by Nicola Diaz
“How’d it go with Travis?” She flung herself on my couch and then propped her head up on her elbows. “Are you happy that you took my advice now?” She sounded slightly arrogant, but I understood it was all just part of her charm.
“It went really well. Thanks. Anna. I did what you told me to do and went right to Pete over at Calypso when the check got here. So, I’m twenty-five shares in with X-Min, and the broker told me that he thought it was a good choice.” I nodded my head, a wave of self-confidence coursing through my body. Stephanie smiled and then sat up straight.
“Would I steer you wrong?” She narrowed her eyes at me and then leaned forward on the couch. “We should go to Timbuk for a celebratory beer.” She smiled and I raised my eyebrows. Her idea was appealing, so I threw on a pair of black leggings and a red sweater. I quickly ran a brush through my golden tresses and then slipped on a pair of sling-backs.
“I’m ready to celebrate.” I smiled and then the two of us headed out the door. We had settled into the booth at the back of the bar and were on our second round of drinks when a frown crossed Anna’s face. “I think we should get going.” She pursed her lips and threw a fifty dollar bill down on the bar. I furrowed my brow, wondering why her mood had changed so abruptly.
“Ann, what’s wrong?” I worried that something had happened to her roommate, or that she had gotten bad news about one of her family members. She bit her bottom lip and then took the last sip of her beer.
“You aren’t going to like the news, Steph.” Anna didn’t crack even the slightest smile. I started to panic. What did she know that she wasn’t revealing? Did it have to do with the X-Min investment? I grabbed my purse and then followed Anna through the bar as she squeezed her way through the crowd. As soon as we got outside she ran her hands through her hair and then threw her arms up into the air. “”X-Min just got shut down for fraud. I’m not sure how much you invested with them, but I had five grand in stock.” She paced back and forth in the parking lot.
For a moment it felt like my world froze. I watched drunken students pile out of the bar, and I was unfazed. X-Min had gone under. I watched Anna as she shook her head and cursed the sky. I stood motionless, and finally she reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Hopefully you were smart and you didn’t put your entire loan with them. Right?” She looked me in the eyes but I couldn’t speak.
“Steph?” She moved her face around and tried to get my attention, but I couldn’t bring myself to speak. I had just lost all of my money, and I had nothing to give Travis to re-pay my loan. I stepped away from her and started to walk away from the bar into the night. A slight breeze swept through the parking lot and I could catch the faint whiff of salt air as I made my way toward the courtyard that led toward my apartment. Anna scurried behind me, and made several attempts to get me to speak, but my tongue was tied, and my stomach was in knots, as well.
When we reached my apartment, neither of us said a word. I unlocked the door and started to move inside, then whirled around and faced Anna who stood silently with a bewildered expression on her face. “I lost everything!” I finally exploded with rage and Anna’s jaw dropped. She stepped back and then slowly shook her head.
“Oh, shit. I’m so sorry, Steph. Please don’t blame me. I only told you what the brokers at Calypso told me. Believe me; I had no idea, either. I lost, too.” Her eyes were wide and thoughtful, but I couldn’t help feeling intense resentment toward her that hat particular moment.
“You aren’t the one who just lost forty thousand dollars!” I shrieked and then stormed across my apartment, tossing my purse on the couch and shaking my head with disbelief. “This is the worst thing to ever happen to me!” I cried out and then felt a tear work its way out of my eye. I fiercely wiped it away, and then glared at Anna. “I’m totally screwed!” I flung open my fridge and grabbed a beer from the top shelf. I unscrewed the top and then took a long, needed sip.
Anan stood quietly by the door. I could tell that she felt awful about my predicament. At the same time, she had just lost money, too, so I tried to put my angst in perspective. I slid down onto the couch and then had another sip of my beer and Anan watched on with a worried expression. “What are you going to tell Travis?” She finally spoke and I simply shook my head.
“I have no idea.” I pounded my beer and then got up to throw the bottle in the trash. Anan watched me and then took a deep breath.
“Maybe you can work something out with him. I mean, he’s a nice guy, and I bet he’ll understand.” Anna gave me a hopeful look and I shrugged. Maybe she was right. I could only hope that Travis would be willing to listen to my plight, and that he’d be wiling to offer some other solution for repaying the loan.
“I’m taking off, Steph.” Anna approached me and then squeezed my arm. “Try not to worry too much. I’m sure you’ll figure something out.” She smiled weakly and then headed toward the door. I could tell she felt awful about the entire situation. I followed her out and then sighed.
“It’s not your fault, Anna.” I smiled and then closed the door behind her, a heavy weight of a sensation settling into my chest. I sat back down on the couch and closed my eyes. My mind reeled with worry, but my body remained still. I couldn’t even imagine what I’d say to Travis when I approached him but I knew that the sooner I did it, the better. I eased myself off the couch and headed into my room. I was exhausted, and I wanted to be rested before I broke the unfortunate news to Travis the next day.
