Stories from author stev2244

[Brainmetal]

Fifteen Hours

By stev2244 ©

Boring. The highway is just so mind-blowingly boring. The miles stretch endlessly on my trip to Florida. Boring. It's still early in the morning and I'm already bored to death. The day doesn't look promising at all. I could entertain myself by annoying one of my friends with a long phone call. But as I rarely drive long distances and the X5 is quite new, I haven't yet bothered to purchase a snap-in charger for my phone. And I've forgotten to bring the USB charging cable. So I have no way to recharge my phone's dead battery. Without my phone I can't even access my music collection. Which makes everything even more boring. To the right I see a boring small Louisiana town. On my left side, a boring dark sedan is overtaking me. My boring tank is still half full. No reason to stop and interrupt my misery of total boredom. Why in god's name haven't I taken the plane? In hindsight, this idea to finally run in the new car was ridiculous.

On my right I admire a small group of cows. One is brown, all the others are black. Truly amazing. At least amazing enough to make them the main visual attraction around here. In my mind's eye I see locals gathering around this spectacle every day, watching the cows in awe. On my left I see... the nozzle of a gun pointed at my head. Instinctively I immediately fully slam the brakes. I barely realize that my side window shatters. I look to my right and see a highway exit through the other shattered side window.

Still fully on the brakes, I yank the car into the exit. I barely miss it. The pedal is on the metal again even while I'm still plowing through a stretch of grass before reaching tarmac again. I look into my rear mirror quickly. Nobody to be seen, just an empty and innocent looking highway exit. I realize that I'm surprisingly calm. Shouldn't I be more upset? Would shaking like a leaf be more appropriate? At least a tinge of panic maybe? Hell, I've never been in this situation and I just don't know how I'm expected to react. Surviving is quite high on my list though, that much is clear.

Who might want to kill me? I think I'm the classical nice guy. I've never fucked someone else's wife - at least not as far as I know. My criminal career is limited to a stolen apple at the age of eight. And I somehow doubt that Mr. Thompson - the fruit dealer - has finally found out and is upset enough for such drastic measures. Is this maybe just a coincidence and no one will follow me? Some kind of spontaneous Louisiana greeting ritual? Oh, shit, no such luck, I see a dark sedan speeding down the exit behind me.

Of course, I press everything out of my car that it's got. Which is a lot, as I had impulsively opted for the bigger kind of engine-thing. I have no idea about such stuff and hadn't really understood the difference at the time. Eight cylinders somehow sounded better than six, so that's what I had bought. All I know is that my car feels seriously fast right now. But surprisingly, my pursuers manage to keep up. Suddenly a shot smashes the front window. Shit. Of course, I duck my head, hating me while I do it. Because it's silly, it's too late anyway.

My still quite un-shot right rear view mirror tells me two things, both of which add to an already shitty day. First, there is a large lump of bird-shit on the mirror frame. Damn, this car is almost brand new. But I at least thank the obviously quite big bird for omitting to target my now non-existent windshield. Second - there's a guy leaning out of the side window of that damn sedan, pointing a gun in my general direction. I'm not sure if he's aware that he looks absolutely ridiculous, like in a cheap 60s gangster movie. I'm a little disappointed that he's left out some kind of Humphrey Bogart hat. If I'm about to be shot, it should happen with style.

I see a small humpy country lane to the right and decide to use every advantage I might have against them. I have an SUV and they don't. So I turn onto it, braking late and hard. And I immediately accelerate down this small track, almost pushing the pedal through the floor. I don't even know where exactly I am. Probably somewhere in Louisiana still.

Driving at more than 100 mph down a small, holey track is a challenge and I have my hands full with keeping the car on it. I hope that the massive dust plume I'm producing might help me. My location is painfully obvious this way, but I don't envy them for racing down this stretch of dirt at this speed in a dust plume. It's difficult enough without it.

Suddenly the steering jerks and the tire pressure warning goes off. Shit, they've probably hit a tire with a round. The car remains surprisingly stable but I decide I have to leave it nonetheless. I haven't managed to shake them with four good tires, so I certainly won't manage to do it with three. I slam the brakes, get out of the car and run. I just run. There are some trees around me, but not enough to really hide me. I don't look back. I barely look where I'm running. I just run like hell.

The bark of a tree on me right explodes into a cloud of splinters but I don't care in the least. I run for my very life. I don't even know how many of them are chasing me. One or two, maybe? Two, probably. That's what they always show in the movies. No, the cops come in twos. The killers are always alone. Does it matter? No. But a surprisingly lot of stuff goes through my mind during these supposedly last seconds of a life I've thoroughly enjoyed so far. Well, it's been good. That's the phrase that probably describes everything best. Always stick to the classics if in doubt. And it's sad that this good life has to come to such a sudden end at the ripe age of 29.

The thing is - oops, I have to watch this root - I've kind of won the big lottery of life. Although it might not look like that today. Caution, mud puddle, jump over it. I'm quite good looking. I personally don't think so as I generally don't appreciate the looks of men, including myself. But the part of the female population that fancies me has assured me so. And I don't care much about the opinion of the other part.

A fork in the path. Okay, the left one. Why not? I don't know where I am anyway. It's not important where I run to. It's important to keep doing it. And I do this whole running thing more out of habit to prolong my life as much as possible than out of hope that it might save me somehow. The battery of my mobile phone is dead. The number of cops in sight is - wait, I have to count - zero. Which, by coincidence, matches the total number of people in sight. I'm unarmed, not trained in any kind of martial arts, I've never been near a marine, a green beret, a navy SEAL or anything like it. I'm more some kind of peaceful, non-confrontational guy. Oops, I better run on that grass, the path seems dangerously muddy and slippery. So, I'm toast. I'm chased by a professional killer. And I'm just an unarmed, unskilled guy spoiled by a sheltered life. My only fight was with Timmy Burns at the age of eleven. And I've lost it. So they would probably kill me even if they went out of ammunition.

Spoiled? Definitely. Rich from the moment I had joined humanity. Heir of old money. Intelligent enough to finish an ivy league college without ever having the intention to actually work as a lawyer. Living a life of luxury, busy with meaningless stuff, never contributing anything to humankind. Apart from just being there. Blocking resources that would have better been invested in more ambitioned people. That's what it boils down to, old guy. You're just superfluous. No kids, no responsibility for anything. You're a money-losing business for humanity. I've never seen this, somehow. I was just too busy being me. Driving around in fancy cars, chasing pretty women, living in nice houses, traveling. But now, running down a muddy path somewhere in the South, it seems quite obvious. It strongly looks like mankind will manage to survive without my presence. No one will give a shit, to be more precise. The insight is quite disillusioning. And it seems a little late to change my life now.

But one thing might be to my advantage. I've always been good at sports and I've been running a lot. I think I've maintained a good pace so far. I can't hear anybody behind me any more and even the shots have stopped. Okay, I'll take the left path again. So I might have been able to put a little distance between me and the killer. Or the group of killers. As far as I know, there might be as many as twenty guys chasing me. I have to chuckle as I envision a group of black-clad guys with sunglasses stumbling down this damn path. But seriously, not more than five self-respecting killers would have entered that shitty sedan.

It is at least consoling that I won't die as clueless as I have lived. By now I have a strong idea who might want to see me dead and why. Being in this somewhat inconvenient situation is partly my own fault.

The path leads me around a bend and suddenly I'm in some kind of clearing. It looks like a trailer park. About fifteen trailers seem to be scattered across the clearing in what looks like a totally random pattern. Not two of them seem to be aligned parallel to each other. The positions are equally haphazard. They look like some toys, dropped here by an enormous child. Everything seems to be silent, not a single human being is in sight. Most of the trailers sport some weird decoration. Chains of lights, colored lamps, everything that might give the place a gaudy and cheap look is present. In it's own tastelessness, the place is very consistent.

Well, I can't be picky, can I? I rush to the nearest one of the luxurious residences, omitting the one with the "Jesus loves you" sticker, which seems somehow inappropriate, given the circumstances. I frantically pound on the door of my chosen potential refuge.

"I'm off service. You see, my light is off," I am informed by a bored female voice from inside. My God, what is this, some kind of forest brothel? I'm running for my dear life here. But I'm glad that someone is home and is willing to at least talk to me. Even if it is through a closed door.

"Please open up! It's important. It's a matter of life or death. You have to help me!"

The door is opened surprisingly quickly and I'm being pulled inside. It's quite dark in here and as soon as my eyes have gotten accustomed to the surroundings, I perceive a blond women in front of me. Her face is not pretty. It's spectacularly beautiful. She has the sharply chiseled features of a classical beauty. What is she doing here? This seems wrong. I have no idea why, but somehow I feel that someone as beautiful as her should not live in an old trailer in a remote wood in the South, working as a prostitute. This is not how things should be, according to Josh's rules of life.

She's about a head smaller than me and looks at me expectantly with her fists in her waist. Her make-up is exaggerated and tasteless, but maybe this is what's in demand around here. Given some attention to her styling and clothes, she would be a raving beauty. I hardly notice that the trailer seems to be packed with books, which surprises my a little.

"So?"

"Sorry to disturb you, mam. But someone is following me and to be brutally honest, is trying to kill me. I'm Josh, by the way." I extend my hand in the hope of breaking some ice here. I hope she will take it. I desperately need her as my ally.

She carefully studies my hand before slowly reaching out and taking it. "Hi Josh. I'm Mia." She takes my hand, which I take as a good sign. "The thing is, life around here might not be ideal. But I kind of have gotten used to living. And I plan to do it for a while. I'm 26 and I think that might be a little early for my big departure. So as much as I'd like to help you, I can't see why I should endanger my life for a stranger. You see, for all that I know, you might as well be the villain in this story."

Wow, she might be a prostitute working in a rotten trailer in the middle of nowhere. But she surely isn't dumb or uneducated. Quite eloquent, actually. I like her sense of humor, even in these stressed circumstances.

"I'm not. I swear." Well, given the current situation, a little more volubility than this would be appreciated. My life might depend on it. This might be the first and only situation where my abilities as a womanizer would significantly improve something of relevance. And it seems that it's the first time that I completely fail since Peggy Andrews' bitch-slap in tenth grade.

"So give me one reason to help you."

"Imagine the alternative. You send me out there again. I will be killed for certain. And you would have to live with it." Uh, risky. I'm playing the guilt card. I don't like me for it, but I'm desperate.

"So you're betting your life on me being a woman of morals? You're talking to a whore."

I was still holding her hand, squeezing it. "Why should a whore have lower morals than anyone else? You see, I don't like to play with guilt. This is not your problem and I hate to burden you. But I've also come to like being alive. And I'm just desperate. Being killed would really put a damper on my day."

Her impressions softens and I hope that I've convinced her. Which would be a small miracle, keeping in mind how I look like. Dirty, sweaty, in torn clothes.

She heaved a long sigh. "Okay, what do you want?"

"Could you please call the police? My mobile's battery is dead."

"Sorry, we have no net here. No phones at all. This little paradise is as illegal as it can be."

"Shit. I need to survive for - let's see" I check my watch "15 hours. Until midnight. Then I'm safe."

She looks at me pensively. Then she obviously comes to a conclusion. I just hope it's the right one. The one to keep me alive. My life is in her hands.

"Follow me." She leads me to a wardrobe.

"Mia, these are really bad guys. They are sure to look in here. Please, we need to find a better hiding place."

"Trust me. We know about such stuff. We have some illegal immigrants among us." Now she opens a kind of hidden door inside the wardrobe. A small hiding place appears.

"Gosh, you're right," I say. "This might actually work."

"Get in. They are already looking for you. Two guys."

"Thanks."

"Thank me later. If I'm still alive then."

I just look at her with what I hope is a sincere and thankful expression and stow myself into the small space.

She closes the door and I'm engulfed in total darkness. My only sensations are the slightly stale scent in here, the sound of her feet shuffling around and some birds singing in the trees. And now I hear a loud banging on her door.

"Open the damn door, you fucking whore." The rhyme gives his demand some lyrical quality but the content is surprisingly rude. This is a guy that will clearly make no new friends around here. But his gun probably makes it unnecessary to be tactful anyway.

"I'm off service. Go to one of the others. It's early in the morning, I'm tired."

"I don't give a shit. I'm not here to fuck a dirty piece of shit. Open the door or I'll knock it down." I guess that the whole trailer park will be aware of what's happening by now. And this is probably not the first door they knock on. Someone here will be armed to protect the girls. But whoever it is, he or she doesn't seem to be intent to do something about it.

But these are prostitutes and the guys pursuing me are professional killers. So yes, it's probably a lot healthier not to mess with these guys. My lovely ex Sally seems to have spared no expense and has hired competent specialists.

I hear the front door being opened.

"So what do you want?"

"Looking for someone. Won't take long. Just don't get in my way."

I hear him walking around, opening and checking everything quickly. Finally he opens the wardrobe. My life as well as Mia's depends on this moment. Come to think about it, they will probably kill all inhabitants of this lovely theme park just to eliminate possible witnesses. This is sick. All these people would have to die for Sally's greed. And for my mistakes.

"Okay. If you see a man in dirty and torn clothes, let us know. We'll be around for a while."

Mia doesn't bother to respond and someone closes the front door.

"Stay in there for a while. We need to be sure," I hear her whispering. Smart girl. Beautiful, smart, witty and willing to endanger herself to help me. What exactly is she doing in this dump?

I try to remain calm and patient for a while and not to succumb to claustrophobia. I'm not tending towards it, but I have to try not to acquire it now. The place would be ideal for the task. After an eternity, light floods my small hideaway. I unfold my aching body into the real world.

"Thank you."

"It's not over yet. They're still around."

"I know." Our whole conversation is an exchange of whispers. We're both aware that they will probably be busy right now with pressing some ears to some aluminum panels.

"You owe me."

"Yes. What do you want?"

"Your story." She smiles. How can she smile in such a situation? And boy, does she have a nice smile.

"Really? That's all?"

"I haven't said that that's all. But it seems to be a proper down-payment."

"Okay." I realize that my voice is croaking a little.

"You've had a rough time, right? You stay here in the bedroom. No one can peek in here. I'll get you something to eat and drink."

I look at her incredulously. She's right. I'm desperately hungry and thirsty.

I realize that something has gone completely wrong. I've married some kind of monster while a beautiful and caring woman like Mia had to work on her back to survive. At least I suppose that she has to do this out of desperation. No other reason is thinkable for such an angel.

She returns with some cookies and a glass of water. All of it is history within seconds and Mia smiles at me benevolently.

"Okay, go ahead," she whispers.

"Well, I've led a rather easy and carefree life until today. Never been in trouble, no enemies, my life was just one pleasant journey. My problem began in college, although I didn't know at the time. I met a girl named Sally. She's very intelligent, can be very nice and funny and is rather pretty. Not as beautiful as you, but pretty enough." She smiles briefly, but tries to hide it. "I have inherited a little money from my grandpa, which enabled me to go through college without too many worries." I omit to mention that I've inherited a three-digit million sum. No need to tell her that. It had brought me enough misery with Sally. "Sally on the other hand had a scholarship because she is really bright and a very hard worker. She is driven by ambition and definitely doesn't want to live like her parents did. But despite her scholarship she had always trouble to make ends meet. So I think I was the perfect match for her. I wasn't too keen on a steady relationship but she was relentless and charmed me into it. After we had our degrees, she decided that we should marry. I had my doubts, but I was too passive and too lazy to really disagree. It would have caused to much trouble and too many arguments. So it was easier to just relent. But being a lawyer, I at least insisted on a prenup. If we broke up for whatever reason, she would get a relatively small lump sum." 100.000, to be more specific. "But she is also a lawyer and she insisted to have a clause that in case of my death during our marriage, she would inherit everything. I saw no problem in it and understood her need for some safety. My fault. Because this clause is valid regardless of the cause of my death. And it is valid up to the day the marriage is finally dissolved."

