Jeff finds himself in Silicon Valley where he is asked to investigate claims by a gregarious Frenchman that his neural network electronic technology actually works. He meets up again with the enchanting Nancy, the FBI agent he had worked with in Atlanta where they fell in love while he was still married, and again in Washington DC Kathy puts romance back into Jeff’s life as he finds himself hounded by financially-desperate Europeans so determined to push their questionable technology―men so desperate that they will stop at nothing, even Jeff’s murder. The excitement will make the reader gasp, tragedy will make the reader cry, romance will make the reader sigh.
Chapter 6 of Silicon Gulch ... It's suddenly raining women for Jeff!
Monday, 11:51 PM: A Flood of Women!
If you enjoy this, please take time to LIKE this on Facebook!
- Chris Lamela
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Author contact: chris@chrislamela.com, 707-566-8790 PST
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday,
11:51 PM: A Flood of Women!
Stupefied flooded Jeff's face, his jaw dropped to his chest.
In a mere five seconds she was gone.
Jeff sat blankly looking at the doors that had just swallowed the woman
of his dreams who had just told him to go sleep with another woman.
A policeman leaned toward Jeff's window, "Sir, you need to move
along."
Jeff sat silent, unable to move.
"Sir! I need you to move or I will have to give you at ticket!"
He sat staring at the door she went into, the policeman's face suddenly
blocking the view, Jeff hearing TAP TAP TAP on the glass, "Sir, you need
to move," gesturing to Jeff, holding up his pen and ticket book.
Jeff motioned through the glass turning the
key KKKKKKKK! the car made the loud
crunching sound of starter motor jamming against already-moving engine parts,
startled yanking out of his fog turning to wave to the annoyed face with the
badged cap at his window, pulling away from the curb.
He slowly finished the airport's
loop, soon back on highway one-oh-one heading south back to Santa Clara
His mind was swirling with what had already happened today. "God,"
he said out loud to the darkened car, "three women have hit on me tonight,
the one that I really want is on a plane going away from me." He shook his
head driving mindlessly passing Veterans
Boulevard
His phone rang, he reached inside his coat pulling it out pushing TALK, "This
is Jeff."
"Hi, it's Nancy
He paused trying to get his brain wired to the voice on the phone.
"So where are you?"
He looked up at the signs, "Almost to Menlo Park
Jeff could hear the airport announcer's voice in the background, knowing
Nancy
"You mean about sex with the congresswoman? She's so old!"
"No, she's not. I mean, you're not old are you?"
"Well no, you know I'm forty-five."
"She's the same age, maybe a couple more years."
"Really?" he didn't mean to say that out loud but it just came
out.
"And you'll wear a condom, right?
Promise me?"
"Of course why wouldn't I?"
"Well, we never did condoms."
"That's because I was married and you hadn't had sex in a century,"
he laughed.
"It's just different when you wear one to do what I'm asking. That
way it's just sex. Without one it's making love."
He was caught in wonder at this. "Is this just you, or do all women
think like this?"
"All women, at least I think. It doesn't matter, I do. So promise
me you'll do it and that you will play safe."
"Nancy
"Yes, sex. Not making love."
"Okay, I'll do it. I'll take it for the team," they both
laughed together.
"Hey, they're calling my flight, bumped me to first class."
"Nice, that'll make the damned red eye a little better."
"I've got to go. I want to hear all about it. Bye, I'll call you soon."
The line went silent.
Jeff glanced at the dash clock saying eleven fifty-one. His phone rang
again, he smiled that Nancy
"Jeff here."
"Yes, Jeff, this is Lin." Jeff paused trying to remember the
name. "Congresswoman Lindon."
"Congresswoman!"
"Call me Lin, remember?"
"I meant Lin," he laughed, "yes, Lin. What can I do for
you?"
"Remember our conversation this evening?"
Jeff tried to remember the details when this woman was putting the make
all over him. "We talked about a lot of things," knowing he was lying
when all they talked about was her getting into his pants.
"Yes, remember when I told you that it gets so lonely at midnight?"
Being single now, he could relate to these words, "Yeah, I know, I
spend a lot of lonely midnights these days."
"So you're not married? Did we talk about this?"
"No we didn't. I am separated from my wife. And you, are you
married?"
"Not married, haven't been
for nearly twenty years."
Jeff noticed the first road sign showing Great America Parkway
"Beautiful? I don't get called that too much anymore."
"It's just your position, you know, congresswoman and all, people
aren't likely to be candid like this."
"And you're not afraid of me, of my position?"
"Heck no. I mean, no disrespect or anything, but why would I be
afraid of you or your position, it's just a job, right? I mean I have my job,
that one's yours."
"Jeff, you are so refreshing. I knew this somehow when we met. I
could tell you are different than the other men, that you are special."
