Lavender Is a Harsh Mistress Read online

  “How much does it cost to become a member here?” The man chuckled and shook his head.

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  Lavender Is A Harsh Mistress

  “No Miss Wilcox, you could have a million dollars in your pocket and not even be allowed to come into this establishment just for tea.

  Did you happen to read in the gossip columns last week where a Maharajah from India, who was worth over two billion dollars. Filed a discrimination case against this club in the International Court in the Hague, in the Netherlands. They usually don’t hear such cases but since he is connected to some very powerful people. They let him file a petition on behalf of the country of India. Needless to say that his petition was thrown out within seconds. From what I hear the case was thrown out due to pressure from Kings, Sultans, past and present Presidents, Princes, Queens, and others like that. They pressured to have the case thrown out because they didn’t want to be seen as supporting someone that The Victoria Club had denied.

  Because they didn’t want it to come back to haunt them when they applied for membership. That is the sort of power that this place has.

  Wouldn’t you have done the same thing Miss. Wilcox?”

  “In a heartbeat!” When they came to the end of the hallway they were facing another elevator. The doors automatically opened as the white haired man and Amanda stepped in.

  “Miss Wilcox when we get to the next level and you get off you will be facing a spiral staircase. Wait there for a few minutes and your hostess will take you onto the floor and to Mr. Peterson. The next level is as far as l am allowed to go. It’s been so wonderful being able to escort you.” The elevator opened and Amanda stepped off. Her feet had hardly touched the ground when a young woman addressed her. The woman was dressed in a blue blazer, with matching skirt, white blouse and white pumps.

  “I have been waiting for you Miss. Wilcox. If you will just wait here for a hot minute, I will take you to Mr. Peterson.” The woman stepped away as Amanda surveyed the scene below her. She was standing on the white marble landing that would lead her down a blue slate spiral staircase. The floor was covered with about seventy five tables that were spaced twenty feet apart. Each table was covered with a dark blue table cloth with a gold VC, in the center. Around the logo were ten large crystal vases filled with blue and white roses.

  Above each table was a medium sized sterling silver chandelier. The floor was covered by a thick blue carpet that also had smaller VC

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  Lavender Is A Harsh Mistress logos that circled each table. Amanda looked over the floor in the hope of seeing Marcus but she couldn’t see him. From where he was seated Marcus could see every move that she made since she got off the elevator. Maybe it was just him but she looked even prettier than she looked at the airport a few hours ago. Her hair was down and curled at her shoulders. She had on the right amount of makeup that brought out her facial beauty and softness. She was wearing a rose colored skirt and jacket that was tapered at the waist. With one black button on each side. Underneath her jacket was a silk gray blouse that was adorned with a necklace made out of black pearls, along with black pearl earrings. Her skirt came down slightly below her knee and on her feet she was wearing rose colored three inch heels.

  She and her hostess were now at the bottom of the stairs. Suddenly she spotted him sitting at his table to the left of her. Within a few more steps the hostess stepped aside.

  “Mr. Peterson, I hope that we are not too late. I had a bit of an emergency to attend too.” Marcus stood up and thanked the woman while stuffing a fifty dollar bill in her hand. She pulled out a chair for Amanda to sit down. Then she was off and heading back toward the slate spiral staircase. Marcus took a minute to look around before he started talking.

  “I hope you like it. I am told that some people would give their two eyes to see this place, but then that would defeat the purpose. But I do hope that it pleases you.”

  “It’s beyond belief Marcus. I hope that I am not being rude but how did you find this place?”

  “I didn’t find it, they found me. A week after I brought my condo I found a application slipped under my door. In all honesty I had never heard of the place. After I sent in the application, I was told to be at a certain place at a certain time for an interview. I went into a room where three people had their faces covered. They asked me some simple questions and that was it. The next day another letter was slipped under my door saying that I was a member. Since then I found out that you have to be vouched for by a member in order to be considered. Who vouched for me and why I still don’t know.”

  “Is there a fee to get in?”

  “No, but once you start eating and drinking here and paying their 139

  Lavender Is A Harsh Mistress prices. You will have paid a fee and then some.”

  Amanda looked into his face and smiled but on the inside she was a bundle of nerves. “Marcus there is something that I don’t understand, who are those groups of people that I’ve seen on every floor dressed in black?”

  “That’s the security for this place. They are all ex FBI, CIA, NYPD, IDF, and some Interpol, they are the best in the world. They have to be because some of the members here are current and former heads of state. Some members run a few of the biggest financial firms around the globe. After all look at me! I am the manager of what will soon be the most famous name in woman’s fashions, Amanda Fashions. Now I hear that is a very big deal and I need all the protection that I can get.”

  She was glad that he had suddenly developed a lighter tone and for a minute it made her nerves go away. Marcus kept up with this light air. “I also have to be protected from that dangerous “Blue Hen Posse.” That will have me skinned alive if I don’t personally deliver their outfits to them in Aspen.” Amanda let out a full and hardy laugh.

