by Gus Leodas
“That would be good. I agree.”
After a long cold stare, Laura left.
Ali returned his attention to Alise.
“I…I don’t know what to say. An apology is inadequate and unacceptable.”
“You’re right. You deceived me into letting you into my apartment. Do you know you killed our baby?”
He turned pale and bowed his head. “No, I don’t.”
“You did.”
His eyes pled. “I’m sorry.”
“Why? That’s what you wanted, wasn’t it? To get rid of it?”
“I lost my head. I became crazy.”
“You didn’t go crazy. You planned to beat me. What you did was vicious. Vicious!”
“I’m sorry.”
“How did you know I was here?”
“I called your apartment superintendent. I want to make it up to you.”
“How?”
“I’ll do whatever you want.”
“Anything?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll bet you’ll marry me now?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t want you to do anything for me. Not anymore.”
“I do want to marry you.”
“Your conscience must bother you. Keep your sympathy, and don’t feel sorry for me. Do not feel anything for or about me. I loved you, Ali, deeper than any woman can love a man. You never loved me, and never will. You want to do something for me? Then get out of my personal life.”
“You may feel that way but I need you.”
“Oh, come on. Have some dignity. You’re an ambassador. Act like one. You don’t need me or any woman other than for sex. You need men like Kabani. I’m not your all-important career. Best is to forget we ever happened. I will never forget you murdered my baby. What else can I say to make you believe me?”
Ali slumped in his chair cast in mourning. Her words penetrated deep. “When are you leaving here?” he asked.
“In a few days. Maybe by the weekend.”
“Have I done…is there any permanent damage?”
“No, only the scars in my mind and the hurt in my heart remain. Sounds poetic doesn’t it? It is poetic, poetic justice for being a fool.”
“Needless to say, take as long as you need before coming back to work.”
“I will.”
“You’ll return to work?”
“Sure. I need the job and the money and want to stay here. Unless you feel I’m more suitable to a different line of work.”
He caught the reference to prostitution.
“No. I’m pleased that you still want to work for me.”
“Purely necessity.”
“For whatever reasons, I’ll be glad you’re there. Does anyone else besides Laura know what happened?”
“Are you worried about a scandal? I’m sure Kabani wouldn’t approve. No one in Syria or the office will know anything. If the police ask me, a burglar attacked me. I’m doing it for the good times. And there were many.”
“Yes, there were many. Don’t all outweigh this bad one?”
“No.”
“What can I say to make you forgive me? If you’re released this weekend, can I come and take you home?”
“I won’t be going home. I decided to leave town for a few days to rest and recuperate. I promise to give thought to you. You’ve been absorbed into my life to drift away without due consideration. When I return, you’ll know my final decision, too close to my tragedy to make an objective evaluation.”
Her words stimulated him. “That’s more like it. Where are you going?”
“Buenos Aires. A friend invited me down. I need time to think. There’s something you can do for me.”
“Like I said anything.”
“Issue a diplomatic visa and immunity to Argentina for me to simplify Customs and Security.”
“Gladly, this way you won’t have to pay for your plane fare. A good idea.”
“Terrific if you arrange that. I think the subject is covered. It’s unfair to keep Laura waiting. I’ll see you when I get back. You’ll have someone deliver the visa and tickets? If you need any personal papers from me, Laura will bring them to you.”
“Can’t I deliver them?”
“We had a good conversation. Best I don’t see you again until I return.”
“It shall be as you wish.”
“You’re nice and accommodating. Maybe you should have beaten me a long time ago.”
She said it with a sarcastic smile.
He grinned because it warmed the cold distance between them. About to rise, he remembered Laura.
“Laura!” Laura entered. “I’m ready to leave.” He stood. “Goodbye, Alise.”
“I’m glad you came.”
Unsure whether to kiss her, he turned to leave.
“Ali.” He turned to Alise, who had her arm extended inviting a handshake. “Peace?”
He accepted her hand gladly.
“Peace.”
For Ali, a good sign.
“Laura! How is Alise? What’s wrong?”
“Shaba, calm down. She’s fine.”
“I was scared to death. Would you believe I just got your message today? A maid misplaced it.”
“She’s out of the hospital and on her way to Argentina to visit with Pilar.”
“What’s going on? Tell me the whole story.”
Laura related the beating and losing the baby to a horrified Shaba.
“Oh, poor Alise. I’d like to get my hands on the miserable dog. It’s a shame he doesn’t have a weak heart.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Never mind, a private joke. I’ll explain when I see you.”
“Why is Alise going to see Pilar?”
“She needs to get away from New York and Ali.”
“I’m on my way to the Bahamas for a week or so. Now that Alise is all right and on her way, I won’t rush back. If you hear from her, mention I asked for her. Also, explain the late message. I’ll call from Nassau to tell you where I’m staying.”
“Are you still married or what?”
“I’m free as a bird, honey. Free! Wooo-weeeee! I’m telling you, you’ll absolutely shit when I tell you what happened. Go. Kiss Adam for me. Are you still going with him?”
“I will always go with him no matter what.”
