Stephany didn't like her boss's instruction that she would have to start working on Saturday mornings, even though he told her she would have Wednesdays off. With her husband working on Wednesdays, she would be on her own and knew Tony would hate the idea of her having to work on Saturdays, even if it was only till midday. It had started a month ago and like other Wednesdays, she was having lunch in a local coffee shop
'May I take this seat?'
Surprised by the man's request, Stephany looked up at him.
Cup in hand he was smiling as he placed his hand on the back of the empty chair. 'Do you mind if I join you?'
Without looking around to see if there were other empty seats, Stephany nodded, 'No, take it.' As she watched him pull the chair out and sit down she hoped he wasn't going to be a nuisance.
'Lovely day isn't it.'
Stephany nodded, unable to take her eyes off him.
'I'm here on business for a few weeks. Usually, I have to eat on my own, so it's nice to have company for lunch.'
'Oh!' was all she could think of to reply.
For several seconds he looking directly into her eyes 'My name is Stephen,' he told her.
His deep voice had a foreign accent, Stephany thought it was European but not German or French. Without even thinking she told him her name and forgot the idea that he might be a nuisance.
'Do you always have lunch on your own?'
'Just Wednesdays, it's the day I'm not working.' As she told him she wondered why she added that she wasn't working on Wednesdays.
'it's nice to have such attractive company for a little while during the day.'
At twenty-three and with her tall, slim figure, Stephany knew she was attractive, but to hear this stranger tell her so openly made her blush.
'Would you like another coffee?' His deep, smooth, almost whispered question interrupted the thoughts that were entering her mind.
Slightly worried by her thoughts, for a moment she hesitated. Then for the first time, she smiled at him. 'Yes please.' As she watched him leave the table Stephany realized how tall he was and how immaculately dressed he was in a dark blue suit.
While Stephen was getting their coffee, Stephanie tried to get her head around the thoughts and feelings she was unexpectedly having about him. She certainly found him attractive. But there was something else that was holding her interest in him. Something she tried not to consider. But the thoughts were already in her head.
With a smile, Stephany thanked him for the coffee and looked more closely at Stephen as he sat down. Probably just over six feet. In his mid-forties perhaps, she thought. Athletic or he took regular exercise. Nice features, slightly tanned. Such dark blue eyes.
'How long have you been coming here on a Wednesday?'
His question broke her train of thought. 'About a month,' she replied, as she looked at him over the rim of her coffee cup. Adding his smile to her list of things she was liking even more about him. Then she remembered she was a married woman and should stop this. But his smile kept her attention upon him and diminished her concern.
'What do you usually do on Wednesday?'
Her answer came easily. 'Shopping, and browsing,' she smiled. 'You know what us girls are like. It's not a man thing, is it?' she asked without realizing what she was saying. Then hoping that like most men, he hated shopping. Her husband was definitely one of them, she couldn't remember the last time they went shopping together.
'I'd like to go shopping with you,' he replied with a responding smile.
'Oh!' she laughed, 'no you wouldn't.'
'Yes, I would. I'd like to buy you something very special for allowing me to enjoy lunch with you.'
Stephanie looked at Stephen not quite believing just what he has told her. What did he mean by something very special? Something inside her head wanted to say no, but other thoughts were telling her she wanted to know what he had in mind.
'Tell me, Stephen, what would you want to buy an old married lady like me.' Oh God, that was such a stupid thing to say, as she hid behind her mug of coffee.
He gave her a big smile and reached across the table for her hand. 'Finish your coffee and you'll find out.'
At the touch of his hand on hers, she almost choked on her coffee. It was like an electric jolt that made her gasp. Instantly, as his hand tightened around hers, Stephany knew he had noticed. When she looked down at their hands and saw his large, tanned hand wrapped around her slender, pale fingers it made her pulse race. She instinctively knew he already had a hold over her.
Before she could gather her thoughts, Stephen was standing beside her. Now his hand was on her elbow, encouraging her to stand while also pulling her chair back. 'I think you are ready for some serious shopping,' his deep voice whispered in her ear.
Standing beside him, she confirmed he was over six-foot-tall, just tall enough that she had to look up into his eyes. 'Where are you taking me?'
