Rick smiled again. After that, the afternoon turned into a make-out session in that little apartment of his. Rick caught on fast to what I liked and what I didn’t like. Lucky for me his intention was to give me what I liked.
At one point I suckled his tongue and I thought he would go nuts and his hands were all over me. I separated so that I could see his eyes. “Easy Rick, I really like kissing you, let’s just kiss today, ok?”
“Ok,” he agreed.
We kissed for an hour more and then I had to go. Before he’d let me leave, he insisted that I agree to have dinner with him on Saturday. I agreed and before we left his little apartment, we stood at the door that leads to his office and embraced a rather heady hug and kissed like there was no tomorrow.
Rick seemed to be a bit light headed when I left. It may have freaked out his secretary to see him smiling and animated and obviously happy for the moment.
After I got to the elevator I went back to the office and had his secretary announce me.
He pulled me back into his office and just stood there looking at me, waiting.
I hope this doesn’t sound pushy but, what are you doing tonight? Just letting you know that I am free tonight. I think it would be nice not to have to wait until Saturday for another of those fabulous kisses.”
“Maybe I could cook us a meal at my place, tonight.”
I let it hang in the air as he figured out to either turn me down or join me for dinner.
“Just a minute,” he said as he made his way to his desk. He pushed a button on his phone and added.
“Move the meeting we have tonight on my calendar to tomorrow.”
“When did you want me to be there?”
“Seven,” I said.
“Ok, I’ll see you tonight.”
On the way out I’d asked him if he was allergic to any foods; he wasn’t. I stopped at the store on my way home to pick up some steak to fix for dinner.
The minute I walked into the house the phone was ringing. “Hello,” I said.
“Hi Helen, it’s Rick, I have to cancel on you tonight but can we keep our date for tomorrow?”
“Oh, I’m disappointed, but yes, of course. I’ll see you tomorrow then around six.”
I wanted to get off the phone and I could tell that he was in a hurry also.
As soon as I put the receiver in the cradle the phone rang again.
“Hello,” I said, again.
“Hello Helen; it’s Michael. How are you doing?”
“I’m much better now that I’m hearing your voice. Where are you Michael?”
“I’m in San Francisco not far from the airport. I’m going to meet Lu when her plane lands.”
“Michael, can I come to you guys tonight, please? I’d be cagy and not let anyone follow me. I could even wear a disguise.”
“Helen, are you afraid?” Michael said.
“No, I’m not afraid; I don’t have anything to be afraid of; I just need.”
“According to David you do have something to be concerned about. Helen what about all the plans we made for the shows we’d do together? Well, that man has put an end to those dreams.”
“Michael none of it means a thing to me unless it has value to you. I can get it all changed if my having this kind of career has meaning for you.”
“What do you mean ‘you can get it all changed’?”
“I’ll talk to Rick and he’ll remove the boycott or scratch me off the black list or whatever it takes to make it right. It might take me a couple of weeks because Rick’s got some serious issues.”
“You should probably stay away from that guy.”
Michael’s tone took on a serious sterness.
“Like I said it might take me a couple of weeks to get things straightened out but I’ve got a couple of good ideas and a few crazy ones. I’ll keep you posted as to which ones work.”
“Helen,” Michael threw my name out at me like it was a curse.
“Please don’t forget that I know this guy. He’s odd but basically I believe him to be a good guy. When I was at their office today I saw something major between Rick and his secretary. I’ll help him fix that relationship and he won’t be hurting so much and won’t need to strike out.”
“Helen, you went to his office today?”
Michael nearly yelled in the phone.
“Yes, remember we’re old friends. Goodness Baby, calm down. He was surly at first but I’d left him with something to think about so I had an in. I had an interesting time while I was there. When I left his office he was smiling and probably freaking out his secretary.”
“What was he smiling about?”
Michael’s voice was still elevated.
“He was smiling because I’d agreed to have dinner with him on Saturday. We were also going to have dinner tonight but he had to cancel. That’s why I’m free to come to you guys.”
“What are you doing?” He demanded.
“You could be putting yourself into danger, and, dammit, Helen, you wouldn’t even be aware of it.”
It certainly wasn’t pleasurable to hear him worry about me because he thought me disabled.
“I get your concern Baby and I’ve taken it into consideration. I’ll use my recall; his tells’ll be evident and so will anything I may have missed from today. My first impression is that he was just trying to get my attention. He just needs someone to teach him a few things and I think I’m that someone.”
“What do you think you can teach him?” Michael wasn’t letting it go.
“A few things,” I said.
“Don’t be coy.”
He still wasn’t letting go.
“What things?”
“Well, how to treat another human being to start with and maybe beyond that, how to treat a woman,” was all I was givin’ up.
“Can you just give me a little more than that? How are you going to teach him?”
“Every situation is unique and must be treated as such. Please, I’ll be well armed with the truth and’ll probably have to make decisions on the spot.”
I wanted Michael to relax and not worry so much.
“Rick’s unaware of his own culpability in his odd relationships. He’s teachable. He learned how to kiss me without pissing me off and even beyond that. Like all of us, he just wants to be loved. He just wants someone he can put his arms around. I can totally relate to that.”
“A person with as much power as that guy has can do anything they want. Be careful baby. I’m worried for you.”
“I’ll be careful, I promise. Now, tell me where you are so that I can come to you. I want to be there for Lu when she arrives.”
“Come to the Embassy Suites right next to the airport. Get room 414 for the night and wait for us. We can’t be seen together. Be careful.”
“I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
When I left the house I felt like a spy