by Sarah Thorn
''Yes.''
''And you're working hours are 24/7.''
''Sorry?''
''You are to be available any time, day or night when I need you. I operate an international business.'' He sat on the edge of his desk and looked at her tanned legs. ''Calls come in at all times of the day and night. It will happen that I call you in the middle of the night and ask you to come in. The world never sleeps and neither will you when I need you. Clear?''
''Yes, it's clear.'' Be professional and do as she requests. After a few weeks you'll have more control over him, she thought.
''Good. Today you're going to spend the rest of the day with Jean from personnel. She's going to show you how we do things around here. I like things done my way. I expect a lot from my employees; that's why they are well paid. They also respect me.'' He turned and looked out of the window. ''This is a very special view. You can see the ocean and a lot of LA. I earned this view with my own sweat. Nobody will ever take it away from me. If you work hard for me, you will get a lot of rewards as well.''
Avaline remembered what Penny had said about there being some hard people in the big wide world. If she was right, he was surely one of them. ''I'll do my very best to do a good job,'' she said.
''You can start with your time keeping then, can't you?'' he said harshly. ''Tell Jean to bring you back up to my office at five pm. You'll find her one floor below, room 365.''
Avaline felt like she'd just been grilled by an army officer. Nobody had ever set out so many rules for her.
At five pm she stood in Colten's office and waited until he'd finished his telephone call.
''That's all I can pay Jim. I think it's a fair price. Look at the place; it's almost derelict,'' he put the phone down and clapped his hands together. ''Another great deal done. Making money is all about purchasing at the lowest price possible.'' Avaline nodded. ''One compliment I do have for you is how nice you look,'' he said. She was wearing a short black skirt, black pantyhose, and a blue blouse. ''You look very business like and your hair and makeup are perfect.''
She hated being judged by a man in such a way. He'd appraised her like a farmer would appraise a prize bull. But she was going to be professional. ''Thank you,'' she said.
''Party time. The day's for working and the evenings are for enjoyment. Come with me; I'm going to introduce you to the gang.''
*****
When they arrived at the Hopeless Sinner, a bar, restaurant and health club, Avaline could hear the beat of loud music from outside. Colten got out of the Rolls and opened her door. When she got out, he was careful to note how shapely her legs were as they slid from the leather seat.
''This is our playground. The Hopeless Sinner. I own it, and a guy called Tony Jameson runs it for me.''
They had stopped close to the waterfront. It was a curious building which Avaline would never have thought he would own. Built of wood it looked like an Austrian log cabin. There was a veranda at the front and a large neon sign on the roof advertising the best fish in town.
''Tony, this is Avaline my new PA. Whenever she wants to come here with her friends you look after her and put whatever they have on my tab. Okay?''
Tony was a young man of around twenty-five, tall and thin and very Hispanic looking. ''Sure boss. Do you want the usual this evening?'' Colten nodded.
''Remember that Avaline. Bring your friends here whenever you want. Now let me show you around.''
They were standing in the bar area. In front of the bar which extended down the side of the interior, there were wooden tables and chairs. She followed him through a door into the restaurant area.
''Wow, this is pretty special,'' she said.
''Yes. All the furniture was imported from Indonesia especially. The palm trees are from Egypt. We tried to get a real nice Colonial look.''
''Well you succeeded. It's really atmospheric.'' Avaline imagined herself transported back to the days of the British in India.
'Wait till you see this,'' he said.
They went through another door and down some steps. After they had walked down a corridor, Colten pushed a door open, and they were in paradise. Avaline was sure they were now underground. What she saw was a vast cavern with a domed roof and a serpent shaped swimming pool, she gasped. At the side of the pool were two Jacuzzi and more palm trees, only this time they were bigger than those in the restaurant. . When she looked more closely, she could see they were artificial. She assumed because there was no real daylight ones wouldn't survive there.
''I'll tell you what we're going to do this evening. We're going to have a bottle or two of champagne, have some of Tony's best seafood and come down here and relax.''