"Oh, I see where this is heading."

"Exactly. To cut a long story short, our marriage went downhill fast. Maybe she had no intention to keep it alive and I sometimes suspect she even actively wanted to end it. To be honest, I don't have a clue what she's thinking, never really had. Anyway, I caught her with another man. Maybe she wanted me to catch her, I have no idea. Of course, I immediately filed for divorce. I believe that she had to accept the prenup against her will and relented only because of the death clause. Maybe this was the way she intended to get my money from the beginning. Well, after I've filed for divorce I'm sure she was tight on money. The divorce was granted six months ago. And three days ago my lawyer advised me to pay her the small amount she was entitled to. That was probably a big mistake. Because she obviously used it to hire these gentlemen to end my life. They need to kill me within - let's see - 14 hours. If they do, my money will be hers. If they don't she will have almost nothing. Maybe she needed the divorce because during our marriage she never had the lump sum to hire such guys. Only the one-time payment at the end enabled her to do that."

"Wow, quite a story."

"Yes, and I hope it won't turn out to be a short story."

"So do I. Because the end of yours would be also the end of mine."

Uh, this is going into the wrong direction.

"So what's your story?"

"Oh, that's a sad one. You really want to hear it?"

"Well, it can't be worse than mine."

"Oh, it can. The short version - my father died when I was fourteen, my stepfather was an alcoholic that beat me and raped me as soon as I turned sixteen. Shortly afterwards he sold me to this slaver ring and I ended up here, unable to escape. Waiting for my savior." She looks very sad.

I'm stunned. "Really? That sort of stuff happens? That's terrible, Mia."

"Josh, you're a nice guy. But you're totally gullible. I really don't know if I can let you go out there without guidance again. You won't stand a chance against the next evil bitch. You're just too nice. And what's the sense in saving you today if you're too naive to survive on your own afterwards."

"What?" I don't understand a thing.

"Josh, you believed that crap?" She actually starts to laugh, but tries to do it silently. "I was brought up quite sheltered and had very good grades at school. But after high school I was just too lazy for a real 8 to 5 job. The thought depressed me. So due to default of a wealthy knight in shining armor I decided to pursue the reputable profession of prostitution. It seemed to be the easiest way."

"Oh." I have to grin now. "You wicked bitch." She punches me lightly in the arm in retaliation and we both have problems to keep our laughter silent.

She obviously has the same dry humor and laconic way that has earned me the "cold fish" label from my ex. But the way Sally meant this was far from the truth. I'm actually a quite emotional guy. I just don't want to run around with my hands holding my head, screaming. If I'm in trouble, I get calm and rational. And I try to see every situation in a humorous way. Mia seems to be the same, which probably is the reason we get along that well.

"But why are you doing it here?"

"I quickly learned that I don't like pimps. They don't provide much protection, they just provide trouble, violence, dumbness and disappearing money. Here we girls can work without that burden."

"I see. But what about intimacy and love? And you still interested in such stuff?"

"Oh yes. I'm quite a book-worm and I read a lot of romance novels. I still dream of this stuff. What I do here is completely separated from this. Believe it or not, I have never made love to a man in my whole life. I'm still some kind of virgin."

"You're kidding me again?"

"No. Seriously. I've had vaginal penetration thousands of times. And I've sucked dicks equally often. But I think I never really had sex. Much less made love. I just provide two openings for rubber-clad cocks. I've never had an orgasm in my whole life. I've never had any kind of pleasant emotion while I did my job. I've never touched a dick without a condom. So yes, making love and loving someone is still quite high on my agenda. The problem is that I just don't meet any nice men. The guys coming here are mostly the ones that don't get any good pussy any other way. They are the sediment of the male population. Halfway attractive or nice men don't come here, they don't have to pay for such a half-hearted service. We are not really in the luxury segment of our business, you know? The problem is just to remind myself that there have to be decent men out there. And that I just don't get to see them here."

"Never?" I smile and wink.

"Well, rarely." She also smiles.

"So you're unhappy with your current situation?"

"Yes. But not desperately so. But I surely need to change something soon. But as easy as it is to get into this, as hard it is to get out. I hardly have any qualification for a normal job, have I?"

I just nod and decide that this gets quite serious and I do what I always do in such situations - I change the subject. "So do you think we can hide here for 14 hours?"

"We might if sheriff Clarkson and his deputy will come to see Clara and Becky. If we're lucky, they will arrive shortly. The girls will probably tell them something is wrong. But I have no idea what they will do about it."

"Okay, let's wait and see."

"Josh, I will have to switch on my light soon. If one of the girls doesn't accept customers for a long time, the men hunting you will be wary."

"You're right. Is that a problem for you?"

"Not at all. It's just my job. But maybe it is for you?"

Well, it might be, come to think about it. I like her. A lot, actually. But I surely won't admit that now. Mia is already in more than enough trouble because of me, no need to complicate her life further.

"I think it's necessary, ain't it?"

"You won't like it, right? And not only because you will have to wait in the wardrobe for the duration?"

"Yes, I think that won't be the main problem. I like you. And I won't like to hear you doing your job." Okay, time for a little honesty.

"It will be hard for me too. I also like you and I'm afraid that I will be ashamed for the first time for my job. And I'm afraid that you will like me a lot less afterwards."

"I don't think so." Although I'm not too sure about it. I honestly don't know how I'm going to react. I've never been in such a situation. I doubt that many men have been. "And we don't have much choice anyway, have we?"

"Yes, sadly."

"Let's get over with it."

"Okay. You don't have to go into the hideout. You can as well stay in the wardrobe. If you prefer to sit in between my clothes."

"That doesn't sound too bad."

And during the next few hours I learn a lot. First, I'm indeed getting jealous upon hearing some guys fucking Mia. Why am I reacting that way? I have plenty of time to think about it. Because I like her as a friend and I can't stand to listen to her abuse? No, she isn't abused in any way, she's very relaxed and friendly with her customers. No emotions, but a sovereign way to handle the situation. The reason is that I like her, but not only as a friend. I'm just plain jealous.

Second, booking a girl like Mia is surprisingly mundane. The talk sounds like everyday talk. Yeah, it's too hot for this time of the year. Have you seen the fuel price? John and Marsha are finally going to marry. Peggy is pregnant again. No sexy talk at all. Even when I jerk off, I'm usually in a more romantic mood.

Third, I really enjoy sitting in between her clothes and smelling her fragrance. I like smelling her. And I think that is telling me a lot about my feelings for her.

I between her customers I can leave the wardrobe. But I don't want to be tactless by using the situation to see her in her non-existent "work-clothes". That would be tactless. Well, I'd sure like to full inspect her nude body. But somehow it doesn't seem right, so I keep my eyes on her face or somewhere else. She notices my problems, smiles a little and puts on a robe.

After three hours and just as many johns, the situation changes.

"Oh, oh. The sheriff and two of his colleagues have arrived." Mia peeks out of the window while I have to stay hidden. "They go towards Clara's, Becky's and Andrea's trailers. Now things will get interesting."

She continues to watch the scene unfolding.

"They come out again. All three. All of them have their guns out. They are talking. Deputy Andrews goes to the squad car. Now the shit's going to hit the fan. If the killers decide to shoot them, they will have to kill us all. But that's risky. You don't just kill three cops. Even as a hard-boiled pro. Especially as a hard-boiled pro. Too much risk for one job."

"You know what you're talking about?"

"I've seen a lot of shit. But not as closely as today, luckily. Boy, you owe me big time if we get out of here alive."

"I do, doubtless."

"I'm going to hold you to that, rest assured. Now go into the wardrobe. No, better into the hideout. We won't know what's going to happen."

"Okay. 10 more hours. Shit."

"We need to get through this." She looks me directly into the eyes while saying this. I feel a tingling sensation in my tummy.

"Yes. We do. Thank you."

"Thank me later. Now go. We have to hide you."

"Do you think I should just run towards the cops?"

"No, I think they might just shoot you from a distance. They probably have rifles. Too risky."

"You're right. So I better hide." This solution would have been her easy way out. She has again decided to risk her life to save mine. I feel a little guilty again, but also very pleased.

While I'm hiding in the less nice smelling hideout again, I can hear Mia servicing two more customers. I doze off a little before I'm informed by her that she'll switch off her lamp now to get some sleep. If I needed anything. And that the sheriff has obviously decided to leave a squad car with two officers to protect his favorite whore Clara.

"These two guys won't stand a chance against these pros while they eat donuts in their squad car."

"Right, Josh. But there's nothing we can do about it. Let's just hope they won't risk anything. I doubt these guys will want to kill eighteen people, including two cops, for the price of one. Too risky."

"I agree. I just hope we're right. I'd like to pee before you fall asleep."

She laughs. "Sure, go ahead. And better take some sleeping pills. It will be a long night in there otherwise."

"Good idea."

xx

I wake up when the hideaway is opened at some time in the night. Mia stands in front of me with her long blond hair open and freshly washed, wearing just a long T-shirt and a smile. She looks breathtakingly beautiful. The reason is that the ridiculous whore make-up is gone.

"Mia, you're stunning."

"My, thank you. You, in contrast, look like shit." We both laugh.

"What time is it?"

"Eleven-thirty. Thirty minutes to go. Both cops are still alive."

"Have you slept well?"

"What? You're a weird guy. Not that much, honestly. I had to watch over you. What do you think?"

"You're a weird woman."

"I know." We both smile.

"I really like to spend time with you, Mia."

Surprisingly, she tears up, turns away and then closes the hideaway. Well, she's a woman. They're born to be unpredictable.

"At midnight it's over, right?"

"Yes, then I will be officially divorced." We're talking through the thin wall.

"Okay. Wait, the cops are leaving. I have to stop them."

I hear her rushing out. After a while she comes back in, rummages around a little and walks out again. Shortly afterwards I hear heavier steps in the trailer. Someone is searching it again. One of the killers, obviously. I hold my breath, literally.

"Hey, what are you doing in here?" I hear an assertive male voice.

"I'm just looking for a little fun. But the lady seems to be not at home," a male voice answers.

"Get out of here. At once. Hands behind your neck. Stand over there. Don't move."

...

"You have a permission for that gun?"

"Sure."

"It has been used recently."

"I've shot a little for fun in the woods."

"Okay. That seems a little strange, doesn't it? You shoot a little and then you visit a prostitute at midnight?"

"Well, why not?"

Midnight? I try to read my watch, but it's impossible.

"Actually, it's five past twelve, officer." That's Mia's voice. Good girl. We've made it. I push the board outwards and leave my hiding place. The officer and the killer look at me surprised as I enter Mia's small living room.

"And who are you?"

"I'm the guy this man is looking for. I'm the one that someone tried to shoot yesterday. They had to kill me until midnight and it seems that they've failed."

"Shit!" the killer exclaims and looks at his watch. Well, maybe they're not THAT professional after all.

"DOWN!" The officer throws him to the ground. "I said don't move." He cuffs him quickly.

"There is another one of those around," Mia says. She's the one for practical thinking, I realize. I'm useless with this, compared to her.

"DAN! Watch out! We might have a problem," the officer shouts.

"Don't move," we hear from outside!

xx

The following time is quite hectic. The officers are very nervous and insist that I accompany them to the station. I can't even say goodbye properly. Mia looks very sad as she watches me get into one of the squad cars. She tries to smile bravely and waves her hand a little. Afterwards she rushes into her trailer. Does she expect never to see me again? Nothing I can do about that right now. The squad car is already leaving the place.

xx

I decide not to file charges against anyone. I don't want to live in fear until I can testify in some trial. I don't want to change my identity in some witness protection program. Hell, I haven't even seen the face of anyone actually shooting at me. It could have been one of the two guys in the trailer park or anybody else. The trial would end with nothing. It just isn't worth it. I don't even mention my damaged car. It would just be confiscated as an evidence. And I'm far from home, I need it. For far more important things than some fruitless war against the guys my lovely ex has hired. The chance that they rat her out is minimal anyway because they are in no real danger to be convicted. And I'm absolutely not interested in these guys.

So I have to accept that I enable these guys just to walk out of the police station together with me. One of them even congratulates me on surviving this.

"I wouldn't have bet on it. You're a damn good driver and a quick runner. Well done."

Weird. What does he expect? That I give him a high five? That I regard this as some kind of sporting competition? I think it's a little more personal than that.

"Have you been hired by a man or a woman?"

"Buddy, we never talk about such things. But women surely can be evil bitches. Generally speaking, you know?" He grins and walks away. That's all I need to know. So my lovely ex has hired them personally, not her lover.

I've been able to recharge my phone at the police station, call a tow truck and pick up my car with the mechanic.

xx

Two days later I have just left my hotel room after having picked up my repaired car earlier. My car is like new again - even the bird-shit is gone - and I'm enjoying just sitting in it. I have somehow bonded with this car. I mean, so far it's the only car I have ever survived a potentially deadly car chase in. And I hope it will remain the only one. I don't think I will ever sell it.

I start the engine but let the car idle for a while. I enjoy the air conditioning and I have the feeling that this is a big moment in my life. One of the big forks in the road. But one of the paths seems dark and unappealing. It represents the life as a bachelor I had decided to live after my failed marriage. The other is well lit. Colored, blinking arrows are pointing towards it. A big hand is beckoning me towards it. And it is labeled "MIA", in big, illuminated letters.

So I finally engage a gear and drive towards the trailer park. What will I find there? Will she even still be there? Will she want to come with me, into an unknown future? She seemed quite comfortable there. Her current profession bothers me surprisingly little. Well, only one way to find out, right?

xx

My car finally rolls into the trailer park. I had some difficulties to find it, despite the description one of the officers gave me. And to be honest, I'm a little nervous. A lot depends on what will follow now.

This time most of the women seem to be outside. They all sit on some kind of porch and seem to surround one person. I exit the car and slowly walk towards the group, expecting Mia to be a part of this gathering. To my surprise, she's the one in the middle. And to add to my surprise, they all seem to console her. Coming nearer, I see that she seems to be sobbing like a baby and that the others try to comfort her. One of them sees me, gets up and approaches me.

"Sorry, man. We're closed today. Please come back tomorrow." I'm surprised how empathic these women are. They lose one day's income to help a colleague in trouble.

"No, I'm not a customer. I'm here to see Mia. And nobody's going to stop me."

"You're Josh?"

"Right."

"You asshole. You better get to her quick. That girl is destroyed." But she smiles benevolently.

Mia is currently sitting there with her elbows on her knees and her face buried in her hands. Spasms rack through her. Two of her colleagues are consoling her. She hasn't even noticed me. Wow, she really has it bad for me, it seems. But instead of feeling sorry, I feel elated. Many of my doubts are already history. I'm glad because I have it equally bad for her.

"Mia?"

Her head snaps upwards, she briefly just stares at me unbelieving before jumping up and running towards me. She literally jumps into my arms and we hug each other fiercely. And - finally - we kiss for the first time. It's as magical as I've expected it to be. Although it's still a little frantic. We will certainly calm down a little over the decades.

"Why have you come?" She finally has composed herself enough to utter a rational question.

"Well, what do you think? I've come to get you, of course."

"Get me? What does that mean?" Her tone is still very tentative and unsure.

"Take you with me. That's what that means."

"Josh, I'd love to. But I'm a whore. Countless guys have used my body for years."

"It doesn't seem to be damaged."

"It isn't. But do you think you could love me nonetheless?"

"Yes, I already do. But of course, I expect you to quit your job."

Suddenly she's laughing openly. I hear it for the first time and it seems just magical. I could love her just for this moment. For how she looks and sounds when she's laughing like this.

"Consider it done. Anything else?"

"Yes, you need new clothes. And a different styling. It's not a must, but I would be really happy."

"No problem. This is just my whore's look. I'd really like to get rid of it."

"Good. That's it for me. Anything you want to have?"

"Apart from you? No. But Josh, how is this going to work?"

"Well, you pack your stuff into my car and I just take you away from here."

