by Anna Collins
“I’ve told you that I was willing, but I would never take advantage of you in an intoxicated situation. I don’t condone any man for needing to get their lovers drunk to get them to sleep with them. It seems dirty and unnecessary. It this is the way that they get some then I don’t want anything to do with it. I’ve come onto you a couple of times. I let you see me naked in the shower to convince you that there’s a reason why you should be taking a chance with me. I’m not going to fall in love. It could be just a matter of convenience for the both of us,” Jackson said as his fingers went lower until he pressing on the small of my back and giving my body jolts of excitement that was going to turn me into a raging animal.
“This is the first time that we have ever had a really deep discussion about this. I think that you might be right and that Drake could be the answer to my dry spell. I don’t necessarily have to go into this thinking that we’re going to be happy with that white picket fence and the two kids running around biting at my ankles. I want more than just sex. I’m sure that a lot of people would say the same thing. We are friends, Jackson. If we step over that line then we can never come back from it. We need to take things slow and don’t do anything rash that’s going to come back and bite us in the ass,” I said leaving him to think about things and wondering if what we were discussing was even going to come to more than just idle talk.
I went down and got into the limousine. I had envisioned a chilled bottle of champagne and strawberries and whipped cream. They were right there in my reach. The bottle of champagne was a 78. It was a fine vintage. I didn’t know that much about liquor other than what I could consume of it. I’m sure that a 78 was quite expensive and why he was wasting it on me was beyond me. In that moment, I felt a little trapped in that enclosed space. A part of me wanted to gnaw my arm off so that I could run away before anything happened. I felt overwhelmed and I wanted to hide. It was the soft jazz of my favorite artist playing over the speaker that had me believing that this was a man that knew how to listen.
Chapter 4
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but we’ve been sitting at the restaurant for almost 20 minutes. I can tell through the window that he’s impatiently looking at his watch and looking out at the limousine like he doesn’t know what to do. I can see that you’re nervous. He is a bit intimidating. I’ve worked for his entire family for the past 20 years. I’ve never heard him speak about any woman like he does about you. I’m not just saying that. I hope that you don’t take this the wrong way, but hurting him by standing him up will only incur his wrath. It might be selfish, but I really don’t want to be in the middle of one of his mood swings,” The driver said with his chauffeur hat down over his cauliflower ears.
He definitely was a man that was into the pugilistic art of boxing. I could tell from his hands that he was a man that knew how to handle himself. The lazy eye was a good way to know that he had taken a few licks in his day.
“I’m sorry that I’m making you feel uncomfortable, but this is a big step. We’re taking our flirting from a casual thing to something more. I’m not sure what this is about. I’m worried that he wants something that I can’t give him,” I said taking another slug from the champagne. I was hoping that it would give me the liquid courage to stand strong in the face of a man that made my whole body tremble with desire.
“It’s not like it’s your first date. You’ve been going out with each other on the sly for the past few months without the family knowing anything about. He only confides in me and what he has told me about you leads me to believe that you might be the one that can change things for him. He was always a selfish child growing up. How could he not be when he was given everything that he wanted without question? His parents gave him the world but they also demanded perfection from him and his siblings,” The driver said making me aware of the fact that his experience with the family might be something that could come in handy.
“What exactly do you think is going on between me and Drake?” I asked thinking that it was a good idea to know what I was getting myself into. Just what kind of lies was Drake saying about me to instill something of a long-term relationship that didn’t happen?
“He has told me several times that he thought that you were special. You stand above all others. There’s a reason why he’s spending so much time with you. He did confide that you have not slept together. That you were old fashioned and that you were keeping him from getting close until you knew that there was a real connection. Your parents should be very proud of you. Not a lot of girls can keep their virtue intact. He is charismatic, but he is also aggressive. He needs to rise above the noise and confusion of his siblings whispering into his ear. There are times that he takes chances and flies too close to the sun,” The driver said as he drummed his fingers impatiently on that steering wheel most likely wondering when I was going to make a decision one way or the other.
I could’ve easily destroyed the pretty picture that he had come up with to subdue his sibling’s suspicions. I felt like I had to hear him out.
“Do you know that he has a standing deal with a real estate agent? She keeps adding new properties in sketchy up and coming neighborhoods to his portfolio? I’m not sure if Tanya’s interest is more than just the commission. I would be very careful. He may seem strong on the outside, but he’s still that little kid that needs his father’s approval on the inside. You do the wrong thing and you might find him in the arms of the pretty redhead with only dollar signs in her eyes. I do admit that she called the other day. It was the first time that he told her that he had no interest in buying up any more property for the time being,” The driver said as I took a deep breath and opened the door before closing it again.