I slid on a pair of silky pink pajamas and then crawled into bed. When I woke up the next morning, I got dressed in a fitted black skirt and a lightweight sweater. I pulled my hair up in a bun and then had a look at myself in the full length mirror. My curves were accentuated in the outfit I had on, and I admired the shape of my breasts. If nothing else, maybe Travis would appreciate my looks and at have a little pity on my situation. I sighed, then shook my head and walked out of the bedroom.
I decided that I wasn’t going to call him and make an appointment. I was simply going to walk into his office and tell him that I’d made a huge investment over at Calypso, and that it had gone sour. I was going to tell him that if he could just give me an extra week or two to pay back the loan, then I might be able to conjure up a viable solution. My heart raced as I read his address on the back of the business card: 3500 West Bay Avenue. I had no idea what lied in store, but I told myself to maintain a positive attitude and try to visualize a fortunate outcome.
All of my positive thinking diminished when I stood outside of Travis’s office. My heart raced and my palms sweated. What was he going to say? I knew that anyone who lent out forty thousand dollars would not be happy to find out that it couldn’t be re-paid. What if responded with rage? What if he threatened me or told me that I would go to jail? The scenarios played out in my mind with rapidity, until finally, I just opened up the door and marched to the front desk where an attractive red-head looked up at me from her work. “Can I help you?” She tilted her head and raised her eyebrows.
I swallowed hard and then smiled. “Yes. I need to see Travis Mulholland.” I looked around as if I expected him to round the corner at any moment. The woman picked up her desk phone and then dialed a number.
“Travis, there’s a young woman here to see you.” She spoke into the receiver and then cupped the phone. “What’s your name?” She leaned forward and waited for me to answer.
“Stephanie McDermott.” I folded my hands in front of me and then looked around the office. The woman nodded her head and then smiled at me.
“Go straight back to Room a on the left. Travis is waiting.” She smiled and then gestured for me to go through the large, double doors that led down the hallway. I walked slowly, my body shaking ad my mind reeling in worry. I approached Travis’s door and just as I was about to knock, he opened it and stood in the doorway. I stepped back and tried not to stare. He was gorgeous. Why hadn’t Anna given me any details about how good looking he was?
“Hello, Stephanie. It’s n
“It’s nice to meet you, too, Travis. But I’m here with some not so great news.” I lowered my head and then stared at the floor. There was no sense in beating around the bush. The man was a lender and I was sure he had heard many a sob story in his career. However, I wanted to be different. I wanted him to understand my situation and understand me. I wanted him to give me another chance, or at least give me an alternative to paying back such a large sum of money.
“Let me guess.” He cocked his head to the side and then tapped a pen on his desk. “You’re here to tell me that you don’t have the loan paid back yet.” He smiled, confident that he already knew of my dismay. I forced out a wry grin and then looked at him with a coy smile.
“You’re right.” I felt a wave of relief when I spoke and he nodded his head in return.
“I’ve heard it all before, Stephanie. I’ve been in this business for a long time.” He looked at me with a smile. “And I really do try to be understanding.” He leaned forward and I could catch the faint scent of his cologne. I studied his face and took in the shape of his cheekbones, the slight dimple he had in his left cheek. He was so attractive that I figured he surely must be married. “But, when it comes down to the bottom line, I need to make sure that I receive my money.” He sighed and then folded his hands on his desk.
I’m not sure what took over me, but at that point, I stood up from my chair and walked toward him. Then I pushed all of his paperwork aside and sat down on the edge of the desk. His eyes widened but he remained silent. “Let me show you something real quick.” I whispered and then touched his face with my hand. It was clean shaven and smooth, and he watched me with curiosity as I slid off the desk and onto the floor. I got in a kneeling position and grabbed him by the legs.
“Wow. This isn’t what I was expecting.” He chuckled but offered no resistance so I quickly unbuttoned the top of his pants. I had never done anything so risqué in all of my life and it felt both exciting and scary. I reached my hand down his pants and Travis smiled with excitement. I felt around for his cock and then yanked his pants down to the floor. He looked up for a second and then looked back down at me as I shoved my face into his warm, thick manhood.
At that moment I didn’t care if the secretary from out front barged in on us. All I wanted was to convince Travis that he should extend my loan obligation for another week. If I could wow him with my womanly charm, then maybe I could stand a chance and getting into his good graces. I slid my tongue around the shaft of his cock and he let out a quiet moan. He was thick and hard to my pleasant surprise, and got my entire mouth around it with ease. I had always loved to give a good blow job, and this was no exception. “Wow.” Travis leaned back in his chair and let me suck him off for a good ten minutes.
I slid his cock out of my mouth for a brief moment and then gazed up at him with my eyes narrowed in a seductive stare. “I hope that you’ll consider giving me an extension, Travis.” I batted my lashes and then lowered my head once more to his throbbing cock. He smiled and closed his eyes.
