by Jessie Cooke
As we turned in through the iron gates all I could see were Ivy and ferns growing wild along the fence that lined the cobbled path. Once the winding path was out of our way I could see the colossal structure. The car pulled into a circular drive where a delicate marble fountain stood. As we stepped out I could hear the melodic tinkle of the water as it resonated into the silence of the massive grounds of the estate.
“It’s beautiful!”
“Wait until you see inside,” Harold said. “Axel had the architect brought in from Egypt and then made him sign a waiver that said he would never use this design again. It’s an original in every country.”
He led me up onto the open porch that was held up by massive stone pillars and in through the huge open double doors. There was a man about my age or just a little younger in a very nice black tuxedo. He had dark hair and a neatly trimmed beard and mustache and very pretty eyes with long, dark eyelashes. Next to him was a lovely young woman with long, dark hair like mine. They were greeting the guests as we came in. When it came to our turn the man didn’t shake Harold’s hand like he did the others. Instead, he wrapped him in a hug.
“Harold! I’m so freaking glad you could make it! You haven’t met my wife yet. This is Holly.”
Holly smiled and took Harold’s hand. The handsome man was beaming at her. “I’m pleased to meet you,” Holly said. “Welcome.”
“I’m so glad to meet you, Holly. Someday I’d love to sit you down and have you tell me two things.”
“What’s that?” Holly asked.
“First why on earth a lovely woman like you would dare to be associated with this scoundrel and second, how on earth you convinced him to settle down.”
Holly laughed. “As for the first part, I’ve never had very good taste…”
“Hey!” She kissed her husband on the cheek and said,
“You know it’s true.”
“Yeah, but it still hurts. Let’s change the subject. Who are you?” the man asked me.
I smiled. “I’m Olivia. It’s nice to meet you. You have an amazing home.”
“Axel Maxwell and my wife Holly. Nice to meet you too. I might ask you the same question your date asked my wife.”
I looked at Harold. He was beaming at me almost in the same way Axel had beamed at Holly. “Harold’s a lovely man,” I said. Axel smiled like he knew exactly how Harold got the “date.” But, he didn’t say anything else. Harold and I moved on while the young couple continued to greet their guests.
We mingled for a while and Harold was a complete gentleman, introducing me as his “friend.” He fielded a few questions about his son who I heard him say was “on holiday” in Jamaica, and people seemed really interested in knowing about his son’s girlfriend…a woman they referred to as “Sam” or “Samantha.” She was some kind of singer, apparently and his son was a sound tech who works for Axel Maxwell. The place was full of filthy rich musicians and music moguls. I felt a bit ignorant since I really didn’t know any of them…but I listen to mostly jazz and classical music. It’s what my mother always listened to and I just picked up an ear for it from her.
We had a delicious dinner of poached salmon and then after a speech and a huge donation to the charitable organization the party was being held for, Axel “turned the evening over” to the entertainment. It was a man named Jesse Lee who all the guests were thrilled about. After his first song, I could see why. He was really talented and really nice to look at too.
“He’s a handsome young man,” Harold said as he caught me staring.
I think I blushed. “Yes, he is.”
“You like the tattoos?”
I looked back up at Jesse. I really did like the tattoos. I never realized that before. Mike doesn’t have any and I usually went for that clean-cut executive type. “I really do,” I admitted. Harold smiled again and said,
“My son has a full sleeve and most of his torso is covered with them. I always worried they would affect his ability to get a good job. I never considered that they might actually help him in the music business. I come from a background in high finance and that is a whole different world.”
“So is that how you know Axel Maxwell, through your son?”
“No, my son actually knows him through me. I had a really small…and by small, I mean two or three clients, financial consulting firm. When Axel was first starting out and needed to decide where to put his money so that it could make more, he hired me to help him. I guess his returns were high because he remembered me and returned the favor. He refers all of his colleagues and friends who need a financial advisor to me. My business has exploded since he started promoting it. The man is like Midas, everything he touches turns to gold. We’ve become good friends over the years. He hired Ryan because he knew I was worried about him not having a job…Since then, Axel has come to trust him. As long as he’s on Axel’s good side, he’ll go far and I can…. Well, I won’t have to worry about how he’ll get along when I’m gone.”
“Gone? You mean dead?”
“Would you like to dance, Olivia?” I was about to say “No thank you,” when he said, “I don’t mind if we dance up front near the stage so you can get a better look at that young man.” My face went hot again and I giggled.
“I’d love to dance.”
Harold and I took the dance floor and as we danced he didn’t once try to feel me up, grab my ass or squish my tits into his chest. I was both astounded and relieved. Jeff was at least telling the truth about this one. He was part of a dying breed of gentlemen. When the song ended, he took me by the hand and instead of leading my back to our table; he led me up to the edge of the stage.
“Hi there, Jesse.”
“Harold! How the hell are you?”
“I’m doing fantastic. You are killing it tonight. I hope you don’t mind the intrusion, but my friend Olivia really wanted to meet you.”