"What? Now? ... Well, you're probably right. Why wait? But how is it going to work later? You certainly have a family, friends, colleagues. None of them will be pleased to hear that you've brought home a whore."

"Ex-whore, okay?" I ask this good-humoredly, but she nods very sincerely. "Well, I don't have much family. I have some friends. Quite a lot, actually. But I won't tell anyone that you've been a prostitute. If you want to, you're welcome. I will still stand by you. It's your choice."

"You're right, Mia. He's just perfect. I envy you so much. Don't let him get away. Pack your clothes and off you go, girl," one of her ex-colleagues says.

"She's right, Mia. Please come with me. Trust me."

She looks at me pensively. "Yes. It's a fait accompli anyway. I don't even know why I'm hesitating. I have dreamed that you'd come back... That you'd take me away... But I haven't really dared to believe it." Suddenly her mood changes. She has made up her mind. "Okay, let's pack my stuff. I'll pack it into bags, you'll carry them to your car. The trailer is leased anyway. I'll miss the girls though. Promise me that we can visit them from time to time. Just take me away, I trust you completely. Oh my god, I'm babbling nonsense, am I?"

"Yes, you're babbling, but no nonsense. Let's get your stuff."

"Yes, sir," she laughs. She vanishes into her trailer while I fold down the rear seats of my car and make room for her stuff. She re-appears as a completely different woman. Decent clothes, light and tastefully applied make-up.

"Wow, mouth-watering."

"You like?" She smiles big time. Then she disappears again to pack her stuff. I decide to follow her to help her, but am almost kicked out again quickly.

While try to solve the puzzle how to stuff her belongings into my car, she's busy with tearfully parting from her friends. After I've solved it, I patiently wait for her to finish. Finally, one of the women approaches me, followed by the others. As expected, I have to promise to take good care of her, or they'll come after me. I endure it good-humoredly. It turns out that Mia does not own a car, but all women share an old clunker. So all of her belongings are already in mine. Finally, after a felt eternity, she enters it.

"Sorry that it took so long... oh my... now that's what I call a nice car."

"You like it, honey?"

"Honey?" And she bends over to me and kisses me wildly. "Now, where exactly are we heading? Where am I going to live?" She smiles sweetly at me, full of trust and anticipation. It's contagious.

"Austin, Texas."

"Oh, sounds nice. How long is it gonna take to get there?"

"A few hours. Not too bad."

"Ah, Josh. You're sure about this? This is the last chance to call this thing off."

"Are you crazy? You belong to me. I won't let you rot in this trailer. You don't belong here. You're coming with me. You're going to live in my house. And even if it doesn't work out between us, I will help you to get your life on track."

"Oh, it isn't right now?"

"It is?"

"No. Not really." She looks coyly.

"Right. But anyway, let's think about this later. Right now, we're just re-starting both of our lives."

"Okay. Let's not talk about anything too serious. I think we both need to leave our past behind."

"Deal. Let's just enjoy our journey."

And it turns out that driving with her is far less boring that driving alone. Actually, I'm enjoying it a lot.

xx

A few hours later we turn into my driveway and Mia looks incredulously.

"You're kidding me, aren't you?"

My big, modern, mansion-like house comes into view and she gasps in shock.

"Josh," she says in a mock-scolding way! "Is there something you've somehow missed to mention? This surely isn't your house, right?"

"Um, well... it might be," I answer in a mock-shy way, trying to act contrite.

"Oh my. So that's why she tried to have you killed. It sure can be dangerous to be that rich."

"Oh yeah. At least being rich and gullible is a dangerous combination."

"So, who's the woman sitting on your front porch?"

"No! That can't be... I can't believe it... She really has the audacity... I... Wow."

"Great. This is going to be fun. I can officially take you away from her."

As we walk towards my "lovely" ex-wife, I realize that I'm very glad I have Mia at my side as support. And to rub it into Sally's nose. This is just perfect, come to think about it. I have not only survived her attempt to have me killed, I also return with a woman far more beautiful than her in my arm.

Sally is certainly not ugly. She has long, black, straight hair. She has a pretty face. And she is always dressed and styled to the hilt. This undoubtedly gives a woman a certain appeal. But Mia is just a natural beauty. Sally can't compete with this. Mia's face is in a different league. And without really having seen her naked, I have the impression that her body would qualify as a centerfold any time. Sally is thin and well trained. She really has made the best of what she has. But Mia is simply more attractive, even without any styling. Not that all of this matters too much. I want Mia around me and I don't want Sally. Even if Sally was the more beautiful one. It's just hard not to compare them right now.

"Ah... Josh, honey, there you are. Finally. I don't know what to say. It's been so long. So much has gone wrong. Josh..." She continued to talk to my shoes. "We really need to talk. Honey, we belong together. But... well... we've made so many terrible mistakes."

WE have made mistakes? I certainly don't remember many of mine. Trusting her has been one, that's for sure. Well, that's going to be interesting. I decide to remain silent.

"Please, honey. I beg you, let's go inside and talk. You seem to have changed the locks."

She even manages to appear tearful. Amazing acting accomplishment.

"Sally, may I remind you that you don't live here for six months any more? You live with Terry, the guy you cheated on me with. We're divorced. Remember?"

"Um... Josh... Josh..." She's wringing her hands. Her performance really lacks nothing. "Terry was just a bad mistake, darling. Please believe me, I love only you, always only you. I know that I've made many mistakes. I've put you through a lot of shit you didn't deserve. But please let me make it up to you. Please. I'll do everything you want. I'll be the best wife imaginable. Give me a chance. Josh... Ah... I'll even suck your cock."

"Woooow. That's really great. Lucky me. You mean like you've sucked Terry's cock when I caught you? I would get the cock-sucking you have always denied me and that you gave your lover?"

"Josh, honey... Please don't dwell on the past. I... I will be the best possible wife for you in the future. I... How shall I put it? I will be perfect for you."

"Wife? You think we will marry again?"

"Well... Sure, baby... I mean, if I can somehow do it. But Josh, I will take what I can get. I will gladly bear the children you always wanted to have. Josh, please, give me a second chance. I know that I've messed things terribly up."

I think it's amazing that she manages to completely ignore Mia's presence.

"Josh, you please have to believe me - I haven't seen Terry for months. I've immediately dumped him. I never wanted to hurt you."

"Right. You've hired some guys to do that for you." Her facade crumbles for a brief moment. That might have cost her the Oscar.

"What are you talking about?"

"Ah, nothing. Never mind. So, let me sum this up. You marry me. You rarely give me sex. When you do, you keep it as boring as possible. As if you try not to attach to me emotionally. Then I have some suspicion, hire a P.I. The report states that you give a guy named Terry Richards a lot more sex in a vastly more varied way than me. Anal, swallowing, bondage, dom/sub games. Not that I fancy all of this stuff. Then I walk in on you while you suck his dick. You think that this is the right time to insult me in front of your lover as worthless in bed and a terrible lover. I kick you out. You seem to remember the prenup and realize that you've made a bad mistake. You attempt to re-conciliate, unsuccessfully. Then you remember the clause that you inherit everything if I die as long as we're still legally married. You wait until I give you your money and use it to hire professional killers. You only had a few hours to do this. Unfortunately I was already on my way to Florida so they couldn't do it here, at home. They had to do it on the highway, in broad daylight. Which is risky and sure enough they failed. But it was a close thing. The bullets missed me a few times by mere inches. Luckily this fine lady saved me by hiding me and endangering her own life. And she had no idea about my money. The most likely outcome would have been that I'm dead right now, Mia is dead and you are rich. But it turned out the other way. We're still alive and I'm still rich. You have almost nothing because I suspect the killers got most of your cash."

Mia is smiling big time while Sally at least has the decency to look a little ashamed. But I'm not finished yet.

"So I have a tough choice to make. Woman A is pretty, doesn't love me, wants me for my money only and has tried to have me killed. Woman B is a raving beauty, seems to love me regardless of my money and is loyal enough to save me by risking her own life. Wow, tough choice. Well, it might come as a surprise, but I choose B. Mia."

Mia laughs openly now. Wow. Amazing. This certainly is the most alluring and captivating sight I've ever seen.

"Mia, you're really beyond hot, you know?"

And she just responds by hugging and kissing me deeply. Wow. I think this whole adventure might have been worth the risk. The reward for surviving it is staggering and I almost feel like I have to thank Sally for this. As we finally break our kiss, we see her slowly walking towards a shabby car.

To my surprise, Mia talks to Sally's back now. "Sally, don't be too sad. You've had a good, luxurious life for a few years and by right you should be in jail now. I think you can be quite happy with this outcome."

Sally turns around. "Yes, maybe you're right. I know that I've lost and that I'm still lucky how this has turned out. And to be honest, I'm glad that Josh is still alive. You know, I'm evil, but not that evil. Time for honesty. I never really loved you, Josh. But you're a good man, too good for me. Take good care of him, Mia. He's precious. And he's vulnerable. He's just a little too naive for this world."

"I know. And I will. Thanks for fucking this up so thoroughly so I can have him. Try to be a better person, Sally."

"I will. I wish you two all the best. This might surprise you, but I mean it."

I can't bring myself to wish her the same, despite her quite surprising closing speech. I don't even bother to really think about this woman's motivation. I still don't understand her actions, but I think I can easily live with this. In silence, we watch her drive away.

"You know, Mia. These are the moments we will remember for our whole life."

"You mean when we will be sitting at our fireplace when we're grey and old?"

"Exactly. It will be a great story to tell our grandchildren."

"Haha, you bet. Grandpa the hero. Dodged the bullets, ran like hell, drove like a maniac."

"No, grandma is the hero here. She heroically saved him. And we might have to alter the story a little regarding your profession."

"Maybe... okay, now show me your house, please."

"Oh, sure. Our house." Suddenly the whole situation seems so strange. Here I stand with a woman I barely know. I have kissed her, but I have never made love to her. Hell, I haven't even really seen her naked. And we both talk about growing old together as if it's a sure thing. Am I really to naive for this world? I decide to take things slow, just let them take their natural course. And there's not much to worry about, anyway. It's not like we're married. Or that she wants to kill me like other women tend to do.

Meanwhile I've reached my front door, open it and gracefully bow while beckoning her in.

"Please enter, my lady."

"Thank you, kind sir. Oh my, Josh. This is fantastic. Oh my... Oh my..."

And she starts to run around the house like a child. Looking at the deck and the pool in the garden through the big sliding glass doors, at the fireplace, at the big kitchen with the cooking island, at the main bathroom with the panoramic view into the garden and the big jacuzzi ("We're sooo going to have fun here!"), at the guest bedrooms and finally at the master bedroom. More than once she jumps around or squeals happily.

"I'm really not sure if this measures up with my luxury trailer. I already miss the tasteless illumination, the damp winters, the total boredom and the smelly johns. What else can you throw in to convince me to stay here?" We're both grinning widely. Everything seems to be fun with her. This situation has the potential to be exceedingly awkward, but not with Mia.

In mock-desperation I answer "Well, that's going to be tough. I only have that shitty old BMW clunker we barely got home with. It's already more than three weeks old, it's a miracle that it's still running. And there are only two other cars you can use and they aren't much better. Those even lack a proper roof and one has the motor at the back end."

"Oh, oh. That doesn't sound good. At least you're honest with me." This is fun.

"Well, we could escape this misery from time to time. Not more than maybe once or twice a month, though. And we would be limited to hotels almost as shabby as this place. And to make things worse, they would be in totally inconvenient places. Europe, for example. Or awfully hot areas like the Caribbean or Hawaii."

"Boy, you're really digging your hole deeper here."

"Maybe I could placate you with sex? Not more than a few times a day, though. Sorry."

"Well, that's a shame. I have really expected a better life than this. Maybe you can convince me by showing me your body then. I need to see if it will be enough to make me forget the shitty living conditions awaiting me."

I really have to try hard not to laugh out loud. But I manage to do it and mock-obediently pull off my shirt and look at her shyly. She gawks at my muscled upper body and is unable to keep her fake-arrogant behavior. She's silent for quite a while, seemingly lost in admiration.

"Well," she almost whispers, "if that's all I can get, it will have to do, will it?"

I laugh out loud now and just lift her up effortlessly and carry her towards my bedroom. She's giggling happily all the time.

A few seconds later I can really appreciate her naked body for the first time. My, oh my. How in the name of all that's holy am I supposed to keep such a woman? I already know her beautiful face like the back of my hand. But her body is equally spectacular. She turns around, smiling, to let me inspect every detail.

"You like?"

"Seriously? You're a walking dream. These tits can't possibly be real, are they? They look too god be be true."

"Well, they are. Thank you." I have already guessed that much, otherwise I would have avoided to mention it.

"The nipple piercings look kinky. I think I would have voted against them if being questioned. But now that I see them, I have to admit that they look hot."

"I have a cute chain to connect the rings. But we'll try that later, I don't want to start rummaging through my stuff now. But rest assured, we're going to have fun."

"Oh, wow..." is all I can get out before she attacks me. And boy, does she have a lot of pent up sexual energy. What I experience has nothing to do with what she has done for her customers.

She more or less shoves me onto the bed, caresses my legs and and starts to take the head of my dick into her mouth, looking into my eyes with an impish expression. Boy, does that look hot. To distract me a little and to keep me from finishing too quickly, I decide that 69 is the appropriate number right now. So I lift her up effortlessly ("Hey!") and place her on her back ("I'm not some kind of toy!"). I turn around ("Oh yeah, Mia, you are my toy. Like I'm yours."), position my cock above her head ("Okay.") and start to work on her pussy with my tongue.

She reacts surprisingly strong and I have the strong impression that she has never experienced this before. But licking a woman is something I have perfected and I'm willing to drive her into oblivion. But she counters by sucking on my cock again, distracting me a little. And then it happens. She just continues to take more of my cock into her mouth all the time. I'm totally focused on the sensation and feel that my cock reaches the back of her mouth. She seems to swallow and then - unbelievably - takes even more of me inside her. I've never experienced anything like this. I feel the tightness of her throat and her muscles contracting. It's unbelievable. I've even forgotten to continue to lick her. And then the impossible happens - I feel my pubic bone resting on her mouth. Awesome. And a definite first for me. I come to my senses long enough to continue licking her, which leads to her removing my dick from her throat. She starts to pant heavily, which is a small mood breaker for me. I don't want her to suffer for my entertainment. To compensate for her efforts, I work on her clit lovingly and tenderly while stretching her lips a little with my fingers. This is a combination that drives many women nuts and Mia is no difference. She tenses up quickly and shakes violently. Her pussy gets extremely wet. Great.

Without having finished myself, I get up, turn around and caress her face a little.

"Oh, Josh. That was just marvelous."

"Yes, for me too."

"Okay, you can pick your hole now. You can have everything of me. Do what you want. For me this is virgin territory anyway. I've never had someone without a rubber and never had anything in my ass."

I decide to omit anal sex for today. I think it's a little messy and cleaning my dick before continuing with any other sexual activity is always some kind of a mood breaker for me. So I decide to just enter her in missionary position. And it is the right choice. I can do it properly this way, bringing her to one climax after another by tenderly kissing her while carefully and slowly stimulating her clitoris with my cock and pubic bone. No sport fucking, most women don't fancy vaginal jackhammer stimulation anyway. She's fascinating to watch during her orgasms. I've never had a woman that could come that often. After a while I can't stand it any longer and have to increase the stroke to come to my own very nice and prolonged climax. Afterwards we lie in bed, happy and spent.

"Josh, you'll never get rid of me again. This is the perfect dream for me. If needed, I'll use handcuffs or super-glue to keep you near me."

"Not necessary..."

"Oh, I have an idea. I've saved your life. You're my property anyway. Lucky me." She winks in a very very cute way.

