[b]EPISODE 11[/b]
[b]I leaned back into the plushy softness of the ultra-luxury Maybach 62 sedan and thought about it for a moment. "I need to do some shopping. Some really, really out of control shopping. And I'm starting with the biggest TV I can find."
"I know just the place, sir." And so the driver pulled out into traffic.
Meanwhile, I thumbed open my phone and put in my fancy earpiece. I found my mom's number and hit the TALK button.
Thirty minutes later, the car was idling against the curb while I desperately attempted to get off the phone with my mother. "Goodbye, mom."
I then twiddled my thumbs for another two minutes listening to her more urgently blister advice into my ears before I tried again, "Goodbye, mom."
Now under the latest urgent assault, I reclined my seat, letting the footrest come up and support me while I lay almost flat in the back of this car. I sighed... All the money in the world and I still can't get off the phone.
By 4:30pm I was back in the same position, reclined all the way back in the backseat. Only this time, the trunk was full with several bags of clothing I never would have paid the money for in my previous life. My new ultra-sound-blocker headphones were wiring a full library of tunes into my ultra-mp3-playing-cell- phone. The flashy diamond-encrusted watch was a heavy dead weight on my wrist. And even though the Maybach windows were perfectly tinted, my new oversized sunglasses provided that extra level of protection against ANYONE seeing my eyeballs.
Okay, so I was a half-hour late. But I was the boss. What could Cassandra do, fire me?
It's a good thing I was able to schedule most of the rest of my shopping for delivery to my new pad. Otherwise I'd never be able to fit everything into this car and I would have been even later. Damn I loved black credit cards.
And best of all, I had the brand-new AWESOME wardrobe to suitably impress my date for tonight. That was the one big thing missing. I was all alone in this backseat. But that would soon change. I had youth, good looks, and a ton of money. Soon I would have love.
Of course, life doesn't turn out all nice and tidy like that, does it?
I'd been standing in my bedroom for at least five minutes, at least, what was left of my bedroom. I'd painted the walls four years ago when I moved in. Now, everything was stark white, smelling of fresh paint, and ready for sale on the open market. Not a stick of furniture was left... my home was now nothing but an empty shell.
The full-length mirror was built into my closet. And now I stood there, not liking what I saw in the reflection.
I didn't like the ME I saw. Cassandra had complimented me on my clothes when I arrived. She had shown impeccable taste for the few days I'd known her, and she was blunt enough to tell me if I'd made a serious fashion error.
But even if it looked good, the style still wasn't... ME. The jacket, the blinged-out watch, the hideously expensive and thoroughly useless fabrics. Whether you can afford it or not, a $200 shirt is a $200 waste of fabric and space if you don't really, really want to wear it. The fancy new penthouse apartment. The expensive car. All very luxury. But was it me?
I didn't want to be THAT guy.
I wanted to be Jonathan.
True, Jonathan with a larger bank account that usual, but still Jonathan.
Cassandra had been standing off to the side, waiting patiently for me and smart enough to stay silent and let me do my thing.
I finally turned and strode quickly for the front door. Cassandra fell in to step right behind me. "Okay, we're done here."
Once we got to the elevator, I'd figured out my plan. Cassandra already had her stylus and Blackberry ready to take notes before I began speaking. "Two, no... three things. First, I want my wardrobe found and put into my room first thing. I'm going to have to change clothes. Second, cancel my dinner reservations for tonight. We're not going there anymore. And third, I need to borrow a car. Er, rent a car, whatever."
"Yes, sir. Do you need me to make other dinner reservations?"
"No."
"And what kind of car would you like? I'm assuming you don't want the driver to take you somewhere." Her questions were efficient and unobtrusive.
"Correct. Just a Ford or something. A simple sedan."
"I see. Might I point out that your driver's license is expired. And I don't believe you've been behind the wheel since college."
Crap. I looked at my feet. The elevator doors opened into the lobby and gave me a few extra seconds to think. Cassandra held her tongue and waited until we both got back into the Maybach and started our drive over to 5th Avenue. "You know, never mind. I'll get a cab."
Given my newfound financial status, I'm sure Cassandra would be questioning what was going through my mind. She may even have already guessed, given her level of competence. But she kept her mouth shut.
I liked her more and more every day. We were going to have a great working relationship.
Just a few minutes later, I was standing in a fully furnished apartment, modern luxury all around me. I couldn't wait until the 82-inch LCD arrived... both of them. And the sunset over Central Park was gorgeous.
But first, there were two people standing at attention in my foyer. Cassandra did the honors. She first introduced me into a distinguished gentleman in his early sixties, dressed in a well-pressed tuxedo. "This is Edward Shaw, your butler. From now on he can say 'Can I help you?' at the door. And he makes the absolute best martinis you could ask for."
I shook his hand and thanked him for his service. I wasn't quite sure how to react. Cassandra had mentioned the word 'staff' many times, but I never gave it much thought. My first butler. A live-in human being... serving me?