“I just never thought that I would be here with a man quite like him. He wears his wealth and influence for everybody to see. The Italian suits, the expensive accessories including those damn glasses make him look like something from a simpler time. It’s hard to ignore. He really does have an old soul. There is something in his eyes that I have tried to fight for as long as possible,” I was asking myself why I was sitting in here when I should be sitting across from him enjoying the ambiance and the man.
“I can see that you’re having cold feet. I’m not going to push you into doing something that you don’t want to do. Whatever decision that you make is something that you’re going to have to live with for the rest of your life. I’ve known gold diggers in the past and I don’t see that coming from you. You care for him in a way that supersedes any of his wealth and fortune. I do find that you might be a little naïve and not of the same social circle as the Sumner’s. That might be a good thing and having you there in the midst of that turmoil might be that breath of fresh air that they need in their privileged lives,” The driver said as I saw Sumner drinking his second cup of coffee.
I was not just fashionably late. I was sure that he was thinking about coming out to confront me, but he hadn’t done that yet. I think that he was giving me room to breathe and to find my own way without him trying to force the issue.
“I’m being stupid and I know that. He is a good man. I see something in him struggling to remain that way. He’s the glue that keeps them together and they don’t even realize it. He’s the one that has been amassing more of the fortune and now it is all in the hands of a demented old man that liked to play god over his children’s lives. I won’t be another reason for him to think that life isn’t fair. I can’t in a good conscience allow him to think that I’m afraid of taking that next step,” I said this time opening up the door and getting out on the sidewalk.
I knew that I was going to have to explain myself. I was sure that it wasn’t every day that a beautiful woman stood him up. I had kept him waiting for long enough. I just hoped that the wait was worth his time. It was time to make an entrance that was going to leave his tongue lying on the floor.
When I entered, I took off my jacket and even the hostess was giving me the once over and swallowing hard by the possibility that
I might have a wardrobe malfunction. “He has been waiting for you. He took the liberty of ordering a soufflé that needs 2-hours to be prepared. I know that he was a little worried that you weren’t going to grace him with your presence. We were having bets in the back in how long it was going to take you to finally bite the bullet. I’ll have you know that I won. Your waiter thought that you weren’t even going to make an appearance,” The maitre D said as she escorted me to the table wearing a tasteful suit with suspenders that made her seem almost approachable.
Drake got up from the table to greet me with a soft kiss on my cheek and then on the back of my hand. I’d never felt that wanted. He could have easily gone for the open mouthed kiss, but instead, he played it safe. He was not assuming anything. The way that we were playing fast and loose with the way that we were flirting was anything but casual.
“I’m glad that you could make it after all. I was beginning to think that you were going to leave without saying anything at all. I’m sure that you have been wondering why I suddenly took an interest in you coming to dinner with me. There’s gotta be a part of you that thinks that it seems awfully coincidental that I’m asking you out at the precise time that my family is vying for the fortune. A month isn’t a very long time for me to come up with a plausible love interest. I’ve been talking you up. I didn’t mean to do it, but you made it impossible for me to keep you to myself,” He said as he allowed me to sit before taking his seat.
“I should have my head examined for going along with a harebrained scheme like yours. I haven’t even decided one way or the other. What exactly is it that you expect me to do? I’m hoping that you’re not thinking that I want some kind of monetary reward for my part in this. I have no interest in your money,” I said not realizing how absurd that might sound to a man of his obvious standing within the community.
“I know that you want to be an actress. Don’t you think that taking on a role like this would be the perfect opportunity to stretch your wings creatively? I’m giving you the opportunity at a role of a lifetime. If you pull this off, then you’ll know that you’re ready for the big time. I can even introduce you to a few producers that I know quite well. They are always on the lookout for talent. There’s nothing seedy about these productions. They are mostly hallmark movies or lifetime movies of the week. If things go exceptionally well, I even have a few investments that I have dabbled in with various high-end movie productions. You’ll no doubt have to audition, but I can get you that foot in the door,” He said making me wonder if this might be the right way to dip my toe into the water of acting.
“You have me at a loss for words. I was expecting you to talk about the beneficial arrangement that ended with me with a lump sum in my pocket. I was ready to slap you across the face for even presuming that I could be bought like that. I’m not some jaguar that you have in your collection that you can take out for a test drive whenever it suits your purposes. I do find it intriguing that you are giving me this role that I can sink my teeth into. It might be real life, but it’s really only a part. There are no small parts. This one is like I am center stage. I’m not going to give you an answer right away. I will need some time to think about it,” I said letting him know that I was the one that had him by his proverbial short hairs.
“Is there anything that I can do to convince you? I could say that you can have my body as a bonus. I’m sure that you have certain needs that can’t be met by guys that pretty much are phoning it in. I’m very good. I make sure that my lover is satisfied beyond words. I go above and beyond because I feel a certain obligation to the rest of the male populous. I need to be that measuring stick that girls use against other guys. I raise the bar. I want guys to realize that woman are worthy of more than a lobster dinner. I make sure that word of the way that I treat women get out. I’ve had various publications interview me. I always bring up how I feel that a woman should be treated like a princess. Your unwillingness to take my money really does show what kind of character you have. I am pleased to see that you’re not easily corrupted like most women that find themselves faced with more money than they can shake a stick at,” Drake said reaching over and touching my hand. He was looking into my eyes. I was crumbling underneath his watchful gaze.