  “Don’t remind me, that time will be here soon enough.” He ordered her a glass of white wine and for himself ordered a water with a twist of lemon. A quick silence fell over the table before she figured that it was her turn to speak.

  “I want to thank you again for doing so well in Paris.”

  Marcus shook his head slowly while keeping his eyes on her.

  “No, no Amanda, that won’t do. I didn’t invite you out so that we could discuss work. If I wanted to talk about work I would do so in your office.” She tried to avoid his gaze by glancing around the room.

  While at the same time trying to think of something to talk about.

  After about half a minute she came clean.

  “I don’t know what you like to talk about because I don’t know what your likes or dislikes are.” His tone got much softer.

  “Why don’t you tell me about that boyfriend of yours, Patrick. The one that was with you at the party. Like for instance, what do you see in him? A woman like you should never be involved with a guy like that. It makes a woman of your stature look small.” Amanda’s mind was now in free fall. There was no way that she could honestly answer the question. If she did tell the truth of why she was with 140

  Lavender Is A Harsh Mistress somebody like Patrick. He would think that there was something wrong with her, and he would be right. Marcus adjusted his position in his chair and waited for her to answer. She finally realized that telling the truth was the only thing that would make sense.

  “I find him safe.” Marcus looked at her intently for a few painful seconds before he asked.

  “Is that what you look for in a man safety, and why so?”

  Amanda suddenly got the feeling that she was being given a pop quiz that she hadn’t studied for.

  “I am not good with men, I always seem to pick the wrong one.”

  She dug her heels deep into carpet and couldn’t believe that she was opening up to a man that she hardly knew. Marcus once again took a few minutes to digest her answer before he answered.

  “How old are you? Never mind you need not answer that. I mean no disrespect but aren’t you old enough to know what kind of man that you want?” She felt a little
peeved at how he had asked the question and replied with directness.

  “When I find the right one then I will know.” She wasn’t sure but he seemed a little stunned by the frankness of her answer. Marcus handed her a menu.

  “Take a look at their sea food selections they are the best in the city.”

  She picked up her giant menu and used it to cover her eyes so that he couldn’t see the icy glaze that covered them.

  “This was a bad idea. I should have just kept this relationship on a professional level. There is no way that I am ever going to figure him out. Maybe...” Marcus put his menu down and called her name.

  “Amanda.” She also lowered her menu and hoped that icy stare was gone.

  “You look absolutely beautiful tonight. I am glad that you came and sometimes just pay me no mind.”

  “Thank you, I am glad that you invited me.” Amanda raised her menu back over her eyes.

  “First a slight insult, then a compliment what am I supposed to do?”

  A different hostess arrived and took their orders and then a quick silence drifted between them for a few minutes. Marcus took a drink of water before speaking.

  “I hear that you went to a all girls college. How was that?”

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  “It was alright, just getting prepared for life I guess.” She could see that he was just making light conversation and really wasn’t interested in her schooling at all. That was the end of their talking for about ten minutes until after their food had arrived.

  “How do you like the food, is it good?”

  “The food is great! How do they get the veal so tender?”

  “I don’t know but these giant lobster tails taste great. Have you ever seen them so big?” That was the end of their talking for another period of time. Amanda finished eating before he did and her nervous-ness started to return. She was annoyed with herself and she knew why. It was because of Patrick who was still in her head. With him she had to talk all of the time so that he wouldn’t start talking about sex. Or why she wasn’t providing more of it. She could see clearly that if something serious did develop between her and Marcus. She would have to learn how to endure these periods of silence. She thought back to the time when they drove up to Albany and he said hardly fifty words to her. Carney was right, Marcus was nothing like Patrick. He wasn’t like any man that Amanda had ever known.

  Marcus finished his dinner and ordered another white wine for her and another water with a twist of lemon for him. “Do you have to get home early, or do you have something planned for the rest of the evening?” Amanda removed her napkin from her lap and dabbed her mouth

  “No there is nothing else that I have planned for tonight.”

  “Good, I was hoping that you would like to go for a drive.”

  “Fine I would love to.” By the time that they stepped out of the lobby his car was waiting and Marcus tipped the valet with a fifty after they got in and the man rendered a curt bow.

  “Thank you Mr. Peterson, we hope to see you soon.”

  “Do you like light jazz?”

  “Yes I don’t mind.” He pressed a button on the consul and a melodic sound escaped from the car’s speakers.

  “I don’t have any special place to go, maybe just where ever the wind blows us.”

  Amanda laid her head back against the head rest and turned toward him.

  “I don’t care Marcus, sometimes where ever the wind takes you is 142

  Lavender Is A Harsh Mistress just fine. Besides sometimes I don’t want to know where I am going.

  Don’t you feel like that sometimes?” Marcus came to a stop at a red light and looked over at her and smiled.

  “I know exactly what you mean.”

