Chapter 1: Alexandria

It was four o’clock on a Tuesday afternoon and Marissa was still in her bathrobe. She’d just finished the last computer code for the Western Alliance web site. She’d awakened in the middle of the night with an idea of how to solve one last problem, but that solution had caused other problems and she’d been working on them for almost thirteen hours straight and she was so bleary eyed she could hardly keep her head up.

That morning Brad, her husband, had gotten up when the alarm went off and walked into her office wearing his birthday suit with his usual morning woody. She had pushed him away since her mind was immersed in the routine she was writing. If she didn’t meet today’s deadline there would be penalty on the contract amount and that was something that she and her husband could hardly afford.

She loved having sex, and in a normal circumstance would have been all over him, but this morning she asked him to fix his own breakfast and he had grumpily agreed. He’d left for work after giving her a perfunctory kiss on the cheek which she had hardly acknowledged.

The day past quickly and she only took a break to fix lunch which she ate at her desk. It was nearly six p.m. when she finally felt that everything was done so she shipped of her code to the testing team who would run simulations to make sure that it was bullet proof. She closed everything but her e-mail, just in case the next job opportunity arrived.

It was almost time for Brad to come home and she hoped that a hot shower would revive her until bedtime. The travertine floor in their bathroom was cool on her bare feet as she turned on the shower. She hung her robe up in the closet, pulled off her cotton panties and put them in the dirty clothes before turning on the shower.

She was a petite five-three and looking in the mirror, she was justifiably proud of her hour-glass figure and pert B cup breasts with their pencil sized nipples surrounded by quarter sized, brown areola. Her hair had turned brown late in high school, so she dyed it blond and everyone assumed it was still her natural color.

Even at twenty-six, she was always carded when buying liquor and more than once the clerk or server had eyed her suspiciously as if she was using a phony driver’s license. Her husband told her once that she should become an actress because with the right makeup, she looked like a sixteen year old. His buddies always teased him of robbing the cradle, even though he was only two years older than she.

Just as she was about to test to see if the water was hot so she could step inside, the phone rang. She turned off the water and naked, made my way to the phone. “Marissa Henderson,” she said in my work mode greeting.

“Hello Mrs. Henderson, my name is Alexandria Dodge. I’m sorry to call you so late in the day, but my partner and I have seen some of your work and we were wondering if you would be available to do some web development for us?”

“It’s no problem, how can I help you?” she replied, eager for the next contract.

“We own several night clubs in Nevada and we’re thinking about having separate sites for each of them. We’d like you to come to Las Vegas tomorrow so that we can discuss what we need. We’ll cover all of your expenses of course.”

“Tomorrow?” she asked.

“We’re willing to make it well worth your while Mrs. Henderson. We’ve seen your work and we want you. My partner is very intent on starting right away.”

Marissa hadn’t slept well for nearly a week to meet her deadline and she felt exhausted. “I’m sure Ms. Dodge, but I really...”

“How about if we give you a five-thousand-dollar bonus, just for coming here?”

“Well...”

“In cash,” letting the implication hang.

Marissa laughed. “My husband’s a tax attorney Ms. Dodge.”

“Oh, I wasn’t implying that you should do something illegal,” replied her caller.

The five thousand sounded really good to Marissa. She and her husband had bought their home near the top of the housing bubble and had borrowed money from her mother for the down payment. Right afterwards her consulting business took a big hit from the business slump and now Brad’s business partners were expecting him to cover an unprofitable contract that Brad had arranged with their ex-neighbor.

That and her sister was royally pissed off at them because his mom and dad wanted to move to a one-story house and the loan to Marissa and Brad made them put the move on hold. Her mom’s arthritis was only getting worse and she was having major problems going up and down the stairs.

The money from the Western Alliance project would cover them for another month, but they were having trouble paying the mortgage.

“We’d be happy to fly you first class to visit us,” she woman added.

That got her attention. “Can I call my husband and get right back to you?” asked Marissa.

“Of course; here’s my number.” Her caller gave her number and then added, “But we want you on a plane tomorrow Mrs. Henderson or we’ll have to go with our second choice.”

Marissa called her husband right away and even though he wasn’t too happy that she was going to Vegas without him, he couldn’t say no to the five thousand. As soon as they hung up, she called back and accepted the offer. Even bone-tired, she worked until midnight getting a portfolio ready to show to her prospective clients.

When the alarm went off the next morning Marissa had to drag herself out of bed to get ready and be on time for the long taxi ride to the airport. She hardly remembered getting dressed or her husband leaving for work, but in the taxi, she did an inventory and decided that she was dressed for a business meeting with a white silk blouse, a dark blue jacket and matching skirt with tan pantyhose. She had planned on her sky-blue blouse, but it had a food stain, so she had put on the white top instead. Now she realized that you could see her blue bra underneath, but all she had to do was keep her jacket on and no one would know.

On the flight, she couldn’t even enjoy first class as she fell asleep as soon as they closed the doors prior to take-off. She was still groggy when they arrived in the middle of the afternoon. She was met by a limo driver as soon as she’d exited the secure area of the airport. He didn’t have the usual sign with her name on it; he seemed to just know who she was, and she didn’t question how he recognized her. He introduced himself as Walter. Once her baggage was stowed in the trunk and she were seated it the stretch limo, Walter asked if he could make her a drink from the limo’s well stocked bar.

“A Bloody Mary would be wonderful,” she confessed, and he mixed a shaker full and filled a glass with three green olives. After taking the first sip, she said, “Whew.” It was strong and extra spicy, just like she liked them.

“Is it okay Mrs. Henderson?” asked Walter.

“Yes, it’s wonderful Walter, thank you,” she replied.

