Chapter 2

Selena stepped off the elevator with a little trepidation, realizing she was alone in a mans house. Although he had given her no indication that she should worry or he would hit on her, she had seen and heard some traces of his reputation.

"Have a seat in the living room, I'll fire up the TV. If you need to use the facilities, it's the first door on the left in the hall beside the elevator. Please make yourself at home. I'm going to check my phone and telex for messages." Joe said as he disappeared into the house.

Selena looked around at the posh setting and slowly sat on the sofa. The TV came on and the channel was changing automatically to CBS for 60 minutes. Joe wasn't in the room, but all of these things were apparently being done remotely or by previous setting.

Joe came back into the room, having changed into a pullover shirt and was holding a strip of fax paper.

"Here's some numbers from overseas markets that came in a few minutes ago. I'm trying to get a line over there, so if the phone rings you may see me disappear. Ummmm, can I get you a drink?" Joe said as he handed her the paper and then slid behind the bar.

"A,... no, I don't think... well, if you have a soda. I don't think alcohol would be appropriate." She said nervously as she looked at the numbers on the faxed sheet.

"Wow, this one Hentai Premium on the Japanese market, do you own that? How can it open at 9 and be traded that heavily and end up at 9? That's not even a nickel in our money, what's the yen at 118-120? If you bought that any higher I would dump that, but if you came in at 9 it might be worth the speculation to own 24 hours, although you said you don't do that." She said as she scrolled out the whole roll, perusing the numbers.

"I bought it at 4, 3 days ago. I should move on it now, but I think it's going to make a big move tonight, if past performance of this type of stock holds true." He said.

"If you doubled your investment and sold it as soon as their markets open tomorrow I bet you would triple your money. Your buy would encourage movement." She said still thinking out loud.

"Selena, you little rat day trader. Trying to influence bad money after good only to pull out the carpet? I thought you hated those people?" Joe said a little gleam in his eye, knowing he tempted and trumped her principles.

"Oh my God, you're right. It's one thing to read and study this stuff, but to see it right here, WOW what a temptation!" she said as she caught herself.

'What I'll do is sell it tonight and then re-buy it in the morning for another 72 hours. I won't reinvest the profits though, just my original buy." He said smiling as her poured her soda and grabbed a beer for himself.

"How many shares, if you don't mind he asking?" she wondered.

"500,000 at 3, so I profit 6 yen each. If I re-buy and bounce it, giving it a little influence I may make another 2 or 3 on each." Joe said figuring in his head.

"You are a sly one, I see, if the bottom falls out all you lose is the profit you made on the original. But, I bet you make a couple thousand overall. Not bad for a couple days work." Selena smiled as she handed the sheet back to Joe and took her soda.

Joe walked toward the living room looking at the TV as a new story started on 60 Minutes. He motioned for her to sit on the sofa, while he sat in the easy chair.

Selena had hesitated, because she was not going to sit on the sofa if he did as well. She was keeping her guard up, but didn't really know why. She actually found Joe very engaging and sweet, plus he was a money head, like she was.

As Joe watched intently at the story on the TV, Selena found herself drawn to his face. There was something about him that she really liked, and it was almost to the point where she stared at him. "My God," she thought, "If he asked me on a date, I think I would accept just to see how he performs if he is interested in somebody. He is so sweet here and he's just doing me a favor. I've heard him say 3 times today to 3 people that he's old enough to be my father. I guess that's a sign he may not be interested in a kid. Although, I know he has to be looking at me with a guy's eyes. I know I'm attractive, and he's not blind."

For the second time in a couple minutes Joe glanced over at Selena to catch her staring at him, only for her to avert her eyes when caught. He didn't let the third time pass.

"What? You're staring at me. Do I have something on my face, is my shirt on inside out?" He asked with a faux look of irritation and smile.

"No, No!" she said averting her eyes, embarrassed. "I was just,... just, ummm, well to tell you the truth. I was noticing that you were a handsome man. No wait, that didn't come out right, not that you aren't handsome. I've heard you say 3 times today that you could be my father, but I could date you. Wait, I didn't mean like... we have so many of the same interests. CRAP, I screwed this whole thing up." She said exasperated with herself.

She finally sat up and loudly proclaimed, " IF YOU ASKED ME OUT ON A DATE I WOULD GO BECAUSE I KNOW WE WOULD HAVE LOTS TO TALK ABOUT AND BECAUSE THE GUYS I DO DATE BORE ME."

"There, that's what I wanted to say and I probably sounded stupid and you probably think of me even more as a little girl." Selena said as she folded her arms and sat back in the sofa looking at the ceiling with wet, near tear eyes.

Joe got up from the easy chair and lowered the volume on the TV from the chairs remote.

