“Well, she didn’t ask you for a dime.”
“Not yet. But trust me, Natasha. It’s not because she doesn’t love you or want you to be happy. She does. But money, and I’m talking about my kind of money, it changes people.”
While I watched her look around the room as she tried to figure out how she was going to feel about this new development I studied her lips. They were full and pink and I had to lean in to her and kiss them gently. To my surprise she kissed me back. I would have enjoyed a little fight. A little withholding of her touch in a silent protest to what I was telling her. It would have made future attempts at physical contact that much more exciting. But, the Universe doled out my pleasures as it saw fit.
“I also told her that if things continued you were going to be expected to spend more and more time at my side.”
“More time at your side? I’m not a dog, you know. This is getting a little overwhelming and I think maybe…”
“I'm falling for you." I hate to admit this but part of what I was saying was true. Natasha was the kind of girl who could be trusted. Not because she was this wide-eyed "see the good in everyone" kind of girl but because she was suspicious. She looked for the catch, the exchange knowing full well that nothing comes for free. But, if she felt the truth was what she'd get in return then only a mutt pulled out of a rainstorm and given a can of Alpo could be more faithful. And to a guy like me that kind of dedication was worth its weight in gold.
I wanted to say more but I didn’t. I watched as the weight of my words sunk in. It was a delicious cascading affect that could be seen in the eyes. Me. The money. The lifestyle. It all showed in the eyes. Like a fire suddenly burst to life in a furnace.
You can imagine how surprised I was when Natasha’s eyes stayed the same cold blue. What was she thinking? I was feeling more and more attracted to her by the second.
"Natasha, my lifestyle is a little different. I want to make you part of it."
"Please don't tell me you’re a swinger. I can't handle that kind of lifestyle no matter how good-looking you are." she joked.
"No. Nothing like that." I said shyly. "But people will be jealous of you. I’m sorry to say even your very best friend. I've seen it happen before."
"I'll talk to her. She'll be fine."
"Will you? Will you do that and smooth things over?"
"Yeah. Who knows, maybe it was the champagne. It doesn't agree with everyone."
I threw back the last few drops in my glass and then proposed an idea.
"Let's go see your office." I said, grabbing my jacket and scooting out of the booth.
"See my office? Why?"
"I just want to make sure Mrs. Ogawa is treating you right."
"Oh, they are. I love my new job." she said but I could see the hesitation in her eyes. It was beautiful.
"Then let's go there."
"I don't think so. Someone is bound to see us. They've got security cameras. Plus the night watchman and all that jazz."
“Where’s your sense of adventure?” I teased as I pulled out a couple of hundred dollar bills and threw them on the table.
“And I don’t even have an office. I have a cubicle. If you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all.”
“Come on. No one will see us. Trust me.”
I looked into her eyes as if I were searching for something. Again, that pretty pink glow rose in her cheeks and I remembered how red they had been that first, and only time, we had been together. She was playing a game, too. I could feel it. And it drove me crazy with desire that she dared to do it.
Her eyes stayed with mine until I slipped my right hand over her left hand and pulled her out of the booth and out to my car.
I had driven myself this time. Thankfully Diamond had chosen to leave when she did because the Nissan GT-R was only a two-seater
.
“This is a nice car. But please don’t speed.” Natasha had said to me as she poured herself into the seat.
“You don’t like to drive fast?” I asked her a little puzzled.