Next Cassandra brought me to a well-dressed woman, likely in her late fifties but her body was in good condition for her age and she moved gracefully. "And this is Edward's wife, Dorothy. She'll take care of the housekeeping and is your personal chef. I'm sure with time she'll not only learn to make your favorite dishes but introduce you to new favorites as well."
I stepped forward and shook her hand as well.
"The Shaws' previous employer died about three months ago. They come highly recommended by Mr. Rubenstein. And their room is just down that hallway." Cassandra pointed off to the left.
"And my room is just across the hall from theirs," she finished.
That comment brought me up short. "You're staying here, too?"
"Of course. I'm here to assist you... any way I can." And at that last comment, Cassandra gave me a flirty giggle and then turned, heading towards the rest of the apartment. I shook my head with a little chuckle underneath my breath. As far as I could tell, that was the first overt thing she'd ever said to me. It felt nice to know that she was feeling more comfortable and more personable around me. If she was going to be my personal assistant, she was going to have to loosen up a bit.
Cassandra gave me the dime tour. Much of the original furniture that had been present when we toured the house was now gone, replaced by a more modern design with lots of chrome, black leather, and square angles. Much more masculine while remaining New York chic, suitable for a bachelor like me. I'd also be keeping my shoes on more. American servants just wouldn't look right in uniforms with no shoes. My mom might pitch a fit, but I could handle her.
Cassandra then led me further into the place. I didn't just have a bedroom. I had 'private quarters'. It was practically my own apartment inside of a home. There was a spacious private lounge with its own views of Central Park. And then, my bedroom itself was absolutely huge. Upon seeing my new bed I instantly jumped on to enjoy the heavenly plushness. And after enjoying the experience like a five- year-old boy, I jumped off and followed Cassandra into my garishly oversized walk-in closet. My wardrobe was already completely unpacked and organized for me.
Cassandra pointed out where everything was, and then made her exit to let me change.
I spent over an hour prepping, the longest I'd ever taken in my life. Seriously, most of the time I just threw something on and winged it for the date. But this one, Nicole, I really liked. And my situation was so weird that I found myself overthinking how to come across as 'casual' while feeling anything but casual inside.
When I finally emerged, Cassandra gave me the once over like a concerned mother hen. She even reached to my head and tousled my hair a bit with her hands to give me a better 'relaxed' look. "You'll be fine," she reassured me.
Just before I left, she had a serious look in her eye. "If you wish to 'entertain' any guests, trust that we will of course be quite discreet."
Less than a second after I knocked, the door swung open.
"Hi." I arrived simply, a bouquet of garden flowers in my hand, dressed casually in my simple jeans, a button down, and a blazer. God, she was gorgeous.
Nicole's soft hazel eyes went wide and then tightened in a momentary panic. "Oh, crap. I really overdressed." And she did. I let my gaze start at the bottom and move its way up: Expensive, fragile heels; a shimmering red cocktail dress; lots of jewelry, and her hair expertly coiffed up into an elegant pile atop her head. "I'd been expecting some fancy dinner."
My heart sank about three miles in half a second. I remembered she'd joked about the 'fancy dinner', but I'd talked myself out of taking that route. "Uh, disappointed?"
"Oh, no! No!" And then Nicole's laugh made absolutely everything in the world much better. "I had been sooooo nervous. I mean, I know it's just a first date and we barely know each other and no I've never been on a really fancy first date but oh, not that I want to, and actually, I'm relieved." She paused to catch her breath, not realizing that she'd been rambling. "Really, I'm relieved. It's not every day that a billionaire asks you out on a date and I'd been kinda freaking out about it."
"It's just me, John. Just the cute guy you met in the elevator, remember?"
"Yeah, I remember." Nicole's smile easily lit up the entire room. "But oh, uh, hang on a second, I should go change."
"No!" I interrupted. "Please don't. You... you're... you're just so gorgeous right now."
"Really?" She seemed so relieved and incredibly nervous. I wondered for the hundredth time how such a pretty girl had gotten through life not knowing how gorgeous she was and inheriting the self-confidence (or at least façade of confidence) that came with such a physical beauty.
"Come on." I smiled a reached out my hand.
She took it and I took advantage of the position to pull her to me suddenly, causing her to gasp until I stopped her with a hand at her waist just inches in front of my face. "Let's get something out the way," I said. "I really, really like you. I want this to go right. And I don't want to put any pressure on you. So don't worry about it. I'm a sure thing."
Worry was still on her face for another moment, and I moved in. My mouth went most of the way to hers, but not all the way. And only a split-second later, Nicole closed the gap and captured my lips with her own.
Our first kiss. She was sweeter than I imagined, and she was wearing some perfume that was driving me crazy.
And when we finally broke, I started pulling her out into the hallway. "We should go. You keep letting me kiss you and we'll never get this date started."
We rode the elevator downstairs. Now most people probably don't hold hands on the first date, but Nicole wasn't about to let go of me. And right where I'd left it ten minutes earlier was the random cab I picked up on 5th Avenue.
