by Brenda Ford
I’m not a monster, and I’ve known her, her whole life. I’m not about to bail out on her now. I walk to the side and pause as I see a quiet area. There’s no one around to hear our conversation and it will be the first time since she called me up saying that she wants to take me up on my offer, that we’ve had a chance to talk.
“So, do you want a drink?”
She touches my shoulders slightly and for a second I completely lose focus. Emily’s the type of woman that loves to touch people. That’s the side of her that I’ve always been attracted to, her free nature which seems to have grown now that she’s a beautiful swan.
“Are we going to the room afterward?”
“You’re keen!”
I’m teasing her, but I can tell by the look on her face, that she’s not hundred percent convinced. She makes me feel guilty about what I have in mind for us, and I shouldn’t feel that way. All I want is that she shouldn’t regret it later. Especially when my cock is begging me to take her to the room right now but I need to do it at a pace where I’m comfortable with things to take to the next step. The one that I’ve had on my mind all fucking day.
“No, I thought that we could sit down and talk.”
She smiles, “I don’t remember us ever doing that properly. Well, not quite. Just the once.”
I watch as the waitress draws near to us. There seems to be a rule in this hotel as soon as someone sits down they have to jump up like spring chickens to serve them.
“Hi, My name’s Candy, and I’ll be your hostess for the evening. Would you like the wine? Cocktail or snack menu?”
Before I can even answer, she laughs and says, “Or I could just bring all three?”
Emily shakes her head, “I’ll just have a Cosmopolitan.”
Candy nods, “Good choice and how about you, Sir?”
“I’ll just have a JD on the rocks.”
“Okay, I’ll bring them right up.”
Then as bubbly as she was when she came over, she leaves our side and allows me to get on to do what I was trying to do before she came over.
“She’s a bit too happy for me,” Emily laughs. “And I figure that since you’re paying I’ll go all out and order cocktails, something that I wouldn’t normally do.”
Maybe I won’t have to try so hard because she’s already starting to loosen up.
“Emily, what made you change your mind and call me the other day?”
She chokes, “You know why. I need the money badly. I had hope on a big deal but it didn’t get through and I have lot of outstanding that needs to get cleared up fast. You know, my business is not doing so well and I would like to save it no matter what.”
“Yes, but you could have called the bank. Or even talked to your parents about it. I’m sure that they would love to help you.”
She shakes her head, her blue eyes are saddened by the directness of my question. I didn’t mean to be so cold especially when I was acting like a kid on Christmas day when she called, knowing that today he’ll get the present that he desired the most.
“Dad’s not doing so well with his business, and I tried the bank. They won’t touch me.”
“How bad is it?”
“Bad enough that I’ve stopped selling to four department stores.”
She pauses as Candy comes with her blonde curls bouncing up and down as she lays the drinks in front of us. She asks if we want anything else, and surprisingly both Emily and I reply at the same time, “No.”
Emily crosses her legs, and my eyes enlarge as I try to see what panties she has on, if any. She watches my eyes and then does it again, but this time a lot slower, giving me a sneak preview of the black lace panties that she is wearing underneath. She seductively sips her drink with her eyes on me.
She decides to continue telling me about the business as I start to move closer towards her, “Three boutiques have canceled and a clothing line that was due to be in Paris Fashion week next month, no longer wants to work with me.”
“Impressive, you had clothing lines in the books too? I admire that you seem to have expanded and tried different avenues. Something that you weren’t trying nearly a year ago when I suggested it to you. The problem with her business and any business is the fact that you can’t put all your eggs in one basket. You need different revenue options, that’s the only way to survive. Because if one dies, there will always be another one to take off the heat. Always,” I sip my JB which is a far cry from the bottle of Manhattan Rye that I have back home waiting for me.
She quickly sips the rest of her drink, “Did you come here to lecture me?”
I shake my head, “No, why do you always take criticism so negatively? If you want to grow, you need to take feedback positively whether it is criticism as well. There is always something to learn from feedback, be it positive or negative.”
She nods her head, “Sorry to be so defensive. I’m not good at failing.”
I laugh thinking about the many times that I’ve ventured into different business and sometimes run them into a loss.
As my mind starts going into business mode, my cock will have to wait for the next event of the night.
“I’m not laughing at you, but you have a tendency to think that everything that’s not a perfect score is bad. Like when you were in gymnastics, and you didn’t get picked to represent the school, instead of trying harder you quit.”
“I was a kid back then.”
“Maybe so, Emily but your attitude now is still the same. Take the parts that didn’t work and then think of how to make them work going forward.”
She shakes her head, “I did that just now.”
“No, you told me all the problems with the business. You didn’t see the positive side of things. You tried a different avenue as I said,” I wave my hand down to indicate to Candy that she needs to refill Emily’s glass. Just one more. I don’t want her drunk. Just that she stays a little more lively.
“You never supplied to department stores a year ago. You never even considered clothing lines. Instead, you had random orders from stores. No contracts. Nothing. You were that kid that used to go with your small case and sell to stores. Hoping that someone would buy them.”
