"Don't worry, Victor, the arrival of a baby coinciding with my departure shortly afterward will calm stormy waters."
"My sister is all bark, no bite, and she never plans."
"And you keep her?"
"Yes. We must always be mindful of our family's needs."
"You are very generous, Victor."
"Do you disapprove?"
"Not at all. I think it demonstrates a sense of honor."
"Do you think my sister should be more grateful?"
"If gratitude is not in her nature, there is no point fighting the tide."
"How are you so wise for one of tender age, Amy?"
"I lost my parents young and grew up with lawyers around my dining table. It's probably why I chose law."
"Do you enjoy the law, Amy?"
"I like justice. Sometimes those are the same thing."
"The world can be a deceitful, unfair place. I agree."
"But your foundation is a shining light, Victor."
"I do what I can, not only for family."
Our starters arrived seamlessly, delivered by well-dressed, attractive male and female servers. Aside from a delicious aroma and flavor, I couldn't remember what I'd eaten, being so captivated by Victor and his conversation.
My senses piqued when our main courses slid on the table, and we set about enjoying the most traditional dish of old Italy. One fork gripped me with its full flavor, adding that primal human emotion of sharing a meal around the hearth.
"What plans do you have for a career, Amy?"
"I'd like to make a partner in a complex litigation firm before I'm thirty-five."
"That's big money with lots of stress."
"After a few years of that, I'd like to try my hand at being CEO in a Fortune 500 company, investing my money, all the while building a foundation."
"With your current fortune in play and already invested, is that necessary? You have enough money to last several lifetimes."
"I must make my mark on this world, Victor, as a sign I passed through. I'd rather not be remembered as someone who lived on her inheritance."
"Our child secures your legacy as well."
"From a DNA point of view, my succession is assured under your care and tutelage."
"You are a rare treasure in many ways, Amy."
The porchetta melted in my mouth with an explosion of layered flavor that heightened my appreciation for Victor's chef. The evening road noise from somewhere four stories below us was quiet enough to be ambient, almost adding to the mood.
Who will remember me after I am gone anyway?
Oh, stop feeling sorry for yourself. You can't have it all.
"What will you do for the rest of your life, Victor?"
"I will shape a business empire for the next generation of my family and hope that wealth, health, and happiness prevail in my line of succession."
"Will you have more children after ours, Victor?"
"Will you help me with that, Amy?"
"You are such a tease."
He grinned, and I wondered how much of his joke held truth. Victor was very relaxed and seemed to enjoy my company. I hadn't expected him to be so amenable, enjoyable, or to have such attentiveness for me.
"The real problem with succession planning, Amy, is understanding whether your child is capable or desirous of taking over the reins."
"And what will you do if they are neither of those things?"
"Organizing effective management, engaging expensive lawyers, oversight committees and trusts are the best way forward."
"Much in the same way I was raised?"
"Yes. I'm sorry, that was thoughtless of me."
"You've considered this very carefully, Victor. My feelings on the subject are irrelevant; in any case, I'm no shrinking violet or offended by honesty."
"Have you thought about succession planning for your fortune, Amy?"
"Not as much as you have, but clearly, I must."
He fell quiet, and I felt a tiny baby elephant enter the room. It was inobtrusive and belonged to me. I was surprised by how it ambushed our conversation.
When Victor cleared his throat, I knew what was coming next.
"I have to ask who you would leave your fortune to?"
Ahh, my elephant has arrived.
"Wow, that's a damn good question that deserves an answer."
"Do you have one?"
"Not yet, but it is something I will seriously consider."
What if my child with Victor is my only offspring?
My head spun because I couldn't fathom an answer. I was so focused on finishing University and plowing forward with a law career that I couldn't see myself as a wife or mother.
A feeling of selfishness nagged at the corner of my mind, and for the first time in ages, I questioned my moral compass.
"I don't feel like eating dessert, Victor. Is that okay?"
"I hope I didn't spoil your appetite."
"Not at all. You have offered me food for thought, but I am grateful. I'd rather not bloat myself, especially considering your kind offer to service me with your tongue."
He grinned, clearly already savoring the creamy juices seeping from my swollen, moist pussy lips in some taboo bed chamber of his imagination. I crossed my legs, pressing both labia together, grinding slightly to relieve my sexual tension, enjoying his expression's hint of tawdry desire.
"Are you comfortable in your bedroom, Amy?"
"Very much, and I'd like us to go there after you've finished eating, please."
"Is it time for me to deliver proof to back up claims regarding my prowess in the fine art of cunnilingus?"
"If you'd enjoy doing that, yes, please. I'm rather keen, being a first-timer and all."