I'm happy. I think I've never been that happy in my whole life. Which is the reason why I'm currently smiling like some moron that has just been drawn from the woods with a crust of bread. And I don't mind in the least. I already know that I'm addicted to this woman. Just how can I keep her? She's so beautiful. She can have any man she fancies.

"Josh?"

"Yeah?"

"Josh, that was fantastic. My first love-making. And it was better than I've hoped for. Way better. And you know the reason for that?"

"Yes."

"You love me. I feel it. And I love you."

"Yes." I know. Nothing else matters. Will she run off if I propose her right now? I'm afraid that might scare her off. She's always been totally independent, that's why she has chosen to work in these shitty surroundings. I think it might be the best if I give her time to get used to being attached to someone.

"Josh, you're a single for quite a long time now. A couple of days, actually. Which is longer than a man with your qualities should be. If you proposed me, you might have an outside chance that I agree." My head jerks around towards her. She smiles so cute again and I'm unsure if she's been serious with this.

"Really, Mia? Oh my god..."

"But Josh, I'm no gold-digger. I don't want to be seen that way. I don't even want the shadow of a doubt about it. So I hope you still have this old prenup."

"What? Yeah, I have it. But I'm afraid I've forgotten to take the address of these killers. You would have to hire your own ones. They weren't that successful anyway."

"Asshole," she says laughing and punches me lightly in the side. "It seems I will have to take care about that myself if you keep being like this. I choose an overdose of sex as your execution method."

We both just smile and cuddle for a while.

"I think we should buy you a ring tomorrow," I say after a few minutes of silence.

"Damn right." But she's laughing a little. She's obviously unsure about the sincerity of my plan. That's the problem if you're joking around all the time. You never know when things suddenly become serious.

"Seriously."

"What? Josh... I'm just kidding... I mean... Josh..."

"I'm not."

"Oh, Josh. You're serious. Thank you. YES. Just in case you've just proposed me. YES. Yes..." She suddenly starts to tear up and hugs me viciously.

"Oh, I think I did. Great. Thanks for accepting." I kiss her deeply. "What did you thank me for?"

"For being you. For taking me. For choosing me to let me save you." She's smiling again. She's great. She changes her mood like a child, nothing serious lingers too long.

"Gladly."

"Okay, my fiancée, where do we get my ring? And just to make that clear - I'm just as happy with a can tab ring."

"Place Vendome."

"What? Where's that? Never heard of that."

"Oh, they have the best can tab rings there, my sweet fiancée."

"Woooow, thank you, Josh. You really seem to be serious."

"I am. Expect me on my knee as soon as we've bought a ring."

She has already taken my iPad and googles "Place Vendome".

"Nooooooooo. Whooooohooooo...Paris..." And with that she hugs me so fiercely I have trouble to breathe. Nonetheless, I never want her to stop again. Some things are just more important than breathing.

[Brainmetal]

Losing Katy

By stev2244 ©

Katy is reading those damn gossip rags again. Afterwards, she will tell me endless details about the stupid and meaningless things those - in her eyes - fantastic, famous and beautiful people have done. The afternoon is already a lost cause. Damn...

Katy is my fiancée. We are a couple for almost three years. My name is Mark Myers. I'm an engineer. I love sports. And I love to play jazz on my saxophone. What I'm not interested in is gossip. Stories about celebrities alternating between detox programs and plastic surgery. So I steel myself for a completely annoying afternoon. Fully expecting to be showered in unwanted details about other people's lives.

We are engaged for five months now. I would have married her earlier, but for some unknown reason she insisted that she needs to have a full job as a school teacher first. Right now she works as a substitute only. We hope that she'll have a regular job soon, so we can finally marry. I've never understood this silly rule anyway as I earn enough money to support us.

Katy is quite hot. Not every man will agree with that, though. Men find her either absolutely irresistible or they are not interested at all. Obviously, I belong to the former group. But it seems that women don't regard me as totally repulsive too. I'm 6'3", well built, with enough muscles to nicely fill a tight T-shirt. And of course, I play the sax on stage. This inevitably results in a lot of female attention. But I'm absolutely faithful to Katy, she's my dream girl. She's totally gorgeous and very charming. If she wants to. Otherwise, she can be a little bitchy. More than a little, to be honest. I try to avoid Katy's bitch mode which leads to her usually having it her way if it comes to decisions. Like the one leading to this evening.

After she's finished with her gossip stuff, we will dress up and attend a charity dinner. We're not rich, we're not famous, we can't donate a lot. But still, she wants to spend some of our money there, hoping to see some important people. We have done this before and she had mostly ignored my presence as soon as we had entered the room. She was constantly scanning the area to spot some big names. It was mind-bogglingly boring.

xx

Tonight, though, turns out a little different. After I spend a dull hour watching Katy watching people, she gets up to go to the restrooms. This guy comes up from behind and doesn't notice her standing up, bumping into her.

"Oh, I'm very, very sorry, my lady. Have I hurt you in any way?"

"Only my pride, a little." Katy smiles her killer smile. I'm instantly annoyed because I know the effect it has on some men.

"Please forgive me. My name is Roger Cooper. Please give me the chance to make this up to you somehow." He looks like he's already absolutely fascinated by Katy. I know the look on his face and I don't like it. "Please let me buy you a drink at least."

"Yes, that would be very nice. Thank you."

He sits down and neither of them even acknowledges my presence.

"If I may say, you're by far the most beautiful lady in here."

I think it's time for a subtle intervention and clear my throat, but neither of them notices or cares.

"Oh my, you're very flattering. But thank you."

"No, seriously. What would you like to have? Your wish is my command." Uh, corny line.

"A Chardonnay, please."

"Make that two, please," he tells the waiter. I'm wondering if the second wine is for me or for himself. No, not really. Officially, I don't even seem to be present.

"Thank you a lot, Roger, By the way, my name is Katy."

"Katy, I am VERY pleased to meet you." He starts to kiss her hand.

"Yes, by the way, I'm her fiancée Mark." I say loudly. They both look at me as if I'm nuts.

"Yes, yes, I'm Roger." He says distracted, not even offering his hand. Then they both turn towards each other again. "Katy, I'm very sorry. But I'm afraid I have to hold a short speech now."

"Of course, Roger. I fully understand."

"I'll be back afterwards. Promised."

He leaves towards the stage.

"You're having a good time?"

"Mark, don't be an asshole. I'm just having fun."

"Yeah, I'd prefer if you noticed my presence though."

"Come on, behave like an adult."

Further communication is useless, as she's intently listening to his meaningless speech. She has already forgotten me again. It turns out that he's the chairman of some foundation or other. Everybody is applauding, except me. Katy even frantically so.

After his speech, to my dismay, he actually returns to our table. Like he threatened to.

"My beautiful lady, I'm afraid that I have to leave soon. But I insist that you are my dinner guest at my mansion. I have to make up for my clumsy mistake."

"Is that invitation valid for both of us?" I ask, but am ignored by both of them.

"Yes, Roger, I'd love to come."

"Very good. My assistant will contact you with the details. A limousine will be sent to pick you up."

"Thank you very much, Roger."

He leaves, finally.

"Mark, why do you have to be such an asshole?"

"Why? Because you have just accepted a dinner date with a strange man. You both have decided that I won't accompany you. Are we still engaged? I'm not sure. A fiancée should definitely not behave like that. Don't go there, please. He wants to get into your pants."

"Live with it. I have already agreed to go."

"I'm leaving."

"Mark..."

But I have already got up and turn to leave. She follows behind me, trying not to make a scene. The drive home is cold.

xx

Their date is made for the following Friday night. During the week we have countless arguments about it. She insists to go. Telling me that I'm totally overreacting. But I'm absolutely mad. We hardly speak with each other. And we absolutely don't touch one another. For me, this situation is the absolute low point in our relationship. But according to her, I'm just overreacting and trying to prevent her having some harmless fun.

xx

On Friday evening she dresses up to the nines. She seems to be a little nervous but adamantly pulls this through. I don't talk to her at all.

Finally, at six thirty a black Mercedes limousine pulls up in front of our apartment.

"It's nothing, Mark. I love you."

"Don't go, please."

She doesn't answer. She just turns around and leaves our apartment. I watch through the window a bodyguard opening and closing the car door for her. I've seen enough. Roger is successfully purchasing my fiancée.

Of course, I have tried to check the available information about the guy. He's not as handsome or well built as I am. I've already seen that at the damn dinner party. But he seems to be immensely rich, stylish, educated, well connected. I feel like a barbarian compared to him.

About five hours later, she returns. I'm still sitting on the sofa and I've barely moved at all. I've been lost in thought. In self-doubt and doubt about our relationship and Katy.

"Have you been here all the time?"

I stay silent.

"Mark, we've only talked. He's really just a nice guy"

I still don't have much to say. I just can't think of anything. Everything has already been said before she had left.

"Mark, nothing has happened. He has just kissed me a little. And felt up my boobs quickly."

At least she's honest.

"And that's nothing? How would you feel if I've had dinner with another woman, kissing her and feeling up her boobs? You've disrespected me. At the dinner party and tonight."

"We'll talk tomorrow. You're mad now."

And she just goes to the bedroom. I decide to postpone the marriage. There are some aspects about Katy that I haven't known, obviously. And I sleep on the sofa.

Of course, I hardly sleep at all. My life is falling apart. When Katy comes into the kitchen, I have already had breakfast and I'm ready to leave. I don't know where to, but I have to get out of here.

"So, have you calmed down?"

"Not really. I need to spend the day on my own."

"Sure, do whatever you want."

She surely doesn't seem to be very contrite. I briefly think about doing what she did with some woman. But I decide that this isn't my style.

"Mark, I won't accept a man who wants to control my whole life. I need a little space on my own."

"To let someone kiss and grope you?"

"You asshole."

I feel that nothing else needs to be said and leave the apartment for a long walk. Afterwards I have lunch at a small diner. I return home and spend some time sitting on the sofa, cleaning my sax.

At six thirty she comes into the room, dressed up again. I stare at her, unbelieving.

"Don't tell me..."

She looks a little doubtful at least.

"Yes, I'm having dinner again."

Says it and leaves without another word. I follow her through the front door. But to my surprise, two of Roger's bodyguards are waiting for me and rudely stop me by grabbing my arms.

"Don't follow us."

I have to watch helplessly as they all get into the car. Katy looks at me with an unreadable expression.

I sleep on the sofa again. And this time I take a sleeping pill. I need some rest, I'm feeling terribly exhausted and sad. I feel my whole future with Katy is falling apart. Like I've been living in some kind of dream world and I'm now waking up, being confronted with an ugly reality.

xx

I awake late on Sunday morning. Katy is already in the kitchen.

"Good morning, honey. You want some breakfast?"

"No, thanks."

She come to me and tries to kiss me. I avoid her.

"No sloppy seconds, please."

"Mark, he hasn't left anything in my pussy."

Okay, that strange wording means that he had sex with her. And that means that she has cheated. And that we're through. I shower, dress and leave the apartment without another word. She watches me, but I still can't read her expression. I have breakfast at a diner.

I return home around noon. Katy is sitting on the sofa, waiting for me.

"Mark, please sit down."

Okay, confession time. Time for apologies. To make things up to me. I sit down, but nowhere near her.

"Mark, you know that I currently have school holidays." What? What is she talking about? Why aren't we talking about her and this Roger guy? "You have to work and I don't want to sit at home, waiting for you."

"Are you nuts? What are you talking about?"

"Roger has invited me to accompany him on a trip to Paris. And I have accepted."

She looks at me calmly while she lays that on me. I'm totally stunned. Unbelieving. She has already damaged so much. And now she wants to add more?

"Katy, you have disrespected me on two occasions. As far as I can tell, you have cheated on me yesterday. And now you plan to go to Paris with him? To continue to cheat, obviously. Do you expect me to accept this?"

"It's already decided." Wow, she sure seems quite arrogant now. Who is she? Has she ever loved me? She leaves me quite easily for a rich guy.

"Katy, our relationship is already severely damaged. If you go to Paris, I'll be gone. No marriage. No engagement. No relationship."

"Don't be melodramatic. You'll be here all right. And you'll beg me to forgive you for your controlling behavior when I come home."

"It's your decision."

"Yes."

She opens our door and one of Rogers goons comes in to pick up a suitcase that she obviously has already prepared. They leave without another word. Not even a kiss or a goodbye.

I spend the rest of the day getting drunk and crying. This is the end of my relationship with Katy. I've lost my dream girl. She has left me for greener pastures.

xx

I manage to get some sleep again, using a sleeping pill. I phone my boss, explain the situation briefly and take the day off.

Around noon I receive a text message from her. "paris is great. luv you". Yeah, fuck you. Why does she even contact me? Is she assuming we're still in some kind of relationship? It's quite confusing.

I rent a van, move my stuff out of our apartment and place it into storage. In the afternoon I call my good friend Greg and ask him if I can sleep at his place for a while. Of course he agrees. He's even delighted. We had a lot of fun in the past. And I think he misses it since I'm with Katy.

He calls my old gang and we go out this evening. These guys are great. They sense what's up with me and successfully keep me distracted.

xx

On Tuesday I receive another text. "will make it up to you"

So she assumes that we're still a couple. Which is quite surprising. And I really can't get my head around this logic.

Wednesday brings another "i luv you". Does she think that one text a days makes up for her abandoning me and cheating on me? What kind of woman had I planned to marry?

My friends keep me successfully from getting depressed meanwhile. I've really missed these lunatics.

On Thursday I cancel the wedding reservations we've made. We had already agreed on a location and a caterer, without fixing a date. No problem to cancel it.

xx

On Friday she calls.

"You canceled the wedding? Mark, it took us so long to arrange everything."

"Yes, I did. But what are you talking about?"

"What do you mean? I'm talking about our wedding."

"Exactly. What are you talking about?"

The line is silent now. Maybe she finally is a little shocked. Maybe reality has finally started to sink in.

"Mark, this is only a short vacation and some meaningless sex. It's absolutely not important for our relationship."

At least she's honest about her cheating, I think as I hang up without another word.

xx

My friends help me to find an apartment. It turns out that the landlord knows me as he's a huge jazz fan. We quickly come to an agreement. The apartment is immediately available and looks really great, much nicer than my old one.

On Saturday I'm just sitting in my new apartment for several hours. I feel totally sad. And alone, really alone. I've absolutely loved Katy. And I've actually lost her for good.

xx

On Sunday Katy seems to return from Paris. At least I get another text message. "landed. thx for being so understanding. will make it up.". I don't reply.

I guess that about two hours later she will be home and realize that I'm gone. If they don't spend the night fucking at Roger's mansion. To my surprise she doesn't call or text me again. I'm glad. My mourning period is over and I don't need another confrontation to freshen my pain.

xx

The following week is my first one as a bachelor again. My friends Greg, Todd and Marty drag me out of my apartment on Monday. Work has distracted me during the day. Now they insist that I get a taste of my new-found freedom right from the start.

We are in a seedy jazz bar. For a Monday, there's quite a lot going on. And just in case, I've brought my sax with me. Tony is playing on the stage. He sees me as I enter and he immediately beckons me onto the stage. I lose my sport coat and climb the small stage in my tight T-Shirt. I jam a little with him and play some solos. I'm in a fantastic mood as I leave the stage after about an hour.

My friends are still there, being among themselves. I join them and I'm immediately being served a cold beer. On the house. By a nice, pretty and smiling waitress. She slips a note into my pocket. Can life be better? I doubt it. At least that's what I try to make myself believe, not fully succeeding.

After Greg, and Todd leave - they're married - two pretty women join our table. Marty is a nice guy and I assume that their attention might be divided between us. But it seems to be solely focused on me, which makes me feel bad for Marty. After a while they leave for the restroom.

"Hey, Marty. Nice ladies, huh? Which one do you like best?"

"Let's be honest, Mark. They hardly noticed me at all. I know that's not how you've planned it. But I'm not blind. After your sax solo every women in here looked at you longingly. I don't know what it is with women and musicians."