“I think I can definitely make some exceptions.” He folded his hands behind his head and I continued to pleasure him with my mouth. I ran my hands along the fullness of his cock and slid it down as far as I could get it in my throat. He let out a grunt and then pushed my head further into his groin. “Holy shit. That’s it. Keep going, baby.” He held my head firmly with his hands and then, in a sudden jerk, he pushed back and yanked his cock out of my mouth. I watched as he climaxed into the air, then giggled and stepped back to my chair.
Before I could say a word, the phone rang in Travis’s office and he quickly yanked his pants up from around his ankles. “I have a client in fifteen minutes.” He winked and then buttoned his pants with swiftness. I straightened out my hair, wiped off my mouth with a tissue, then straightened out my wrinkled skirt. Travis took a deep breath and then we both walked toward the door. He opened it and then smiled. “Call me when you have the money, Stephanie. I trust that you can have it in a week.” He grinned and then winked.
I walked out of his office with a smile on my face and lightness in my step. It felt like a weigh had been lifted. Even though it was no solution, it was still a hopeful break, and I appreciated his willingness to cut me some slack. I breezed past the secretary who was still sitting at her desk, then waltzed outside into the sunlight. Then I rounded the corner with a smile still on my face, and headed for my apartment.
Act II
Chapter 4
A week passed and I still hadn’t come up with the money. I had reluctantly called old friends and even a few family members, with hopes that someone might have been able to help. Nobody had offered any assistance, and a few even acted resentful toward me for asking. I was back in the realm of worry and dismay. Anna had called a few times but I ignored her calls. I felt myself slipping into a dark place, and I didn’t want to converse with anyone who couldn’t help me find a way out of it.
I got dressed on a Tuesday morning that I should have been studying for a Biology exam, and instead walked back over to Travis’s office. He would be expecting his cash on Wednesday, and I had nothing to show for it. I stood outside the office once more, but this time I didn’t have the same air of confidence. In fact, I could sense that my depression and hopelessness exuded like a sore thumb, and I tried to think of a way to mask it, but came up with nothing. His secretary greeted me once more at the front desk and I gave her a polite hello. She once more guided me toward Travis’s office, and I stood outside his door, my heart racing again as I waited for him to open it.
“And so we meet again, Stephanie. Step inside.” Travis smiled and motioned for me to come in. He wore a pin-striped suit and a tie, and his face looked tanned for some reason. I admired his handsome good looks once again, and then sat down in the same chair that I’d sat in only a week prior. I wrung my hands and then took a deep breath. “How can I help you?” Travis stood in front of me and cocked his head to the side. I wondered if he assumed that I didn’t have the money, or if he actually thought I had somehow concocted a miracle.
“I don’t have your money.” I looked at him with a shameful expression, and then quickly looked away. The sun shone brightly outside, and for a second I wished that I could just be down by the beach, soaking in the rays and basking my worries away. I could feel Travis frown before I even looked up to face him.
“Stephanie, I’m a nice guy, but I’m no pushover.” Travis stared at me and then folded his arms across his chest. I watched as his expression hardened. “I can’t tell you that I’m happy with this news.” He shook his head and then gave me a look of disapproval. I held my breath, wondering what he might say, but he was quiet for at least five minutes. I looked at the floor, waiting for him to break the silence, but he said nothing.
“Travis, I’m so sorry. I called everyone I could think of, but nobody could help me out. I’ll do anything to pay off the debt.” I knew that I sounded desperate, but I had no alternative. The truth hurt and there was no disguising it.
“Okay.” He finally spoke and I raised my eyebrows. “I have an idea.” He stepped toward me and then gave me a wry smile. For a second I wondered if his idea would be something I’d be in favor of, but then I realized it really didn’t matter. Whatever his solution, I knew I would accept it without question.
Chapter 5
“I’m not going to give away all of the details.” Travis looked at me with a curious grin. “I’m just going to give you the bare-bones as to what you can expect, okay?” He looked at me and then tapped his pen on the desk and had a seat. I leaned forward, anxious to hear what he had planned for me, and hopeful that it would be something I could handle. Travis took a deep breath and then sat down in his chair.
“You’re going to walk to an undisclosed location on a particular evening.” He spoke nonchalantly and I patiently listened. “I want you to think about how you’ll look on that night, and give some thought to what your body image will convey to the people you’ll meet.” He looked at me with a slight smile and I furrowed my brow. An undisclosed location? Meeting people? I didn’t like the sounds of it, and I hoped that Travis wasn’t secretly some sort of sociopath who secretly had it in for me.
“And what happens after I walk to this secret location?” I stood up and folded my arms across my chest. I didn’t want to come off as disapproving, but I also didn’t want to come off as some sort of fool, either. I didn’t want Travis to think that I was so naïve as to just appear in front of a group of strangers with no concern for my safety and well-being.
-->
