by Silke Ming
“Still out with Millie and very unhappy about it,” she said, smiling.
“Quite an interesting home,” said Joshua. “I have never seen anything quite like it.”
“Seamus will tell you all about it when he arrives, if he arrives!” she said.
“What do you mean?” Joshua asked.
“Well he’s out with the housekeeper, and she is keeping him out as I instructed her. He is at this moment not a very happy man.”
“That will all change when he sees what you’ve done for him. Are you also an artist?” Joshua asked.
“No but I do have a degree in art.”
Another visitor had arrived. She opened the door to find Fred Podesta there. There was no sign of Lana, but he had brought with him a very beautiful Southeast Asian lady, much younger than he. He said that Lana had a prior commitment and introduced the young lady, Phang, as a business associate. He handed a gift to Summer, and she placed it along with the other gifts in one of the bedrooms on the lower level.
“Oh, honey, don’t move. These are dee-lish,” said Toby to one of the servers who was circling among the guests with a tray of appetizers.
Everyone was introduced to Fred. Some of the guests already knew him or had heard about him.
“Is that the Fred Podesta?” asked Toby. “Now I understand why she is running after Seamus.”
Suddenly a car horn honked twice. That was Millie’s signal that they were there. All the guests were herded into a bedroom, and a very annoyed Seamus Balsam walked into the living room.
“Where is Millie?” asked Summer.
“Fixing something under the hood of her car,” he said, walking into the sitting area. “I am very hungry.”
“Happy birthday,” said Summer, kissing him on the lips.
“Get a quick shower. Put on something casual and come back down to dinner,” she said. “I am also starving, so don’t take too long.”
“What is that smell?” he asked.
“What smell?”
“Like a man’s cologne,” he replied.
“You are overly tired,” she said. “A quick shower will revive you. Don’t forget to wear something nice.”
“That’s the second time you’ve said that,” he said, looking at her with a furrowed brow.
“I know you. You are the type to show up at the dinner table without any clothing. Don’t forget that Millie is also staying for dinner.”
“Are you serious?” he asked, marching up the stairs.
While he showered and dressed, Summer took the opportunity to see how the guests were faring all packed together in the tiny bedroom.
“When you hear me say ‘I love the cake,’ I want you to come out and greet him.”
The doorbell rang and Millie went to the door and let in a young woman whom she thought was also a guest. She showed her the way to the room where the other guests had gathered.
Ten minutes later, Seamus came down the stairs, barefooted, but fully clothed.
“It smells good down here,” he said. “I love the decorations. I didn’t notice anything when I came in. Is that why you got me out of the house all day?”
“You were too annoyed to notice anything,” she replied, laughing.
“What’s for dinner?”
“I want to show you something,” she said, moving to the dining room.
“This is beautiful,” he said. “You did all this for just the two of us?”
Three of us. Don’t forget Millie,” she said. “Of course you’re worth it, Seamus. I’m going to dim the lights and you can light your candles. It’s not necessary to light them all.”
“Why not? I want to light all thirty-three of them, and you can help me blow them out,” he said, putting his arms around her and squeezing her breasts “Uhhh! I can’t wait for my birthday present.”
“Oh, Summer,” said Millie, walking in and adoring everything in sight.
“Millie, you’re fired,” he said.
“Summer won’t allow you to do that,” said Millie, clapping her hands. “I just love the cake.”
At that moment, all the guests sprang from the bedroom shouting out, “Happy birthday!”
Seamus’s mouth dropped open. No one noticed that the last guest was missing.
“Blow out the candles,” Toby shouted, his arm intertwined with Joshua’s.
“I want to tell you that I have had a harrowing day,” he said, staring at Millie. “And I want to thank the lady in my life for pulling off this surprise. I had absolutely no idea all this was going on.”
Everyone turned when they heard the noise behind them. A woman wearing a white fur coat and carrying a blaster radio sprang onto the scene. Summer stared at her. She put the radio on a side table and turned the music on. She took off her coat and threw it onto a chair, revealing underneath a pair of pasties and a bright-red thong.
“Which one of you is Seamus,” she asked as she danced around the floor, jiggling the pasties on her breasts and spreading her legs, leaving very little to the imagination.
Finally finding out which one was Seamus, she pushed him onto a chair, dropped to the floor, and slithered toward him along the floor. She crawled up along his legs, opened her legs, and moved seductively against him. Millie made a sign of the cross as the others just stared at the goings-on.
“Work it, girl,” shouted Toby as a shocked Summer looked on.
Turning around and coming face-to-face with Toby, the girl’s attention was now centered on him. She pulled him to her and they gyrated against each other, and Rachel, who had never before experienced anything like it, laughed nonstop while egging them on. Half an hour later, the stripper pulled her pasties off, jiggled her breasts around Seamus’s face, wished him a happy birthday, and left.
“Who let her in?” asked Summer.
“I thought she was one of the guests,” said Millie, “so I let her in when she rang the bell.”
