Lesson 3 Teresa's Apartment version 2

Lesson 3 Louisa’s Apartment.

When Alonso drove up he saw the curtain move. She’s waiting, he noted. He parked across the street. The sweeper came through with its lights flashing and brooms swishing. In its wake, steam rose from the asphalt bringing an odor of chemical cleanness. The day had been muggy but the humidity dropped as a cool breeze drifted off the ocean.

He felt the resurgence of his old street sense. Some things you never forget, the thought. His awareness became more acute. He looked both ways and seeing nothing coming, crossed the street. At the top of the stairs he saw Louisa waiting at the entrance. She was wearing a bulky blue bathrobe and peering out at him. When he got to the top she buzzed him in. The door didn’t want to open and she kicked the base to break it loose. Motioning to follow, she turned and started up the stairs.

Alonso fell in behind. The movement of her hips beneath the cotton padding caught his attention. How long has it been since you got laid? He wondered, too long.

There was a scent in the alcove, characteristic of old buildings. He’d always attributed that odor to mold growing beneath the plaster lathe. It reminded him of the house he grew up in. At the top of the second level she turned into a hallway and proceeded down two doors. At apartment 204 she stopped, and inserted a key card. It buzzed and there was a telltale click, followed by a shaft of light spilling into the corridor. He followed, blinking, as his eyes adjusted to the apartment.

The wallpaper was a floral print. The floor was tongue and grooved hardwood, with a fresh coat of wax. From above a ceiling fan rotated slowly. The furnishings were sparse and included two bookcases, a library table, and an antique stuffed sofa. On the far wall was a cherry cabinet with a wide screened TV.

Louisa kept walking into the kitchen. On the table was a plate of glazed donuts and two place settings. She got some cream out of the refrigerator and grabbed the beaker full of coffee.

“Is this a social visit or did you have something else in mind?”

He smiled, taking a seat. “Strictly business,” he said, lying with a straight face.

She poured their cups full and returned the Pyrex pot to its slot in Mr. Coffee.

“Don’t keep me in suspense,” she said.

Alonso relaxed. He’d rehearsed the whole scenario on the drive over.

“First off I want to thank you for helping Rochelle the other night.”

“She's a sweet kid."

“...And say again how sorry I am for letting things get out of hand.” The flashback of his aggressive behavior returned to haunt his memory.

“It was tense moment but you recovered well.”

“It was a bit of a shock finding you still in the Kitchen.“ Somehow finding her in the kitchen after giving orders to the contrary kept raising a red flag.

“I know, I know, Mrs. Fortuna made it clear I was to leave early but your, ‘Susie Clueless’ pleaded for me to stay.“

“I hear you,” said Alonso. “Since Carmelita died, Rochelle has gotten good at pulling strings.”

“…Well, expecting her to singlehandedly serve your guests was a job way beyond her pay grade.”

“I realize that now,” he said chuckling. “At the time however, it seemed like such a good idea.”

“All I did was make sure everything was hot and handed her all the right platters.”

“I remember how amazed I was, seeing her doing so well.”

“With a little training, I could turn that girl into a first class serving wench.”

Alonso chuckled.

“Did you come here to scold me again?”

“Not exactly.”

“Oh! I know, you couldn't wait to tell me I've been promoted to chief cook and bottle washer.”

“I know you’re teasing,” Alonso continued, “but actually I came to discuss something along those lines."

“There was no ulterior motive?

"None at all," he said holding up his hands in innocence.

"No hidden agenda?” she inquired, raising an eyebrow.

“'Well, Yes' and 'No.' I asked if you could ‘Cook’ the other night to inject a little humor. To show that what I feel for you is more than...” he struggled to find the right words.

“... A one night stand?”

“You got it.’”

“Tell me about that something, 'along the same lines'."

"Well, as you’re no doubt aware, my wife passed away last year, under a horrific set of circumstances.” He felt a twinge of guilt, like he was cheating, even though it had been over a year.

“I’m familiar with the story. I know it’s been hard for you.”

“Yes, it certainly has. She was more than a wife, she was a friend and business partner.”

She gave him a “SO?” look.

Alonso smiled and continued. “Carmelita operated a branch office for the Agency in Hillsdale Mall, out on the perimeter. It’s been closed the past year but in its day it was a real moneymaker. I’d like to reopen it.”

“You want to hire me as a Travel Agent?”

“I want to hire you as Branch Manager. It would pay a whole lot more than your making now.’ He was treating their relationship more like a business deal than a budding romance.

“But I don’t know anything about the travel business.”

“You’re smart and I’m sure you’ll be a quick study. Jenny could act as your mentor, teach you the ropes and answer any questions.”

“Jenny?”

“She works as my assistant at the Main Office. You’d serve as an Intern for a month and then take over, when we reopen.”

“How much is a “’…whole lot more?”

“Fifty thousand plus commissions.”

Louisa stared back with a stunned, almost dumbfounded look. Alonso could almost hear the tumblers rolling around in her head. He sat quietly, drumming his fingers, as it sunk in.

“I just don’t know what to say.”

“You’d be a subcontractor and not one of my employees.” He continued. “It would give our relationship a legitimacy it doesn’t currently enjoy.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means you’d no longer have to feel guilty about dating the boss.“

Louisa stood and walked around the table. She gave him a long and inquiring look before leaning over and kissing his forehead. His hands reached around her waist and he got to his feet, taking her in his arms. Her eyes showed a hint of suspicion. She raised her chin. Their lips met and his fingers clinched, pulling her close. It was an impassioned moment that heralded a new benchmark in their relationship. Up to then, both seemed to be holding back but now as he felt the press of her stomach, something seemed to change. She tasted fresh, like a sparkling brook and smelled like the dew on a rose. She groaned, squirming, as they rocked back and forth, their tongues flirting between each other’s lips. Her robe began to come undone and he saw the creamy texture of her shoulder and the cleavage revealed by her lace bra. Abruptly she pushed back.

