Arousal

by Simone Sowood

  “Your next big place?”

  “First Rio, then Seoul, then Cancun.”

  Jenny pinched her lips together and nodded her head. “Rio. That’s far.”

  I shrugged. She spun on her toes and sat on the sofa, her feet curled under her. I paused for a moment, debating between the sofa and the chair, before taking the sofa.

  “Listen,” I said sitting forward and taking her hands, “I have to go down there for two weeks.”

  “Down where?”

  “Rio. I want you to come with me.” Her eyes flashed before her shoulders slumped.

  “I can’t. We have a big launch coming up and I’m buried. I’m going to be working crazy hours the next few weeks. But thank you. I would’ve loved to come. That would’ve been fun.”

  I’d have liked to tell her to quit her job and come with me, forever, but there was no way I wanted her wrapped up in this. She’d never have said yes to the idea anyway.

  “Next time.”

  “Yes, after the product launches, I have some vacation time I need to use up before the end of the year.”

  A broad smile spread across my face and I moved to sit beside her on the sofa.

  “Excellent. I need a vacation.”

  I put my arm around her shoulders, and she leaned her weight against me. With my other hand, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the perfume I’d bought for her.

  “I forgot to give you this.” I put the little wrapped box in her hand.

  “What’s this?” she asked, cocking her head.

  “I bought it in Houston.”

  Her eyes met mine as she tore off the paper the clerk had wrapped it in. Jenny took the Cartier perfume from the box and sprayed it onto her wrist. Seeing the cheap perfume made me feel silly, I should’ve got her something better. Something more meaningful. She put her wrist to her nose and breathed in the scent.

  I couldn’t resist her any longer and took her wrist and put it to my own nose. The scent intoxicated me, sending a rush of blood straight to my groin.

  She didn’t resist as I pulled her into the bedroom, ripped off her clothes and fucked her until her throat hurt from screaming my name.

  Somewhere over the Caribbean, a shitty mood overtook me. I couldn’t figure out how to get my life to be what I wanted it to be, and it pissed me off. Why was I wasting my time sitting on this jet? Even if it was my private jet. I was so tired of doing this. I should retire.

  The new club opened in two days, and I was going to make the VIPs in Rio feel like they were the most special VIPs in the world. Plus, I always liked to look everything over last minute, and make sure it was up to my standards. Except I had no desire to do any of it anymore. I wanted to put the nightclub-owning party-life behind me for good.

  An hour later, the mood still engulfed me. How could I fix my life? All I wanted was Harlan and Jenny. I didn’t need anything else. I had half a mind to turn the plane around and fly straight back to Chicago.

  But I couldn’t. My situation was difficult to extract myself from and would take time.

  “Daniel,” I said into my cell phone in the back of the car on the way to my hotel. To yet another hotel. I wanted my own fucking house.

  “What’s up?”

  “I want out.”

  “What do you mean you want out?”

  “I mean I’m tired of this shit. Get me out of it. I’m retiring.”

  “That’s not going to be easy, just hang on until the divorce is settled or it will get even messier.”

  “Fucking hell, seriously?”

  “Unless you’re planning to move in with Raylene when you retire.”

  “Piss off.” I banged my fist against the car door.

  “I’m serious.”

  “What do I have to do to get rid of her?”

  “Drop the idea of getting Harlan.”

  “No I’m not going to drop the idea of getting my son. Who the fuck would do that?”

  “He’s with his mother. Lots of people would think that’s the best place for him.”

  “That’s because they’ve never met his mother.”

  “Why the fuck did you go and knock her up anyway? You couldn’t use a condom?”

  “Beats the fuck out of me, I don’t even remember any of it.”

  “Asswipe.” Daniel burst out laughing.

  “Yeah, because you’ve remembered everyone you’ve fucked.”

  “Well it’s the dumbest fucking thing you’ve ever done.”

  “I think I know that, but thank you for pointing it out. Again.”

