Somehow the kitchen seemed dim. My coffee was stale. I stood and peered out the kitchen window at our driveway as it twisted past the private lake. Behind me, I heard the housekeeper refilling my cup, but my gaze remained on the lake. My mind dejectedly went to yesterday's events.
It was a glorious day. Every day was. A whiff of revolution was in the air as we launched a campaign against a new corporate entity. In the old days, we had marched with signs. Now, armed with legions of attorneys, we worked our miracles in the courts. I missed the old protests, and often found myself losing track of just what we were for or against. Ah, well. That's what we paid the lawyers to track. The key was winning.
We'd filed an injunction against a major corporation accused of manufacturing an unsafe product. No one had actually ever been hurt, and I actually used the product. But what the hell, we made tons of money these days as the companies hated going to court and usually settled.
I needed relaxation so, I steered my Mercedes to a large beach hotel. There were several on this particular stretch, but this was my favorite. A quick drink and maybe a political fight with someone at the bar- Hell, life was good
Quite often the trips resulted in a quick drink and my going home early. But sometimes I got lucky. I felt lucky tonight.
I entered the cool bar, and damn, what a woman. At the bar, sat a classic beauty, with long legs and shapely body dressed in an expensive, designer outfit. Her hair reflected a dark sheen as her head tilted in laughter to something the bartender said. I could see her china blue eyes watch me in the bar mirror as I walked past. A large diamond graced her left hand. I took a table to her left and nodded to the bartender who automatically prepared my usual whiskey. He raised his eyelids and looked at her then me. We'd played this game before.
I'd seen many beautiful women in these situations, but none with her class. She looked available, but not really. For the first time in years, I felt self-doubt. But then, what the hell...nothing ventured...you know the old saw.
After my drink arrived, I took my pen and wrote:
"Would you mind if I joined you for a drink. Just conversation, of course. It's been a long day and... well, I just can't think of anything really clever to say."
I'd used the same note before with moderate success. Always show your human side. Women like that. I saw her eyes assess me in the bar mirror. She returned my note.
"Gee, you're not very good at this. Surely you can come up witha better line?"
I responded. "I'm sorry, I embarrassed us both. I'll leave you alone."
Women love humility.
She wrote another note. I thought, this is going better than I'd hoped.
"You are so pitiful. Please come join me. I'm not going to walk to your table with all these people watching me. Just conversation remember."
"My name is Laurie and..." She shook my hand while holding up her left hand to display her ring.
"Ron. Me too." I showed her my wedding ring.
We both laughed.
"And where is your husband?"
"New York for a convention. I flew down here to get away and just to relax. And your wife?"
"Off visiting her mother," I lied.
"Well then Ron, guess there is no harm in us having a little drink and conversation together."
"None that I can see. Tell me about yourself."
I listened in fascination as she described her schooling, a short career as a model and subsequent marriage to an oil company executive. Just the kind of guy I liked to screw over. I chuckled inwardly at the double meaning. She chatted on easily, telling me more and more about her life. Always a good sign.
An hour passed and several drinks later, we were getting along like old friends. I excused myself and went to the men's room, stopping to call my wife on a pay phone. There was no answer, and I was thankful to be relived of the chore of making yet another "excuse'" directly to my wife. I left a message on the recorder.
When I returned, Laurie asked about me, and I recited the same litany of my life, except that I had never actually graduated from any college as my activities had always kept me too busy.
Out of the blue, "Ron are you happily married?"
"Well yes. And you?"
"I am but..." She turned red and looked away.
"Please continue."
She stood and started to leave. It was a defining moment I had faced before. Should I be bold and ask her to stay, or play the gentleman and say nothing, hoping she would respect me for that. I said nothing.
"Ron, I've got to get out of here." She took a step then turned and said hurriedly as if forcing herself. "I'm so embarrassed to say this. It sounds so silly and so blatant and so, I don't know - bad? That's not the right word. But would you care to join me for a drink in my room?"
Careful, I thought, she's edgy. "Laurie, I don't want to hurt you. I'd love to join you, if you'll be ok."
"Thanks for being so nice. Yes, yes I'm ok."
I mentally patted myself on the back for my deft handling of the situation.
In the elevator, we stood silently as other couples crowded us to the rear. Gentlemanly as always, I inserted the key for her and entered the room. It was impressive - a large suite, ocean side, with a beautiful view of the dark waters.
"Please open the champagne Ron."
"You just happened to have some on ice?"
"I well... did come to town with some plans and...now I feel like such a " she swallowed hard and looked embarrassed.
"Sorry Laurie, sometimes I have a big mouth."
She relaxed, and I congratulated myself for another smooth move.
Champagne poured, we touched glasses, and I let my eyes wander over her lithe body. She pulled back her head and shook her luxuriant, dark mane. I admired the delicate curve of her neck as it arched towards the hint of shoulder line showing above her black dress. She was cool, calm and exquisitely beautiful. Her eyes stared intently at me. Briefly I thought of her poor idiot husband slaving at some stupid convention in New York while his lovely wife was here contemplating fucking me. The second sip of champagne was all the more sweet. I knew it wasn't just the sex. It was the conquest, the taking of another's possession.
Suddenly the conversation waned. I made a move to the balcony, always a good place to generate conversation, to touch softly as a prelude to a first kiss. "Perhaps we should step outside and enjoy the view?"
"No," she exclaimed with a startled look on her face. "Kiss me."
Out of the corner of my eye I saw movement on the balcony. A dark shape momentarily outlined against the starlight. Suddenly it all became clear. An extremely beautiful woman - an easy pickup - the champagne on ice - her nervous manner, and I should have noticed the partially opened doors to the balcony. Her husband wasn't in New York.
Never at a loss, I put my arms around her. I felt her tremble as I kissed her.
I turned the two of us so my back was to the window and my lips couldn't be seen.
Bending, I whispered in her ear, "Nervous?"
"Yes, I've never done anything like this before."
"No, I'll bet you haven't. Has he?" I felt her body stiffen. "Just relax. Don't make any sudden moves when I say this. That's your husband on the balcony watching us?"
A strangled noise came from deep in her throat. "Oh no. Oh no. I don't know what to say. I'm so embarrassed."
"No need for embarrassment. You wanted to do this, didn't you? It wasn't just your husband's idea."
"You could tell?"
"Yes, that wasn't just acting downstairs. We got along well. You were enjoying yourself." I felt her relax again.
"Oh damn. I never thought I would do this, or even admit to someone that I wanted to or...but..."
