"Of course, I'll help pay off the bet," Susie said.
"Susie, you don't understand. I think he meant that you would be the payoff for the bet."
Even though Susie was angry with him, she allowed Paul to arrange a meeting between herself and St. Croix for the purposes of discussing how to settle the debt. It was still Susie's intention to find a more rational solution. Now as she sat in her car at the gated entrance off Jerome St. Croix's mountain estate, Susie's resolve began to wilt. It was all she could do not to turn the car around right there and flee. After taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm her frayed nerves, Susie leaned out of the window and punched the intercom button on the keypad. "Yes?" A voice crackled in reply a moment later.
"I'm here to see Mr. St. Croix. I should have an appointment?" Susie said while looking into the camera mounted just to the side of the punch pad. Susie heard a series of clicks and then slowly the iron gate began to swing inward. As she approached the house, Susie was amazed at the array of exotic vehicles parked out front; cars so expensive she didn't even recognize their names. The gambling business must be very lucrative, She thought.
At the door, Susie was greeted by the largest black man she had ever seen. "Welcome, Miss." The man smiled broadly as he opened the door. His deep baritone voice was tinged by the sing-song accent of the Caribbean. "Mr. St. Croix is just finishing up a training session with the dogs. My name is Adam, I am Mr. St. Croix's butler, cook, body guard, and probably anything else you can think of," the big man said with a warm laugh. "He asked that you be made comfortable and he will be with you shortly. Adam led Susie into a grand living room, one wall of which was completely glass as it offered a breathtaking view of the entire valley below St. Croix's property. "May I get you something to drink, Miss?" A glass of wine, perhaps?"
"Uhm," Susie wavered. She knew that she needed to keep her wits about her, but a glass of wine may ease her tension. "Yes, a glass of wine would be wonderful," she said finally. The room was definitely decorated by a man; simple yet tasteful. The dominant color scheme of the room from the thick pile carpeting to the walls and even the expensive leather furniture was white. Susie walked to the wall of glass. The sun was beginning to dip behind the trees.
"It's quite impressive isn't it?" A voice said from behind her. Susie turned to see Jerome St. Croix leaning up against a white pillar. He wore a fleece jogging suit. His long hair was tied into a pony tail and a sheen of sweat glimmered on his forehead. "Please forgive my appearance," he said. "As Adam told you, I just finished a training session with my Labradors. It can be quite strenuous." St. Croix, with his broad shoulders and athletic build, was even more impressive than she remembered and Susie found his polite nature so incongruous with the monster who intended to have her husband killed for not paying off a gambling debt. Adam reappeared with a silver serving tray and two glasses of white wine. "Adam, would you bring a bottle please," requested St. Croix.
"Yes, Sir." Adam responded with the slightest of bows before quietly disappearing down the hall.
"Don't let his size fool you, Mrs. Lewis." St. Croix said. "I think the term 'gentle giant' was made with men like Adam in mind."
"He seems very nice," Susie agreed.
"Would you like to sit down?" St. Croix gestured to the couch. Susie sat down while St. Croix sank into the nearest overstuffed chair.
"I know that this situation must be difficult for you." St. Croix began after taking a sip of his wine.
"Yes, it is." Susie said. "Now, Mr. St. Croix, you seem like a very reasonable man. My husband made a mistake and we are willing to make arrangements to pay for that mistake. Now I was thinking that if you would allow us six months to …" Susie began to explain the words she had rehearsed in the car all the way here, but was interrupted by St. Croix.
"Mrs. Lewis, first, please call me Jerome, and may I call you Susie?" He asked. Susie nodded her head. "Good. I know that your husband explained the nature of my business. The world of gambling is an ugly one, Susie. Filled with ugly people who do not think in reasonable terms. Reason is often interpreted as weakness and in my world the weak don't survive. To be honest with you, Susie, I am a very successful man. I am successful because I always get what I want and in this case what I want is you. Since I first saw you, months ago, I have put this plan in place to have you.
Susie was stunned by this revelation. "You mean to tell me, you cheated my husband so that he would be forced to allow you to have sex with me?"
"No. Your husband is not a very smart gambler. I simply allowed him to maker larger bets than he was able to cover. That is all. The outcomes of all the bets were straight up and honest."
"You sonofabitch!" Susie raised her hand to slap St. Croix across the cheek, but he caught her by the wrist in mid swing.
"You just said you thought I am a reasonable man, and I believe I am," St. Croix said while still holding Susie by the wrist. "By the same token, I'd like to believe that you are a reasonable woman. These are the terms of my deal. You stay here and work for me, doing all and everything that I ask of you for the weekend, and I will consider your husband's debt paid off." St. Croix opened his hand, releasing Susie's wrist.
"And if I refuse?"
St. Croix shrugged. "He will have one week to come up with the seventy-five hundred. Just like any other client."
"What if he can't. Will you have him killed?" Susie's voice trembled.
"Understand, I do not make the rules for how this game is played. But I have to do what I have to do in order to be successful." With that said, St. Croix stood up. "For the inconvenience of forty eight hours, you can erase the mistakes of your husband, but the choice is yours. I am going to go upstairs and shower. Adam will come and get you in five minutes and either show you to your room, where you find a bath drawn and clothes laid out on the bed that I would like you to wear this evening, or he will show you to your car. Either way the choice is yours.
The sunken tub was surrounded by lavender scented candles, another glass of wine was poured and waiting on the edge of the tub along with a straight razor and can of shaving lotion. On the counter was a variety of body oils and lotions. Between the bath and wine, Susie felt herself begin to relax a little bit. Besides, her course was now decided; at least for the next forty-eight hours.
On the bed was a black bra, matching thong panties, and a black cocktail dress. In the full length mirror that hung on the wall, Susie examined herself in the undergarments. Susie liked the way her ass looked in the thong. It accentuated her curves in a very sexy way. And her perfectly shaped C-cup breasts looked incredibly sexy in the matching sheer bra that was practically see through. Susie had to admit that even though repulsed by what she was about to do, a part of her was flattered and maybe even aroused by St. Croix. After all, this man could have his pick of women, and yet he had gone to so much trouble to get her and secretly she had always wondered what it would be like to fantasize about having sex with a black man.
When Susie reentered the living room, soft music was playing from unseen speakers. St. Croix, who was standing with his back to her turned as he heard her enter the room.
"Please sit down, Susie." St. Croix said, indicating the same couch as before. "I want to get to know you a little."
Susie nodded and sat on the sofa. Her stomach was churning and her pulse was racing from the fear she felt. All the relief from the bath had suddenly been washed away and replaced by the complete desire to run away from this.
This time St. Croix sat beside Susie on the couch, close, but not touching her. The art of seduction was not a new thing for him and his plan was simple. He would court her, make her his own and he would go slowly. Over time, he had become the master of seduction. He understood these women - the married ones - and he love the dominance of taking them from their pathetic husbands.
For a w minutes they just talked. St. Croix entertained Susie with stories from his childhood spent growing up on a small impoverished island in the Caribbean. His stories, while on initially humorous adventures of a young island boy, gradually became more heart wrenching as he delved beyond his usual pat seduction stories and actually told Susie of watching his father being executed in his own front yard in front of his family. Jerome remembered his mother begging for his father’s life on her hands and knees in the dirt.