"Oh, come on. You're exaggerating."

"No, man. And I'm glad for you. That's just what you need after Katy. Know what? I'll leave now. Take them both home and have fun. But do it safely..." he winks and leaves.

And that's exactly what happens. My first threesome. Tiring, but very exciting. Just the right thing to pull me out of my hole. And to re-establish some self-confidence.

xx

I'm afraid that I'm starting to be good for nothing at work, due to my quite active nights. The days pass in a kind of haze. I have text messages from Katy from time to time, but choose to ignore them. I had to promise my threesome participants Tina and Carla to call them. And I still have the note from the cute waitress. It says her name is Eve and to call the number. Which I do on Tuesday evening.

All in all, I don't spend a single night alone during my first bachelor week. I have a lot of fun and my self-esteem is restored quite nicely. On Friday night I'm jamming with Tony's band again. On Saturday night I play with Steve's band in a different bar. I make a habit of playing in a tight T-Shirt to show off my muscles. It works, I usually get a satisfying amount of female attention. I'm still craving this after the blow Katy had administered to my ego. On Saturday I have the short impression of seeing her in the audience. But as I'm blinded by the spotlights while being on stage, I'm not sure. And it doesn't really matter anyway.

On Sunday I'm alone in my apartment and I'm dead tired, this week has really worn me out. I decide that I won't be able to keep up that pace and to tone down my activities. Although I'm alone today, I'm happy. I think I've finally gotten over Katy and don't need the constant distraction any more.

The daily - and unread - text messages from Katy don't disturb me any more. I've moved on. At least I hope so.

xx

During a gig several weeks later I'm sure that I see Katy and Roger in the audience. So they're still together. Good for them. Roger looks absolutely ridiculous in here, wearing a double-breasted suit. Upon leaving the stage, I'm immediately grabbed by Annie, a quite pretty blonde with a spectacular body. She kisses me deeply to mark her territory, which suits me just fine. Out of the corner of my eye I see Roger and Katy leaving quickly. Which suits me even better.

I barely notice that her text messages have dwindled away.

xx

Two weeks later I have finished my gig in a nice upscale club. I don't think I need female companionship today, so I walk alone to my car. It's late, the parking lot is almost empty and quite dark.

Suddenly I'm being grabbed form behind. My arms are pulled behind me and bound together. A sack is pulled over my head. I shout for help while I'm being pushed into some kind of van. The door is being closed and off we go. Ah, fuck. Why can't this Roger asshole just leave me alone?

After a short drive I'm being led around a little and I have to sit on a chair. The sack is being pulled off and I see Roger, which is exactly what I've expected. The main question is just what he wants. He already has taken the most precious thing I've had. We are in a deserted factory building and I see two of his goons. They are big, brutish looking guys.

"Listen Mark, she loves you. I love her. And I want to see her happy. Because of that I have a problem. She can't stand the way you left her. She's falling apart. Seriously. She's suffering immensely."

"Well, she wouldn't have that problem if you hadn't seduced her."

"Right. But it has happened. Nothing we can do about that."

"Yes, it has happened. She hurt and humiliated me. She cheated on me and announced it before she did. You can have her."

"She doesn't want me. She wants you."

"I don't give a shit what she wants. I have to take care of myself now. You have to take care of the mess you've created with Katy. You were fully aware that she was my fiancée when you met her. It didn't stop you from seducing her. So don't blame me now for the fallout. This is solely your work."

His face turns into what seems a pained grimace and suddenly he slaps me in the face. Not very hard. But very humiliating. Like you slap a school boy.

"You asshole." I say.

He just nods towards his goons. They wait until he's left the room and then start to hit me. Hard. Again and again. They use thick hoses. It hurts like hell.

I wake up, lying on the sidewalk. Someone talks into his phone. An ambulance appears.

I wake up again, this time I seem to be in a hospital. I fall asleep again.

I wake up again. A nurse sees it and alerts a doctor.

"How do you feel, Mr. Myers?"

"Bad, everything hurts."

"Yes, I can imagine that. You have two broken ribs, a concussion, two broken fingers and endless bruises. Nothing serious, though. After the police has spoken with you, you can leave. But I suggest you stay the night."

"Police?"

"Of course. This is standard procedure in such cases."

Shortly afterwards a cop introduces himself as detective Ralph Anderson.

"So tell me what's happened."

"The long version?"

"I've got time."

"Then you're in for an interesting story."

So I tell him the complete story, beginning with the charity party. He looks incredulous.

"You want to file charges?"

"I can't prove anything. Maybe you can just note my version of things in case something like that happens again?"

"Yes, I can do that. Sorry for your situation."

"Thanks."

xx

On the next morning, which is a Sunday, I leave the hospital. I'm being hauled in a wheelchair to the exit, which is a little embarrassing for me. But it's the standard procedure.

And to my horror, Katy is waiting there.

"Mark, I'm so sorry. Really." She's even crying a little. Nice acting skills, I have to admit. She manages to appear absolutely stricken.

"You've done enough damage, don't you think? Why can't you just leave me alone? Was it necessary after cheating on me and humiliating me to kidnap me and to bash me up?"

"Mark, I'm sorry. This went horribly wrong. We just wanted to convince you to talk to me."

"This went wrong? This was no accident. Roger deliberately hit me. And he ordered his goons to hit me with these hoses until my ribs cracked and I lost consciousness."

"Oh, my god. I've had no idea."

"What next? Will he kill me if I don't do as you want? Stay away from me. You've made your choice. Now just let me live my life." She looks shocked and starts to cry again.

"Mark, please, let me at least drive you home," she says sobbing and points to a black Mercedes limo.

"You have the nerve to invite me into Roger's car? The car of the guy who got me here by beating me up? The car of the guy that started this whole mess? Are you plain mad? Unbelievable."

I walk over to a taxi and drive home.

xx

My ribs take four weeks to heal. This really puts a damper on my sex life and even the music. Playing the sax with fractured ribs is no fun.

As soon as my body is healed, I start to work out a lot. My already muscled body is even better now. Lean, muscular, but not pumped up. It seems I'm still trying to work on my ego.

And we play a lot of gigs now.

I need the female attention, the workout and the music. My life seems to be in an acceptable balance again.

xx

Katy calls me one day.

"Hi Mark."

"Katy."

"Are you finished with sulking? I'd like to talk to you."

"Where is Cooper?"

"What? Why, he's sitting next to me. Why is that important?"

I hang up.

She calls again but I ignore her calls. And I get a new cell number, which I give only to my best friends and my parents.

xx

Five months after our split my life has settled into a nice routine. I have narrowed the field down to three women. Maybe I'll even have an exclusive relationship again some day. But that day won't come too soon, I think. Once burned...

On Monday morning I'm being summoned by the powers that be into the management offices. Ray, my boss, greets me and leads me into the empty CEO's office. Wow, I've never been in here. I really don't know what to expect. I had the impression that I've been doing my job just fine.

Several minutes later, our CEO William Chambers enters. He holds the door for - Roger Cooper - my nemesis.

"Glad to meet you, Mark. I've heard a lot about you and your great work." Mr. Chambers greets me. "This is Mr. Roger Cooper. You seem to know him already."

Cooper offers him hand, but I ignore him. Chambers is frowning.

"Mark, I expect you to be polite with our visitors."

"Mr. Chambers, this is the man that took away my fiancée from me. Afterwards he had me kidnapped and beaten up by his goons. I certainly won't be treating him politely."

"Yes, I've heard rumors about it. Well, Mr. Cooper has bought this company. And as the new owner, he expects to have a talk with you."

My gigs have been quite profitable recently. I had been thinking about quitting my engineering job anyway or going to part time. I can certainly not be bought by Cooper like this company. Or like Katy.

"He can expect whatever he wants to. I quit. I have enough vacation and overtime left. I will leave the company this very moment. I can't be bought like Katy. Or like this company. Goodbye."

And I leave Cooper and Chambers standing there, stunned.

xx

Several days later my friend Marty's cell phone is stolen. He's mad about it because he can't afford a new one. I have the suspicion that Roger's goons have stolen it to get my new number.

xx

And surely, on the same day Katy calls me again.

"Hi Mark."

"Tell him to give Marty his cell phone back. He can't afford a new one."

"Mark, what are you talking about? Are you ready to talk to me?"

"You still don't get it? You're still his. You're under his influence. His toy. I hate him. I won't be part of his scheming. As long as you are his puppet, I'm not even talking to you."

"Don't be ridiculous. He's just a friend..." she manages to say before I hang up.

xx

My cell rings.

"Mark, this is Bill Chambers."

"Mr. Chambers."

"Please call me Bill. Mark, we need to talk. We miss you."

"That might be. But I'm no merchandise. Cooper wanted to buy me and that's not my thing."

"Yes, he miscalculated that. But he's not pursuing that any more. We'd be glad if you came back. You're a good engineer."

"Does Cooper still own the company?"

"Yes. But he does not interfere any more."

"Thanks, Bill. But no. I don't want to connect my life with Cooper in any way."

"Sorry to hear that. If you change your mind, just let me know."

xx

Six months after our split I have finally found a woman that I really like. Her name is Lara. She's beautiful, easy to be with and intelligent. We enjoy the time we spend together. I'm quite sure that given a little time, I will fall in love with her deeply. Maybe as much as I've been in love with Katy. And I think this feeling is mutual. We are already exclusive with each other without talking about it.

After a fantastic night of dining and dancing Lara and I return to my apartment. A hot night of sex lays ahead of us and we're both looking forward to it.

As we approach the front door, I can see someone sitting on my doormat.

"Is there someone sitting at your door?" Lara asks.

"Looks like it. Good evening, can we help you?"

The person suddenly stands up and I recognize Katy. I'm immediately annoyed. I haven't heard of her for some time and I've been grateful for it. Why does she have to appear here today?

"Katy, what are you doing here?" I ask in what I hope is a neutral tone.

She doesn't reply but just stares at Lara.

"My name is Lara. I'm his girlfriend." Lara says in a friendly way, even extending her hand.

Katy still looks shocked. Suddenly she starts to cry and runs away.

"Oh, my. That poor woman. She loves you. And I know exactly why. Her loss, my gain. Let's start fucking." I have to laugh and agree.

xx

Two days later I stand at the front door of Lara's apartment. We have a date today and I'm really looking forward to it. She opens the door after quite a while and - surprisingly - doesn't invite me in.

"Mark, you're a great guy. I really envy the girl that will finally get you. But that's not going to be me. I want to end it now."

"What? Is that a joke? I just wanted to ask you to move into one apartment together."

"It has nothing to do with you. I just had to make this decision."

"Wait... has this Roger asshole paid you for this?"

"I don't want to talk about that, Mark." But her surprised look tells me everything I need to know.

"How much? How much is our possible future as a couple worth?"

"A lot." She says sadly. "Don't take this personally. You're a great guy."

And she closes her door. Damn women. Damn Roger. Shit.

I immediately call Katy.

"Mark! What a nice surprise. How are you?" She sounds excited.

"How I am? I'm mad. Mad at Roger. Mad at you."

"Why?"

"You know damn well why. You two destroyed my relationship with Lara. You bribed her away from me. Stop messing with me. Stop ruining my life. Haven't you done enough to make me suffer?"

"I don't want you to suffer. I just want you back. And he helps me with it. If she could be bought, she was not right for you anyway."

She has a point there.

"We will never even be friends as long as you're Roger's toy. I actively hate him. And that hate rubs off on you. You're connected. I don't even care if he still fucks you or not. You're under his influence. He manipulates you. You're soiled by his presence. I don't want to have any form of contact with you. Whenever we talk, it's like he has defeated me again. As if his plans to manipulate me have succeeded. It makes me sick. You two are continuing to drive me further away from you. You and Roger did cost me our relationship, my health, my job and my new girlfriend. How do you think this is helping you? Or is this some kind of sick entertainment for you?"

She gasps and sobs while I hang up.

xx

Now I'm really quite mad. Not only at Roger, but also at Katy. I hate them both by now.

Luckily Tony wants to tour through Europe soon and needs a sax man. He says that we're not going to get rich, but the income will be more than okay. And it's going to be fun. Barcelona, Rome, Brussels, Paris, Amsterdam, Cologne, Berlin, Copenhagen, Oslo, Warsaw. I'll see Europe for three months. Great. And even better - I'm going to be away from Katy and asshole for a while.

Tony books the tickets, which is quite okay for me. This way I'm going to be harder to trace for Cooper.

These three months are like a dream for me. Lots of female attention and sex, lots of music. Lots of new impressions from Europe. And I get along with the band very well. On our return flight we agree to do this again.

xx

While playing a gig at a local jazz club, I spot Katy in the audience. During a short break I ask one of the waiters to check if there's a black Mercedes limo in the parking lot. He checks and tells me he can't find one. I thank him and ask myself why it bothers me at all.

However, Katy follows my performance with a dreamy look on her face. Lena, a tall and pretty blonde rushes at me immediately after we finish our gig. She obviously wants to stake her claim as soon as possible. Yesterday she had lost the race because a nice brunette had been quicker. Nothing had happened with this brunette, by the way.

Today, Lena is leading me out of the club and I'm sure something will happen. Lena is very nice and lots of fun in bed. Suddenly Katy stands in our way.

"Mark, could I have a quick word with you?"

"Bitch, he's mine tonight."

"Lena, calm down. This is my ex. She's no danger for you."

Katy looks disappointed but obviously tries to be brave. "I need just a minute to talk to you. Maybe outside?"

"None of Rogers goons there to kidnap me?" I say, a little jokingly.

"No. I swear."

Once we're outside, she continues.

"Mark, I'm terribly sorry. I want to apologize. You did everything right, I did everything wrong. I made a terrible mistake with Roger and I did everything to make it worse. Going to Paris was just plain mad. I did it because I was too proud to admit that I had already made a mistake by having sex with Roger. Paris was a disaster. We had sex, but it was terrible. I was full of guilt and remorse.

On our return I found that you were gone. True to your word. I blamed Roger and he felt really bad about it. He's not that bad, you know?

He promised me to bring us back together. He said that he messed up and that he had the means to make it right again. That I should be patient.

But it was terrible. Everything he did just made things worse. He's feeling very bad about it. He even lost control and hit you. And his guys totally misunderstood his order. Afterwards they were afraid of the police and had to dump you on the sidewalk. When I heard it I just wanted to die.

He even bought your company to convince you to talk to me. That went wrong too. The company is really missing you.

And he bribed this woman to leave you. We figured I wouldn't have a chance if you stayed with her. As usual, it was a colossal mistake.

Mark, I haven't seen Roger since then. And I haven't talked to him. I've had sex six times with him. Always with condoms. One time on that terrible evening before Paris. And five times in Paris. None of it was good. And I never loved him. I always loved only you. And I always will. I don't date anyone else and I haven't since we split up.

That's what I wanted to tell you. It's just the ultra-short version. You can have a more detailed one any time. You don't have to reply now. Just go and have fun with this woman. Enjoy your life. If you want to talk or do anything else with me, I'll be ready. I will wait for you. I won't date anyone."

She just turns around and leaves, leaving me stunned.

xx

I have a great time with Lena. But I can't get Katy's words out of my mind. I keep thinking of her.

xx

Two days later Chambers calls me again.

"Mark, we'd really appreciate your help here. We have some problems without your expertise."

"Does Cooper still own the company?"

"Yes. But he has promised not to interfere. He would sign a contract about this. You could work part time only, so you could pursue your music. Nonetheless, you would earn twice your old salary."

"That's very generous. But I'll never work for Cooper. I hate the man and I don't want to be connected with him in any way."

"No chance?"

"No, as long as he's connected to the company, there isn't."

"If he sells now, he will lose eight million dollars. The company value has dropped dramatically. Not only because of you, of course. But partially."

"Wow, that bad?"

"Yes, we might even face bankruptcy. We need your expertise for several big jobs. But we can't take them now. Other company branches have suffered because of other reasons."

