The Ultimate Betrayal (9 page)
Sophia blinked her eyes when she felt the warmth of the sun sweep across her face. The empty space beside her was cold. She must have been tired after their night of making love because she hadn’t woken once, even when Lara got up to shower and get ready. She wondered what time it was and if Lara was still in the penthouse. It seemed quiet—too quiet.
Sophia stretched in bed, yawned, and pushed the covers aside. Evidence of their night of passion was evident with the various articles of clothing and leather restraints littered across the bedroom floor. None of the clothing was Lara’s. She’d apparently gathered her clothes and sent them out to the dry cleaners. No doubt the wet spot would have required special attention.
Sophia strolled into the brightly lit kitchen and found a note attached to the fancy espresso/coffee machine.
Good Morning Lover,
I had to get an early start, but I’ll call a little later. I have a surprise for you. Unfortunately, there may be a down side to the surprise during the next couple of days. I’ll explain later. Next time you need to take instructions a little better and not tease with your cheeky suggestions.
All my love,
Lara
Sophia laughed at Lara’s quip in the note. She walked to her bag and pulled out her cell phone. She noted the time was a little later than she thought and worried that Joy would tease her mercilessly. There was a text and a voicemail message from Joy and a voicemail from Lara. Although she was anxious to learn about the surprise in Lara’s note, she decided to call Joy first to set up the day. She pushed the button to reply to the voicemail.
“Hey, trouble. Now, shush, it’s not that late… Just give me a half an hour and then we can head downtown. Maybe. Okay, we can talk about it when I come to get you. Yes, I most certainly want to hear about your night, because I know after I dropped you off, you went to a lesbian bar. Can you call down to the desk and have them bring my bags up while I jump in the shower?”
Sophia took a quick shower and donned the fluffy white robe hanging on the hook next to the brass and glass shower equipped with two showerheads on each end and one hanging from the ceiling right smack in the middle. Just as she tied the robe, she heard the knock on the door.
A young man in a uniform brought her luggage into the room and Joy walked briskly behind him.
“I saw him coming up the hall and thought I’d follow him to your suite. I’ll tell you about my night if you give me all the details on yours.” Joy winked.
“Why don’t you make yourself useful and give this nice young man a tip,” Sophia said.
“Oh no, ma’am, Ms. Beck takes excellent care of the staff and has already taken care of me.”
“Damn, I got to get me a sugar momma who has the smarts to anticipate my every need. I was coming here to tell you that he was already on his way up to bring your bags. When I called down, they let me know that. How do you think she knew when to have them deliver the bags?” Joy asked.
Sophia shrugged. “I guess after ten years of marriage, you know the other person’s habits so well, including when they normally get up after…”
Joy raised her eyebrow. “After? Oh, I need to hear every single detail. Let’s wait until Archie here leaves and then tell me everything.”
The young man blushed and made a quick exit.
“I’m not telling you every detail, you smarmy voyeur,” Sophia exclaimed.
Joy pouted. “You’re no fun. I’ll give you every detail about my night.”
“That’s because you are a shameless exhibitionist and that extends to the vocalization of every single detail of your extensive
sexploits
,” Sophia quipped.
“
Sexploits
, I like that. So, I take it from the expression on your face that you finally got some and boy, it sure looks good on you.”
Sophia was glowing in the aftermath of her evening with her wife. “Yes, I did and that’s all the details you’ll get from me. Come on into the bedroom and tell me all about your night while I get dressed.
“I’d love to. I never miss a chance to see you naked.”
“Oh, shush now. So, did you meet someone?” Sophia asked.
“Indeed I did. A leggy brunette who I swear fucked me raw. You know that I don’t often let someone top me, but damn she was hot. The vision of her long hair hovering above me while she expertly used her strap on is almost enough to made me come again just sitting here telling you about it.”
“God, Joy, the way you talk about your liaisons, one would think you’re an uneducated, low rent hussy, instead of a highly educated professor of English literature. Do you save it all up just for me to see whether you can get a rise out of me?”
“You’ve discovered my secret. See, I know that deep down there is this wildly passionate, throw caution to the wind hellcat simmering underneath your well-put together veneer.”
Sophia winked. “You could be right and for the right person, that hellcat comes out to play. My wife used to cajole it from me on a regular basis and based on last night’s activities….” Sophia peeked around the partially closed bathroom door. “I’m back.”
“Oh yes, I love you in those jeans. Your ass looks especially
pinchable
,” Joy remarked.
Sophia climbed into her comfortable jeans and leaned toward the makeup mirror to apply a little eyeliner, mascara, and blush. She blew out her long wavy hair and let it settle loosely on her shoulders. “Okay I’m ready. Listen, Lara mentioned a surprise for me and I’m dying to find out what it is. Do you mind if I make a quick call?”
“Not at all. Go ahead.”
Sophia grabbed her phone and dialed the number to Lara’s Seattle office. “Yes, may I please speak to Lara. This is Sophia. Oh, okay. No, I’ll try to catch up with her later.”
“The business tycoon is not available, huh? We should just march down to her office and make her come to lunch with us. I’d like to visit with her cute assistant. Maybe she’ll join us.”
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea. It sounds like she’s busy. I’m sure she’ll call again later,” Sophia reasoned.