"Lin, there's nothing special about me, I'm just a man like any
other man."
There was a long pause on the
phone, he knew she was still there because he could hear music in the
background. Was that Al Jarreau? He suddenly liked her more; anybody who
likes Al Jarreau can't be all bad!
"So Jeff, I was wondering if you're lonely at midnight like I am."
"Lin, they don't get much lonelier than I do," he could truly feel
that knowing the lover that he really wanted was probably flying over him at
that very moment.
"Well we seemed to hit it off so well, I thought maybe you might
want to come to my house for a drink or something."
Jeff had to shake his head rapidly to come to his senses. This
congresswoman was asking him to come to her house at midnight. Only one way that can end, huh? was all
that crossed his mind.
"Where do you live?"
"Los Gatos
He frowned trying to picture the geography of the area, remembering, "That's
a bit of a haul, what maybe a half hour from the hotel?"
"Maybe a few minutes less if you drive fast."
He looked at the clock on the dash that now said four minutes to
midnight.
"Lin, it's been a long day, I have a meeting at ten tomorrow."
He sighed that he was actually passing up
pussy! "Can I get a rain check?"
"How about tomorrow. For lunch."
"I can probably make that, might be a late lunch. Where's your
office?"
"It will be so much quieter here at the house."
"Your house? Tomorrow?"
"Well yes." He could hear her pause trying to explain this to
him, "There is a lot we need to talk about concerning Neurotek, a lot I
need to tell you. It's important stuff. It will be quieter here."
He remembered Nancy
"That'll work. Sure I can't see you―I mean meet with you―tonight?"
"No really, I'd fall asleep on your floor."
"That would be okay with me," she paused hoping he would say
yes, "but you're right, it's late. Let's plan tomorrow at two, I'll send
you directions. I saw your email address on your card, I'll send the
information."
"Good, I look forward to it," Jeff's car pulled off the
freeway, the car standing at the light getting ready to turn left to head to
the Merdian.
"Okay then, goodnight Jeff. I am really looking forward to seeing you tomorrow."
"Goodnight," he clicked the button on his phone.
A couple minutes later he was pulling into the parking lot, had to drive
almost to the back of the building the parking lot was so full. He got out, pushed
the remote lock button, the car make a quick honk. He was heading for the front
of the hotel when his phone rang again.
"Jeff here."
"Jeff, yes, this is Kathy .
Remember me?"
He laughed, "You're funny, what do you mean remember you, I never
forgot you! But it's late, is everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything's fine. It's just…you know midnight…and…"
"I know, midnight is a lonely time for us singles. Seems like there's
a lot of that going around," he laughed.
"Honest, I don't know why I'm calling so late. I've got to be up at
six for a meeting in San Francisco
"Kathy , I have your
phone number, can I get up to my room and change? I promise I'll call back in
ten minutes, will that be okay? I am so
stinky from the long day, but I'll call, I promise."
"You promise to call?"
He gave a warm smile to an empty lobby, "Wouldn't miss it for the
world, ten minutes, I promise."
"Okay, ten minutes then,"
he heard the phone click.
Two minutes later he was in his room pulling his coat off, reaching into
the closet pulled out a hanger, hung his coat, unbuttoned his shirt, a second
later was standing naked rooting through his luggage for a t-shirt, laying out
PJ bottoms, turned to the bathroom, a minute later he was back out reaching for
his phone to call Kathy .
A knock came at the door. He glanced at the clock that said twelve
minutes after midnight. Stepping to the door he called through it, "Who is
it?"
"It's me, Paula. Paula Johnson. Remember me from the dinner?"
"Just a second," he stepped back into the room putting on his
PJ bottoms, stepping back opening the door, standing in the doorway. "Paula,
what are you doing here so late?"
"This is really impulsive…I am sorry if this looks…it's just that
we really hit it off at dinner so well and I wanted to see you again. Maybe
have a drink, get to know you better, you get to know me better." He
couldn't imagine how their conversation came across as hitting it off so well.
"Paula, it's late, we're supposed to meet in the morning, right?
Why are you here?"
"Why do you think I'm here?"
Oh, Jesus! She's here for sex!
He paused at this puppy dog face, her demur smile, begging with her eyes
to be let in.
"Paula, look…"
"Can I come in? I promise only to stay a minute, honest."
He shook his head looking back to the pleading face, "Promise to
keep your clothes on?"
She gave the slightest nod.
"Okay, but only for a minute," he stepped aside, she floated
in, to the bed sitting down.
He sat in the classic red chair in the corner, elbows on his knees, "So
what's up?"
"I knew I shouldn't do this," slapping her forehead, "what
was I thinking that a man like you would even think of a woman like me?"
bursting into tears. "I don't know why I came here Jeff…I mean I know why
I wanted to come here…it's just that…"
"Midnight is such a lonely time for us singles," he said
softly. She looked up at these understanding words nodding as her wet cheeks
shined in the room's soft light.