“No! Mr. Sanchez. This simply isn’t going to work!”

Alonso groaned, “Please don’t do this to me.”

She walked back around the table and over to the sink. Turning she fixed him with a piercing glare.

“I’m afraid I’ll have to pass on your offer.”

“What have I done now?”

“Tipped your cards is what you’ve done, tipped your cards.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“It means that you’ve revealed the real reason you came over tonight. To make the poor little housemaid an offer she can’t refuse and then fuck her eyeballs out. No thanks, ‘Mister Moneybags!’ My self esteem might not be high but my self respect isn’t for sale.”

“That’s not why I came over.”

“Liar! I hate it when a man does that---when he says one thing but all he’s really thinking about is a piece of ass.“

Alonso was taken back. However, his mind latched onto the flicker of reason, lurking behind her point of view. To keep from floundering he took the offensive.

“So what else is new?” he said throwing up his hands, “ Ok, so I’m busted! Turns out I’m just a man after all..., who occasionally thinks about getting it on with the woman he’s… drawn to. I should have known, with your vast experience, that you’d see right through me.” His words landed with a flop.

“Whoa! What’s “…’My Vast Experience’ supposed to mean?”

“It means that you’ve seen right through me. If you somehow failed to notice, I've got a hard on. If that’s a surprise, then sorry for the wake-up call, but you’re dead wrong if you think that’s the only reason I came over tonight.”

“You’re serious about the job offer?”

“You bet your sweet ass I am.”

“You didn’t just come here to get your jollies off?”

He paused…. There was no denying he’d considered the possibility.

She knew she had him. “Cat got your tongue?”

“Can’t you accept what's happening in the fuller context of what I’m trying to say?”

“To be honest, Mr. Sanchez, I’m having trouble separating the pepper from the rat shit. Maybe its time you went home and gave me some more time to think about it

Under his breath Alonso muttered an obscenity. “Have it your way but think about this. I was married for twenty-five years and I never cheated on my wife. Not once have I ever known another woman, not before or since.

“Oh spare me the melodrama; we both know why you came over.” There was fire in her eyes and her jaw was set in defiance.

“I’m glad you brought me to my senses.”

“Then maybe now you’ll start seeing me for who I am.”

“If walking out that door will prove it... show how much I really… care.”

“Care? Are you telling me you care about something besides my,’ you know what?’”

“I’m out of here…”

“Don’t let the door hit you in the ass.”

He picked up his coat and stormed into the living room. Halfway to the door he slapped his head and rolled his eyes. Conflicting emotions raged inside. He was disappointed that the evening had turned sour, frustrated that the edge of his need had only grown more acute, and angry that this slip of a girl had seized the initiative and left him flummoxed. His passions carried him along on the crest of an emotional tsunami. He turned the knob and jerked, but it was still locked. The interruption gave him pause and he looked angrily back over his shoulder. It was his undoing.

Louisa stood, tears streaming down her face. He realized suddenly, that the fight was over, her resolve was in disarray and that he’d just won. He returned taking her waist, setting her buttocks on the kitchen table. As he stroked her cheek his heart softened.

She looked up from beneath her forehead with almond eyes, sparkling in adoration. Her bathrobe fell down and gathered about her hips. She made no move to cover her nakedness. Her bare shoulders pleaded softly to be taken and squeezed. Her white lace bra revealed a pair of delightfully small and compelling breasts. Straining beneath the silk fabric, dark nipples beckoned with a veiled obscenity. He kissed and reclined Louisa back onto the tabletop. His hands swept aside the salt and peppershakers and his fingers almost sent the cream and sugar tumbling to the floor. He paused restraining his eagerness and felt a reciprocating hunger radiating from her body. Looking down he saw her labored breath and bust heaving up and down. It was like the recurring swell of a gentle surf breaking upon the beach. Her eyes were glazed with a distant look, lost in the ceiling, revealing a vulnerability he’d never seen before. Gone was all pretense of resisting, replaced by a compliant and placid surrender. He slipped his hand behind her back and unsnapped the retainers. The elastic loosened on her bosoms and he couldn't wait for the delightful promise to unfold before his eyes. Just as he reached to pull away the straps, his cell phone jangled.
…

“…For crying out loud,” Alonso exclaimed in frustration.

The spell was broken and Louisa pushed up. “It might be something important.”

“What could be more important than this?”

She rolled from beneath him and began to giggle. There was a hysterical note to her laughter.

He reached into his pocket and flipped it open, trying to remember how to turn the damn thing off.

She laughed even harder, struggling to control of herself. “See who it is?” she asked.

He looked at the highlight scroll showing the caller’s name. “It’s Rochelle---wonder what she wants?” he said pushing the talk button. His eyes got wide as he listened. A look of dread came over his face and he stepped back.

“What is it?” asked Louisa. He brought an index finger to his lips, motioning for her "hush" as he strained to hear.

“Where are you now?” he inquired with a frightened look. He began pacing back and forth. “Go to the right hand corner of the monitoring table and beneath the edge is a button, push it. An access door should pop open.” Alonso raked a hand through his hair, closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“Good, now push the red button.” There was a pause… “Is it blinking green?” He fretted waiting for Rochelle to follow his directions; Then he exhaled. “Thank God! The surveillance room is now locked down. Enter the code 51427. The house video monitors should come on. Hit the record button.” Relief swept over him, knowing his daughter was safe.

“I’m on my way, Honey. Don’t even think about leaving that room until I get home. Everything is gonna be fine. “