"Okay. One million as signing bonus. Half-time. 250 thousand per year. I'll quit as soon as I see him or hear his name. No refund of the signing bonus in any case. I don't care about the money. I just want to annoy Cooper."

"That's ridiculous."

"Yes. And I hope he doesn't accept."

"I understand. I'll tell him."

xx

Half an hour later my phone rings.

"He accepts. But he increases the bonus to five millions. Totally crazy."

"I think I might understand why he's doing it, though. I accept."

He's doing it either as a compensation for messing with my life. Or to make sure that his beloved Katy is well provided for in case we might get back together. Which I doubt. But maybe he doesn't.

"Great."

"I work on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. I'll start as soon as the bonus is on my account and the contracts are signed."

"Okay. We'll send the contracts by courier. Bye. You lucky SOB..."

xx

Later that day I decide to get over with it and call Katy.

"Mark! Oh, Mark. Is that really you?" She sounds ecstatic.

"Yes, it's me."

"I'm so glad you call. What can I do for you? Wash your car? A blow-job? Cook a nice meal for you?"

I have to laugh. I can hear a happy sigh on the other side.

"No, I just like to talk. We're separated for almost a year now. I think it's time we resolve certain things."

"Yes. My answer will always be yes. Whatever you want. Where do you want to meet?"

"You'd like to come over to my place?"

"Oh, I'd love to. Last time I've been there wasn't a huge success, was it?"

"Not really." We both are in a relaxed mood.

"When do you want me to come?"

"I'm here all day long. Just come when you want."

"Oh, I'm on my way. See you..." And the line is dead. Wow, talk about motivation...

xx

Twenty minutes later my doorbell rings. Wow, she's quick. I wonder if she still has her driving license.

"Hi Katy."

"Hi Mark." She looks anxious. I try to be relaxed and friendly.

"Please, come in. Feel right at home." Ups, did I say that? She noticed it too and looks a little surprised.

"Mark, that was probably not meant this way..." We both laugh now. The ice is broken.

Later we sit in my living room and sip on our drinks.

"Okay, Mark. What can I do for you? All the offers I made were sincere."

"I'd just like to know what happened at this damn charity party and afterwards."

"Oh. Yes, sure. I guess you deserve to know. You want to know all the details, I assume?"

"Yes, please."

"Okay. You know that I've always been interested in celebrity gossip. Call me naive, but I've always adored the rich and famous people. For me, the invitation to this party was like a miracle. The once in a lifetime chance to meet famous and rich people. I was extremely nervous.

Then suddenly this stylish man bumps into me. Not as handsome as you are. Not as well built. But obviously rich and important. And he was so nice and eloquent. I felt like a boorish country girl in his presence. But he treated me like a princess.

I know that I ignored you when he was at our table. I felt bad about that even then. But I was fascinated. I'd have you for the rest of our lives. But this was my only chance to talk to an important man.

Then he was called to the stage. He was obviously considered as important, even among these people. I was even more fascinated. Then he invited me to his mansion for dinner. He was so stylish and aristocratic, I could see no malice involved. What a great opportunity. I gladly accepted. And I was mad at you to refuse this. How could you be so narrow-minded? Of course, I was wrong. Completely wrong. I see that now. Anyway, I wanted to act like a high class lady and accepted his invitation. Your behavior just threatened to burst my dream bubble, so it annoyed me. I had the opening to the jet-set world and you acted like a jealous schoolboy. Of course, in hindsight, you were completely right.

On our drive home I had first doubts. I loved you - and still do. And I didn't want to offend you. But I had already given him my word, so I had to pull this through.

When his chauffeur and bodyguard came to pick me up, I entered my jet-set cocoon again. Everything was just fine. He had servants. We dined in his enormous mansion. Everything was top notch. I was the princess again. During dinner he described you as insecure little boy without manners or gentlemanly behavior. He told me that you didn't deserve me. That I deserved to be part of an upper class lifestyle.

In my haze I agreed. I wanted to be part of this lifestyle. I never intended to leave you. But I accepted his invitation for another dinner on the following evening. It all seemed so innocent. He was a perfect gentlemen. His servants were around all the time. We just had a nice dinner and a wonderful conversation.

Of course, he wanted to annoy you and to drive a wedge between us. He has admitted that later. But at the time I've been totally unsuspecting. He even warned me that you'd probably react totally immature again and that I just had to be strong. And I believed him. He seemed so educated and smart. In hindsight, I can't even blame him. He was totally in love with me and he still is. His problem is that I like him. But I absolutely don't love him. I love only you. It destroys him. That's why he has agreed to never meet me again. It's easier for him this way.

But anyway, you reacted absolutely correct. But to me it just seemed to confirm what Roger had predicted. I didn't even realize how humiliating it must have been for you when his bodyguards stopped you from talking to me. I was really a self-centered bitch at the time and totally inattentive towards you.

Well, the second evening was a little different. He gave me more alcohol. The table was set in a smaller room with dim light and romantic music. He asked me to dance. And - to my eternal shame - I succumbed to his seduction. We had sex this evening. It was pretty standard. Just vaginal penetration without any foreplay. No oral sex. It was boring as hell. And the remorse killed me. I was actually afraid to go home.

But Roger had a solution. He said I should go to Paris with him for a week. You would cool down in the meantime. He would make sure that you'd come to terms with what happened. It seemed a good idea at the time. I could avoid facing you and the resulting guilt and shame. In fact it was the worst thing I could possibly do. But Paris has always been my dream. And he'd shown me photos. I just needed to get there. I assumed that you'd never go there. And I tried to justify it somehow. I was plain mad."

"I've been there recently."

"Oh my god. I'm such an idiot. Anyway, Paris was not a dream. It was a nightmare. I consisted mainly of guilt and remorse. He demanded sex five times. And I didn't dare to refuse because I was afraid that he'd leave me there, stranded. But it was awful. He's an awful lover. And my guilt made it even worse. I tried to text you, but you never responded. Why should you? I had deserted you. I saw that very clearly back then. And I was trembling with fear when I returned home. We talked a lot and in the end he felt guilty too for separating me from my true love. We agreed that we would have no future as a couple and we'd never have sex again. That was easy for me, but very hard for him. I've not been with any man since we returned from Paris.

When we returned, I found my worst nightmare had become reality. You had left me. And rightfully so. I totally broke down. He was very sympathetic and supported me. He even swore that he'd bring you back to me. Which was very hard for him, emotionally.

We stayed friends after that. And he tried everything to convince you to at least talk to me. I tried to stay in the background, like he recommended. He was so convinced of his power and his abilities. He never stood a chance against you. You defeated him easily and that drove him mad. That's why he slapped you. Unfortunately his bodyguards got the signal wrong and continued to seriously beat you.

Like all of his efforts to manipulate you, this one backfired horribly. He spared no expenses, but you elegantly brushed him off like a fly.

After the Lara disaster, he decided to give up. Or, to be more precise, I made him stop. This was all nonsense and just caused greater pain and more distance between us. Your call really set me straight.

Of course, I will continue to try to get you back. I will never stop. But I've decided to do it my way. To try just to talk to you. And I think I have achieved much more than he did in months. I see now that I've never needed him. I don't need to be afraid of you."

"No, you don't. Your way is far better. I just wonder why it took you so long."

"You didn't react to my texts."

"Well, that was a bit lame. If you wanted to talk, I expected you to do it personally."

"Yes, you're right. Have you even read them?"

"No, not after you returned from Paris."

"Why not?"

"You're not a part of my life since then. I just wasn't interested."

"Oh." She really looks sad now. "Anything I can do about this?"

"No, not in the near future. Maybe some day we'll be friends again."

"We're not even friends now?"

"Katy, you might be as contrite as you want right now. But what you did back then was no sudden mistake. You cheated on me and humiliated me for quite a while. You were mean and uncaring for several days. This was no flash of sudden madness. You planned it and had lots of time to think about it. That killed my love for you quite thoroughly. Just saying sorry doesn't cut it. I seriously doubt your love for me."

"I'll do whatever you want to prove it."

"That isn't something you can prove."

"Mark, I've always loved you. I was just blinded by this jet-set life. I would never have left you for it. But I couldn't resist to taste it. I wrongly assumed you would forgive me. I totally neglected to think about how you felt about it. How much it might hurt you. How I would have felt in your position. I blocked these thoughts out. We both paid a terrible price for that. We would be married by now. We have lost a lot of time that we could have spent together. We both were hurt a lot. But you have done nothing wrong. At least, I deserve the pain. You don't."

I have the feeling that everything of relevance has been said. Now, do I kick her out immediately or do I want to spend some time with her to get reacquainted?

"Please..." She really looks pleading now. I'm afraid that she might even drop to her knees.

"Okay, I'll make some dinner. We can just spend some time together. Maybe we can be friends again."

"Thank you, Mark." It's really quite touching to see how much this small gesture seems to mean to her.

xx

We usually spend one day per week together. Cooking, having a picnic, taking a short trip. Nothing serious. She tells me that she's overjoyed to spend the time with me. After about a month, we're watching a movie in my living room. We're sitting on my sofa and the movie is surprisingly violent. At one point, she seems to get scared, grabs my arm and hugs me afterwards.

Well, I'm not totally convinced that she really is that scared. This particular scene didn't seem so bad. I smile a little inwardly. And she doesn't release me, even after the movie softens a little. But, to be honest, it feels good. Maybe I should stop seeing other women. I have the feeling that the appeal of playing the field has abated a little.

"Katy, the movie's over now. You can release me now, if you want to."

"No, to be honest, I don't." She smiles impishly. On a sudden impulse, I turn around, grab her and kiss her on the mouth. She looks surprised, even shocked, but of course offers no resistance at all. As quickly as this came over me, I release her again.

"Wow, Mark. What a nice surprise. Thank you. To what do I owe the honor?"

"I don't know. Just an impulse."

"Well, if you have more of these impulses, please don't hesitate."

"Okay." And I repeat it. To my surprise, Katy is crying afterwards.

"Everything okay?"

"Yes, more than okay. I'm happy." And now she grabs me to kiss me. It feels good. Right. Somehow.

"Let's go to bed, Katy."

She squeals a little, jumps up, grabs my hand and pulls me towards the bedroom. And she practically ravishes me. The sex is just great, to my surprise I feel no pain about the whole Roger incident any more. It's only been ten months ago, but it feels like an eternity. So much has happened and changed meanwhile. This charity dinner seems like a distant memory. And the Katy that currently clings to me desperately after sex is certainly not the same person any more. I can't detect a trace of the old bitchiness any more.

But I decide to stay alert. To take it slow before entering a new relationship. Let alone an engagement. See if the bitch re-appears.

"She won't"

"What?"

"The bitch. She's gone. Don't worry." Damn, she still knows what I'm thinking.

"Will you give me that in writing?"

"Any time. Along with the worst prenup you can imagine."

"Um, Katy. That might be a little premature."

"I know. I'm just daydreaming a little bit."

xx

The days we spend together become more frequent constantly. Soon we spend time on three to five days per week together. And we always have sex afterwards. The frequency of our love making hence is at least as high as before our split. And the time we spend together is always very nice, sometimes even fantastic.

After two more months of dating, I call her again.

"Katy, what have you planned today?" It's ten in the morning on a Wednesday, I've taken the day off for a certain reason and I know that Katy is on vacation.

"Oh, Mark... you're not working today? Usually you do on Wednesdays. I've nothing planned for today. I'd be delighted to spend some time with you."

"Okay, your place in an hour?"

"Great, yes."

xx

"So, where are we going?"

"I want to look for a new place to stay."

"Oh, apartment hunting? That sounds like fun. But I like your place."

"Yeah, but maybe I'll find an even better place."

So I take her to a nice, modern and quite big house.

"Yeah, boy, keep dreaming. How much is this? 400.000?"

"650.000, actually. It's larger than it seems. Want to take a look?"

"Mark, have you won the lottery?"

"No, I've earned every penny of my money."

"Okay, let's see it. Just for fun."

I have the key and unlock the front door.

"You have the key?"

"Yeah, the seller gave it to me." Which is no lie.

"What do you think, Katy? I think it's great. Nice pool with a shallow area for the kids. One master bedroom, two guest rooms, three rooms for kids. Plenty of space."

"Mark, what are you talking about?" Tears begin to form in her eyes.

"I think this should be the master bedroom, don't you think?"

"Yes." Tears start to run down her cheeks now.

"And these three for the children?"

"Y.. Yes." she croaks.

Slowly I walk to where she's standing. She is openly weeping now. Her knees and her chin are shaking. I slowly sink to my knee.

"Oh my god... oh my... oh... Mark."

"Katy, would you like another try at marrying me?"

"Oh yes, Mark. YEEEEEEEES!" she suddenly yells. "Oh my god, it's come true. I've dreamed about this for almost a year. And it has happened. Thanks, Mark. For giving me another chance. I won't mess it up this time. I swear. And I'll sign the prenup before we do anything. But where did you get that much money?"

"My company gave me some money to lure me back to work there."

"Yes, you've mentioned it."

"Yeah, I asked for a ridiculously high amount, just to annoy him. One million. I wanted him to decline it. But he immediately accepted and gave me five million instead. I don't know why. Maybe he feels guilty. Maybe he wanted you to have a good life after we re-marry. I don't know."

"Neither do I. But I won't ask him. We have no contact any more."

"Good."

"So when have you bought this?"

"Yesterday. Smart girl."

"Do you want to wait knocking me up until after the wedding?"

"Oh, I don't care. We can start right now."

"I have to stop taking the pill first."

"Okay, but we can practice."

"Yes."

xx

Looking back, taking her back was the best decision I've ever made. But the prenup doesn't hurt, either.

[Brainmetal]

My Wife Became A Groupie

By stev2244 ©

Finally, it's Saturday. My wife Ashley and I are at the rock concert we've been looking forward to for such a long time. Tickets were almost impossible to get. But by pulling in some favors I had finally managed to get some, to Ashley's great delight. I was extremely well rewarded for it, so who am I to complain? And whenever she really wants something, it's hard not to do everything to fulfill her wish.

The reason is - my wife is hot, really hot. At least I think so and the wide-eyed stares and open mouths of many other males tell me that they tend to agree. To make things worse - or better, depending on your point of view - she has a knockout body and is not reluctant to show it off. And currently she wears a short top, ultra short hot pants and shows off a bare, tight midriff. Talk about drop dead gorgeous. I have problems to follow the proceedings on stage without being too distracted by her. And I'm proud to see that other men and even some women seem to have the same problem. Tough luck, guys. She's mine.

How attractive a particular man appears in a woman's eyes has always been a complete mystery to me. Whenever I've tried to judge other men in that regard when talking to Ash, I've failed miserably. "Hey, that guy must be eye candy for women, right?" "Danny, seriously? Only with a towel on his face." So I'm not too sure about my own attractiveness as well. I tend to be cautious in such things, trying not to be overconfident. But I also believe that I can't be overly ugly if she's chosen me. And the behavior other women in my presence has helped to confirm this assumption. And I'm certain that Ash loves me. So I tend to feel quite relaxed and safe when other guys are hitting on her. Which happens most of the time. To be more precise, it happens all the time. It has to be very annoying for her and I admire how friendly she manages to be when elegantly brushing the twentieth guy off.

We're deeply in love with each other and we're both absolutely certain that we will grow old together. So we've decided that we're too young for children and we will have plenty of time for that later. As a result we enjoy our carefree life immensely right now. Ash has just lost her job because the company went bankrupt but it's no problem as I earn enough for both of us. And we're quite certain that she'll have a new job in no time. So it doesn't worry us at all.

Right now, we've finally made it to the front row. I don't like it here very much, there's too much pressure. Exchanging sweat with smelly, frantically moving people is not my idea of a good time. But Ash adores Jimmy - the lead singer - and wants to see him as closely as possible. I'm not jealous or concerned, as one of the world's most famous rock stars he's as accessible as the moon for her. And I think moving to the front row has at least one advantage. The nearer you come, the more you realize that he's actually rather unattractive and unremarkable. At least in my opinion. Which might be flawed, as I've explained earlier.

