Four Shades of Recovery: Boxed Set (19 page)

The real estate deal that Michael signed on for truly benefits both of us. There’s no doubt that the stellar location can’t be beat. The condominium schema that Kingsfield brings to the table remains a winner with the young professional focus groups they have tested. Perhaps he can hire Abby to sell the units in Portland, once she recovers and things take on momentum with the construction of the units. It could be a year or so before that phase of the project kicks into high gear. I wonder if Megan will be envious of her mother’s expanding real estate career. 

Megan begins to stir next to me. She opens her lovely blue eyes and smiles with joy when she focuses on me. I am so in love with this little doll. She stretches and pulls me close. I’m convinced now that she’s also in love with me.

“Wake up, baby, we have a lot to discuss today,” I command.  I make my favorite move and run my lips along her adorable throat. Then I slap her gently on her beautiful ass. Her ass is mine. She bites her lip and runs her tongue along it. I guess we won’t be talking much for a while.

KINGSFIELD’S POV

Life feels good just now. Those dark days after my wife, Lisa, died felt like they would never end. The knife twisted in my gut on the day the Georgia Highway Patrol informed me that she died almost instantly from a snapped neck and massive head injuries. Some fool of a drunk came across the median strip on a freeway and slammed into her vehicle so quickly that she had no time to react. At least my poor darling didn’t suffer.

But, I certainly did and for so long. After Lisa’s seemingly unreal funeral and burial, I could think of little else but her. I spoke to her image in my memory for weeks, and for hours at a time. Sometimes it felt as if she was in the room with me. It eased my mind to imagine what she would say about the horrific accident. I hauled out old photos and talked with her about the various events we encountered in our twenty-two year marriage. We were college sweethearts.  I‘ve no doubt that she loved me as much as I did her.

Sleep eluded me in the weeks and months after her death. I felt numb with shock and then the darkest sense of loss took over. I attended grief counseling sessions and groups for a year. That helped me understand the process of letting go. There were others in the therapy group who had even worse scenarios than mine. Slowly, I began to heal. I didn’t force it; just let the change happen.

At first, I couldn’t bear the idea of ever dating again. There was too much risk involved in putting yourself out there and feeling any rejection. My emotions couldn’t take any more of a workout. After a couple of years, however, I began to explore some tentative hookups with women that I found attractive.

On my 45
^th
birthday, I met Abby, a real estate sales associate from Miami. Her energy and attractive appearance actually had me thinking about having sex again. We made out once, at my place, but I just didn’t feel the urge when it came down to it. In the end, I decided that Abby was a bit too impulsive for me. She jumped from thought to thought like a hummingbird on a red hibiscus bush.  I dated others and began to have sex with a few of the women who made me hard but the emotional connection never worked.

When I met Megan Pine, Abby’s daughter, everything changed for me. I discovered that women who looked like Lisa really turned me on sexually. In addition, I found young adult women very appealing. That was probably due to the fact that I fell in love with Lisa when she was exactly that age. Megan behaved so much like my former wife too. Her personality reflected depth, maturity and kindness. Ms. Pine would make an excellent lifelong companion for me.

My attraction and pursuit of Megan was a bit aggressive, I’ll admit. I thought that I’d won her over with our shared experiences on Maui. We talked so much on our long hike through the Haleakula volcano. She told me about her favorite books, her trip to Europe and her time at The Oregonian as an editor’s assistant. I gave her tips on real estate sales and we joked about some of the techniques that did not work with the condominium development. I told her about Lisa and our long marriage.

At first, Megan seemed more than attracted to me. When we made out and I felt her up, I was hooked. She met all my criteria and then some. Soon thereafter, something went wrong. There was a ghost rattling around in her past that she refused to share with me. In retrospect, I realize that the ghost was none other than Matt Frazier. She had unfinished business with Mr. Frazier from the previous year. The competition was not in my favor since Frazier is twenty years younger than me, a millionaire, and obviously in love with Megan as well. She bolted shortly after I made my play. Megan decided that Frazier was the one.

When I finally caught up with them, Frazier made his love clear with his protection of Megan. Not only did he fight for her when I showed up to take her back to Florida, he bragged about screwing her, every night. I felt more than humiliated with that confrontation. I couldn’t hold my own against his kickboxing skills and he sent me off like a whipped puppy. Megan also rejected me, in no uncertain terms, that evening outside her office building.

I found a way to extract my revenge though, on both of them. I pulled strings on an important line of credit that Matt Frazier held and caused a crisis at his company for a day or so. That got his attention. Then, I did something I actually feel terrible about. I had two thugs, that I hired, work the freeway when Abby was driving to work. Both men were known for causing accidents to collect insurance money on older cars. It’s a scam often used on busy highways, when someone wants a new car.

In this case, I had no idea that their shenanigans would result in a near fatal accident for Abby. My intention was simply to cause a minor accident with her vehicle. Then, I’d cause Megan some pain. I feel nothing but regret that those thugs took the accident to a new level of risk. I won’t be hiring them again for such services. At least Abby’s note assures me that she’s recovering well and that they do not suspect me as a culprit. At least, I hope not.  

I’m guessing that my “luck” in the Portland real estate market emanates from Mr. Frazier himself. I know there’s a third party involved in the deal because the landowner doesn’t have the cash flow to secure the terms on his own. Matt Frazier has very deep pockets. He’s the wealthiest business person in Portland.

My guess is that Frazier felt remorse for his assault on me. Plus, he’s got Megan and I don’t. This deal is Frazier’s way of making peace with me. He realized that I yanked his chain with the loan. Frazier’s a savvy business man and knows that the condominiums on the waterfront are going to be a hit. I’m ready to smoke the peace pipe, if he is.

