This Is Paradise (part four)

Friday, June 25, 2021

Paradise Books and Gift Shop is very much part of the entertainment world. All the studios order books directly from us, and we have delivery men arriving to pick up the books regularly. My job is to take calls from the agencies and studios and make sure that they get their book as soon as possible. We can't control a book's release date or inventory in the warehouse, but we have to get these titles out to them as fast as possible once it is in stock. One thing the industry doesn't have is patience. The author of the memoir, who seems to be attached to my manager, has the patience of a cat. He often hangs out by the bookshelves, but I know he is waiting for the presence of our manager.

He is always friendly with me and tries to start a conversation with me, but I tend to be polite but distant to him. He picks up on this, but still, he has no objection to trying to bring me into his world. It was shocking to me that he came by to pick up my manager after work, and since I was leaving as well, he invited me to come along with them for a drink. I said no, but he kept insisting, and to be honest, I wanted to see them as a couple and not just him hanging out at the bookstore to see his 'girlfriend.' So I said yes.

I went out in the parking lot with them. He has a Ferrari 812 Superfast model made this year. It is a two-seater, and I asked him where do I sit? He looked at me, and then looked at her, and said, "She will sit on your lap." She nodded yes, and I felt odd about the seating arrangement. He got in the driver's seat, and she waited by the passenger side for me to take my seat. I gestured that this is not a good idea, but she insisted that I take the seat. I still feel like her employee, and I reacted as one. So I sat in the seat, and as soon as I made myself comfortable, she came over to me and placed her rear on my lap. I didn't know where to put my hands, but she told me to hold her around the waist.

When he went over a bump, it was causing her to go up and down on my lap. Which, on one level, was enjoyable for me, but still, I felt very anxious and nervous to be in this position with her. I have never been this close to her, and the scent from her hair, as well as the skin, was a toxic cocktail for my senses. I was worried that I would get excited, and I did, but it seems she paid no attention to me or my state of excitement.

He drove very aggressively, and once in a while, he would place his hand on her lap while he has the other on the steering wheel. We ended up at Taix in their dark bar that is very old-school, but of course, full of young people. He found a small table by the corner and had us sit down close together. I was feeling unsettled due to the ride and the very nature of having her on my lap. In no fashion or way would I have ever imagined that I would be in a vehicle with her in such away.

A very pretty hostess came up to our table, and she said to him, "a vodka martini with a lemon twist, and a side of sauteed mushrooms, and maybe a side of french fries. He nodded yes. He then gestured to us to order what we want. She called a gin and tonic, and I did the same.

She excused herself to go to the restroom. As she left the room, he noticed two women arriving and getting seated. He gestured to the hostess to come over. He told her to whatever they order, send the bill to him. He then looked at me and saw how shocked I was by his action. He said, "Who knows; we may get some action." I didn't know how to react to this statement. My manager came back to join us, and as she sat down, our drinks were served by the hostess. He picked up his martini and toasted us to our happiness. And then very slowly, he added, "Which will last forever. " He then notices the women at the other table receiving their drinks, and the hostess says something to them. Both of them looked at our table. He picked up his martini glass and, with a gesture, toasted them as well. By sitting there, I felt a sense of excitement and a wave of disgust that is odd because it was both horrific and desirable.

The End of part four, part five... to be continued.