But I like their music and I'm trying my best to have a reasonably good time despite the circumstances, while Ash is really freaking out, dancing and cheering like mad. She's not even noticing the occasional weirdo using the situation to rub a little against her body. I have to shoot some - ususally successful - warning glances from time to time.

Jimmy is currently busy with one of their slow songs. He's standing quite close to us when he notices Ash and starts looking at her all the time. He even points at her and she waves back, smiling happily. Yeah, man. Dream on. She's mine.

Suddenly, two massive security guys appear and lift her over the barrier. Hey, wait. This is no fun any more. I'm suddenly quite alarmed. But Ash is delighted and blows me a kiss while she is led along the small open space in front of the stage.

"Hey, wait," I scream! But no one hears me, it's way too loud.

I try to follow her over the barrier, but two other security goons stop me roughly. I try to tell them that she's my wife but they don't even listen. I feel powerless and humiliated.

I try to leave the hall, which takes me an eternity. Getting through the crowd is like being in one of these underwater dreams where you're unable to move, except in some kind of slow motion. I finally reach an exit and run around outside, confused and trying to find some kind of backstage entrance. It takes me another eternity to find it and I see that there's already a big group of girls assembled, hoping to get a glimpse of Jimmy and his band. I knock on the door like a madman, but no one answers. The young groupies look at me like I'm completely nuts. Which is not too far from the truth.

I send her a text message. "Where are you? Are you okay?"

No response.

I try to phone her all the time. No one answers.

Okay, just wait, I decide. Try to breathe normally. She will appear sooner or later. I try, rather unsuccessfully, to calm down a little.

I wait for endless hours at the backstage entrance, being worried shitless. The concert is long over. The place is silent and deserted by now, the wind blows garbage across the empty expanse of concrete. I'm completely alone and the concert hall lights are mostly turned off. Not a single person has come through the damn door. Obviously, it's just a bogus to distract the fans. Shit.

The morning finally dawns, still no message from Ash.

Finally, at about seven, I receive a text message. "im ok dont worry"

I immediately try to call her, but my call is blocked. I text her "Ash, please call me. I'm worried sick. I'm still outside the concert hall." No answer.

So, without seeing an alternative course of action, I finally go home. But I'm desperate and I can't sleep. I just wander around in the apartment restlessly, texting and calling her all the time. But her phone is obviously switched off.

At about eleven, my doorbell rings. I jump up. Ash! Finally. I'm overjoyed.

But to my dismay, two of the band's filthy security goons are standing there with a kind of list.

"Sorry, buddy. We're here to pick up her stuff. We have a list. Stay calm and you won't be harmed."

"Where is she?"

"Probably fucking somebody. She's a hot fuck. Everybody had their turn on her. The band, the staff, we security guys. She will be quite loose when she returns. If she returns." They both laugh.

I feel absolutely broken and humiliated, trying not to cry in front of these assholes. They are busy collecting everything on their list and feel right at home while they're doing it. After a few minutes they are finished and leave without another word. I'm still stunned.

My phone rings. It's Ash, finally.

"Ash. Where are you? When will you come home to me?"

"Danny, sorry, I will stay with the band until the tour ends."

"Ashley, you're leaving me?"

"No, dummy, of course not. I'll just accompany them for a while. Afterwards I'll be yours again."

"Ashley, these two guys that picked up your stuff told me that everybody has fucked you. Band, staff, security. They humiliated me. Are you cheating on me?"

"Oh, they did? They were instructed to be tactful. They will be in trouble. Jimmy won't accept that."

"Ashley, answer my question."

"Of course I have sex. I'm a groupie now. But only the band is fucking me."

"Ashley! You can't so that! We're married. How long will this go on?"

"The tour will and in December."

"Ashley, that's four months."

"Yes."

"Ashley, I can't accept that, we're married. You're cheating in the worst possible way."

"Sorry, honey. It's the chance of a lifetime for me. I'll make it up to you. Gotta run, see you."

And the line is dead. Shit. I've just lost my wife. In a cold way she has left me for a bunch of ugly rock stars. I start to cry a little, feeling lost and lonely. It has all been too quick and without warning. My perfect life has turned into a pile of horseshit within a few hours.

Shortly afterwards I receive a text message. "hon don't be mad. i'm still yours."

Again, I pace around in the apartment. I'm sad. I'm humiliated. I'm desperate. My wife has just been taken from me. Plucked like an apple from a tree. And there's nothing I can do about it.

And slowly, my hurt turns into anger. How can she do this to me? Does our marriage mean nothing? How can she hurt me that way? Obviously, she has never loved me. And that cold way in which she assumes she can just live her dream without me and have me back any time. That I will be the patient cuckold, waiting at home. That bitch.

I reply. "Don't bother to come home."

"dont be silly. i love you. you love me."

"Seriously."

No answer.

The anger helps. I run a 10K lap and feel better. At least a little. Well, not really that much, to be honest.

xx

On Monday my boss, who is a great guy, senses that I'm in trouble somehow. He asks me if I need help and I roughly explain the situation. He's a lot older than me and has a lot of life experience. But even he is stunned.

"Danny, we have an open position in Philadelphia. Maybe a complete new location will be good for you. I could help you getting it. I don't want to lose you, but if you stay here, in your old surroundings, you will be useless anyway. And you're due for a promotion that I can't give you here. Payment will be better too. About 120K, I think."

"Boss, you're great. I'll think about it."

xx

And that's what I do. For several days I hardly do anything else. I just think about Ash. And about the new position. If I can do it. If I want to give up Ash by moving to Philly. But I realize that I've already lost her. She has taken this decision from me. If I accept such kind of behavior, I'll be the spineless wimp of the century and she'll feel free to fuck anyone that strikes her fancy.

Of course, she sends meaningless text messages all the time. "love you." "think of you.". But I can never reach her on the phone to talk to her. She always refuses to take the call. I finally decide that I've had enough. I won't try to contact her again and I tell my boss that I accept. And I thank him again.

A week after the damn concert, I sign the new contract and start to pack my stuff. The company pays for the relocation.

I receive a text again. "we're going to south america, europe, asia. isnt that exciting?"

"Ashley, I'll file for divorce on Monday."

Immediately my phone rings.

"Danny, you're not serious, are you? I love you."

"No, you don't. And yes, I'm serious."

"Wait until I return. We'll talk about it."

"No."

"Danny, I'm in Toronto. I can't come home now."

"Would you want to if you could?"

She hesitates shortly. "No, this is the most exciting time of my life. I need this. Please be patient." She tries to speak as softly and lovingly as possible.

"I'll be gone when you return."

"No, you love me. And please remember that I love you. Please wait for me. I beg you."

I hang up.

A text pops up: "please..." and another "i'll explain later" "and i'll make it up. 1000 times. but please don't leave me!!!!"

I answer with "have a nice life"

She returns "Nooo. Please! Don't leave me! You won't regret it."

xx

On Monday I visit a lawyer, explain the situation and show the text messages. I ask for 50% of our savings. The apartment is rented anyway. No problem, he says. Abandonment makes things easier. If she stays with the band, the divorce will be final in three months. Good.

While I'm in his office, another text from Ashley appears: "i love you".

"Yeah, fuck you, bitch," I loudly exclaim. I have to chuckle a little and think that it seems my opinion of her has suffered considerably recently. I also question how I could be able to overlook her obvious character flaws for so long. Has she just hidden them well enough or has her hot body totally blinded me? Anyway, it doesn't really matter. Philly and my new life are waiting for me. I try to be enthusiastic about it. Rather unsuccessfully.

xx

I instruct the moving company to put her stuff and her furniture into storage. The storage will be paid from our former joint account, which is now hers alone. She will have access to the storage area. This is the easiest way to separate everything.

Text messages come in all the time. It gets a little annoying.

"we're in LA. luv u"

"arrived in rio. fantastic city. i'm yours. please always remember that"

"great concert in buenos aires. love you. only you."

I decide not to read them any more. It's the same stuff all the time, anyway. And it doesn't make me feel any better to read this stuff, it just freshens the pain. I need to move on.

Four weeks after the concert a strange text catches my eye though. "Exclusive for you again!" Whatever that means. I don't ask her because I feel that it doesn't really matter.

I settle into a nice routine in Philly. I like my new job. I have no shortage on female attention. The Ashley disaster still hurts. But at least my male self-confidence slowly returns.

xx

By November I have a steady girlfriend again. I'm a one-woman man and I'm happy to be in a steady relationship again. Her name is Sue. We still have separate apartments, but we mainly stay in mine because it's nicer and bigger.

One day Ashley calls. For the first time in two months.

"Hey Danny."

"Ashley."

"How are you doing? Sorry that I didn't call you. But I have sent messages to let you know that I'm okay."

"Yeah, you did. I haven't read them for a while, though."

"You haven't?"

"No. I'm over you. I've moved on." Which is not entirely true. But I'm working on it.

"Danny!" She sobs now. "I know, I've done something terrible to you. But please be patient. I need you."

I just hang up. She calls again but I ignore her. I think it's only fair after she has ignored all of my calls for months. I continue dressing up for my dinner with Sue. Ashley's call only slightly annoys me. I'm really mostly over her. And I'm looking forward to my evening with Sue.

xx

In December Sue and I think about her moving into my big apartment. I really like her a lot. Maybe it's not true love, but she's very attractive and my feelings for her grow constantly.

I'm sitting in my favorite easy chair and have just come to the decision that it's a great day when Ashley calls again. I'll probably have to revise my opinion about the quality of the day, I think.

"Hi Danny. Honey."

"Ashley."

"Danny, I'm at the airport. I'm yours now again. Only yours. Forever. Could you please pick me up here?"

"Ashley, do you know that we're not married any more?"

"What?" I hear that she starts to cry. "You're serious?"

"Yes. The divorce is final for about a month now. But nobody had your address to notice you."

"But Danny... yes, I know. I've put you through a terrible time. But I've hoped that you would endure that limited time of separation for me."

"Well, I haven't. I don't even live in Minneapolis any more. So I can't pick you up."

"What? Danny, where do you live?"

"In Philadelphia. I have a new job here. And I have a new girlfriend. I'm happy again after months of pure misery. I've moved on."

She's openly sobbing now.

"Bu.. but Danny. I'm yours now. Everything can be as it was before."

"No, nothing will be as it was before." I'm quite angry now. The bitch surely has a nerve. "You've abandoned me. You left me standing there, powerless. Unable to even talk to you. Worried shitless. You cheated on me, probably hundreds of times. No, what we've had is completely gone. I have quit the apartment, you'll have to find another one. You have half of our savings, so you should be able to start over. Maybe you even have some savings from your time as a prostitute for the band and the staff. This way you'll be ok, financially. Your stuff is in storage. Goodbye."

I hang up and send her the storage details in a text message. Of course, various texts and calls flood in. Which I ignore completely.

xx

In January Sue moves in with me. I'm a little reluctant at first because I'm afraid that she might hurt me, like Ashley did. It seems that I'm a little gun-shy, but I finally agree. Practically, it's a rather small step as she mostly lives in my apartment anyway. She'll just give up hers, which has been mainly a storage unit for some of her stuff recently. But nonetheless it's some kind of commitment and it makes me a little nervous.

But we settle into a joint household easily. Living with her is easy. And through her I find new friends in Philly. We go to a lot of parties. She wants to show me off, she says. I'd prefer to spend more time alone with her, but I go along.

xx

In May she starts to talk about a possible marriage. The hints are rather subtle, but hard to miss. I'm not really into another marriage after my disaster with Ashley though. And it seems too early for such a step anyway. I try to explain this in a gentle way, but she doesn't take it too well.

Thinking of my failed marriage, I notice that I haven't received messages from Ashley for quite a while. I had mostly ignored them anyway, but now they've completely stopped. I'm glad about getting rid of this distraction. I want to move on and prefer not be reminded of my old losses.

xx

Today is the seventh of July. I'm at work but half an hour ago one of our machines broke down. I contact the service but they can't be here before tomorrow. Just great. I'm under pressure anyway and now my department is going to lose several production hours. Anyway, at least I can go home now, there's nothing for me to do here right now. I also send my workers home.

I open the door to our apartment and I'm surprised that Sue seems to be home. At least her keys are lying in their usual spot. I go towards the bedroom, wanting to get rid of my tie and suit.

"You horny bastard, fuck me." I freeze. That's Sues voice. Shit. It's happening again. My woman is cheating on me. Shit. Shit. I slowly and a little reluctantly approach the bedroom, fully knowing that what I'm about to see is going to hurt me.

I see a rather overweight guy fucking Sue from behind. I feel insulted, seeing how unattractive he is. Sue prefers such an ugly turd to me? Something is definitely looking wrong here. Sue is a beautiful woman, what is she doing with such a slob?

"Is this your boss, Sue?" That's the only possible explanation for what I'm seeing.

"Danny," she screams! "Don't overreact please. This is nothing. Yes, this is my boss."

The guy quickly extracts himself from her and hurriedly starts to dress. I don't pay attention to him. And - to my surprise - I notice that I'm not all that much interested in Sue's reaction either.

On a sudden whim, I grab the guy as he wants to leave the room.

"Hey, let me go. I've done nothing wrong. Every guy would bang her. Hell, everybody does."

"What does that mean?"

"Barry, shut up!"

"No, tell me."

"Ask her." And he manages to extract himself because I'm not interested in him any more. He seems to decide not to overstress our hospitality and leaves immediately.

"Danny, he's an idiot," she says, but only after he's gone. So she doesn't want to antagonize him. So she plans to continue this. "Don't believe him."

"It doesn't matter."

"Yes, it doesn't. I'm sorry that you had to see this. I didn't want to hurt you. You're a good man. But I think I'm just not made for a steady relationship. I feel confined in here anyway. I tried to force myself to be monogamous by marrying you. But luckily, you refused. And you still love your ex."

"What? Nonsense."

"Danny, it's obvious. Can I please stay in the guest room until I've found another place?"

"Yes. But please don't bring your lovers here."

"Okay. Thanks."

Wow, that has been surprisingly easy. And I don't even feel particularly hurt. I almost feel a little bad about this, I really should be more affected, emotionally. Has the Ashley disaster maybe turned me into a cold and hard bastard? Or have I just not loved Sue? I don't know. Not as much as I've loved Ashley, that's for sure. So there's still hope I haven't turned into an uncaring asshole.

Surprisingly, what bothers me more than the end of my relationship with Sue is her statement that I still love Ashley. That has struck some nerve. I just hope she's wrong with this one.

xx

Sue leaves my apartment two weeks later without a fuss. We even manage to stay friends. I don't ask her for details or the number of men she's seen. But I get myself tested for STDs and two weeks later I'm relieved to hear that I'm clean.

After breaking up with Sue, I haven't much motivation to play the field again. Somehow, I'm tired of women. And tired of this whole mating procedure and the emotions involved. It just doesn't seem to be worth it.

xx

On a chilly October Thursday I get the first text message from Ashley since a long time. I've been thinking about her from time to time. Wondering what she might be doing right now.

"Danny, where do you live in Philly?"

What? Why does she want to know that? I don't answer. I don't want her in my life.

On the next day she tries again: "Danny, please. I'd like to talk to you. At least to say goodbye properly. And apologize."

Well, I can hardly deny her that, can I?

So I text her my address. Twenty minutes later my doorbell rings. It's Ashley. Fuck. She's in Philly? And even worse - she looks absolutely gorgeous. She hasn't changed much. She's even more beautiful, if that's possible.

"Hi Danny."

"Hi Ashley."

"Can I come in?"

"Sorry, yes." I lead her into my living room.

"Nice apartment."