"Selena, when I said I could be your father I wasn't trying to say you were a little girl. I was saying it to acknowledge that I was aware of how old you were and that it would be inappropriate for me to ask you out on a date. I wanted a person to know I was not hitting on you or trying to pick you up, that's all." Joe said to be sure she knew he was NOT trying to hurt her feelings.

"Well, I'm not stupid, and I know I'm attractive and most any man would be attracted to me. I just felt you went out of your way to make me a little girl. I am a grown up woman. I'm not a virgin or anything. Ohhhh, that was so stupid to say!" Selena back peddled.

Joe half smiled.

"Selena ask me out on a date, I know I can't ask you, but if you ask me out I'll accept and we can deal with what others think then." Joe said, frustrated with Selena worrying about what others might think.

Selena seemed to stumble on her words for a second, "Abb, woo, aaa, uhh, Joe would you like to go on a date with me, perhaps to a movie and a quick bite."

"Sure, I would, as long as you let me treat," was his quick response. "There wasn't that easy? I don't want to continually beat the drum about our age difference, just understand that if I ask you out, I'm some sort of molester in many peoples eyes."

"That's not fair, though. I wouldn't go out with you if I thought you had a thing or kink for young girls. I like you and we can talk easily. Try to talk Wall Street, or anything connected, brands you as an egghead. I'm just not into a lot of other things, especially drugs and that gangster culture that seems to be in some of the music. A date with you would reinforce my belief that there are intelligent men out there." Selena said.

"Well, I wouldn't exactly be a fair picture, I am 22 years older than you."

"But, you don't look or act it, and besides it's just a date."

But they did plan a date for Friday night. They went to an early movie and then found a quiet restaurant where the two talked about the movie they had seen and then the current events of the day. Joe enjoyed the fresh style of Selena, even if it was like dating his sister. As pretty as she was, he held no thoughts of any deep relationship.

After finishing coffee and dessert Joe suggested they get going as the restaurant looked ready to close. After walking out the door, Joe felt a hand come up and hold his arm, encouraging him to lock arms on their walk to the car. When they got there Joe opened her door for her. As she stepped up to get in, she stopped and kissed Joe on the lips.

"You are a very sweet man. I've enjoyed the night immensely," she said.

Joe smiled and showed her into the car and closed her door. When he went to get in his side, she had sidled toward the middle of the seat.

Joe got in, not quite knowing what to think. He started the car and looked over at her, her face not a foot from his.

"Selena, I..." he started, but she put her lips to his again.

"Please, don't talk. Listen to me for a moment." She said.

"Joe, I really like you. The difference in our age means little to me. I just wanted to have a good time and enjoy the company of a man, but you have me smitten. Ever since Sunday night you are all I have been able to think of. Do you think you could take me seriously as a woman, and not some kid?" She asked.

Joe was floored. For the first time in 20 years, he was speechless with a woman.

He went to speak and nothing came out, he knew not what to say.

Finally, after collecting his thoughts, he spoke.

"Selena, you've taken my breath away. To be able to look at you, as a woman, not a girl is quite easy. You are beautiful. I'm afraid that with my reputation you might get one as well. I am a 3-time loser with engagements, and I am known to run around and have been with a lot of women. But I want to assure you of one thing. I never, ever, ever cheated on any woman I said I was committed to. My word is my bond. You may have heard stories about me and a lot of them are true, but more of them are not. Right now you work with Lynn, Cassie, Donna and Mary Pat. I have slept with all of them. You are going to hear stories."

Selena exhaled deeply and then sat as if punched in the stomach.

"WHY, WHY ARE YOU LIKE THAT!! You're so much better than that! Is being dumped 3 times made you want revenge on all women?" Selena asked, peeved.

"I don't sleep with women to get revenge, I sleep with them because I enjoy it and so do they. I have dumped none of those girls. The sex was all no strings attached. There was no relationship. They have needs. I have needs. They call me because the next day I expect nothing of them. I may be asleep at 11 o'clock at night and the phone will ring. "Joe are you busy, do you mind if I stop by?" and I have a mate for the night who may or may not be there in the morning. I am a male whore, and for that I am sorry. I'm not sorry that I am. I'm sorry that you had to find out, but I have to be fair. I would love to date you and get to know you better, as long as the age difference is not a stumble block for you. I am obviously attracted to your looks. No man can deny that. But, I love your mind as well. You are smart, bright and quite well spoken. You have goals. You are the female version of me when I was 18. It's just that I have been beaten to the canvas too many times by the relationships. I thought I won those bouts 3 times, only to be sucker punched out. Why oh why would you want to help me to my feet? I am so flattered that you would think of me that way, but I don't see how I can be good for you." Joe confessed and poured out his heart.