“Do yourself a favor and marry the man. Tell him I love him and hug yourself for me. I’ll see you soon.”
In the Bahamas, Shaba lived the life she used to fantasize in grand style in every way. She even won money at the casino. The first night after going to the bank, and after changing ten-thousand dollars into small bills, she spread them all over her bed then slept on them.
Alise spent a week with Pilar. She returned to New York on a Monday. All traces of the beating vanished. On Tuesday morning, she telephoned Ali.
“Ali, I’m back and can come to work tomorrow if you still want me there.”
“When did you return? I’m glad to hear your voice. Where are you?”
“I returned yesterday. I’m at the apartment.”
“How are you?”
“Back to normal. Buenos Aires was a good cure.”
“I’m glad you rested and are well.”
“I’m happy I visited. I met many wonderful people. My friend, Pilar, is a gem. She’ll come here soon. Her husband-to-be will be the new ambassador to the United Nations for Argentina.”
“Then I look forward to meeting him. Have you decided…I mean have you come to any conclusion about us?”
“Yes.”
He waited for her to say more. When he thought the wait extended, he asked, “Are you going to tell me?”
“I think we should continue as friends and see how it goes. Discussing love and marriage is inappropriate. We need more time to pass. Is that acceptable?”
“Yes. More, I’m ecstatic for another chance.”
“Is Kabani here this week?”
“When he returned from Washington the
first thing he did was ask for you and where you were. Then he decided to stay the extra week. He keeps asking about you.”
“Did you tell him?”
“Not about Argentina. I didn’t want to risk any accidental discussion I provided official transportation for you. I said you went upstate to your friend’s house in the Catskills and you’ll be back sometime this week.”
“Thank you. Not only did the diplomatic mission there help financially but also I got in and out of the airports quicker, saved a few hours. What’s your schedule with Kabani? Will the week get hectic?”
“Not as bad as the others. Listen, he keeps mentioning you promised to spend a day with him. He made me keep Thursday open, something about visiting a museum. What is that all about?”
“Didn’t he tell you? He told you everything else.”
“No, he wasn’t specific or general.”
“Then don’t worry about it, Ali. Book him for a cruise around Manhattan Island or something. I don’t intend to spend any time with him unless you’re with me.”
“Your thinking is coming back to normal.”
“If you don’t mind my bringing it up again, since he paid for me once…he’s getting the impression he owns me, and available.”
“Could be.”
“We’ll say I have a new strain of incurable gonorrhea.” She laughed. “Don’t worry about Kabani. What’s on for tonight? Maybe I can join you. I can do the touching routine to keep him happy but don’t dare leave me alone with him, even for a second.”
“Tonight’s no good. He’s speaking at a black tie affair at the Hilton then a dinner dance and fund raising with an auction. The event will last until two in the morning. If you want to come, I’ll get an extra ticket.”
“Sounds like a boring night. Tell you what. I can meet you two later for a drink at the lounge by the main entrance. I can arrive at two.”
“Sounds good. I’ll tell him.”
“But I’ll come on one condition. That I have the day off tomorrow…boss.”
“You sound like my old Alise. Instead of meeting in the lounge meet us in the lobby by the Avenue of the Americas entrance, the main entrance, more becoming for a lady.”
“Much better. You’re learning. Call me. Bye.”
The New York Hilton hummed with activity on a weeknight. Taxis lined the protected and crescent shaped driveway waiting and discharging passengers. Alise entered the lobby at two. Kabani and Ali, looking handsome in their tuxedos, sat in the lobby near the lounge. Seeing her, they stood. She wore a sexy blue evening dress as a weapon.
“Good evening, gentlemen.”
Ali nodded – his eyes wide forgetting how beautiful she looked when dressed at her best and pleased the bruises vanished. Kabani was obvious; absorbing, hungry for something he felt was his, overdue him with visions with her later. She had a promise to keep.
“Good evening, Alise. You look beautiful. I have forgotten how beautiful,” said Kabani as he kissed her hand.
“It’s nice to be with both of you again.”
“Alise, Fateh wondered if you’d prefer we go to his hotel suite for a quiet drink as opposed to a public, crowded lounge.”
“If you don’t mind, I prefer the lounge. Fateh, is that satisfactory to you?”
“Whatever you desire.”
Ali winked at her. They sat in the lounge, drank, and had small talk then political talk and Kabani’s trip to Washington. Kabani excused himself for the men’s room.
“Alise, I should go with him but I won’t leave you alone in here.”
“My, you have inherited manners since I last saw you. All right, wait until he returns. I won’t mind being alone with him here.”
The dimly lit lounge was crowded with attendees from the auction gala, which had thinned out at the late hour. Piano music plowed through the din from somewhere in the subdued lighting. Ali admired her.
“You look exquisite.”
“I wanted to look good for you.” Her eyes squinted at him. Then she touched him on the arm. “How are you doing with Kabani?”
“I think it’s going to be all right. We had a long talk. He approves my thinking about defense and the future course of our country. He appreciates my efforts for him and no longer considers you a traitor. He has accepted your thinking as being feminine, naive. So what? Let him think that. He won’t object to our working together, and that’s the goal.”