“If I were to even consider this then there would have to be certain conditions met. I’m not going to say that I can’t be trusted around you, but I really can’t be trusted around you. Your siblings will get on your last nerve and then you’ll come looking for me for comfort. I doubt that I would have the strength to push you away. I would gladly let you into the bedroom and then in between my legs. I’m sure that you’ve wondered about me naked. I know that there’s a part of me that would like to see a lot more than what you have already shown me,” I said thinking about the way that this could work for the both of us. We couldn’t risk falling into each other’s arms because it was convenient.
“I could’ve made it easier on myself. There are many actresses that are looking for that role that is going to bring them a hefty paycheck. I had a few auditions already and none of them really spoke to me like you do. I do need to know about these conditions to agree to them. I hope that you’re not going to be unreasonable. I can’t promise to be on my best behavior because you always bring out the naughty side. I can’t go more than a few days without thinking about you. When I go to see you at the pharmacy it’s always the highlight of my whole week,” Drake said as he sipped his wine. It was a white wine to go with the dinner that was going to arrive any second.
“It goes without saying that there is nothing between us physically. I don’t want the possibility that sleeping with you will turn me into an obsessed stalker. The only way that I can prevent that is by having some sort of buffer between you and me. We can’t trust your siblings to be that for us, but I can trust my best friend. Jackson has always had my back since the moment that he moved in with me. I think that it would be better that this was a business arrangement. I don’t live beyond my means. I have my vices, but everybody does. Just because we can’t see them, doesn’t mean that they’re not doing it behind closed doors,” I said looking at Drake. I knew that he was thinking about what I had proposed. I wasn’t sure how he was going to land on this certain topic.
“I don’t like the idea of bringing anybody into this other than you and me. I get this feeling that you’ve already told him about me and the reason why we have gone to dinner together. The way that you talk about him makes me believe that I have competition for your hand. Are you sure that everything about you and this Jackson fellow is platonic? I’m not sure that it’s even possible for a man and a woman to be friends. It always leads to something physical. Don’t tell me that you haven’t talked about it at one time or another,” Drake said with his hands on the table drumming in the same way that I had seen the driver. It was like it was a nervous habit that they had both picked up somewhere.
“Jackson is a man’s kind of man if you get my drift. He has expressed interest in trying something different, but we haven’t gone beyond the talking stage. I have seen him from time to time in the buff. I must say that he is wasting all of that on men. I don’t have those kinds of feelings for him. It doesn’t mean that I don’t look for every opportunity to see him without his clothes on. Call it a guilty pleasure. I don’t know what it will evolve into. It may just be talk. I’m not sure that either one of us has the courage to take that risk. It’s not like he’s going to fall in love with me. It might be just something to try. I don’t think that he would want to make it a steady diet,” I said giving Drake a better idea of what my relationship with Jackson was all about.
“I’ll agree to your terms. I will set aside a hefty stipend for when the fortune is in my hands. I’ve already decided that I’m going divvy it up between my siblings. It was wrong of my father to think that pitting us against each other was a good idea. That kind of tough love only turns badly when we get to be adults.” Drake said with his napkin dabbing delicately against his beautiful
mouth. It certainly gave me ideas that I didn’t dare repeat.
“I wouldn’t know anything about that. It’s not like my parents were controlling or anything like that. Wait, they were. Everybody has something about their childhood that they want to forget about. There’s no such thing as a happy family. There’s always some lingering problem like a black sheep or possibly one or both of the parents feeling neglected and needing to find something to give them something to wake up for,” I said just as the meal arrived. Everything looked scrumptious and that included the company.
Chapter 5
There wasn’t much that needed to be said during the meal. He did make an effort to turn me on by going after my sense of touch with his foot rubbing up and down my bare leg. I was half tempted to tell him that wasn’t part of the arrangement, but it felt too good to make him cease and desist. He’d taken off his shoe and he was getting very close to feeling the wet touch of my panties against his big toe.
“I think that you’ll find that the dessert is even more decadent than you imagine. The chef has assured me that he has gone out of his way to make this something special. The chocolate is infused with this liquor that is barely detectable. It is one of his crowning achievements and is the main reason why I frequent this place from time to time. I am looking forward to seeing what you think of it. Just a reminder that it is liquor based and that you shouldn’t go overboard. Then again, maybe it would be a good way to lower our inhibitions. Not that we’ve ever had any problem with that,” Drake said as he sliced through the meat of the steak that was cooked perfectly with just a hint of pink.
