Page 32 of Etched in Stone
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Ray felt his body tighten with annoyance. This strange woman wanted Jesse to be put on display
for another man.
“So, Morris is a lech,” Jesse stated calmly as she unwrapped the scarf from around her neck.
“Oh, big time. But don't worry, he's so ancient all he can do is look, so I figure it's a pretty good deal. He'll leave me a bundle and all I have to do is run around in a bikini a few hours a day. It's a real hard life, let me tell you.” She laughed and took another swig of the flute of champagne she'd grabbed off the table.
“Got anywhere a girl can freshen up?” Jesse asked. The woman pointed to a bathroom off the main hall and Jesse put her hand on Ray’s shoulder. “Well then, why don't you show Ray the hot tub and I'll spruce myself up?”
Ray didn't like splitting up, but the woman seemed harmless enough as she linked his arm and happily escorted him to the room with the hot tub. She seemed too intoxicated to notice that he was taller than he appeared. Either that, or his perception filter was actually doing what it was supposed to do, tricking the silly humans into thinking he was completely harmless and nonthreatening.
The mansion was furnished in a classical style, dripping with antiques and millions in paintings and fine vases. It was a veritable museum with only a few modern improvements. There was a chair lift built into the main staircase and electric outlets cleverly designed to hide into the woodwork.
He'd once considered buying a place like this, out in the countryside of England, far away from city life. However, Olivia would have ended up bored to death, and there was no way of insuring that Hitler and his bombs would never intrude.
New York had been the better choice. The hot tub was obviously a more recent addition to the gothic mansion and sat adjacent to an outdoor pool. He opened the filter box and within a few minutes of tinkering, the thing was up and running again.
“You are a miracle worker. Because it's almost time for me to, you know, and I so did not want to get into the water when it was only lukewarm.” She put down her flute and suddenly pulled her top off, revealing the barely there bikini top. He tried not to roll his eyes as she shimmied out of her skirt.
“So if he asks you if you want to bonk me, the answer is no, mainly because you're just a little old for me, okay? I mean, you're nice and all. I'd suck your cock for fixing the tub, but you know.”
Ray did not know. He had no intention of going anywhere near her but thought it more polite to just nod. Jesse appeared and Ray nearly growled. She’d somehow managed to take off her shirt and twist the scarf into a top that was nearly as revealing as the other woman’s. Her hair, originally pulled back in a modest bun, now cascaded over her shoulders.
The woman next to him smiled and clapped her hands together.
“You got the idea, girlfriend. Just don’t go trying to horn in on my job.”
“I’m quite happy with my current employment. But I figured this might soften Morris up.”
The woman looked at Ray. “Oh get over yourself, gramps. How long before the hot tub is warm?”
The heater was going at max capacity. “I’d guess an hour. But it’s probably warm enough as is.
Warmer than the pool, at least.”
Jesse raised an eyebrow at him as he watched the woman turn and head into the pool.
“Don’t ask,” he told her.
She actually chortled.
“I don’t think I have the pleasure of knowing the two of you,” a voice said from behind them. Ray turned to see a shriveled up version of the man he once knew. His eyes were still clearly on the bleach blonde bouncing slowly into the water.
“I take that back. I think we have met,” Morris said. There was that hint of recognition that Ray had learned to identify. It was the sign of someone remembering a form that hadn’t aged in fifty years.
Morris had aged, way beyond his years. He sat in a motorized wheelchair, blanket covering his lap.
His hair was gone and his skin was covered in liver spots. He licked his wrinkled lips as he turned to Jesse.
“I’m here on behalf of my aunt. I believe the two of you were close at one point. Olivia Alves.”
His eyes didn’t leave Ray. In fact, he squinted harder, but Jesse stepped in front of him and flashed an attractive smile.
“Do you remember Olivia?”
“I do. She was a firecracker. Refused me though. Needed more space, whatever that means.”