Jesse Lee took my hand and bent at the waist and kissed it. Then he winked at me. I think it was the first time since I was in high school that I creamed in my panties. “It’s my pleasure Olivia. I didn’t know Harold had such beautiful friends. I would take him up on his dinner invitations more often.” I’m sure my skin was red to my roots and toes. My mouth was dry and although I’m not usually one to get star struck, I really could not make enough saliva to say anything other than,
“Likewise…” and giggle like an idiot. He winked again, shook Harold’s hand, and went back to center stage. I stood there frozen to my spot until I felt Harold’s hand on my arm.
“I think he likes you,” he said. I giggled again. Like an idiot.
“I think he was just being nice. But, that was really nice of you too. Thank you, Harold.”
“No problem. You look beautiful when you’re happy.” He suddenly swayed like he was going to fall and gripped tighter to my arm.
“Are you okay?”
“I think I may need some air,” he said.
“Sure, there’s a door to the back patio there…” I led him outside. The back yard looked like a park and because of the blooming roses it smelled like a perfume factory. “Is it too sweet-smelling for you out here?”
He smiled and held onto the patio post. “No, it’s just fine, thank you.”
“Do you want a chair?”
“No, I’ll be okay,” he said. “But there’s something I want to ask you before I take you home tonight…”
Oh no, here it comes…. “What’s that?”
“Have you ever heard of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura?”
That wasn’t what I was expecting. “No…and I hope you’re not going to ask me to spell it,” I said with a nervous laugh.
He smiled gently and said, “No spelling required. TTP is a rare blood disorder where blood clots form in small blood vessels all throughout the body. I was diagnosed with it after I had a heart attack last year. The attack was caused by a clot that blocked the blood flow to my heart.”
“Oh my goodness! I’m sorry, Harold. Did they fix it?
”
“They did their best with my heart, but the TTP is incurable. It has already significantly damaged most of my vital organs. They give me blood thinners, but they can only thin it so much before I begin to bleed internally. Eventually…and according to my doctors, soon…one of the clots will block something vital and I will die.”
I had no idea what to say. I felt terrible. He truly seemed like a nice man. “I’m sorry, Harold.”
“You’re sweet. I didn’t tell you this for sympathy though. I want something.”
“Of course. What can I do?”
“I want you, Olivia. I want a week with you…one final fling with the most beautiful woman in the city.”
5
Olivia
I sat at the kitchen table in my house the next morning, sipping my coffee and rehashing the events of the night before in my head. Harold Golden made me a proposition. I had just decided what a nice man he was and then he told me he wanted a week to have his way with me. Of course he says it’s because he’s dying…but who knows if that’s even true?
I didn’t even consider it either way. I had said, “I’m sorry Harold, but that’s not going to happen. I’m happily married and what I do with this agency is all I do and nothing more ever. I’m not a prostitute,” and I couldn’t help but wish I could stop having to tell people that. I suppose it’s my own damned fault. I told him, “I wouldn’t cheat on my husband for a million dollars.”
That was when he made it really interesting. He said, “Really? That was exactly what I’m willing to pay.” I was stunned, speechless, flattered…but in the end I still told him,
“I can’t take a chance on ruining my marriage Harold. I love my husband. So even for a million dollars and even though I’m flattered, I have to say no. I’m sure there are lots of women who would be willing. Some agencies exist for the sole purpose of such things…”
He smiled sadly. “I don’t want a “Pro,” Olivia. I want a real woman with a real heart. I want you.”
I rebuked him again, kindly. He dropped it and we had a decent time the rest of the evening. At one point I heard Axel asking him how he’d been feeling and what the doctors have said…so I suppose he was telling the truth about dying. I felt so bad for him. He’s genuinely a nice guy. But I couldn’t break my vows even for a million dollars. When he dropped me off after a lovely evening he handed me his card and said,
“Please call me if you change your mind. The offer still stands and I don’t have much time left to do this.”
I had once again said, “Absolutely not.” But the question remained…why was I still thinking about it? I finished my coffee, washed my cup and called Mike.
“Hello?”
“Hi baby!”
“Yeah, what’s up, Olivia? I’m about to go through security at the airport.”
“Oh…I didn’t know you were coming home today.”
“Yeah, last minute change of plans. What do you need?”
“Nothing. I was just thinking about you…and last night…”
“Hmm, yeah. Well, I’ll see you in a few hours.”
“Okay,” I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I know he’s just busy and he doesn’t mean it…but my feelings were hurt. “Have a safe flight. Is Carrie with you?”
“No! Why would Carrie be with me?”
“I just thought since she was there…”
“How did you know she was here?”
“Steve told me. I called him looking for her…”
“Oh, well, I barely saw her. It’s my turn. I have to go.” He hung up. I stared at the phone for a while wondering what the hell was wrong with him lately. He’d been so moody. Last night he’d been so sweet and sexy and today it was like he could barely stand to talk to me. With a sigh I pushed Carrie’s number. She answered on the first ring.
“Hey lady! Steve said you called the other night. I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to tell you I was going out of town. It was kind of last minute.”
“It’s okay…are you busy?”
“Not at all. Let’s meet at Café Perk in twenty minutes.”