  By now he had navigated through the city traffic and was halfway over the Triboro Bridge. Under a full moon and a star lit sky, Amanda could see the city’s skyline, as well as the soft waves that rippled and crashed against the shore. Marcus put his finger on another button and the car’s moon roof slid back a little. She looked up and saw a carpet of stars that seemed to never move. With her face turned upward a cool breeze moved thru her hair causing it to move backward. He reached over and used his hand to brush it back into place. Marcus veered to his left and moved onto the Grand Central Parkway.

  “I figured that we would go and walk along the boardwalk at Jones Beach. It’s a little chilly but we won’t stay long.”

  That sounds ok, but I have to admit that I have never been to Jones Beach.” Once again a desert of silence returned between them. Causing her to feel like a trapeze artist walking high above on a thin razor wire. She hoped that the wind that was rushing thru the moon roof didn’t blow her off. Marcus led her out of the parking lot and under the tunnel then onto the boardwalk. They started to walk under that still star studded sky and the full yellow moon. In the distance they could see the rough waves as they battled the ocean’s current. She felt a stiff wind shoot across the water and started to shutter. She looked at Marcus and was a bit stunned to see that he seemed to be enjoying these elements, as the chill of the wind smacked against his face. “Hey, this is quite a crowd here tonight. Everybody must have had the same idea that we did. Come on, or should I slow up, are you cold?”

  “No it’s alright, I am fine.” Amanda caught up to him and began to march in step with him. Directly in front of them she saw an elderly couple walking hand in hand. She could see their gray hair softly blowing in the wind. She kept her eyes on them until they turned down a dirt path and disappeared out of sight. She and Marcus had been walking for twenty minutes when he stopped and leaned against the railing. She stood directly behind him.

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  “Do you know Amanda that where ever you go in the world that at night the water is always black. In the daytime it can be blue, light blue, green, even turquoise. There is even a body of water called the Emerald Sea, I guess that the water is emerald, but at night it too is black.” Amanda joined him at the railing. “I have been to the Ca-ribbean Islands a few times and the colors of the waters there are so pretty.”

  “That’s a great place to go. When were you there last?”

  “I was there last with Pat....” As soon as she saw the annoyed look on his face she stopped short.

  “You’re right it is a great place to go.”

  “Are you sure that you are not chilly?”

  “No really I am fine.”

  “Good, then lets go and get some ice-cream. This time they retraced their steps down the boardwalk at a more urgent pace. Marcus got her a chocolate cone and for himself he got a double scoop of strawberry. The wind had picked up and she could feel the chill start to bite a little deeper. She hoped that he didn’t notice her body beginning to shake.

  “Come on we can finish our ice-cream on the way to the car. By the time that I get you back home it will be after twelve.”

  Amanda didn’t protest and by the time that he turned onto the Belt Parkway she had warmed up.

  “Thanks for coming to the beach with me tonight. Sometimes I just need peace and quiet just to think.” She dared herself and then took the dare.

  “What do you think about?” Marcus shifted the topic.

  “I was hoping that we could find something to do for the weekend. I mean if you are not tied up or something.” Amanda turned her face to look at the naked trees along the roadside. She already knew what her answer would be. She was like a Cowboy on a bucking bull and it was too late to get off now.

  “No I am not doing anything.”

  “I am glad that you are not, and I promise that I will take you to someplace more exciting than just looking at black water. Suppose that I pick you up at ten?”

  “Ten would be fine.” Amanda got back to her apartment at a little 144

  Lavender Is A Harsh Mistress past twelve. She rushed into Carney’s room in such a hurry that she almost tripped over the bed and fell on top of
her.

  “He wants to take me out this weekend!” Carney sat up in the bed and pulled the cover over her eyes before turning on the light. Her voice filtered thru the covers.

  ”How was the Victoria Club, is it really all of that?”

  “It’s ten times better than what I had heard.”

  “Where did you and Mr. Beautiful go after that?”

  “We went to the beach.”

  “To the beach! Isn’t it kind of cold for swimming?”

  “No, he just wanted to think.”

  “Oh no Mandy, not a thinker!”

  “What do you have against thinking men?”

  “Nothing, except that they are always trying to out think us women.”

  “Carney, tomorrow I am going over to Patrick’s to tell him that I am not going to see him any more. How do you think that I should tell him?”

  “Not again Mandy! You know good and well what’s going to happen. You should know the drill by heart. He’s going to start telling you how sorry he is. Then he’ll start with the tears and beg you a thousand times to give him another chance, and swear that he will change. Then you will start feeling guilty, feeling sorry for him, and doubting yourself. In the end you will fold like you always do. This time don’t confront him, just leave him a short message on his voice mail, something like. Listen you pinky sized penis, know it all, know nothing, obnoxious clown. Newsflash! You are like a lead balloon attached to my rising star. We are done, that means goodbye, scram.

  Now I am going out and getting myself a lobotomy and hopefully that erases you from every corner of my mind forever!”