Recently, I met another Lisa look-alike through the Portland real estate connection. She’s got the coloring, mannerisms and the age that I desire. Marissa’s not as bright and polished as Megan but she’s young enough to shape into the type of companion that will satisfy my needs. Her interests in art and painting mirrors a passion that Lisa embraced. I can’t imagine that Frazier had any hand in this meeting. It’s pure chance.

My next move will be to take Marissa on a vacation and explore our sexual compatibility. I think Marissa is wise in the ways of sex. I suspect she’s being groomed by that bitch, Jillian Kitner, who just happens to be Marissa’s supervisor. Hopefully, I can lure Marissa away from that job. Perhaps I can hire Marissa in real estate sales here in Georgia. I look at my watch. It’s time for dinner with the lovely Marissa.

I pick up Marissa from my building. Tonight I’m taking her to a restaurant in the Buckhead section of Atlanta. It’s in one of the better neighborhoods and serves traditional American food. I’ve decided to take Marissa to a moderately priced place with a good reputation. It’s called ‘Seasons 52’. It’s classy and serves grilled venison and shrimp that gets raves. We order our drinks and I start in with my story about Maui.

“How would you like to spend a long weekend at the Four Seasons Resort on Maui?” I ask with an enticing smile.

“Well, who wouldn’t like to do that?” she asks with a seductive yet demure look.

I’m already thinking about having tantric sex with her in one of their sumptuous suites. The service at this resort rates a five and Marissa will be impressed. “If you’re really interested, we can go there next weekend,” I promise.

The server arrives to take our order.  I select the flatbread, a grilled venison chop and seasonal vegetables. Marissa opts for the mesquite grilled garlic shrimp.

Marissa continues the discussion and that’s a good sign. “I’ll need to clear a long weekend with my supervisor, Mrs. Kitner,” she insists, “but I would love to visit the island.”

“I’m sure it won’t be a problem, dear girl, but go ahead and clear it with her,” I’m encouraged that Marissa wants to take our relationship to the next level. She’s been rebuffing my sexual advances lately. Now I’ll have a chance to show her what an experienced 40 plus year old man can really do.

“What’ll we do on Maui?” she asks innocently. I can think of several options that involve a bed.

“Anything you want, however, I do have some pictures I can share with you. I hosted a real estate conference there several months ago. The Four Seasons is located on the far southwest side of the island. We took helicopter flights over the black sand beaches of Hana, hiked up and down the Haleakula volcano, snorkeled with turtles, had whale watching adventures, tried zip lining over deep ravines, and just hung out on the lovely beach near the hotel.” I paint an enticing picture for her. The look on her face lets me know she’s impressed.

“It would just be the two of us this time around, then?” she’s nearly timid as she poses the question.

“Yes, Marissa, I’d like to get to know you better. You sense how much I’m attracted to you, right?” I hold out my hand and touch hers across the table.

“Mr. Kingsfield, errr…Michael, you really are charming…and I am interested in getting to know you better as well,” she responds. Then, Marissa squeezes my hand and gives me a sweet smile.

My mood soars. “So, I’ll make arrangements for us. We can leave early on a Friday and stay until Tuesday, if that’s alright with you.”

Her eyes grow wide with excitement. “As long as I get approval from Mrs. Kitner, I’m happy to spend time with you.”                                  

“What sorts of activities interest you, Marissa?”

“I would love to see the black sand beaches and hiking sounds like fun. However, I’m most interested in visiting the galleries and seeing some of the native Hawaiian art.”

She really loves visual sorts of hobbies. I’m happy to accommodate. I’ll show her something visual.

“Your wish is my command,” I intone with a salacious grin. She gushes with enthusiasm.

“Would you like to see some of the shots from the real estate conference last year?” I inquire and take out my phone. I still enjoy looking at the pictures of Megan from that trip. She looked amazing.

“Sure, Michael. Do you have any photos of the whales breaching out of the ocean water?”

I move my chair over to her side of the table and sit next to my lovely young companion.

“Yes, I think so,” I offer. “Let me scroll through the shots and see what I can find for you.”  I sift through  dozens of island scenes noting that several of the pictures show Megan either with the group or alone. There’s even one with the two of us at the Haleakula summit.  I’m not sure I want Marissa to see those pictures as she might get the wrong idea about me. At last, I locate a few shots of whale tales and then a shot of two of Orca’s leaping out of the water, near the boat. Marissa looks suitably impressed.

Before I know what’s happened, Marissa takes my IPhone and flips through my display. I point out several scenes that were taken during my zip line adventure over various heights. I show her waterfall scenes taken from the helicopter and even a few fuzzy shots of the black sand beaches. She’s more than excited now about the trip to Hawaii.

“What about the beach near the Four Season’s Hotel,” she asks with enthusiasm. “Is that also a black sand area?”

“Oh, no, that sand is much more refined and light. You’ll enjoy walking and romping upon it,” I promise her. “Do you need a new bathing suit or two for the trip?”

“Well, I could probably use a new bikini for the long weekend,” she winks and looks at me in a flirtatious manner.

“By all means, let’s get you a sexy new bikini,” I add with enthusiasm.

“What sort of bathing suits do most of the women wear on the Four Seasons beach?” she asks. I suppose she wouldn’t want to look out of place at such a classy spot.

“Well, let’s see. I might have some examples,” I offer. I know that I have an amazing photo of Megan and Abby in their swimsuits from the conference. What harm could showing that picture cause? I select the proper frame and flash it toward Marissa.