'Not far, about ten minute's walk.'
Stephany never expected she would ever allow herself to be led into the most exclusive lingerie shop in town by an almost strange man and certainly not a foreign gentleman.
Somehow Stephen and the manager had made it seem so ordinary that a man would be buying her lingerie. Thirty minutes later they both left with Stephany carrying one of their designer bags containing four items of very expensive, very exclusive underwear. Ten minutes later they were again sitting in the coffee shop.
After their coffee was served it seemed quite acceptable to Stephany when Stephen took her hand in his. 'That wasn't so embarrassing, was it?'
Stephany smiled at the feel of her hand in his. 'No, the manager was quite wonderful.' Stephany had been more aroused than embarrassed as the manager had measured her and then discussed the different garments Stephen had suggested for her.
She felt Stephen hold on her hand tighten and looked up at him. 'Stephany, I want you to meet me again,' he told her. 'Next Wednesday, here at the same time.'
Somehow Stephany had expected it and was about to answer.
'No, don't answer yet, there is something else I want you to do for me,' he paused. 'You can either wear the lingerie for your husband, whom I am sure would appreciate it, or you can wear it for me next Wednesday.'
Suddenly, Stephany realized she hadn't even thought about who she would wear the lingerie for. 'Stephen, no, sorry I never thought you wanted me to wear it for you. I... I can't do that.' From somewhere a little voice told her she could.
Stephen looked at her intensely as his grip on her hand tightened, almost painfully. 'Stephany,' his deep voice held her attention. 'The choice is yours; you have a whole week to consider it. But you must know that if you wear your new lingerie for me, I will expect you to model it for me in my hotel room.'
During the drive home, Stephany had been unable to think of a way of wearing such expensive lingerie without having to lie to her husband about how she got it. So she hid the bag behind the box on the top shelf of her wardrobe.
When her husband came into the kitchen after parking his car in the garage, she managed to act normally. 'Another busy day?' she asked after kissing his cheek.
'Yes,' he replied and as usual, slapped her ass and then asked what was for dinner. When her husband didn't even ask about her day, Stephany started to relaxed.
After changing into casuals, the first thing he did was get a beer from the fridge then sit in the lounge waiting for Stephany to lay the table and serve dinner. After the meal, Tony just like every other day left Stephany to clear the table and put everything in the dishwasher.
After dinner, Stephany knew she hadn't given anything away about her afternoon with Stephen.
Thursday and Friday were normal working days for both of them, with the usual dinner routine and an evening in front of the television. Saturday, Stephany went to work in the morning and did some laundry in the afternoon. Tony tidied the garden and spent a lot of time cleaning his car. Saturday evening, they went to the pub for a meal. Stephany did herself up with a nice skirt and jumper and Tony put on his, 'Spurs for Ever,' T-shirt and old jeans.
Leaving Stephany to find a table, Tony went to the bar. Ten minutes later, having drunk one beer while chatting to some guy, he found Stephany and plonked her glass of wine in front of her. 'I'm hungry,' he stated as he sat opposite her. Giving her the menu, 'I'm going to have the rack of ribs,' he told her. 'What do you want?' he asked.
His tone told Stephany not to take too long deciding. To get a conversation started she asked her husband about his week at work.
'Got old Barlow to agree we needed a new forklift before mine broke down for good.'
'Well, that should be nice for you,' she replied. 'How long will it take to get one?'
The rack of ribs arrived so Stephany didn't get an answer. As she watched Tony eating she kept seeing flashes of a tanned, handsome, communicative, well dressed, foreign gentleman transposed with her husband.
During the evening Stephany found herself comparing how Tony looked in his old jeans and a printed T-shirt with how Stephen had looked during their time together, in his smart suit, shirt and tie. Her husband had never owned a tie.
By Sunday evening Stephany realized she was thinking about Stephen and the enjoyable time she had spent with him, much more than she should. The fact that he was foreign added to his intrigue.
By Tuesday evening Stephany had made her decision about the expensive lingerie. She could remember each garment quite vividly, before even opening the exclusive, designer bag. She bathed and shaved more thoroughly than ever before to ensure everything was perfect for Stephen.