She sighs, “I know, but that kid never had an apartment, bills or even worse, people working for her. There’s a big difference between that kid and what I am at the moment.”
“And this is the reason that you need to take risks. Not over the top risks, like what you were doing, rather sticking to the one thing that you knew. Randomly selling to whoever wanted to buy them.”
I know that I’m making sense to her, but the look on her face tells me that maybe she’s drinking her cosmopolitan's a bit too fast. I’m glad that we had the little talk. I can see that Emily has some growing up to do. Even if in my eyes she still has the body of a goddess.
Chapter Six
Emily
“I think that you’ve had too much to drink for one night,” Marvin smiles as he waves at Candy. Her tender skin is with so much glow that I feel as if I need dark shades to look directly at her.
As he pulls out my chair, I think of him as always being the perfect gentleman. Such class and the man that wants to take me to his room this weekend and do dirty things to me.
Marvin moves his arm and turns to hold my hand as we leave the bar. I feel a little relieved since it’s less intimate than having his arm around me, but the touch still leaves me flustered. I wait as we stand for what feels like a few seconds and then look at Kurt who has parked the limo outside and is standing by the door, waiting for us to get in. I stand unclear what to do next when Marvin announces, “Ladies first.”
He motions for me to move in front of him. I must admit that this is the first time that I’ve seen him in black. He has a slight tan, something I rarely see on him and with his dark hair turning more gray. It doesn’t make him look old, just a mature temptation.
I smile awkwardly, “Thank you.”
I walk ahead of him, but I hesitate
to enter inside as I reach the limo.
“Where are we headed right now?”
“To my hotel.”
“To… your…” my voice is weak as I try to speak, trailing off uncertainly because I’d just assumed that we were staying at the same hotel. None of this makes sense, why did he book a different place for me?
I don’t even know why it’s bothering me so much. This is supposed to be his weekend to be in control, but I’m not used to it. The problem is as Michelle says, I need to let go. There’s too much riding on this weekend, and it’s not as if I’m not attracted to Marvin. That’s an understatement. This is the closest that we’ve been together naturally, not false, not pretending and I need to feel at ease with him. But I can’t because there’s so much riding on it. Maybe if there weren't a deal, it would be easier. Maybe if I were just here with him for a casual trip, then I wouldn’t feel that way.
“Why aren’t you staying here?”
“I don’t like it here. It’s a bit too touristic and too bright lights, something not to my taste. The Encore’s not far, and it’s a bit quieter there this weekend. Besides I prefer the room there.”
“So, you changed your mind?” He asks.
“Yes.”
Every time I want to sit in the limo, another question pops into my mind. That’s when I notice that he has a button undone, and his chest is clean. There’s no hair like I expected there to be.
“What about my things?”
He laughs, “All taken care off. Are you going to get inside or not?”
As I enter the limo and Marvin sits next to me, Kurt starts the engine and then after we both put on our seatbelts, Marvin turns to face me.
“Is there a problem?” He asks politely.
I shake my head, ‘No.”
I don’t even recognize the voice that answers him. I’m shaking and the confidence that I had at dinner, seems to have been left at the table, because it’s nowhere to be seen as I feel like a little child, unclear where my parents are taking me for the day. It’s just that I’m not a kid, and Marvin’s a man who’s after one thing this weekend. I’m distracting myself by looking at the window watching the holidaymakers roaming up and down the busy streets. I’m thinking about them being lucky. They’re in control of where they go and what they’re doing, unlike me.
“I don’t want you to regret coming here,” he nods as if he’s trying to convince himself more than me. I’m lost now thinking how to ignore his statement. So, as I did before, I don’t react to it. I look out of the window once again, and then Kurt announces on the intercom, “We’re here sir.”
Marvin blurts out, “Good.”
He wasn’t joking about it being a short drive. So short in fact that I can’t understand how this side can be quieter than the other part of the Vegas strip.
“Why did we have to change hotels?”
He ignores me as I repeat the question. I want him to tell me the truth. I follow him inside as Kurt holds the door open. That’s when I have Marvin by my side, and without hesitation, he puts his arm around my waist and walks me down to the reception area as Kurt nods at him. A secret signal to say that makes me think that he’s leaving me. I’m not used to this type of life. Am I supposed to wave to him? Shake his hand? When I was with Kurt alone from the airport, it was easier, but with Marvin here I feel as if I’m a stumbling fool and I don’t understand why?
“You won’t owe me any of it back after this weekend.”
He’s completely changing the subject, so I prompt him to answer my original question.
“You never answered my question.”
He nods as he gazes into my eyes. It’s as if he makes me melt every time he’s near. His intoxicating woody scent tends to drive me wild. It’s a mature scent. Something that only a sophisticated man would wear, not the guys of my age.
“I did, and you repeated it. Ignoring my original answer.”
He puts me in my place, and I have no words to reply to him right now. He did answer, and for some reason, I thought that it was a lie. I decide that I need to let go and stop fighting this so badly.
