Jean-Jacques Tibor - The loser_s wife

She'd been a little curious when Goldman had ordered the waiter to bring ice and both a bottle of champagne and a bottle of Cordon Bleu cognac to the table and leave it. But now she was glad that he had. The fat man with a light grace strange for a man so obese had expertly mixed the wine and the brandy in the tall glasses and the result had been delicious. French 75's he had called them, named after the famous WW-I French anti-tank gun.

It was exactly the kind of drink she needed, very light and easy to drink, and very potent. Although she hadn't been able to keep up with Harry Goldman she had been able to drink quite a few and the second bottle of champagne had already been delivered to the table.

The alcohol made it a little easier for her to hold up through the evening and she was beginning to feel as if her promise to Johnny wouldn't be as hard to keep as she had thought. Remembering Johnny, she thought again of the wonderful time they'd had in bed. No one had ever made love like that to her before. It had been almost unbelievable, she'd climaxed over and over again. And afterwards, to make it even better, Johnny had pleaded with her not to see Harry Goldman this evening but she hadn't given in. She finally convinced him that it wouldn't hurt her just once more. There was so much at stake, and she had promised him that throughout the whole evening she would just pretend she was making love to him, and not to the fat man who had just left the table.

She had even been surprised by Harry Goldman. She hadn't known what to expect when she had finally gotten the nerve to tell Deke Vito that she'd see Goldman tonight. But, all night long the fat man had treated her more kindly and with more respect than anyone she'd ever gone out with. Even Johnny, she remembered, whenever they'd gone out he seemed to be less interested in her entertainment than his own, but with Goldman it was different.

Soon after she had talked to Vito a messenger had given her a note from Goldman telling her to get very dressed up and that a limousine would call for her at nine.

Laura had gone home and changed into her finest evening dress and at exactly nine a uniformed chauffeur had called for her, and taken her to Reno's most exclusive supper club.

Goldman had been a complete gentleman all evening, and had ordered her a delicious dinner, most of which she couldn't even pronounce.

He hadn't grabbed at her as he usually did, and his conversation had been fascinating, though a little sad at time. She remembered feeling a little sympathy for the fat man as a word now and then would uncover his unhappiness at being so grossly heavy and unattractive.

The wine and French 75's that she was now drinking had lessened her uneasiness considerably, even made her feel very good, and she didn't feel too frightened about the rest of the evening.

She was determined to go with him wherever he planned and then get it over as quickly as possible. Just as she'd persuaded Johnny, it would only take a few minutes and couldn't make any lasting difference. It wasn't like she was losing her virginity or anything.

Her reverie was suddenly interrupted by the return of Harry Goldman and she felt a little sorry for him as she saw the trouble he had fitting into the small curved booth.

"Whew!" he said as he brushed a linen handkerchief across his perspiring forehead – something she'd noticed he had to do continually – "I'm afraid they don't make these quite large enough for a man my size, Laura," he said apologetically.

He chuckled bitterly to himself. "Husky." He looked at her through his puffy eyelids. "That's what I call myself. 'Husky' sounds a little better than 'fat' doesn't it?"

She knew he didn't really expect an answer but she saw the fleeting expression of unhappiness flicker across his eyes and she felt as if she had to say something.

"Harry, you shouldn't feel that way." She tried to put a light hearted lilt in her voice. "I've always heard size was a sign of success and prosperity. See, it fits… and I've never seen a big man as graceful as you are."

She thought she could see the appreciation in his eyes at her words. He reached across the table and tenderly took her hand.

"Thank you, Laura, I actually think you mean it."

They talked for a while longer. He amazed her with the amount of liquor he was able to consume, and there was absolutely no sign of intoxication. She tried to keep up with him, and as a result she was beginning to have a little difficulty thinking clearly.

Then he called for the check and paid for it from the largest sheaf of currency she had ever seen anyone carry.

As they stepped out into the coolness she was startled to see the chauffeured limousine pull up the moment he put his foot on the first step. It's amazing, she thought, anything he wants he gets, and he doesn't even have to snap his fingers. Then she thought bitterly, that even includes me.

They were driven for almost a half an hour and the closed back compartment of the Rolls Royce was absolutely silent, except whenever he offered her another drink from the portable bar.

Then she noticed the car pulling up a long winding driveway to an immense house at the edge of a mountain lake. They stepped past the attendant chauffeur and walked up a cobbled pathway to a huge set of double doors.

Once again, with no sign from him, the door was opened by a uniformed butler. Goldman dismissed him with a flick of his massive hand and led her toward the rear of the house.

He stopped now and then to adjust a rheostated light switch and then brought her into an enormous living room. She settled into the softness of the couch and waited while he poured her another cognac.

He handed it to her and apologized as he left her alone for a couple of minutes.

She sat there in the semi-darkness and wondered what was to come. He had been so gentle with her all night that she knew there was nothing really to fear, except possibly the actual act of making love to him. Even that bothered her very little after the number of drinks she'd had, and the knowledge deep within herself that she would be doing it for Johnny and Johnny alone.

Moments later he returned. He exchanged his dinner jacket for a voluminous silk robe and he was carrying something which he handed to her.

"Go through that door," he said, "and put this on. You'll be more comfortable." She followed the direction of his arm and found herself in a tremendous bedroom. Everything in this house seems to be oversized, she thought in admiration and awe as she stoically and without hesitation unzipped the back of her evening gown.

As she undressed she wondered if she shouldn't leave on her lingerie but decided against it. It'll only take longer if I have to wait for him to remove it, she thought. And, this is something I want to get over with as quickly as possible.

Completely nude, she stood before the great mirror that rose to the ceiling along one wall. She felt awfully good and even a little curious as she wondered guiltily how he would be in bed because in spite of his weight he seemed so smooth and suave at everything else. She slid sensuously into the embroidered white silk robe, watching her image in the glass before her. Her black, glistening hair looked wildly exciting against the pure whiteness of the silk and she knew she'd rarely been more attractive. Mr. Goldman was certainly going to get his money's worth and she vowed that this time she would do nothing to endanger the agreement she had with Deke.

Johnny, she thought, please forgive me. Darling, I'm only doing this for you. She tried to remind herself again that this was actually only a cold, hard business deal and nothing more before she stepped back into the living room.

But, even so, she again felt the steady creep of guilt as an unwanted wave of pleasure and anticipation rushed through her as she wondered what he was going to be like when she lay naked and defenseless before him.