“There’s more in the shaker. Traffic is brutal today so feel free to help yourself,” he said as they drove off.

He took her to an elegant looking brick building a little over a mile away from the strip. There was a small plaque at the entrance that said, “Cascade Club, Members Only”.

As soon as she walked through the doors of the Cascade Club, Marissa was almost at a loss for words. The only word that came to mind was opulent. The staff were easily recognized by their uniforms and there wasn’t a pair of jeans in sight; silk slacks and dresses were the norm for the women and suits and ties for the men. The word, ‘money’, came to her mind. She thought that she recognized an actress talking animatedly with handsome older man she didn’t recognize.

Ms. Dodge met her at the door and escorted her past the front desk of the elegant club. She looked to be in her early thirties and was really attractive. The first thing that Marissa noticed was her gorgeous auburn hair and green eyes. She was wearing a translucent blue blouse with a flowery bra underneath, a black leather miniskirt showed off her long, tan, silk clad legs. Marissa felt a little frumpy in her business suit.

“It’s so good to meet you Mrs. Henderson,” said Ms. Dodge.

“Please, it’s Marissa.”

“And please call me Alex. If you will forgive me, I’m rather busy at the moment, but I’ll have Mr. Carson show you to your room and if it’s okay I’ll come around at four and we can chat.” She turned and spoke to the concierge. “Mr. Carson, will you show Mrs. Henderson to her room please.”

“Certainly Ms. Dodge. This way Mrs. Henderson.” He indicated with a swing of his arm, the way to the elevator. “The porter will bring up your luggage.”

If Marissa was impressed by the lobby area of the club, she was amazed by the suite she was taken to. There was a tub near the window with a view of downtown. It could easily accommodate two. She walked into the all marble bathroom. An unenclosed shower was on the back wall and was big enough for a party.

Her suitcases arrived and Mr. Carson handed her an access card to her room and when she reached into her purse for her wallet he said, “Thank you Mrs. Henderson, but everything has been taken care of.” He gave a slight bow. “Will there be anything else?”

“No Mr. Carson, that you so much.”

“It was my pleasure Mrs. Henderson. Please let me know if there is anything else that you need,” he said and left.

Marissa looked at the king-sized bed longingly, but she didn’t dare take a nap before her appointment at four. Instead, she got out her binder and prepared her presentation for her prospective client.

Alexandria knocked on the door precisely at four. Then they spent a couple of hours in her hotel suite talking about their expectations for the sites. “Now, about your contract,” said Alex. “What are your rates?” she asked, even though she already knew that Marissa charged nine-five dollars an hour. She had checked her out thoroughly after all.

Thinking about the lavish club she’d walked through, Marissa hesitated for only a moment. “I charge a hundred and twenty-five an hour.”

Alex smiled. “Splendid, I think that is entirely within our budget.” It was about six o’clock she said, “What do you say that we break for dinner?”

“Sounds great,” said Marissa as she tried to stifle a yawn.

“Good. Is it ok if we just order room service so we can talk some more? I’d like to get to know you more.”

“Sure, that would be fine.”

“What’s your favorite food?”

“Most anything.”

“How about Japanese?”

After a moment’s reflection she smiled and said, “I can give it a try.”

Alex picked up the phone and placed an order for things that Marissa had never tried and some things that she had never heard of. After Alex hung up, she asked Marissa about her husband and living in San Diego.

Twenty minutes later there was a knock at the door and their food arrived. They sat down next to each other on the couch and picked up chop sticks. Marissa recognized most things, and she loved the tempura battered vegetables and prawns.

They ate silently for several minutes while drinking Saki from delicate cups which Alexandria kept full. “Here, try this,” she said. She a pile of thinly sliced, slightly pink, and obviously raw, fish.

“What is it?”

“Salmon.” Alex picked up the fish with her chop sticks and lifted it to Marissa’s mouth.

“Ummm, that is good.”

“Here have some more Saki.”

“How much have I had?”

“Who’s keeping track?” Alex laughed as she refilled their cups.

Alex kept feeding her pieces of this and that. For some reason Marissa found it quite erotic the way the other woman held the various offerings with chopsticks and fed them to her.

The meal finished, Marissa and Alex put everything back on the food cart then Marissa sat back on the couch.

Marissa, feeling the Saki, yawned and said, “That was really good.” She yawned again.

“I can tell you’re tired,” said Alex, “but I really hoped we could talk about some ideas.”

“I’m sooo sorry. I haven’t had enough sleep the last couple of days.”

“Tell you what, let’s move you to the bedroom where you can close your eyes for a while and then we can talk.”

Alex led her into the bedroom and helped her out of her jacket. A wave of tiredness swept over Marissa and she had trouble standing straight. Alex took her arm, “Oh my poor dear. You are tired. Perhaps we should wait until tomorrow.”

“No, just let me rest for a few minutes and I’ll be alright.” She sat down heavily on the bed.

“Here, we don’t want your clothes to get wrinkled.” She unbuttoned Marissa’s blouse; then stepped behind her to pull it off. After carefully folded the blouse and setting it aside; she unzipped Marissa’s skirt and let it slide down the slick pantyhose to the floor.

Marissa felt dead on her feet and didn’t mind that the older woman was undressing her. She felt like she could use a little pampering and let Alex slide her pantyhose down around her knees.

Alex turned Marissa around; gently directed her to sit on the bed and then knelt at her feet and removed her shoes. She was delighted that Marissa was wearing a nearly sheer thong under the sheer pantyhose and Alex had a nearly unobstructed view of a nice patch of trimmed blond pubic hair above her slit as she finished sliding the pantyhose off of the young woman. Reaching around Marissa’s back, she unhooked her bra and slid it down her arms.