The Charade (4 page)

An orange hue sliced through the fabric of the huge taupe-colored blinds. I hurried and put my panties on backwards and nearly tripped over the edge of the rug. Victor lay dead to the world with a soft humming through his nose. I took one last look at his chiseled body stretched out under the sheets. It was a sight to behold and I burned that image in my mind. I needed it for the cold, lonely nights in the future.

Chapter 3

It was a few minutes after one o’clock on Monday and I sat in Gino’s Deli, waiting for Chandra to meet me on her lunch break. I remembered her office building just opened a new deli I heard that served a good BLT sandwich and I wanted to stop in to sample it. I spent most of the morning at a coffee shop, scouring the internet for employment opportunities, so I figured meeting her for a quick bite would be a way to break the monotony of finding the needle in the haystack called job hunting.

Gino’s was a typical deli. A huge bellied gentleman with balding hair and razor stubble gave everyone bad service - with a thick Philadelphian accent to boot. I took several moments looking up at the menu. The man gave me several dirty looks as if to say ‘it’s a deli, the menu ain’t that complicated.’ I tolerated it anyways – the rude, hole-in-the-wall places always had the best food. The tabletops were sticky with huge dots of crimson - from what could have been dried marinara sauce or the sugar-laden red drink from the cooler behind the bar. I sat on top of a paper towel to shield myself from it. Patrons on their lunch break rushed in and out to get a meatball sub or cheese steak before heading back upstairs to start their shift. The pungent odor tomato basil and the stress of meeting deadlines by five o’clock saturated the air. This was a place where after dining in, many promises were made to hit the gym after work - my kind of place. Above the soda machine was a tattered and faded, comic strip which joked about how a pepperoni and salami walked into a bar.

I didn’t bother reading rest because Chandra interrupted me. She stormed into the deli and began her usual rant about her dick-less wonder of a boss and that if she wasn’t in the running for a promotion, she would tell him to go to hell with gasoline boxers on. She gave me indigestion just watching her stuff food into her mouth with such vigor. She didn’t have much time on her lunch break. With no notice, she switched the topic to my tryst with the billionaire. I told her all the juicy details from the weekend. “You’re a dumb broad,” Chandra said between mouthfuls of her pastrami on rye sandwich. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.” A chunk of mayo plopped onto the wrapping paper.

“I’m a realist. You and I both know nothing was going to materialize from that,” I said.

“Maybe. Maybe not.” She dabbed her sandwich in the glob of mayo. “It sounds like you didn’t even enjoy yourself.”

“I did, but you know me, I don’t do the whole one night thing.”

“Yeah…anymore. And how’s that worked for you?” I almost took the last bite of my sandwich but I paused and put it back down. The words she said stung a bit. My shoulders hunched forward. “Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.” Her rustic-colored eyes softened. “I’m just saying you just got over Deandre. Maybe you need to just have a little bit of fun. Not for too long. Just for little while to let things blow over.”

“Maybe you’re right. I mean the man
was
amazing. It takes my breath away when I think about it, but I don’t want to get attached and then the rug gets pulled from under me. I don’t want be a piece of pussy to him or anybody for that matter.”

“What’s wrong with that? You’re not with some dick-headed loser you made out with at the bar, took him home and had drunken sex with. That man is beyond rich, okay? You should be excited. The prize was only for one night. And you had two. So what are you complaining about? Enjoy it. Make a couple of memories to finger yourself in the shower to and go on with our life.”

“You don’t have to say that so loud!” I said. My cheeks were fire-engine red. The deli started thinning out as the lunch rush wound to an end.

“So how big was his dick?” she said.

My voice lowered to a whisper. “Chandra!” My eyes were bigger than silver dollars. Did every woman want to know how big his dick was?

“I’m just asking, damn!” She stretched out her hands close to the size of a foot. “Was he this long?”

“Goodness,” I said. I put my hand over forehead. “I don’t know. I guess I left my tape measure in my other purse.” My laughter was gut-busting. She was too much – always too much. “He was huge. I’ll just say that.” I shifted in my chair and scooted closer to her. She scooted closer too. “It was like…I never knew anyone who felt like they knew my body. It usually takes me a few times, even weeks to feel comfortable with a guy in bed. But Victor…his touch seemed new and familiar at the same time. It’s hard to explain, but I never felt anything like that before. I get chills just thinking about him.