I decide that the real reason I’m fighting is because I don’t know what it all means. Marvin could have any woman that he wants, with his ribbed abs that I managed to catch a glimpse of one time when he was using the pool at a friend’s house. I remember gazing at him and wondering if I’ll ever get the opportunity to put my hands on them. I only caught a glimpse, because he was quick to put his shirt on in my presence.
I let him take the lead as we head towards the elevator in silence. As the nerves start to take over my mouth, I’m unable to speak. As we enter, he puts his card in the elevator keeping his other arm around my waist. Anyone that saw us would think that we’re a couple. It just looks so natural, and he’s doing it as if he’s done that a thousand times.
A light bell sounds signaling the elevator has reached its destination. And once the doors are open, Marvin moves away from me and offers me his arm. It’s as if he’s changing our roles from being one of edging me to him to one of making sure that I’m fully on board with what happens next. I take a deep breath and slide my hand under his elbow.
My heart is beating faster as we enter the room. It’s as if the light’s only comes on as we enter deeper into the suite.
“I don’t have a clear schedule for what we’re going to be up to for the weekend.”
One minute he’s almost romantic, then the next it’s as if he’s talking to a stranger. It’s as if he’s as nervous as I am at the moment. Or maybe this is nothing to him? He’s used to taking women to his suite for a small price.
When he turns to look at me, I meet his gaze, trying to stop the trembling in my body as my hands clench tighter together. Marvin takes me by the top of my arms, leans closer, and kisses me on the cheek.
He pulls back and holds the key out to me. “This is the key to this room. I’m sure you know the rules already but I’ll tell you again, just in case. Don’t lose the key, don’t leave your room without it. And if anything comes up, call me, or call the reception. There’s a phone on the nightstand, just speed dial one.”
I think back to how I left the room in a mess back at the Mandarin. I was desperate to impress him tonight, and I feel embarrassed that someone has gone there to clean it up and bring it all here.
A flood of questions are entering my head, but the lump in my throat prevents me from saying anything. He holds the key out, and I reluctantly take it. He smiles and then walks away.
I’m left blinking at his back until he disappears. I walk into the room in a daze. I am so confused about what he wants. I had expected him to stay, not leave me alone on the first night. I stand frozen in time and then after a few seconds I decide to get ready for bed.
The suite’s a little bigger than the Mandarin, and it has calmer wood colors because the beige carpet runs through the living room and I know that to my right is the bedroom as the door’s slightly ajar. The one for me to sleep alone. I look at the strange circular painting on the wall. Modern art, I've never understood it. The room is more mutual colors than the Mandarin and as I stare and look out at the strip, I admire the beautiful lights. The only thing I feel is tiredness. I head to the bedroom and widely open the wooden doors. But, what I don’t understand is why didn’t he let me come here in the first place. I walk around like a lost lamb, and that’s when I see a note, by the bed stand.
I open it as it has my name written on it. It’s typed, and like a little kid on Christmas day, I start to rip it apart.
That’s when I see the message, Marvin like’s playing games. I can see that for sure.
Emily,
When you settle in, use this key to go to suite 245.
Don’t bring anything with you except the key.
Marvin
Wow, I think as I pick up the key, not jumping in the shower or trying to freshen up. A wave of excitement rushes through me as I think about what he wants to do to me. This whole trip hasn’t
been in vain. I can’t deny that I’m attracted to him. I can’t pretend that I don’t want him because I really do. Marvin’s just a little different to what I’d expected when it comes to things like this. I expected him to be in the suite as soon as I landed, but he wants to have control and play mind games. I’ll let him play, and as Michelle said on the phone earlier, I’ll make sure that I have the time of my life too.
Chapter Seven
Emily
My heart's thumping so loud. It feels just out of control. No longer I feel a confident girl as I slowly move down the hallway to his suite. It’s on the same floor as mine, which for some reason makes it that much better knowing that I don’t need to get in the elevator again. I take a deep breath and knock on the door. There’s no response. I knock again as the temptation to go back to my room and get my phone builds inside me.
Maybe I did get the instructions the wrong way around?
I think back to the note, and it was pretty simple. All I had to do was go to suite 245. Marvin’s not the type of man to get something so simple mixed up. Especially when he’d gone out of his way to make sure that everything’s going according to his plan. The one that he doesn’t want to share with me.
I decide that here goes nothing as I put the key card in and then push the door open. I think that maybe I’m in the wrong place. The room appears empty, but as curiosity gets the better off me, I step in and glance around nervously and I notice that the room is a bedroom suite, rather than mine which has a living room and then the bedroom to the right. There’s a giant queen sized bed, and I laugh as I spot the same circular painting on the wall. I wonder if they have it in all the rooms?
The window points to the strip, but the room has a living room area, rather than a room like my suite. It’s still big, but with the strip view and the bright lights, I feel as if I’m in a different world as it sends me into a little trance. I could stand and look out all day.