“What he thinks about me is irrelevant. But I’m happy for you. Your star will rise again.”
“At his behest, I will be going back home in another month to speak around the country to help support his policies. That should be great for me.”
“Can I go with you?”
“Would you travel with me again?”
“Sure. Just like old times. I have forgiven you.”
Kabani came back and sat. Ali excused and left. Kabani held her hand under the table.
“Can we get together on Thursday? For the day?”
Alise sucked in her breath for him to hear the inhale and exhaled the words, “I can’t wait.” She puckered and threw him a kiss. “A deal is a deal and I keep my word.” She shifted closer to be intimate.
Kabani glowed. “Did Ali say anything to you about what I told him at the airport?” he probed.
“He was jealous, but happy I pleased you.”
He squeezed her hand. “Good.”
“Let’s all go to your room later,” Alise said. “Then we’ll think of a way for Ali to leave like last time. I’d like to sleep with you tonight.
Free, for my pleasure, as a prelude to Thursday. You’re a good lover, you know. You excited me last time.” She used that sentence as a standard slogan to repeat clients.
“You’re getting me excited talking about later.”
“Well, fantasize about what I’m going to do to you when we’re alone.” Then she whispered as she rubbed his leg and discreetly rolled her tongue. “Don’t wet your pants.” They laughed like shy lovers. “And I’ll give you a special treat. I’ll perform a private dance for you. A shame I don’t have the veils for you to remove one by one. Think about that for Thursday. I can tell that is affecting you.” She continued to rub his leg. “Something tells me you’d be embarrassed if you stood.”
He grinned at her truth and released her hand when they saw Ali arriving. She slid away from Kabani. At three o’clock, they left the lounge.
The early morning hour was pleasant. Alise persuaded them to go for a walk. They walked south to 45th Street, turned west to Broadway, veered north and then east on 49th Street to Park Avenue. The hour tilted towards four o’clock pleasing Alise. The city was quiet, night air soothing. No one saw them enter the hotel.
The cavernous hotel lobby imitated a ghost town in the early hour. They turned into a corridor to a bank of elevators passing a men’s room and a women’s room. An open and empty automatic elevator waited.
Alise entered first and unseen, adhered something to the elevator’s back wall. Ali and Kabani entered and waited for the doors to close.
“Oh, oh!” exclaimed Alise. “If I don’t go to the ladies room now, I’ll never make it upstairs. We just passed one.”
She started exiting as the doors were closing. Ali grabbed them and they opened. She got out.
“Go on ahead without me. I’ll meet you in the room. I know the number.”
“We’ll wait for you,” Ali said.
“No. Go ahead. No need for you to wait.”
“We’ll see you upstairs,” Kabani said winking. “I’ll have your champagne ready.”
“Perfect. Don’t miss me too much. See you soon.”
Alise finger waved before the elevator doors closed in seconds then stepped away and hurried towards the women’s room. The elevator moved. Reaching fifteen-feet down the deserted corridor, Alise stopped and whispered, “Ali I have two words for you and your despicable pal. Up yours!”
She opened the compact and pushed one switch up then pushed the other switch dow
n.
The elevator contained the explosion and died between the second and third floors.
BOOK OF LAURA III
‘I both love and do not love, and
am mad and am not mad.’
Anacreon
570-480BC
My life and world with Laura returned to normal. As you recall, I was upset when Laura missed coming to Washington that Judy Heller/New York weekend. Laura called several times and pacified me.
I made a stronger plea to marry me. The plea failed deferring me again. One of these days, I will be firm and put the issue on a take-me-or-leave-me basis. I know she’ll take me, but can’t risk the slightest chance she might leave. I’m happy as long as I see her weekends. I’ll keep plugging until she breaks down, a matter of time.
I couldn’t imagine her doing anything that would drive me away. As long as she had her way, I had her. I should have whacked myself ‘upside-the-head’ for being defensive, cautious, and weak with her.
Little did I know the worse had yet to happen.
My workload eased on Wednesday, an advantage to shop at my favorite store on K Street for shirts and a few pairs of black socks. I hailed a taxi by the Senate Office Building, sat back, relaxed happy to temporary escape the Capitol Building chaos and watched the stunning Washington sights like a tourist, something I hadn’t done recently. The landmarks were just there; props, surroundings of my making a living. About to enter K Street, I almost jumped out of my shoes.
Unbelievable!
What was Laura doing in Washington without telling me?
I looked again at the woman walking ahead on K Street among the lunch hour crowd. I needed to make sure.
“Stop the cab. Stop the cab!”
The taxi stopped by the sidewalk. The driver seemed passive, numb after driving for hours. He couldn’t have cared if I were dying. I hurled ten dollars, my smallest bill, on the front seat and exited – the ten more than enough for fare and tip.
I could see her through the crowd heading away from me. Was I wrong? I restrained calling out if mistaken. Hell, she would’ve told me if she planned to come here. I crossed the street for a better angle walking faster then jogging to catch up. I gained on her.