  “My pleasure.”

  “Whatever. Is there any news on her from the people you’ve got watching her?”

  “Not really, she’s been partying pretty hard but that’s about it.”

  “Perfect, that’s the kind of house I want my baby to be in.”

  “We’ll get him out, don’t worry.”

  “Work on getting me out too. I don’t want to do this anymore.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.”

  We pulled up in front of the Belmond Copacabana Palace hotel and a doorman opened the car door for me. I stepped out into the dripping wet heat of Rio De Janeiro and was reminded of Hawaii in July.

  I wonder if I could convince Jenny to move to Hawaii with me. We could get a beach house with a big wall around it and hide from the world.

  Jenny

  It was a good thing Collin was in Rio. I was buried in this product launch, and as usual the numbers the accounts analyst gave us didn’t seem right. There wasn’t much I could do, or any of us in our department, because it was a hunch.

  We weren’t spreadsheet jockeys, we knew nothing about numbers. We were the creatives, and we depended on others to give us accurate information.

  “These numbers are so fucked up,” my co-worker Dan said. He always panicked. Except then he had something to panic about.

  “I’ve been to see everyone in that effing department, and they all swear up and down the numbers are good,” Belinda said.

  “Fine, we all agree the numbers are bad. So what do we do?” I said.

  “I am escalating this,” Dan said, typing frantically on his keyboard.

  “Good,” Belinda said.

  My desk phone rang, startling me.

  “Jenny speaking.”

  “Jenny, there’s an Abbie here to see you. She looks real upset.”

  My heart stopped. It must be bad if Abbie turned up in my reception.

  “Be right there.”

  I turned to Dan and Belinda. Dan had a look of sheer terror on his face. This was his project, and I shared his frustration and anger. But Abbie needed me.

  “I’ll be right back.” I stood and rushed to reception.

  Abbie was standing but looked as though her legs would give out any minute. I rushed to her and put my arm around her to take her weight.

  I could tell she was about to break down, so ushered her into one of the meeting rooms. I sat in the chair next to her and put my arm around her.

  “Is this to do with Jay?”

  Abbie nodded. He’d better not have hurt her again or he was going to get it from me. Poor Abbie was so naive. But with such a pure heart. She just couldn’t comprehend anyone being anything but genuine.

  She struggled to find a job after the whole city found out she was fucking her boss, the Billionaire James McAllister. Except she didn't know he was the owner of her company, but everyone in Chicago assumed Abbie knew. She started to tell me about how she'd found our Jay bought her company and had them hire her, so she'd have a job. Jay bought a fricking company for her, and she’s pissed about that? Except he also just told her he told everyone in Chicago not to hire her, which sounded absurd to me.

  Dan poked his head in the door and said, “Jenny, we really need you in this meeting.”

  He was stressed and at breaking point too, but I had to help Abbie first.

  “Sweetie, I don’t believe that he told everyone in Chicago not to give you a job. Think about
it, that’s impossible, I don’t care how much money he has. Use your head.” Man, that sounded snappy and annoyed. I hoped she didn’t notice.

  Dan reappeared, “Jenny, this is a crisis situation.”

  “Sorry Dan, I’ll be quick.”

  Abbie blew her nose and I passed her another Kleenex. I rubbed my hand up and down her arm.

  “Sweetie, I know it’s crazy news but I honestly think he was only trying to help you. He owed you anyway.”

  Belinda appeared in the door and said, “Jenny, Dan’s freaking out.”

  “Just give me a minute, would you?” I could not solve everyone’s problems at the same time.

  “I’m sorry for interrupting your work,” Abbie said blowing her nose again.

  “It’s just a bad day. We’re putting a new print ad campaign out and we think the numbers given to us are messed up.”

  “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “Nah.”

  My eyes flared, and a lightbulb switched on. Abbie was great with numbers. If anyone could sort out this mess, it was her. And I didn’t give a shit if someone got pissy about a non-employee doing this, since our employees were incompetent.