"You got a cab!" she giggled. She turned to me, covering her mouth with her hand but I could clearly see the smile in her eyes. "Don't think I haven't seen you in that limo from time to time."
I just opened the cab door and bowed. "Milady."
She held my hand for support as she swung onto the seat, and I soon followed. And before we knew it, the cab was pulling up to the curb in front of McDonald's, per my instructions.
Nicole's mouth gaped open. "You're seriously taking me to McDonald's."
I leaned in and set my chin on her shoulder. "Big fancy dinner from New York's newest billionaire... That's what you said." And with a completely straight face I added, "I bought the restaurant just so I could take you here."
Nicole's eyes were about to pop out of their sockets, not sure whether to think I was crazy or pulling her chain. "You ARE joking, aren't you?"
Suddenly, I lost my composure and my ability to maintain a straight face. A loud belly laugh exploded out of me as I couldn't hold it in any longer. "Yes! Yes!" I laughed while Nicole got humorously angry and started tickling me.
"Hey! Hey! Stop! Stop!" I cried.
"Ugh... you ALMOST had me. Getting me all dolled up for you, with these shoes that hurt like hell, and then going into a McDonald's? I thought I was fourteen again."
"Okay, now seriously. What kind of food do you like?" I held both her hands in mine, holding them up between our chests. It felt so natural to feel this close to her.
"What, you haven't already picked out a place?"
"Oh, it's not that. I've picked out and made reservations at five places. Didn't want to take you to... Italian, for example, and have it turn out you didn't like Italian."
"You really thought this through, didn't you?"
"Absolutely. Things may not go perfect, but I'll do what I can. I just want you to feel comfortable with me. Like I said, I really, really like you and I really, really want this date to go well."
Nicole held up our hands joined together, turning them so that the back of my right hand rested against her right cheek. "You're really something special, you know that?"
"Hey, I'm just an ordinary guy hoping to get lucky."
"You're wrong."
"What?"
"You're so much more than an ordinary guy." And then she kissed me again. She kissed me with so much feeling I felt like lightning bolts were shooting straight into my skull, in a good way.
She kissed me with so much passion that my world shrank down to the diameter of this cab, nothing existing except for me and her. And if lightning really did strike me now, I would still die happy.
"I'm never going to get you to dinner, am I?" I wondered when we eventually pulled apart.
"That depends, any more tricks up your sleeves?"
"No. Just pick a food and we'll be on our way."
"Okay... let's go." Nicole's eyes flashed down and a guilty grin spread across her face. "Besides, I'll have to get you somewhere in public where I can keep my hands off you for a few minutes. At least that way I might actually learn the history of this man I'm falling for instead of just wishing I could fuck you right here."
"Oh, damn. Forget dinner then."
"No!" she hit my shoulder. "Sometimes it really is about the journey, not the destination. Let's go have a great first date."
We had a great first date. Our food got cold and neither of us ate much. We were too busy talking. And giving each other light touches on the arm or with our feet underneath the table. I felt like I was a giddy teenager once again.
She got the lowdown on my mom and Jonathan Kendall. She found out I was 27- years-old and if the whole Kendall thing hadn't happened, I might have made it big as a Finance guru on Wall Street in a short time.
I found out she came from a sheltered, small town in Connecticut and just recently graduated from an all-girls private college. And now she was just a 22- year-old young woman hired by an Auditing firm right out of school and completely overwhelmed by the experience of New York City. Her story answered a lot of my questions about the pretty girl with the very un-New York attitude. It just made me want to protect her so much more. I hadn't dated a 22- year-old since I was 22.
There was only one hiccup in the whole evening. We were getting into a cab after dinner when I heard a woman gasp, "Is that... is that Jonathan Kwong?"
It was everything I could do to not react. Nicole glanced over for a half-second. But then a second woman said in an authoritative tone, "Nah, couldn't be. Jonathan Kwong wouldn't be taking a cab."
Once out of sight, I grinned and then our driver took us back to Nicole's apartment building. Originally I'd planned to go for a walk on a nice evening, but something in Nicole's eyes pleaded to finally get somewhere private.
We headed back up the elevator, tension thick in the air between us. We weren't holding hands. We weren't even really looking at each other really. I figured we were both just counting the seconds until we arrived at her door and rehearsing what we would say to each other.
I knew this had to be a 'no pressure' first date. Apart from my opening kisses, we'd remained relatively platonic throughout the evening. So I'd resigned myself to returning home alone tonight.
And so, when we arrived at her door, I held her hand and began by saying, "Nicole, I had a wonderful time toni-"
Then she interrupted me by saying the words every man wants to hear in his life. "Would you like to come in?"
I smiled, simultaneously happy to go in and terrified that I wouldn't be able to control my desire for her. The skimpy red dress had been revealing luscious curves and silky skin all night. "Sure. You never finished your story about what your Aunt said at that Christmas party."
Nicole took one big step closer to me, penetrating my personal space until she was looking up at me with her chest pressed up against me. "No... I mean, would you like to come in?" There was no mistaking the husky innuendo in her voice.[/b]