I decide I’m going to the church. I need some time to get my mind off this anyway, and I don’t know a better place to do it. I need to pray too, because I don’t know how much more of this I can take.
I get dressed and step out of my building and into the Chicago sun. It’s a beautiful day and all I want to do is enjoy it, but I can’t, because my mind is running through a million scenarios. Truth be told, I know what’s really upsetting me.
It was never said, but I know what it is. I was going to have sex tonight. I shouldn’t have been so excited about that, but I was. I could barely think of anything else before the meeting, after Rick said he wanted all day with me. Even with everything that happened at the office, it’s still right up there in the front of my mind.
It would’ve been phenomenal. Rick’s nothing like the man I was with back at college. He’s an expert with his mouth, so I can only imagine what he’s like with the rest of his body. The man went down on me under the table at breakfast and made me moan his name repeatedly, just with his tongue.
I shiver in the best way thinking about it.
Best bagel and coffee I’ve ever had in my life, that’s for sure.
I start down the street and get about half a block when a long stretch limo pulls up in front of me and parks on the curb.
A man in a suit jumps out and hollers right at me. “Mary Patrick?”
I freeze in my tracks. I don’t know this man. Should I just ignore him and keep going? What is happening here?
“Umm…yes.” I sort of shrug, a little unsure.
He smiles and opens the back door of the limousine. “You’re supposed to come with me.”
I stand there, frozen in place. “Umm, what is this?” I hold my palm out to the limo. “What’s going on here?”
He stares at me like I’m crazy and should know why all this is happening. “I was hired earlier, rush job. Didn’t think I’d find you, but the man on the phone was very specific about exactly where you’d be and what time you’d be walking down the road.”
That gets a huge smile out of me. I stare right at the driver. “Did his name start with an ‘R?’”
He smiles. “Yes, ma’am.”
I walk over and get in the back of the limo, and the door shuts behind me. The car is gorgeous, plush leather seats that are so comfortable I sink right down into them. There’s a bar and a television.
Immediately, I think I know what’s happening, but I tell myself to stop guessing and just go along with it and be surprised.
The driver gets in and lowers the little window thing separating us. “About a ten-minute drive and we’ll be there.”
I want to ask where, but I don’t. I just say, “Okay. Thank you.”
Sure enough, ten minutes later we pull up to a curb. I look out the window and the modern, bright red building stares right back at me. It’s Ikram, one of the highest end dress shops in Chicago. I shake my head and stare right at it.
The driver walks around and opens the door for me. He escorts me up to the front entrance where a gorgeous, smiling woman welcomes me by name. “Ms. Patrick, welcome to Ikram, please follow me.”
“I’ll be right out here, just let me know when you’re finished.”
I nod, awestruck, unable to speak, and I immediately feel rude as he walks away. But geez, the building is gorgeous, with all kinds of dresses lining the walls.
I glance around the interior. “Where is everyone?”
“This is a private fitting. We were instructed to close down, specifically for you.”
My heart comes alive. How in the heck can Rick afford this? I mean, I don’t know how much they pay him at the firm. I’m sure it’s way more than me. Still, this must be a fortune. I immediately feel bad for thinking about money.
Just enjoy yourself.
How did he put all this together in a matter of hours, though? I just told him at breakfast.
“Do you have any preferences?”
I turn to the lady. “Huh?” I’m so out of place in here. I wouldn’t even know where to start.
She smiles and I feel so stupid for responding the way I did. I don’t have a clue about fashion, though. Not on this