''But I haven't got any swimwear with me,'' she said.
''Don't worry about that, we don't need clothes.''
''Er......excuse me. I'm not cavorting around here in the nude.''
He laughed. ''Then you're the first prudish PA I've ever had. Most of them we're only too pleased to get their clothes off. Especially when they saw what my friends looked like.''
''Well, I.....'' Avaline was caught. She didn't want to appear prudish, but surely this was beyond the call of duty. It was also quite unprofessional. She'd gone to CL Real Estate to start a career, nor prance around like a two-bit hooker. ''Sorry Colten, but I'd rather not be naked.''
''Okay. How long will it take you to chose a bikini?''
''Er.....a few minutes.''
''Great, then the chauffeur will take you downtown. You get a bikini and be back here by six thirty. Okay? Here're two hundred dollars.''
Avaline was beginning to feel like a kept woman. She wasn't used to this level of attention, and it was a little overwhelming. She also didn't much fancy being in a bikini for all Colten's friends to gawp at. But she needed the job, and she'd already pissed Colten off by arriving late for work. The last thing she wanted was to have to join Penny on the set of some B porn movie.
When the chauffeur, whose name she discovered was Robert, dropped her off outside Raylene's Swim and Casual's, Avaline immediately saw a beautiful bikini in the display window
Raylene was about five feet nine and as butch as any woman Avaline had ever seen. ''Yes, we've got that in your size. It's great quality, look.''
''Yes,'' Avaline said looking at the multicolored material.''
''Do you want to try it on?''
Avaline had heard a lot of stories about the dangers of trying swimwear on. Most of it had been tried on before by an average of five women. ''Has anyone tried it on before?''
''No it's fresh out of the cellophane. You don't have to worry.''
Avaline stood in front of the mirror and admired herself. Even the harsh fluorescent lights didn't show up a single blemish on her skin. The bikini fitted very nicely. She took off the top, but quickly pulled it over her breasts again when Raylene popped her head through the curtain. ''Everything okay? Oh yes, I like those bottoms. Haven't got the top on yet, shall I help you?''
Avaline declined and waited until Raylene had gone. Should she report her? How many women had she ogled, felt up or raped in the changing room she wondered? She got dressed quickly and went to pay. Raylene gave her a wide smile. ''Here's a voucher for twenty-five dollars, we're got an open evening next week. Come along and see if you can find anything you like. We've got more than swimwear as you can see. Raylene pointed to an array of other leisure wear. ''That will be ninety-nine dollars, thanks.''
Avaline paid and left the shop. Robert was waiting for her on the other side of the street. Unfortunately, Avaline didn't make it that far.
*****
''More champagne Tony please,'' Colten said. He was sitting in the bar with his best friends, Sylvester, and Chris. Both self-made real estate dealers, but not quite as rich as Colten.
''I'm getting too old for this Colten,'' Sylvester said. ''My body won't take it any more.''
''Crap, you're not even forty yet,'' Colten said.
''Thirty-nine and counting. You're only thirty-t
hree remember. Maybe you can drink champagne and get laid every evening, but I tell you, I'm beginning to feel my age.''
''Jesus, you're not going soft on us are you? This place will be full of LA's most beautiful women in a couple of hours. Just think of that.''
''He's got a girlfriend,'' Chris revealed.
''You what?'' Colten asked. ''You've got a steady girl? So it's not your old body letting you down. Some broad has got her thumb on you. Great,'' Colten said despondently.
''It's time to settle down. I want a family. All this partying has been great, but it's time. You'll feel the same in a couple of years,'' Sylvester said.
''No way. Forty-five. That's the age I've got in mind for settling down,'' Colten said. ''Well old friend, good luck, I hope she turns out to be the one. Although when she sees how well hung you are, she'll probably run a mile.'' He looked at his black friend and laughed. So did Chris.
''She already has seen it, and no, she didn't run. She liked it,'' Sylvester replied a sparkle in his eye.
''Here's to you then,'' Colten said. There was a chink of glass on glass, and they all downed their drinks in one.