“Great, thanks.” I hung up wondering why she said it was “last minute,” when Steve had clearly told me it wasn’t. Oh well, I really didn’t have the energy to worry about things that didn’t concern me. I had enough concerns of my own. I ran upstairs and got dressed and when Carrie got to the coffee shop, I was already there, waiting.
“Hey!” she air-kissed me and then examined my face in the light streaming through the window. “Did you have a rough weekend, honey?”
“Well…you might say that…”
“I see three new lines around your eyes,” she said. I rolled them. Sometimes I wonder between her veiled insults and my husband’s inattention, why I even get out of bed in the morning. We sat down and ordered our coffees and she said, “Tell me what happened.”
I launched right into my first story about the letch and she laughed when I finished. “We all know what a perv he is, honey. None of us take him seriously.”
“That’s not what he implied.”
“Of course not. He wants people to think he’s getting it on with hot younger women. So what about Harold Golden? Jeff said he was requesting you and you only and willing to pay A LOT of money!”
“Yeah, Harold…” I told her about the party, which of course she was impressed with. I told her about meeting and getting touched by Jesse Lee and I think she had an orgasm and then I told her about Harold’s proposition.
“A million fucking dollars? You said no? Are you insane?”
“Of course not. I’ve told you over and over that I’m not cheating on my husband.”
“Honey think about all you could do for your husband with that kind of money. I bet if I told Steve I was offered that much to fuck some old dude for a week he’d say go for it!”
“No, he wouldn’t…would he? Mike wouldn’t. He’s not so much anymore, but when we were younger it drove him crazy for another man to look at me.”
“A million fucking dollars Olivia! Come on, honey. You can’t just dismiss it outright.”
“I can’t do it, Carrie. It would hurt Mike if he ever found out. How would I explain all of that money? He would know.”
“You could put it away and take it out a little at a time. Just think about it…you’d never have to think about money again. One week with this guy. Is he that wrinkled and gross?”
“No. Actually, he’s a nice looking older man. He’s not wrinkled at all…at least the parts I saw.”
“Then you have to do it for sure!”
“Carrie! No. How would I explain a week away to Mike?”
“You’re looking for excuses. Do it next week. Mike will be in New Orleans for ten days.”
I was confused. “He will?”
“Um…yeah, he didn’t tell you yet?”
“No, he didn’t tell me. Why will he be there so long?”
“We have to meet with an entire corporation….”
“We? You’re going too?”
“Steve asked me to, to help out.”
“Why isn’t Steve going?”
“He already has that conference in Florida…”
“I didn’t know about that either. Why am I the only one in this foursome that knows nothing about the business?”
“Maybe you should pay more attention, honey. After you screw the rich guy and get your million bucks.” I’m not sure what I was about to say, but at that point my phone rang. I looked at it and drew my brows together. “Don’t frown.” I stuck my tongue out at her. Jeff was calling. He never called me. I always called in when I was available.
“Hello?”
“Olivia, it’s Jeff.”
“Hi Jeff,” Carrie’s eyes widened.
“I got a call from Harold Golden today…”
“Oh no! I didn’t go off on him…”
He laughed. “I know, calm down. He said to tell you the offer went from one to two…but you have to let him know by the end
of the week.”
“One to two?”
“Yeah, I didn’t know what it meant either, but that’s what he said.”
I thanked Jeff and hung up. Before I pressed ‘end call’ Carrie was saying, “Two million dollars?”
I nodded, numbly. “I think that’s what he’s saying…shit!” Suddenly I was giving it serious consideration. Two million dollars, Mike would be out of town…Harold’s a nice man and not bad looking at all. It’s only a week. It wouldn’t kill me…would it? Would it kill my marriage if Mike never found out? Does it make me the same as a prostitute? Shit!
“You have to do this!” Carrie was saying. “I’d do it in a heartbeat. Hell, I’d sleep with my dog for that kind of money.”
“You’re a sick woman.”
“Lester is a well-endowed St. Bernard. It wouldn’t be so bad. He’s also unemployed and has chronic halitosis. That’s why I’ve turned him down.”
“Sick, sick woman,” I said.
I sat alone in the downstairs study once again looking at my phone. Mike had gone out to get pipe tobacco. I only had a few minutes if I was going to do this. I looked at the business card and pressed in the numbers.
“Hello Olivia.” Harold’s voice was as smooth as silk. I got right down to business.
“How do I know I won’t do this and not get my money?”
“I’ll place it in a trust with my attorney’s office.”
“I have to do it next week when my husband is out of town.”
“Next week is fine. I didn’t go back to California. Axel let me use his penthouse for the next two weeks while he and Holly are on vacation…just in case.”
“Other people know about this?” I felt sick suddenly. How many people know I’m a whore?
“Just Axel. He’s very open-minded. Before he met Holly…let’s just say he was a wild man.” I still didn’t like it, but I guess it was too late to worry about that.
“Text me the address. I’ll meet you there Monday morning.”
“Perfect! Go to Dream’s and Things on West 127th street before then….do you know it?”
