Page 15 of The High Price Of Loneliness

She replied playfully, hoping to tease Edward into sharing more details of his plans for her next experience with him. “Oh? Is that so? Am I finally going to get to see your Red Playroom?”

He said with a deep and sober warning in his voice, “Perhaps. But be careful what you wish for, Angelica.” His admonition had the intended effect.

She said much more softly and tenderly, “Good night, Edward.”

Their phone date ended with the sound of Edward saying, “Sweet dreams,” followed by the click of the phone, leaving her body floating on the nest of pillows and blankets and her mind drifting in the afterglow wondering what might be in store for her next.

Angelica slept deeply again for the second night in a row. She woke early, stretching like a big cat—a bit surprised at herself for waking this early.Perhaps this is what happens when you get plenty of great sleep, she thought, smiling at a new day and feeling blissfully happy. Peaceful.

She took one of those deep breaths Edward had taught her and held it momentarily.

Last night was incredible with Edward’s deep voice guiding me in my ear, she thought to herself. She discovered yet another blissful byproduct of her OM session with Edward was waking up early and still feeling this inner glow.What an excellent way to start the morning without racing to the shower, running out of the door, and being late again, she thought as she headed to the kitchen to make coffee. She said out loud, “I should do this more often,” as she put the Keurig coffee cartridge in the machine. She even used the 60 seconds while the coffee was brewing to put away a few dishes and straighten the kitchen. “I’m feeling pretty productive this morning!” she smiled, giving herself a rare compliment. Angelica couldn’t help but wonder if Edward would be proud of her for getting up so early after two nights in a row of deep and restful sleep. All of this was caused in no small part by their OM sessions with his incredible energy and sexy voice in her ear.

He had told Angelica that it was almost 100% her that caused the OM experience to end so blissfully, but she knew better. She thought she might never feel that way again with anyone if she were not with Edward.

Her Keurig hissed its final time at her, and the coffee was ready. She loved the way coffee smelled, almost more than drinking it. There is something so comforting about holding a warm mug in your hand or even close to your chest—warming you while the aroma drifts up for your nose to enjoy.

She brought it to her master bath to savor while preparing for the day ahead. Today, she was a morning person.

Gray was wrapping up an early business breakfast with the new team in D.C. His driver picked him up in a black Suburban SUV, a beast of a vehicle, and headed straight to the plane. They would be flying out of Manassas Regional Jetport, where many of the private jets connect in and out of the Washington metro area, and it was a beautiful morning for it so far.

Edward texted Angelica and said simply,Dinner this evening? My place.

Her heart raced when she saw the early morning message from him. She was still moist from the shower and drying with the towel, but now she was beaming with smiles. She grabbed her phone to reply,Yes. I’d love to! What time do you want me there?

Gray replied,7 p.m., please.

Would you like me to bring anything?Angelica offered thoughtfully.

Just you and that beautiful smile of yours, Kitten, he replied.

She finished getting ready for work and was out the door in the best mood.I can’t remember starting the day feeling so great with everything going my way like this, she thought to herself.And tonight, dinner with, of all people,TheEdward Gray at his home. Oh my!

What might this lead to tonight? Would it end with the mysterious Red Playroom she had been so curious about? A man in his position must have many options with women, but for the past few days, she had clearly been at the center of all his attention. She loved that feeling. It was intoxicating.

She felt she would do almost anything for him to keep this feeling going forward. What would he ask of her next? But whatever it was she was excited for the next step in the journey to unfold.

She parked her red sports car at the office and arrived almost fifteen minutes early, giving her a nice and easy start to the morning. She made a second cup of coffee and thought,This will be an amazing day!That her mind kept returning to the evening planned to follow was, of course, the most exciting part.

Tenants and repairmen called throughout the day as she clicked off all the property management jobs that needed tending to. More than once, people commented on what a great mood she was in today. Not that she was usually grumpy. She wasn’t, but she felt this energy inside her all the time that was just overflowing with people on the phone. She kept looking at the clock throughout the day—counting down the hours to 5 p.m. so she could race home to prepare for her evening with Mr. Gray. She had been thinking for hours about what to wear that evening and going through a mental inventory of all her favorite options. She didn’t want to wear something over the top as they were staying in. But she wanted his attention and energy to be fully on her. She knew just what to pull from her closet. It was almost too much excitement—she could hardly stand it. And finally, it was time.

She flew home in her red convertible. Speeding, yet again, was one of her personality flaws. But this time, it was justified. She could hardly wait to prepare for this evening’s dinner with Edward. As she arrived back home, she was floating up her driveway. She almost skipped up her walkway to her front door like when she was five with excitement. She dropped her keys in the bowl by the front door and went straight to the kitchen for one little glass of her favorite white wine. It was always a good idea, she thought, to have a “dressing drink” while getting ready for the evening. Then off to raid her closet and lay out everything she would wear for Edward. She loved this part.

First, she selected her soft, off-white, bone-colored gauze pants that hung perfectly from her hip bones. They looked like they might slip and fall off, but fortunately, they never did. And the matching mid-drift but long-sleeved top. It looked like something Barbara Eden would wear on the TV show,I Dream of Jeanie. She loved that look. She added a gold belt with tiny seashells that dangled with matching earrings, but she went back and forth on matching heels or flat sandals.Hmmm, white or gold?She was torn.

She got in the steamy shower to get ready with her ensemble lying across the bed, beckoning her to come and try them all on, but only when she showered and finished her hair and makeup. No need to risk getting anything on the beautiful off-white dream outfit before it was almost time to leave.

Gray was home having their gourmet dinner prepared by a few different chefs and then delivered. He was an amateur gourmet chef himself but loved having the best in town preparing dishes that he already knew would be amazing. Everything was being prepared and delivered to his home to delight Angelica. He’d had a busy day and he wanted to simply plate the food with a beautiful presentation and be able to focus on his special guest.

He carefully thought about this evening and texted Angelica,I’m looking very much forward to seeing you. Please remember to bring the Confidentiality Agreement if you can.

She replied,Of course. I won’t forget. Admittedly, she hadn’t thought of that all day, so she took the envelope with the fancy red wax seal from the kitchen countertop where it had been sitting and placed it on top of the bowl holding her car keys so she could not forget and leave it.

She finished getting ready and decided to wear the gold sandals to match her belt, plus a tiny gold purse. Finally, she felt put together for the evening with Edward and grabbed her keys and the important-looking envelope, and away she went.

Longboat Key is home to some of the most beautiful multi-million-dollar homes in the area, and for a view of the ocean—there is none better. It was just time for sunset in Sarasota, so the drive across the Ringling Bridge to St Armand’s Circle was gorgeous. The sky was orange as the sun ball had just touched the ocean marking the beginning of a magical night ahead.

Angelica made the one right turn heading up to Longboat Key for her date with destiny. She parked in Edward’s driveway—only for the second time—but it already felt like they had built a closeness and bond. She was excited but comfortable already somehow with him. Using her rearview mirror, she checked her lips and eyes one last time before ringing his bell.

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