“Don’t worry,” said Seamus. “It was just a bit of harmless fun.”
With the stripper still on their minds, they moved to the feast that was laid out on the dinner table. They ate, they drank, and they laughed. Gifts were opened and questions were asked about the home by those visiting for the first time. Toby’s friend Joshua just couldn’t seem to get over the construction of the home.
“You should see it by daylight,” said Toby, a little intoxicated.
Fred introduced his partner Phang to Seamus, who found her to be a delightful and charming lady. Quite the opposite of Lana! Perhaps that was what was needed in his life, because the young woman was very attentive. He had never seen her. Where did he meet her?
It was a wonderful evening, and soon it was time to say goodnight. It was midnight when the guests, with the exception of Toby and Joshua, left the Balsam home.
“Why don’t you stay the night?” Summer asked Joshua. “My friend here is not fit to go out on the street.”
“Where will we sleep?” Toby shouted.
“You can have one of the rooms facing the ocean,” said Seamus. “I’ll get you some things.”
Summer replenished the bathroom with all the necessities, and Seamus returned with two pairs of pyjamas.
“We won’t need those,” Toby said when handed the pajamas, which told the onlooker that he was inebriated.
The moment his head hit the pillow, Toby was asleep.
“Goodnight, Joshua. See you tomorrow morning,” Seamus said.
Seamus and Summer climbed the stairs to their bedroom and closed the door.
“I am so worn out that I can’t thank you the way I want tonight,” he said, placing her head on his chest.
“Happy Birthday,” she said, kissing him and handing him an envelope.
“What is this?” he asked, tearing it open.
“Open it. It’s a surprise.”
“Two tickets to Bora Bora! Oh, Summer. I love you,” he said, pushing her onto the bed and deeply kissing her.
“What do you think?” she asked, waiting
for his reaction.
“I can just picture us lying nude on a secluded beach, drinking cocktails and just watching the sun set.”
“So what did you think of the stripper?” she asked.
“Whose idea was that?” asked Seamus.
“I don’t know,” she replied. “Perhaps Toby’s.”
“Toby?”
“I’ll ask him tomorrow morning, if he is sober enough to remember anything.”
“I was very surprised that you invited Fred Podesta,” he said.
“I really didn’t want to invite him, but it was the only way I could get even with his wife,” she replied.
“What do you mean?”
“I sent the invitation to Fred. I did not put her name on the invitation.”
“Well I can understand why you did it. Let’s sleep and dream of Bora Bora,” he said, pulling her close and turning out the light.
They had just drifted off to sleep when the telephone started to ring. Seamus picked it up.
“Hello,” he said in a sleepy voice.
“So what did you think of your birthday present,” a voice asked.
“Who is this?”
“Have you already forgotten my voice, Seamus?”
“Lana?”
“Yes, Seamus. It’s me.”
“Have you any idea what time it is? And what do you want?” he snapped at her.
“My watch says two twenty on Sunday morning. I only wanted to know if you enjoyed the gift I sent you.”
Summer turned on the light and sat up in bed.
“You sent that stripper here?” he asked.
“Yes. I didn’t get an invitation to your birthday party, and I know it was not your fault. She was the one who did it. Anyway, I couldn’t think of anything to send you, and then I remembered your sexual taste and thought that would be the perfect gift.”
“Lana,” he said in a low and threatening voice, “if you do not stay out of my life, I will take steps to make sure that you do. After what you’ve done to Summer and to me, I didn’t think you would have the nerve to call here again.”
“Oh, Seamus, do you think you could get rid of me that easily?” she asked in a groggy voice.
“Have you no pride, Lana? This is my last warning to you. Do not call my home ever again.”
With that he hung up the phone.
“Lana Podesta?” asked Summer.
“Who else?”
“What did she want?”
“To see if I appreciated her birthday gift.”
“So it was her who sent the stripper,” she said, lying down again beside Seamus.
“I will have to have a word with Fred,” said Seamus.
“And what will you tell him? That since you are no longer interested in screwing his wife, she should get off your back?”
“You’re right, I guess.”
“I forgot to give you birthday greetings from Marianna.”
“Where did you see her?”
“I didn’t. She called here this afternoon.”
“What did she want?”
“To apologize for trying to break up our relationship,” she said, turning out the light.
“Is that all?”
“She wanted me to know why she left you.”
“Why did she?”
“Same reason why I almost left,” she said as they moved closely together. “It’s because of that woman who was on the phone a few minutes ago! She said she cared for you, but could no longer play second fiddle to the likes of Lana and Fred.”
“I take responsibility for that, but it’s all in the past. It won’t happen again.”
“Be sure it doesn’t,” she said, closing her eyes and going off to sleep.
Chapter Thirty-Four
The soothing voice of Pavarotti flowed through the house the following morning, and everyone was up with the exception of Toby. He had a hangover and wanted to remain in bed a little longer. Summer looked at the mess around her and set about making breakfast. Joshua offered to help, and together they scrambled eggs, made toast and coffee, and got to know each other better.