A group of scantily clad women came into the bar and looked at Colten. ''Hi Colten,'' Nikki said. ''Are you up for a good time tonight?'' She was tall, blonde and very well proportioned. Her black dress clung to her hips and buttocks as she walked across the room.
''Sorry Nikki. Not tonight darling, we had a great time on Saturday, it was really nice, but I'm a bit busy tonight.'' Nikki pulled a disappointed face, turned round and joined her friends again.
''Did you just turn her down?'' Sylvester asked. ''I've never seen you turn down a broad that hot before.''
''Avaline's my choice for this evening,'' Colten said.
''Who's she?'' Chris asked.
''My new, super attractive, sexy, PA.''
''You're terrible, do you know that?'' Chris said. ''You've tried it on with all your PA's.''
''She's different,'' Colten said.
''How?'' Sylvester interjected.
''I can't put my finger on it, but she's classy, intelligent and so sexy you won't believe it. This one really does something to me.'' Colten concluded.
''How old is she?'' Chris asked, swirling his champagne glass around in his hand.
''Twenty-two,'' Colten said.
''Ten years in it then. No too bad. She'll be able to supply you with innumerable babies.'' Sylvester laughed. The thought of Colten changing nappies was too much for him.
''Funny,'' Colten hissed.
*****
Avaline hadn't seen the man hiding in the alleyway next to Raylene's. As she made her way along the sidewalk towards the Rolls, he jumped out and grabbed her bag. Avaline didn't want to let go and out up a fight. Before Robert could get out of the car, the man hit her over the head with a cosh and ran off, leaving her unconscious and bleeding profusely.
Raylene had heard the screams and ran out of the shop. Robert dashed over the road and squatted next to Avaline.
''Call an ambulance,'' he said to Raylene.
He took out a clean handkerchief and pressed it to the wound on her head. A crowd of bloodthirsty spectators gathered around them as Raylene shouted into her cellphone.
Robert had spent long enough in the army to know that Avaline had now stopped breathing. He let go of the handkerchief, pressed her nostrils together and gave her the kiss of life, followed by three sharp presses to her chest. He waited, nothing. He repeated the process and waited again. This time, Avaline spluttered and began to breathe. Shortly after, the ambulance arrived and took Avaline to UCLA Medical Center.
Colten was halfway through his seafood platter, wondering where Avaline was when Robert called him. He left the restaurant in a taxi and hastened to the hospital.
''How is she?'' he asked Robert.
''I don't know. They told me to wait for her while they do the tests they need to do.''
''First day at work and mugged. Did you see the man who did it?''
''Not that well, there were some parked cars between me and the incident.''
Colten felt responsible. He'd sent her to town and all because of a bikini. His thoughts turned to his sister who had been raped in a park in LA. She'd also just nipped out to do something trivial. The rapist was sentenced to just six years, but Colten made sure his life inside was unbearable. He couldn't believe how cheap it was to have someone's legs broken, although having the man raped in the showers had cost considerably more.
The doctor came out of intensive care and looked at Colten and Robert. ''She's concussed, but we can't find any lasting damage. We'll keep her in for observation for two nights and after that, she can go home. But she'll need to rest. A could of weeks off work should do it.''
''Alright doctor. Thank you,'' Colten said.
''I believe you are to thank for saving her,'' the doctor said looking at Robert.
''I gave her mouth to mouth if that's what you mean.''
''Yes. Well, you did it very well. She's got a lot to thank you for. Does she have any relatives we need to inform?'' the doctor asked.
Robert didn't have a clue and looked at Colten. ''No, she's alone in the world,'' Colten said. ''Can we see her?''
''When we get her onto the ward, in an hour or so.''
It was two hours before Avaline was on the ward by which time Robert was snoring in a waiting room arm chair, and Colten was checking his bank accounts on his cell phone. A nurse came and fetched them. Avaline was sitting up in bed with a bandage on her head. The first thing Colten noticed was how pale she looked.
''So you didn't want to come back to the Endless Sinner?'' Colten asked jokingly.