  “Maybe, actually. Our problem is we don’t trust the numbers but we don’t know enough to figure out how to fix them.”

  “Yes, of course I’ll help you.”

  The tension between my shoulder blades let up a little at her answer. Thank god for her freaking out at Jay.

  It took hours, but Abbie was able to sort out our numbers, saving our project and Dan’s ass.

  “Abbie, I don’t even know how to thank you for all your help,” Dan said.

  “It’s no big deal, honestly. I’m happy to help. I needed the distraction,” she said.

  “At least let us take you out to dinner, you’ve been here for hours, Belinda said.

  I looked at Abbie and smiled, urging her to accept by nodding my head.

  “If you insist.” Abbie blushed.

  Since Jay’s arrival on the scene, I’d barely seen Abbie. Which was terrible timing, because I needed her advice about Collin. But with all the drama going on between her and Jay, I couldn’t pile any more on Abbie.

  As we walked out of the restaurant, I nearly told her about Collin. Almost. But something held me back. She’d known me before I started dating him.

  She was there through it all, from the ‘I’m going to spend the rest of my life with this amazing man’, through the tears from Googling him and seeing him in yet another photo in yet another faraway city with yet another woman on his arm.

  If I told her now, she’d remind me of all the hurt and pain he’d caused me, and of all the nights she sat up with me while I cried into her shoulder. Even lovesick puppy Abbie would tell me to drop any idea of a relationship with him.

  I decided not to tell her.

  I didn’t get home until nine. My body was bent in both physical and mental exhaustion. But at least we’d got the numbers fixed and could focus on our creative side of the project launch instead of dealing with those numbers.

  It was two weeks until the launch, and I could only hope Dan would make it without stressing himself into a heart attack.

  My phone beeped with a text message from Marla.

  Fuck fuck fuck.

  No please, not another person having a meltdown, after Abbie and Dan, I couldn’t take another one today.

  What’s going on?

  I slept with Trent.

  It was about time. Marla hasn’t had a date in months.

  Who’s Trent?

  The senior partner at my company!

  I didn’t get it. Was that good or bad? I tried phoning her, but she wouldn’t pick up.

  Do you want to talk?

  Can’t, still with him.

  Have fun???

  At least I didn’t have to deal with her problem until tomorrow. All I wanted to do was sleep. But first I had to phone my mom, like I did every evening.

  “Hi sweetie.”

  “Hi mom, how are you doing today?”

  “I’m much more relaxed now that I’ve settled back into being at home.”

  “Good, I’m so glad you got to go home. Any word yet on the next steps?”

  “Just wait and see. They said they won’t be able to tell how successful the treatment has been until sixty days afterwards. So I’ll have to go back to Houston then for more testing.”

  “Fingers crossed then.”

  “I’m afraid it’s all I can do. But I feel better. I think it helps having a live-in nurse cooking us healthy meals every day.”

  I laughed. “Yes, don’t we all wish we had someone live in to make us our meals.”

  “And all the cleaning, don’t forget all the cleaning.”

  “Yes, that’d be all my dreams fulfilled,” I said, still laughing.

  “Well you could have all that you know, if you just married Collin.” My laughter stopped.

  “Mom, I told you I don’t know what’s going on between us. I haven’t even seen him in a couple of weeks, we’re hardly going to get married anytime soon.”

  “Oh, that’s disappointing. He’d make such a good son-in-law.”

  Why did she do this to me? “I’m sure, but stop worrying about it for now.” I hoped I didn’t sound too forceful.

  “Oh sweetie, don’t be so closed off to the idea.” Unbelievable, would she drop it?

  “Okay mom, I’ve had a really long day at work and need to go to bed now.”

  “Good night sweetheart. I love you.”

  “Love you too mom, goodnight.”