“Wow. So what’s he look like?”

“Well he’s tall, very young. He was the youngest man there. I think he’s younger than you and me.”

“Did you suck him off?” The plump-bellied man behind the counter gave Chandra a grimace from hell.

“Chandra!” My palm slammed on the table.

“Why are you so shocked that I’m talking like this? You’ve known me since what…the sixth grade?”

“You’ve had a mouth on you before we could even wear makeup.” I finished the last bite of my sandwich. “No, I didn’t blow him. I wanted to, but he didn’t let me.”

“He didn’t let you?”

“He said I didn’t deserve to yet.”

“Christ. What else...what else?” Her grin stretched out further.

“Damn, girl. You’re asking more questions than I thought you would. Why didn’t show up again?”

She shuffled in her chair and looked down. “I-I had to pull a late-nighter at this God-forsaken place. Thanks again for the favor.”

“How did you get tickets…,” I paused as I heard a recognizable voice filled the deli. The voice barked sharp instructions into his cell phone. I nearly choked on the last slurp of soda when the gentleman looked into my direction. It was Victor.

“Miss Yancey,” Victor said with a hint of a smirk. “Where have you been? I woke up this morning and you were gone. I was
terrified.
I-I didn’t know what happened to you.”

“What are you doing here?” I said. My entire body stiffened.

“Wow. What a way to greet an acquaintance. No, I’m fine or I’m safe or some other justifiable explanation. Just, what are you doing here?” I was certain all the pigment in my face faded away. “Well, to answer your question. I own the building.” He said it nonchalantly - like owning an office meant nothing to him.

“So you’re not following her?” Chandra asked. My face morphed from discomfort to one of dread. “Because if you were, she’d love that.” I shot Chandra a look that could pierce stone.

“No, I’m not following her. I had a meeting here today. Seeing you is a treat.” He grabbed the chair behind me, pulled it to our table and sat down next to me. “I thought of you all day long. All day.” His eyes gazed with wanting.

Chandra cleared her throat. “Well that’s my queue,” she said. She stood up smirking. She mouthed the words ‘call me’ before she walked out of the deli.

“I’m delighted to see you.” My eyes perked up. I didn’t expect him to say something like that. He leaned in closer, putting his hand on my thigh. “They way you left this morning…I-I didn’t know what to think.”

“I didn’t want to burden you. I’m used to this sort of thing.”

“What
sort
of thing?” He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. He looked befuddled.

“Look, I know this is just sex, so let’s just skip the all the awkward small talk that people do the morning after a one night stand.”

“That’s what you think this was?” He leaned forward again. Damn, the man was irresistible. The timbre of his voice loosened every tense muscle in my body. If he were to ravage me right there in the deli, I wouldn’t have given a care in the world.

“Well, I’m used to guys leaving in the morning.” I mashed my hand in my face in indignity. “Not that one night stands are a normal thing for me…because they’re not.” Go ahead and embarrass yourself further Natasha. “I’m just saying discussing the weather when you can’t even remember each other’s name…it’s…” I needed a hole to dig myself into.

“Interesting.” His silky lips widened and a small chortle escaped. I actually made him laugh. “Listen, I’m running short on time. I can’t chat long.”

“Oh.” My response suggested disappointment. I hoped he didn’t hear it. “Well it was nice seeing you.” I lied. It was more than nice seeing him.

“You left your shawl at my suite last night. I brought it with me. It’s upstairs in my office.” His autumn eyes lowered and seared into me. “Do you want to
come
with me to get it?” That word branded my pussy in flames.

“Of course I’d like to
come
.” We both sat up and he extended his hand for me to follow his lead.

“
Come.
” I wished he said it ten times in a row. His voice, substantial with masculinity, shot a bolt of lightning right to the deepest recess between my legs.

I followed him to the elevator. My slit tightened at the thought of the last time we were in an elevator together. I just couldn’t say no to this man. No matter how hard I tried. He magnetized me.