"Yes, midnight is the loneliest time of the day," tears flying
from her eyes.
He reached to his right pulling a tissue box from the dresser, stepped
to her kneeling down in front of her, pulling out more tissues handing them to
her.
She pulled out a wad of tissues blowing her nose softly, more to wipe
her face.
"Paula, you are a very attractive woman. I don't know what you're
talking about a woman like me when
any man wouldn't think twice about being with you."
She looked up at him with a hopeful expression, "Even you?"
He prayed there was a way out of this nodding his head, "Yes,
especially me." He frowned, "It's just that things are…well things
are…you know, a little complicated. We are work colleagues and us
being…well…you know…being together could complicate things, don't you think?"
"I've had relations with men I worked with, they weren't that
complicated."
"Yes, but this is not exactly like your regular work situation. We've
got this crazy Frenchman, your company, my company, the congresswoman," he
said under his breath shaking his head, "yeah, don't forget about the
congresswoman," looking back to her, "the DOD. I mean things could
get really complicated and it could
affect…I don't know…our careers! Our jobs! We have too many people relying on
us."
Her face was dry now, she studied him, "But promise me that if it
wasn't for those little things that you would want me."
Little things?
He stood up, stepping forward put his hands on each side of her face
pulling her head to him kissing her quickly on the lips, "Yes, I promise
you. And if these little things do go away, I promise you that I will want you."
"Really, promise?"
"Yes!" he declared. She leaned forward, they kissed with the quickest
swirling of tongues, she pulled back.
She looked around at the bed, "And I can't stay the night?"
"No, not tonight."
"When?"
He smiled which she took to be his interest but it was really a smile of
his wondering if there were enough days in the week for all these women!
Jeff's cell phone rang, "Oh
god! Kathy !" ripped through
his brain.
"Okay then, time to go!"
he hustled Paula to the door.
She turned around with a big pout, "Just like that?"
The phone rang again, "Yep, just like that, see you in the morning!"
he pushed her as quickly as politely as possible giving her a quick peck on the
lips, closing the door rushing to his cell phone just as the ringer stopped.
"Damn damn damn damn," he knew that if he didn't get Kathy on the phone that she will come over―she only
lives two miles away!
He fidgeted with his phone, he
heard a ring, an answer―an answer!
Glancing at the clock it was almost twelve-thirty!
"You said you would call back in ten minutes, you promised!"
Quick, think think think!
"Shower," good job, yes,
the shower!
"Shower?"
"Yes, remember I told you that I was really stinky, I really had to
get a shower. The water felt so good that I just lost track of time, I was just
getting ready to call you."
"Really, there's not somebody else there?"
"At this hour? Who would be here?" trying to put on the best hurt tone he could find, "don't you
trust me?"
He heard her small laugh, "Yes I trust you, and okay, you were in
the shower."
Touch down!
"Too
bad I can't be there to share that clean body, huh?"
"Yeah, too bad."
"I can be there in ten minutes you know. If you hadn't called back
I was going to come there."
Yes, we had that figured out now,
didn't we?
"So when will I see you again," her tone mildly demanding.
"I thought we said tomorrow night. Did I miss something?"
"No, just checking to see if you remembered. Dinner at my place,
right?"
He smiled, "Yes, that will be nice. I can hardly wait. We said six,
right?"
"I thought we said seven. Look, do you have email? I love email, do
you have an email address?"
He said yes giving it to her, she repeated it back.
"So what did you have in mind for tomorrow night?" he asked
teasingly.
"You're just going to have to wait to see."
"Okay then, I will check my email for your address and I will see
you tomorrow at six, I mean seven."
"Jeff?"
"Yes?"
"I want it to be really
special so come…I mean when you…well you know what I mean."
"Kathy , I promise that
the whole me will be there tomorrow,
okay?"
"That's all I can ask. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," he pushed the button on the phone flopping back
onto the bed.
He lay there for not sure how long when he sat up with a lecturer's
stern look, "Now class, in review today, we were hit up by four, yes count
them, four different women. One Nancy
Jeff stood, pulled the drapes across the window, connected the cell
phone to the charger, bent turning out the light, flopping back onto the bed
laying in the dark.
He laughed that he hadn't had sex since the last time he was with his
wife, then Nancy before that over two years ago. How long had it been? Months.
Now all the sudden it was raining women!
No, it wasn't raining women; raining is a few drops of water on the
ground.
This is a flood!
This is a flood!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
NOW READ THE NEXT EXCITING CHAPTER OF
SILICON GULCH!
If you enjoy this, please take time to LIKE this on Facebook!
No comments:
Post a Comment