"Senhor Fairbanks, senhor de Oliveira, your presence is requested downstairs."
The waiter who addressed them was dressed in a black suit with a smooth clean-shaven bald head and an air of authority about him.
Nigel and Vini had arrived 10 minutes earlier at Loriana's mansion in Leblon for a. Maria and Fernanda didn't seem to be at the party yet even though they had been adamant about their two men being there on time at 8 pm and no later. They were probably still shopping somewhere in Ipanema and had lost track of time, Nigel thought to himself.
"Please follow me," said the waiter in front of them, politely reiterating his request. He seemed more senior than the other staff at the party and looked like the kind of valet who would be tasked with special projects for the master and mistress of the house.
"You can leave your drinks up here," he said, motioning to the two bourbon and sodas that Vini had ordered for them at the poolside bar.
Nigel and Vini looked at each other as if they were waiting for the other person to decide on whether to follow along to go down the stairs, both unsure what this detour to their evening would bring about.
"Listen buddy, we just got here and we are waiting for our wives while we enjoy a few cocktails," Vini began, signaling he wasn't going to take orders from some servant.
Nigel thought about how his friend somehow refused to acknowledge that Maria and him were not married. Maybe it was just such a foreign concept in his conservative Catholic mind that you could live together outside of holy matrimony. Even though being a Catholic had never stopped Vini from his pastime of whoring and boozing.
"Your company is very much requested downstairs," the waiter repeated, changing his tone from courteous to somewhat assertive.
"What are we supposed to do down there? Whose request is this anyway." Vini was getting irritated.
Nigel remembered how Maria and Fernanda had seemed very giddy about the evening, imploring the men to be on time, to dress nicely, and so on. Clearly something had been planned for the evening here in Loriana's house.
Vini was wearing a tailored blazer in a tan color, a white linen shirt, off-white cotton stretch trousers and black Gucci loafers with the signature horsebit detail across the top front of the foot. No socks as far as Nigel could tell. He had opted for his always safe uniform of a dark blue suit and one of his white Italian dress shirts. He had spiced it up with a pair of blue Dior sneakers.
"I will take you to the dungeon. Please be kind and follow me." He was insisting now.
"What is this dungeon business?" Vini continued his resistance to follow the waiter's orders. "I'm not into any of that sadomasochistic crap that Loriana loves. If this is her idea, tell her we are not interested." He then switched to Portuguese. Nigel couldn't quite follow but Loriana's name was mentioned again. The man in the black suit responded using what Nigel assumed was Loriana's last name when he referred to Senhora Sousa.
Nigel looked around to see if he could find Maria and Fernanda, but to no avail. He surveyed the crowd of attractive looking guests, couples sipping drinks talking to each other in groups or dancing. People here looked affluent and well kept. He thought about how they all seemed to know each other, veterans of Loriana's legendary house parties.
Nigel turned back to Vini who was arguing with the waiter in Portuguese. It was getting old and why not just follow along to see what was up.
"Vini, let's go with the gentleman here, it could be something fun. The night is young and we can just come back up here later. Besides, our dates are not yet here."
"OK, if you say so my friend, but don't blame me if you get your little boy bottom spanked in this dungeon," Vini said with irritation in his voice.
"Thank you, I assure you it will be worth your time," said the waiter as he gave Nigel a grateful look.
The memories from his first visit to this house a month ago reentered Nigel's mind as they followed the waiter across the grand entertainment space to the staircase leading up to the couple's room. The encounter with Marc Anthony and Claudia after being introduced to them by Loriana. Marco's frivolous courtship to Maria on the dance floor which had quickly brought them together on the two big beds. It actually put him in a good mood and he was suddenly hoping to spot Dia among the guests filling the house.
This time they used the same staircase to go down one level to the underground basement. A hallway opened up in front of them with a heavy iron door at the end. Their waiter opened it and beckoned them to enter a large low-lit space.
Nigel followed Vini into the darkened room, which was only lit up by red LED lights above a large circular podium-like bed in the middle. Soft bossa nova music was playing from speakers above the bed. He could see two women on it and as the waiter led him closer he realized it was Maria and Fernanda.
The two women were half naked and oblivious to the presence of their partners who were standing outside the circle of dimmed red light.
Vini gave Nigel a knowing glance and whispered: "I knew it, buddy! They've been cheating on us with each other."
Nigel was astounded by the scene in front of him. It was as if Helmuth Newton had decided to reenact Manet's famous painting of the nude Olympia and her black maid in one of his provocative photo shoots. It was beautiful and romantic, and yet highly erotic and arousing at the same time.