  I grabbed my tablet and crawled into bed. No email from Collin. He sent me one photo he took of the beach, saying he wished I was sitting on it wearing one of the ridiculously small bikinis they wear down there. Other than that, I hadn’t heard anything.

  Which showed me what a relationship with him would be like. Even if he based himself in Chicago, which was a big if, he would always be off in some faraway city for long periods of time and I’d never hear a word from him.

  Plus there was always a chance he would go somewhere and never come back. At least for seven years.

  An email popped up on my screen, a new message on Chicagodates. I hadn’t even thought about the dating site in ages. My heart fluttered while I debated whether or not to read the message.

  In the end, I figured there’s no harm in reading it. After all, it might make the situation with Collin clearer in my head. I clicked into it.

  Hey bitch, I hear you’re fucking my husband. Did you know he was married?

  Which one was her husband, the snake man or the guy with the right angle dick? Chicagodates.com is full of nothing but freaks and nutjobs. It’s only useful for people looking for dick pics. I deleted my account.

  Collin

  I’d had to stay away longer than I’d intended. After smiling and shaking hands in Rio, I’d had to fly straight to Rome to deal with a problem in my club there. It seemed that my manager thought it was fine and dandy to allow high stakes poker matches to go on in the Ultra VIP area and the regulators found out about it.

  Why couldn’t I find decent employees to do all this for me? I was only supposed to be a figurehead now. A meet and greet. Daniel’s a lawyer, he should’ve been the one to sort out the mess in Rome.

  All I wanted to do know was see Jenny. She calms me, and it makes me feel better than I’ve felt in years. I had the driver take me straight to her apartment. As much as I wanted to see her, I also couldn’t face walking into another hotel.

  I knocked on Jenny’s door. Monday night, she should be in.

  Jenny opened the door, her were eyes red and puffy and looked like she’d been crying. My stomach dropped.

  “Baby, what’s wrong?”

  I stepped into the apartment and put my arms around her, pulling her tight against me. Her little body started shuddering with sobs. I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

  “Shh.” I squeezed her tight.

&n
bsp; She pulled her head away from me. “I need a Kleenex.”

  I relaxed my hold on her and followed her to the sofa. A box of tissues was on the coffee table, and used tissues were scattered around the table and floor. She tried to gather them up but I pulled her back into me.

  The weight in my stomach grew. Why was she so upset?

  “Baby, tell me why you’re upset.” I kissed the top of her head.

  Jenny looked up at me but closed her eyes and buried her head back in my chest.

  “Is it your mom?” I said, my voice a little shaky. Please don’t let it be her mom.

  She shook her head against my chest and the tension in my muscle eased a little. Whatever got her so upset, at least it wasn’t her mom.

  “Here, come sit down.”

  I half lifted her to the sofa and sat us both down on it. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close to me again.

  Jenny cried against my body. It broke my heart, but there was no point in pressuring her for answers while she was so upset.

  “Do you want a drink?”

  “Tequila,” she muttered.

  I laughed. It was Monday, but whatever. Time to break open the Assom Broso.

  I found a shot glass in the kitchen and poured her a full to the brim shot of the clear liquid.

  “Here,” I said shoving the glass towards her.

  Her chin quivering, she looked up at me like she couldn’t decide whether or not to take the glass. Finally she took it and knocked it back in one go. Jenny always did like her tequila.

  “Another?” I asked.

  “No, thanks.”

  “Are you going to tell me what’s got you so upset now?” I sat back on the sofa and put my arm around her. Jenny sighed, a deep sigh that came from her core.

  “Abbie got married.” That was not what I’d expected her to say.

  “Oh. And you’re upset because this Jay guy’s a jerk?”

  “No, he’s a good guy.”

  “Then why are you upset? What’s going on?”

  She shifted her eyes to mine and flicked them away. I waited a few breaths, watching her, but she didn’t offer an answer.

  “Are you going to tell me?” I tickled her jawline with my finger, trying to lighten her mood.