***

We walked into his office. It was brand new, sterile almost. Not a speck of dust. But it was exquisite. Huge oak, walnut brown desk. Modern-looking, chocolate brown leather chairs. Extensive array of books on the shelf. There were books on business quotes. Books on the psychology of geniuses. And several books about tantric sex. He was a jack of all trades. How could someone so young, be this magnificent, I wondered. Wealthy, sexy, intelligent and a bit edgy – you only saw those types in James Bond movies.

After he asked me to take a seat, he stood silently in front of the expansive window behind his desk overlooking midtown. Raindrops dotted the glass. I saw his reflection. He appeared contemplative. Even deep in thought he looked devilishly handsome.

This man not only mastered the art of business, he also mastered the art of satorialism. His gray, two-button, pin-stripe suit had been sculptured with precise stitching by the finest European tailors. He probably flew them out and had them measure him right in his office. Every part of his suit was cut to perfection. The seam of his pant leg fell perfectly above his cognac brown wingtip shoes. The sleeve stopped right below his wrist – a half an inch of his shirt peeked through. He layered his outfit with a white shirt and a royal blue tie, with a small sliver tie bar resting in the middle. A stark white pocket square nestled in his left breast pocket.

He literally could fly from the boardroom to a fashion runway in Milan and not break a sweat. I slowly ran my tongue over my top lip, imaging his commanding frame on top of mine.

He swiftly turned around and met my gaze. I prayed he didn’t catch me oogling at him. I jumped back in my chair a bit. He stood there quietly for a few seconds, looking at me. I itched to know what was on his mind. His lips slowly parted to speak, but the phone rang.

“Excuse me, Natasha,” he said. He darted to his chair and answered the phone. “Yes. Send him through,” he said. He leaned back in his chair and the controlled the conversation. Victor never raised his voice. His words were slow and very measured. His voice demanded respect and I could tell the other person gave it.

Victor pushed the mute button on the phone and looked at me. “As soon as this call is done, Natasha, I’m going to have wetness gushing down your legs and leave that pretty pussy swollen.”

Jesus.

He pushed the mute button again and continued the phone call without a hitch. There were no remnants of lust in his voice. It was almost deadpan – strictly business. This man was a mind-fuck. He finalized the call and quietly hung up the phone. He folded his arms and stroked the dash of fuzz on his chin. He closed his eyes and lightly chuckled to himself. My pulse nearly shot out of my skin from how hot I was between my legs. I leapt from the chair to try to calm my heartbeat. This man knew how to get me going.

In a flash, he shot up and darted over to me, meshing his lips onto mine. A hot gasp of air escaped my mouth, and his juicy lips swallowed it.

“I’ve been thinking about you all day,” he said between heavy, moist breaths. “I want to ravage you. Right fucking now.” He swung off his suit jacket towards the window. The button clanged against the glass. I grabbed his necktie and yanked him closer.

“Then do it,” I said. I hated being away from his kiss. He was so attractive I wanted him to melt into me over and over. I had to fight myself from that feeling. This was sex and sex only. Lord knows what other naked woman would be in his office tomorrow.

His sturdy hands grabbed my blouse by the collar and ripped it open. Buttons scattered throughout the office. He couldn’t stand taking them off one by one – the urge for him to take me was too immense. We both looked at the mess we made and snickered. Our laughs faded to soft moans as we claimed each other’s lips. My bra was next. His hands grasped my voluptuous breasts, kneading them before he squeezed my nipples with his fingers. My core shuddered to new heights.

“You’re fucking irresistible Miss Yancey,” he said. His whispering drove me insane. He had me transfixed from the first time he did it on that stage. My hands groped his rippling torso. I could feel his rock hard abdominal muscles through his dress shirt. He threw his tie to the floor and his shirt wasn’t far behind. He stood before me shirtless, his chest was statuesque. And he was hairless – just the way I liked it. I crashed my lips onto his cheek and brushed my tongue against his nipples. He squirmed. I found his hotspot. I continued to kiss and suck, while my hands traveled all over his back. I felt whelps below his shoulders. “See what you did to me?” he asked.