''No I decided to get myself bashed over the head instead,'' she replied. ''I'm sorry.''
''What for. It wasn't your fault. You'll be back in the saddle in a couple of weeks. You need some rest,'' Colten said. ''You're coming to stay with me.'' Robert flashed him and glance and mentally questioned Colten's motives.
''No. I'll be fine at the apartment. Penny can look after me.''
''I'm not taking no for an answer. I won't have you sitting in some tatty apartment while you're ill. There's all you need at my house. You can swim, sun yourself, go for a sauna and walk in the grounds. It's very relaxing.''
''Thank you, Robert,'' she said. ''I heard you saved me.''
''It's nothing miss, I'm glad I was there. My army training came in useful for once. If you'll excuse me, I'll leave you two to talk.'' Robert left the room, and Colten pulled a chair up to the bed.
''You've got one hell of a bump on your head,'' he said.
''A hell of a bikini bump you could say. I'm not coming to your house to recover. It's not right. I'm one of your employees, not your wife.''
''I don't give a monkey's toss. You're coming back to mine, and that's the end of it. This happened when you were working for me, and I'll look after you. You've got nobody else except that porn star.''
''How do you know about Penny?'' Avaline hadn't told anyone about Penny's occupation.
''I know everything. You are my PA, and you will be handling very sensitive information, did you think I'd employ you without doing some checks on you?''
''Jesus. I'd never given it any thought.''
''I also know you're alone in the world. I know you were left in a hospital baby hatch and brought up in three foster families.'' He looked at her and saw how amazed she was that he knew her most intimate secrets. ''I know you did okay in high school and well at secretarial college. I also know you're way to intelligent to work as a PA. But you underachieved at school because you found boys more interesting than Pythagoras or Shakespeare.''
Avaline felt as if she was naked. Was there anything he didn't know about her? ''Do you know my bra size as well?'' she asked.
''No that's still a secret I haven't got to the bottom of.''
''And you never will. I work for you.''
''That never stopped me before. You know you're very beautiful. I could
give you all you want in life.''
''Do you think I'm stupid? You would soon get bored of me and discard me. Then what? Being fired without a reference wouldn't look good on my resume.''
A nurse came into the room and checked Avaline's blood pressure and temperature. ''Your temperature's up a little. She's tired now; perhaps you can come back tomorrow?'' the nurse said.
''Sure. Remember Avaline, you're coming back to mine. I always get what I want.''
The nurse looked at him as he left the room and shook her head. ''Is he bothering you Avaline. He seems awfully pushy.''
''But hot wouldn't' you say?''
''Yes. I would say hot but dangerous,'' the nurse replied. They both laughed at the sisterly joke.
''Yes the dangerous bit hadn't escaped me,'' Avaline concluded.
*****
When Robert picked Avaline up, he was worried he was taking the fly to the spiders web. But those were his instructions. He knew what his boss was like. He'd ferried lots of women to Palmer Court, Colten's massive mansion in the hills around LA. None of them had stayed very long. He'd also taken most of them away again, in tears. Colten was a hard bastard. It didn't matter whether it was business or women, he applied the same principles. Robert remembered when Colten had told him about his philosophy. Colten saw life in terms of deals. He'd said a good deal is when you get out more than you put in. When Robert had told his wife what Colten had said she'd laughed. He recalled her exact words. ''That may work great for business, but it's absolutely the wrong attitude to relationships.'' But Robert was convinced Colten didn't give a damn.
'Here we are, Miss. Palmer Court. What do you think?'' Robert said pulling the Rolls up outside the mansion.
''My God, it's huge,'' she said. ''I had no idea. Maybe it won't be such a bad place to recuperate after all.''
''Miss,'' Robert began. He had chosen his words carefully. ''I've brought a lot of young women here, to this house. None of them have stayed very long, and most of them left with a broken heart.'' Avaline listened intently to what he had to say. ''I like you. You're bubbly and beautiful; I don't want to see the same thing happen to you.''
