Errol and Chase were admitted to the lobby precisely at nine. Julian was already there and rose to greet them. The doorman led the trio to the elevator and, after inserting a key in the panel, pressed the button for the penthouse. He stepped out of the car and gave them a stiff bow as the door closed.
"Are you ready for this?" Julian asked Chase as the car rose swiftly to the twentieth floor. Seeing his companion at a loss for words, he chuckled. "Just kidding. No one is ever ready for this."
Chase knew both of these men from the Gateway Club, the oldest men's club in Missouri. Errol worked at the board of trade. Julian was one of the city's top real estate brokers. Tonight they would be inducting him into a new club, a club he didn't even know existed until he got his invitation. Even now he wasn't entirely sure what it was all about. He only knew that something about his interactions with them and their host led them to believe he was a good candidate and would make a good member.
The elevator opened directly into the residence of Arthur Malden and his wife, Pamela. Their host was there to meet them and gave each of them a warm handshake. Chase thought he was going to pass out, taking a seat at the parlor table of one of the most influential men in the metropolitan area. Arthur scrutinized him with icy blue eyes. But the other two men seemed relaxed and jovial. That helped him to relax somewhat.
"Welcome to Mr. Chase Wagner... who has volunteered to take the place of our former comrade... who has happily decided to take a wife." Arthur scanned their faces as he spoke, then settled again on Chase. "Sir, I find you to be of good quality. These two men express the highest confidence in you. You are unencumbered and have a clean bill of health. Do you know what is going to happen tonight?"
Chase blushed and stammered and looked questioningly at his cohorts. It was clear the question wasn't rhetorical. Mr. Malden was waiting for a reply. "I, uh, understand it has something to do with your wife."
This got a round of laughter. Chase laughed too, nervously. He was told what would happen but he didn't want to say it, right in front of the man. He wasn't even sure it wasn't all just a sick prank.
"Yes, Chase, something to do with my wife. Oh, Pam?" He called out in the direction of the kitchen. "We're ready for some drinks, dear."
Into the room came Pamela Malden, nee Winters, one-time Miss Arkansas and the public face of Malden Heating and Cooling. Chase had already made her acquaintance. Most recently he was seated at the Malden's table for the summer ball. He was even privileged to have several dances with her that night. But he had never, ever seen her like this.
Her auburn hair was arranged in a bouffant style. She was wearing a frilly yellow and white gingham apron. Yellow pumps completed her outfit. That was it. One of the first ladies of city society was serving them drinks wearing nothing but an apron. It covered her frontal nudity. The strings hanging down from the knot tied behind her back obscured the delicate part of her posterior. But other than that, her model's body was on display.
"I hope you gentlemen like old-fashioneds." She set a pitcher on the bar counter and lined up four low glasses and dropped ice cubes into them with silver tongs. Then she filled them halfway with the tea-colored beverage and distributed them around the table, starting with Chase and ending with her husband.
Chase could not take his eyes off her as she moved about the room and leaned gracefully over the table. She was a work of art, her long legs, her shapely arms, the swell of her hips and the curvature of her breasts. If he thought he was going to faint in Arthur Malden's presence, he thought he might explode in Pamela's.
"Can I bring you anything else?" She asked the room. Errol and Julian assured her they were fine and she graced them with a stunning smile before returning to the kitchen. The four men grinned at each other and toasted with their glasses.
"What do you think about that, Chase?" Arthur swirled his drink dramatically.
"Nothing short of amazing, Mr. Malden. But I hope you don't mind me saying, I wouldn't think she was the type."
"It's Arthur. And actually, she's not the type. She's in a hypnotic state." Arthur drained his glass to the ice cubes and handed it to Errol to refill from the pitcher. "No, really. As far as she knows, she is completely dressed. We're going to have a lot of fun tonight with my lovely puppet. You think you can handle that?"
"I, uh, think so."
"Well I hope you do. But if you can't, I hope I can at least count on you to remember your oath of secrecy."
Chase nodded solemnly and Arthur rolled to his feet and clapped him on the shoulder. "Hey, don't let me spoil the mood. Everyone, refresh your drinks and let's go to the living room and get this party started."
On the way to the living room Chase took a detour to visit the restroom. Pamela stopped him on his way back. "May I have a word with you, Mr. Wagner?"
"Please, call me Chase."
"Thank you, Chase. I didn't want to say anything in front of my husband, but it is impolite to stare."
Pamela had untied the neck strings of her apron and the top hung down below her waist, letting her breasts stand out proudly from her chest. Chase wasn't a big fan of tan lines when he looked at girls in magazines. But seeing the striking contrast of her milky breasts against her overall tan made him rethink this opinion.
"You're doing it again, Chase."
"Oh, sorry."
*****
Arthur wasn't kidding about getting the party started. He offered them a variety of smokes and snorts and pills, all of the best quality. His stereo system cost more than some people's cars and sounded so clear you might think Chet Baker was right there in the room with them. Pamela came in to join them, now completely naked except for her yellow shoes. Chase tried not to stare but it wasn't easy.
Arthur whispered something in her ear and her demeanor instantly changed. She began to sway in time with the music and the four men took their seats to watch her dance. It was surreal, having such a respected woman dance for them like a hired stripper. Her moves were mesmerizing, which was ironic. Chase might have given anything to reach out and touch that beautiful body, taste her glowing skin.
Her husband went up and whispered in her ear again. She stopped dancing and looked around as if suddenly remembering where she was. She ran her hands over herself and shrugged and walked over to the media center. She got out a DVD which they could see had pornographic images on the cover.