Joy batted her eyes. “Please. How much can it hurt to simply stop by and just see if she’s available and if her lovely assistant is free as well?”
“Oh, all right, you big baby, but we better hurry if we want to see a bit more of the city before stopping by her office. It’s a little after ten already.”
†
Rachel smiled when her assistant told her that her wife had called and wanted her to call her right back when she got in. Rachel was running late again and forgot to check her phone. After learning that Lara had called, she glanced at her phone and noted the text message and voicemail from Lara.
The text was brief.
You’re evil. Call me.
“Thanks,” she said over her shoulder as she rushed into her office and shut the door so she could talk privately with her wife. It was already eight thirty and if she knew her wife, which she did, Lara was probably already embroiled in some account. However, Lara had asked her to call back and even tried to track her down at the hospital where she worked as the executive director of the foundation, so it must be important enough to interrupt her.
Rachel thought back to the night she’d met Lara two and a half years ago at the annual children’s hospital foundation dinner. She remembered glancing up and seeing a striking woman in a tuxedo. Not too many women dared to wear a tux—even in the liberal city of Seattle. Later she would learn that Lara felt equally comfortable in a sexy black dress or a full tuxedo. It depended on her mood, regarding which she would choose for these types of events. Rachel noted she looked equally scrumptious in both.
Rachel picked up the receiver on the phone that sat next to her computer and punched in the number she knew by heart. “Hi Chandra, it’s Rachel. Is Lara available? She did? Great. Well, hello yourself. I’m flattered that you directed Chandra to interrupt you if I called. So what’s up, did you get my message?” Rachel laughed as she listened to Lara’s response. “Sure. I have a light day today, so no problem. I’ll swing by around noon if that works.
Oh yes, I am most definitely looking forward to seeing you. I missed you last night. I love you, too. See you in a bit.”
Rachel hung up the phone and debated whether she should remove her underwear and go commando for her lunch date with her wife. She nodded to herself and walked around the corner to sneak off to the bathroom and remove the potential barrier to a little afternoon delight. Lunch was always a double entendre in her world. Rachel had a definite spring in her step for the remainder of the morning and an ear-to-ear grin. Meeting her wife for lunch never got old for her, but it was especially desirable today since she’d had to sleep alone last night.
†
Lara paced inside her office. She practiced in her head what she would say to Rachel. Maybe her wife would be too distracted to worry about hearing that Lara needed to travel back to New York so soon. She’d decided to mention it in an off-handed manner so as not to draw too much attention to the situation. Perhaps she would wait until Rachel was on her way back to her own office after lunch and then she would say something like
, I know I just got back, but an emergency came up and I need to head back to New York for a couple of weeks. I’ll just catch a limo to the airport, so don’t bother to re-arrange your work schedule
.
Yes, that ought to do it.
Rachel had a fiery temper and Lara knew that if she wasn’t careful she would set off the powder keg. She’d been successfully managing Rachel since she’d won her, but it always took just the right words to handle her. She had a good thing going with Rachel and didn’t want to chance screwing that up.
It was eleven forty five and if Rachel wasn’t too late, she would be here any minute. Lara didn’t want to waste any of her precious time, so she sat back down at her desk and studied a new contract that her new CFO, Carrie, sent in with the interoffice mail. Time was money, after all, and soon she’d lose two whole weeks. It would be good to reconnect with her wife, but this was a precarious time for Lara as she oriented the new CFO. She decided she would take her tablet and laptop and sneak in a few hours each day of work while Sophia was sleeping. The financial world did not stop just because she had a delicate situation to resolve.
The commotion she heard outside of her office did not register with her at the time as she focused on the contract in front of her.
†
Rachel was so anxious to see her wife that for once she was not only on time for their lunch date, but she’d made it to the office a few minutes early. When she burst through the doors, she noticed two very attractive women standing in front of Chandra.
“Hi, Chandra.” Rachel held up her hand. “I know can you believe it, I’m early for our lunch date. Is the boss ready?”
“I was just explaining to these women that Lara has a previous engagement and isn’t available for lunch.” Chandra motioned to the women standing in front of her.
Rachel turned her head to look directly at the stunning brunette. The other woman looked like pure trouble. “Hi. I don’t think we’ve met before. Are you one of Lara’s new clients? I’m Rachel.”
Rachel extended her hand and when the elegant hand met hers, a sizzle of energy traveled up her arm.
Hmm, interesting.
She looked into the most compelling chocolate brown eyes she’d ever seen. A reaction like this had only happened to her once before and that was the night she’d met Lara.
The woman chuckled. “Lord, no, we don’t even live in this city. I’m Sophia and this is my surprisingly mute friend, Joy.”
Joy was standing there with her mouth agape.
“Sophia and Joy are friends of Lara’s from New York. They made a surprise visit yesterday, but seem to keep missing her,” Chandra disclosed.
The woman looked puzzled by Chandra’s remark.
“I’m so sorry you haven’t been able to connect. I’ll bet you’ve come all the way to Seattle under false pretenses. I’m afraid Lara is a horrible friend and tour guide, but you both are in luck because I’m a fabulous tour guide. While Lara is doing her boring financial stuff, I’d be happy to show you around. I would feel horrible about you coming this whole way and not getting an insider’s view of our beautiful city,” Rachel offered.