"Thanks. Something to drink?" The tension is thick. I try to remain calm by being formal. She seems to be following the same strategy. So this is turning into some conversation straight from Buckingham Palace.

"Yes, a water please."

"I'm surprised you're here in Philly."

"I live here."

"Oh, for how long?"

"For about eight months."

"This is no coincidence, I assume?"

"No, I've followed you here. But I couldn't find you. I've tried for several months. Until I finally gathered the courage to ask you."

"You waited that long?"

"Yes. I wanted to live as a celibate for at least a year before I see you again. The year was endless and I was terrified that you'd be married by the end of it. But I needed the time to prove something to me and you. That I'm no slut. Not any more."

"Well, slut or not. You broke up our marriage by leaving me. But I believe you when you say that you haven't had sex for a year. And it's a good sign that you are in control of yourself again. But it doesn't really matter for us. We're history."

"Danny, I've only had sex with the band for about four weeks. Afterwards I took a regular job as a tour manager. And if they'd ask me to accompany them again today, I'd decline."

"Yeah, you've had your adventure. You dumped me without a second thought. That showed me how unimportant I've been for you. You fucked a lot. You've seen the world. At my cost. I sat at home, crying. I've been in hell. I won't ever be able to trust you again. Now you've had your adventure. You've had sex with your idols. You've seen the world. And you want to get your life back on track. And oh, yes, there was this guy. What's his name? Ah yes, Danny. Wouldn't it be convenient to take him back? The little wimp has surely waited patiently until the whole music industry has finished fucking me."

She's crying now.

"Yes, sorry. I'm so very sorry. I've been thoughtless and selfish. I was overwhelmed by this opportunity. I was unable to resist. Even though I felt terribly guilty. But it cost me too. The best thing I've ever had. You and our marriage."

I don't say anything. I can think of no witty reply.

"Danny, I've seen a shrink. And I've started to remove the band tattoo."

"They've tattooed you? They've marked their slut? It keeps getting better and better." Why do I even care? Why am I even interested in this stuff? Just get rid of her, Danny. She has said her piece.

"We all have it. The band and the complete staff. As a souvenir. It seemed like a good idea at the time. But it might always remind you of what I've done. So I've started to have it removed. It's just a small symbol anyway."

"Okay, Ashley, now what do you want?"

"My ultimate goal is to get you back," she sincerely says, trying to look brave.

"Why do you think I might want that? After what you've done to me?"

"I don't know, I'm just hoping for a miracle. I will do everything I can but I don't know if it will be enough. I live in Philly now, I have a job here. And I have nothing else to do here. I will spent all of my free time to try to get you back. To try to convince you."

"I don't love you any more."

"I know. How could you, after what I've done to you? But I will try my best to rekindle that. I might fail, but I will at least try my very best."

"My former girlfriend cheated on me too. I really have enough. I don't want a woman around me any more. Nothing steady. I don't even want one night stands right now. I don't want to be hurt again."

"Danny, I'm so very sorry. I've been a terrible person. I even knew it back then. And deep inside I knew that you'd leave me. And I think I even appreciated it. It was a healthy reaction. But I tried to suppress that thought. I mean, I've been with Jimmy. The famous rock star. And his band. I've felt so honored and flattered. A groupie at the age of 26. For some of the biggest stars worldwide. When they could have all those young girls. I felt like a teenager again. When his staff wanted to fuck me, it turned sour. I declined and the tensions started to grow. Even his security guys wanted me. I absolutely refused. I had sex with the band members only. And even that quickly began to lose it's appeal. They are not very attractive from close up and they all are boring and rather selfish lovers. Jimmy is not a bad guy though and surprisingly insecure in some ways. So Jimmy and I decided that it would be best if I filled a position as one of the tour managers. They needed someone urgently and they had plenty of young groupies anyway. So I stopped having sex with anybody about a year ago. But the traveling was just marvelous. So I stayed with them. The money was good."

"Yeah, I'd loved to have seen these places together with you." I feel hurt again. This conversation is not good for me. It rips open old wounds. And I'm not even sure why I'm having it at all.

"Danny, I know and I'm sorry. I've been a selfish bitch. I've been an absolutely terrible person for the four weeks I cheated on you. And I've been selfish for the months I continued to tour with them. But at least I came to my senses and stopped the fucking. And I felt a terrible remorse."

"But not enough to return to me."

"You had already said that you left me. I guessed if I have to win you back anyway..."

"You could as well finish the tour. And add some more damage to what you've already done."

"Yes. Sorry. I have some savings now and I would love to use them to travel with you. As a couple or as friends. Whatever I can get. To the places I went to with the band or to others. You decide."

"Ashley, you've said your piece. Anything else?" She looks surprised. She has said everything and has failed. She has offered everything she has. And it isn't enough.

"Danny, I will devote my life to getting you back. But I need a chance. I need to have contact with you. Only that way I can convince you. We need to be friends at least."

"No, Ashley. That doesn't appeal to me. I admit that I'm not as completely over you as I've hoped. But all you bring me right now is pain. I want to get my life back into a balance. I need my wounds to heal."

"I know that I'm selfish again. But I can't let you go."

The whole scene at the concert flashes back into my mind. All the hurt, the helplessness. I start to cry a little. I think she's never seen me cry. She looks absolutely stricken.

"Ashley, this is not good for me. It still hurts too much. Please leave."

"I'm so sorry. So terribly sorry...," she says, while leaving my apartment. She's also sobbing now.

xx

Next day, Saturday, 9 a.m.

My doorbell rings. Still a little sleepy, I go to answer it. I'm surprised, Ashley is standing there. She's holding some kind of picnic basket and just breezes past me into my kitchen.

"Good morning, Danny," she says while she starts to unpack her basket. "It's breakfast time."

"Ashley, please leave. I've had a bad night." My voice is hoarse and trembling. I'm afraid I will strangle her if she stays. I can barely contain my anger. Her brazen behavior pisses me off mightily.

"Oh. Yes, mine hasn't been too good either. If I'm honest, my nights haven't been good since that damn concert."

She suddenly loses her put-on happiness and begins to watch me closely.

"Danny, I'll leave you now. Enjoy your breakfast."

She sees the look in my eyes and practically flees from my apartment, leaving the door open. I grab her damn basket and throw it through the door behind her, missing her. She shrieks. I slam the door shut. This is as close as I've ever been to hitting a woman. My hurt seems to have fully turned into anger by now. That bitch. Cheating on me, deserting me, humiliating me, shutting me out of her life for months. Seeing the world. Having a wonderful time without me. And then coming to my home, simply claiming me back. Turning my life upside down. With lots of confidence. And assuming a shitty picnic basket is all it takes. Damn. And the worst thing is how all of this still affects me emotionally. I wish I could treat her cold and dismissive.

I try to cool down by running for about an hour. I feel much better afterwards.

xx

Next day, Sunday, 9 a.m.

My doorbell rings. Groundhog Day. And, sure enough, Ashley stands there. She's brave, I have to give her that. And I'm a little flattered that she takes this risk for me. She's obviously very determined.

"How's your mood today," she asks tentatively?

"Better. Come in." I actually feel quite calm today. Confused, not aggressive.

"Thank you." She smiles, looking relieved.

She closes the door and places her hands behind her neck.

"Yesterday you wanted to hit me. Do it, if you want to. I deserve it. I should have stayed long enough yesterday to take it. I was just too surprised. Go ahead."

I look at her, unbelieving, for a full minute. She keeps her face stretched forward and her eyes closed, awaiting the hit. Unbelievable. After an eternity of conflicting emotions running through my head, I slap her very gently - barely noticeable - on the cheek. And then I grab her and kiss her violently on the mouth. She immediately responds and returns my kiss, moaning.

I drag her to my sofa, roughly undress her and fuck her forcefully. I don't care about her feelings as I unload inside her and simply push her away from me. I don't even look at her as I go to the shower. I don't care in the least how she feels about this. She can leave whenever she wants to. I even hope she leaves, so I can come to terms with my confused emotions.

When I return from the shower, she still stands in front of my sofa, awaiting my reaction. I just point to the door. She immediately complies, saying "Thank you, Danny," while she's leaving. I can't help being impressed by her. And I'm starting to be afraid of where this whole thing is leading to.

xx

Next day, Monday, 6 p.m.

I have already anticipated it. I just wasn't sure about the exact time. My guess was six o'clock and that proved to be correct. The doorbell rings. My guess included Chinese takeaway. And again, that is correct.

"You're not too surprised, are you?"

"No. I guessed six and Chinese takeaway."

"Right on the spot, Danny." She smiles coyly. Being angry with a truly beautiful, smiling woman is a difficult thing.

"Come in."

"Thank you. And Danny..."

"Yes?"

"Thank you for yesterday. That was more than I deserved."

"Oh, I wanted to apologize for that."

"Apologize? Don't you dare. That was the best thing happening to me in more than a year."

"Well, you've had a shitty year then."

"Yes, mostly. But I've had a great time yesterday. And just to let you know - I'm clean and on the pill. And of course, you can use me in any way you want. Whenever you want. Without obligation. I think that's self-evident, isn't it?"

"Good to know. So if I'm horny, I just call you for a blow-job."

"Of course!" She looks surprised and almost indignant. "I thought that much was clear."

"Good. Now, let's eat. I'm hungry."

"Great."

"Will you bring food every day?"

"Yes, if you let me. Or I'll cook."

"Well, let's see."

We just eat our meal in silence and afterwards I ask Ashley to leave. She does so without complaining.

xx

She repeats that on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Either she brings takeaway meals or she brings food to cook me a dinner. I never touch her again, though. On Thursday I ask her to omit Friday. I don't tell her that I have a date with Clara.

xx

My date is quite nice. The only problem is me. I'm being unfair by comparing Clara with Ashley. And unfortunately, she can't compete. Ashley is a real stunner, centerfold quality. Clara is nice and pretty, but she's in a completely different league. Nevertheless, I enjoy the evening. And I take her to my apartment to have sex with her. It feels good. I don't need Ashley. I can be happy without her.

xx

I'm barely awake on Saturday morning, shuffling around in my apartment and trying to produce some coffee for me and Clara, when the doorbell rings again. I check the clock. And sure enough, it's nine o'clock. Shit, I've forgotten Ashley's new habit. Clara is still here, wearing one of my T-shirts.

I open the door.

"Good morning, Danny." Ashley says while she enters. "Ah, I'm Ashley, Danny's ex. I'm just bringing breakfast." And - unbelievable - she offers Clara her hand.

"Ah, hi, I'm Clara."

"Nice to met you. You two are hungry, I hope?"

Clara looks at me questioningly. I just shrug my shoulders.

"Sure," she says.

"Good. You two need your strength back."

I think I look as dumbfounded as Clara as we watch her setting the table. Ashley manages to make some light conversation, seemingly ignoring the weird situation.

After breakfast, Clara more or less flees my apartment.

"Well, why did she leave that early? I expected you to want another round after breakfast, like you usually do."

"I think she was rather surprised how you handled the situation."

"Ah, ok. Why?"

"Maybe she expected more jealousy? Some tension maybe?"

"Okay, Danny. She doesn't know that I don't expect to have you exclusively."

"I've used a condom."

"Oh, thanks." She smiles.

"What for?"

"To hear that you plan to have sex with me again. And to hear that you have used only one condom with her. That means that there are two shots left in your magazine."

"And you assume to be shot with those?"

"No, I don't assume. But a girl can hope, can't she?"

"Okay, then let's give you my best shot."

She shrieks a little for joy while she jumps off her stool. And this time, I enjoy the sex with her a lot more than last time. I even put a little emotion in it. And I take my time. She is very submissive and caring. And she seems to enjoy it massively and showers me with kisses afterwards.

She leaves without a fuss afterwards and I tell her to visit me only after we agree on it. She agrees but is clearly a little disappointed.

xx

I limit her visits to about two to four times per week. We usually eat and have sex. The sex is getting better and better, even better than before she left me. She refuses me nothing. And I begin to dare being more open, affectionate and emotional again. She senses it and is very grateful.

"Ashley, I've noted that you don't refuse me anything now."

"That's right, Danny. You haven't even tested my full potential."

"Before you left me, you have always refused to have anal sex. And you haven't swallowed. Now you do."

"Yes, and I will do a lot more. And to answer your implicit question - no, I haven't done that for them. Only oral and vaginal sex, always with condom. No deep throat."

"You can deep throat?"

"Yes, I've practiced it for you, using a toy. You want to try?"

"Yes, but isn't that painful?"

"No, not painful. A little arduous, but I'd really like to do it for you. I have learned it just for you. It would be a shame not to use it. Because no one else will ever benefit from it."

"Sounds good. May I ask where your tattoo is? I haven't seen it."

"I've had it removed. It can be seen if you look very closely. I will have two more laser sessions, then it will be completely gone. But I won't tell you where it is. If you want to look for it, you're more than welcome." She smiles wickedly. I have to laugh and start searching but can't find it.

xx

We sit on my sofa, watching a movie. She's more or less back in my life for three months now. And I decide it's time to take stock.

Do I love her again? Yes, I've probably never really stopped.

Am I still mad? No.

Am I still hurt? Yes, a little. This will probably never completely go away.

Am I happier with her than without her? Yes, definitely.

Am I afraid that she'll do such nonsense again? A little, yes. Trust is still an issue.

Do I understand why she has done it? No, not completely.

Do I want to see a shrink with her to understand it? No, that won't change anything.

So what do I want? I want her in my life, if I'm honest. But permanently. Marriage was obviously not enough to ensure that. But what will? Nothing. I can't keep her against her will.

Do I want to take the risk? Maybe. That's the big one. I suddenly realize that she's watching me intently.

"So, have you come to a conclusion," she asks? Obviously she knows what I was thinking about.

"Some, yes. But not all yet."

"Can I help somehow?" Bruce Willis is doing some thing or other in the background meanwhile, being mostly ignored.

"I've decided that I want you in my life again. But I don't know how to do it."

"It's easy. Just tell me what you want. I'll be anything you want. Slave, wife, lover, mistress, friend with benefits."

"The thing is that I love you, Ash." This is the first time I've told her that after the concert. And the first time I've called her Ash again instead of Ashley.

"Oh, Danny." She immediately starts the waterworks and hugs me.

"But I won't survive if you leave me again. I'm so afraid to make a commitment."

"What can I do? Have a tattoo with your name?"

"No, that can be removed. And it won't stop you anyway."

"Do you want a contract? Leaving me penniless if we split for whatever reason."

"Maybe. This won't stop you if you really want out. But it might stop spontaneous foolishness."

She gets some paper from her purse. "Here, read this."

It is a contract. Some kind of prenup. Saying that she will leave with nothing if we split for whatever reason. No money, no part of our retirement savings or housing. No custody or visitation rights for our children. And it says that she will walk through the streets naked with a sign "cheater" if she cheats on me. I have to laugh.

"Children?"

"Just covering every possibility."

"That's pretty harsh." And I'm questioning if it's even possible to give away rights to children that aren't even sired. But it's a nice detail, showing her determination.

"Yes, I've already signed. Just put it away somewhere. Anything else I can do to help you to decide for me? You want to hear about what the shrink has come up with?"

"No, not really. The short version maybe."

"Okay, let me tell you then that she really let me have it. She took me apart quite nicely. Vanity, arrogance, self-centeredness were the key points. And in the end she thought that I've learned my part and suffered enough to mature and probably won't do such madness again. But I've known that at the time anyway."

"Good to hear."

"So what do you want?"

"I see two ways. First: we split up. We could both start over without the baggage. Second: full commitment. Marriage, children, house."

"SECOND! I choose second. If I have a say in it."

I have to laugh. She looks at me very anxiously.

"Okay, Ash. Let's do the second one."

She jumps up, shrieking a little and drops on the floor, hugging my knees.

"Thank you Danny. For taking back this dumb broad. Even without letting me suffer for too long. I promise to make you happy."

And she does. Boy, does she...