“Check on Toby,” she said to Josh, the name he preferred to be called. “Perhaps he would like some coffee.”
Yes, Toby was showering and would be out to have breakfast with them.
“So where did you find the stripper?” Josh asked.
“I didn’t find her, she found me,” Summer replied, her mind turning to Lana Podesta.
“I take it that it was a gift.”
“Yes, from someone who just won’t get out of our lives.”
“Is it Lana?” Josh asked.
“Do you know her?”
“Toby told me a little about her. I don’t think you have to worry about her. I was watching Seamus last night, and the way he looked at you, anyone could tell that he really loves you.”
“Thanks for the reassurance, Josh. I love him, too. Where is he anyway?”
“I saw him go out the door.”
“He probably went out to pick up the newspaper.”
Toby appeared in the kitchen looking a little worse for wear.
“Good morning. Why did you give me so much to drink last night?” he asked Summer. “I have a monster of a headache.”
“You were having such a good time we couldn’t get the glass from your hand,” she replied.
“Ask him about the stripper,” said Josh.
“I couldn’t believe it when you and the stripper started to grind against each other,” said Summer.
“I saw the stripper, but we didn’t do anything together,” a surprised Toby said.
“See what I mean, Summer? He didn’t have a clue what was going on,” said Josh.
“Are you serious?” she asked.
“All I can remember is the young girl Rachel, who kept encouraging her,” Toby said.
“That was when she first started jiggling her big bazooms,” said Joshua.
“Are you trying to say that it got worse?” he asked.
“Yes, and it was all your doing,” Josh said.
They heard the door open and Seamus walked in. They knew immediately that something was wrong.
“What is it?” asked Summer.
He held up the newspaper to show them, and the front page said it all.
Government Official Caught in Sting Operation, and along with the caption, a photo of the handcuffed Fred Podesta trying to hide his face.
“What does it say?” asked Summer.
Last night a sting operation was carried out by police on Stanford Road. For a number of months, they had been watching the building known for its extracurricular activities. The raid was carried out at two thirty in the morning, and among those arrested was the well-known government official Fred Podesta.
“Turn on the TV,” said Toby. “There may be more about it on the news.”
Seamus continued to read the article.
When the police entered the premises, well known for sadomasochism, masochism, and prostitution, Podesta was found in a comprising position with his dominatrix, the beautiful Asian woman Phang Tong, who was arrested along with him. Word has it that Mr. Podesta is no longer in custody, as his wife Lana, along with their lawyer, were there to pay his bail and he was released.
The group sat with their eyes glued to the TV and waiting for the news to start at nine.
“On the dot of the hour, the news started with the arrest of the well-known politician and his dominatrix Phang Tong. Mr. Podesta was also suspected of corruption and the police are right now at his home and office securing files and taking away his computers.”
Summer glanced at Seamus. Her look said it all. Hopefully there was nothing on the computer memory about Seamus. They ate their breakfast while the TV continued to spew the news about his once respected friend. He could feel only pity for the man as he watched him, the handcuffs tightly locked behind his back and his head bowed in shame.
“His companion was such a beautiful girl. No one would ev
er think that she would be the type who got into such things,” said Toby.
“Well, you know the saying,” said Summer. “All that glitters is not gold.”
The conversation swirled all around Seamus’s head, but he didn’t join in. His mind was on other matters. Summer picked up the remote and turned off the television set.
“Why don’t you show Joshua around the house?” asked Summer, hoping it would takes his mind off the latest news.
“That’s a good idea,” he said, eagerly jumping up.
“Who’s that?” asked Joshua, staring up at the painting on the second floor.
“My father!” he said, staring at the painting. “He built this house, and on his death I inherited it.”
“I have never seen a house built in the shape of a sailboat.”
“He was an architect and a bit of a loner. That’s why he chose this secluded area,” said Seamus. “I must admit that I love it out here. It is rather peaceful. You guys can come out and spend a full weekend with us sometime. Whenever you want.”
“I would love that,” Josh replied.
Seamus took him through the entire house, explaining what little he knew about the glass construction.
“How often must you maintain it?”
“The architects who built it have a contract to inspect it every year, and so they come out and do their thing.”
“Have you ever considered having it on the television show Unique Homes?” Josh asked.
“No, I don’t think that is a very good idea. I live a very quiet life out here, and if I did that, it would deprive me of my privacy and turn the area into a zoo.”
“If you should ever change your mind, let me know. I can put you in touch with the promoter of the show.”
“I don’t think I will ever change my mind, Josh.”
Josh was intrigued with what he saw, and at midday, after a light lunch, he and Toby said good-bye.
“If things get out of hand and you need a place to camp out, you can stay in my apartment and I will hang out at Josh’s,” Toby whispered to Summer.
“Thank you. You are a true friend,” she replied.
There was nothing new on the news, although they watched it every hour on the hour.
“What happens if the news gets out about Fred and me?” he asked Summer.