rape me and you fucking forgave me? Do you have any idea how much that has haunted me through the years? How made me feel so little, so worthless? I love you, but whenever I remember how you rolled off me and told your friend he could stick his dick in me, let him cum inside me, I've hated you for that." Jessica spat furiously.
Stuart put his hands up and backed away under the raging onslaught. "I'm sorry, I thought you liked it. God, I'm sorry. I never knew." He put his hands on her shoulders. "But, you were awfully eager to become an escort for the last week, and I'm sure you're looking forward to entertaining those men in the company penthouse."
What men? What penthouse?" Carol asked, "You mean the job offer? The full-time company courtesan? The ambassador?" Carol asked heatedly making sarcastic quote signs.
"Yes, that. How am I supposed to deal with that? What am I supposed to be doing while you're under some man?" Stuart said sadly.
"What are you talking about? I told them no. I'm not really a whore, at least not a full time one." Carol said. "You thought I'd take them up on that?" She looked at her husband incredulously, then looked down at the angry bulge in his pants. "You're fucking hard? Seriously? You're almost in tears thinking I'll become a full time whore and you actually love it. Christ, why didn't I see this before we got married?"
"Why didn't you say yes? You're making what, 40 K babysitting a bunch of five year olds and you could be making eight times that. What other job can you get that pays you even half what they offered? A quarter of a million a year? Your own multi-million dollar condo? Fuck! I'm shocked you didn't say yes." He sputtered, red faced. "And, yes. I'm sorry it gets me excited when men want you. When other men take you. I cannot explain it, but I hurt but I feel an incredible rush thinking about it."
