The Power Trip

‘I will judge for myself,’ Xuan said, her beautiful face turning quite inscrutable.

‘Don’t embarrass me,’ he told her. ‘Just remember that Aleksandr is my friend.’

‘You think I would embarrass you?’ Xuan said, amusement lighting her eyes.

‘If you could,’ Flynn said. ‘Only I’m sure you wouldn’t do that to me, would you?’

‘We’ll see,’ Xuan answered mysteriously.

Shit! he thought. I’ve made a mistake. She’s going to try to discredit him because he’s rich and powerful.

Then he thought, Well, at least it won’t be boring. Let the games begin.

That night he had dinner alone at his neighbourhood bistro, feasting on all his favourite foods.

Mai attended to his table, and after he was finished he invited her to sit with him while he drank his coffee.

Mai accepted his invitation, and they chatted for a while. She was beguiling and sweet in a very French way.

It occurred to him that he had the apartment to himself tonight, for Xuan had informed him she would be staying with a friend, and would not be back until morning, so against his better judgment he ended up asking Mai if she would care to join him for a drink.

She accepted, and they strolled the three streets to his place.

When they arrived he poured her a Pernod on the rocks, and they sat around sipping their drinks and talking politics — which surprised him, because Mai was far more knowledgeable than he’d expected.

Eventually they ended up in bed; somehow it was inevitable.

Being with Mai was not the experience he’d thought it would be. Mai was no spider-monkey girl, she was a gentle lover with a warm and welcoming body. She smelled of lavender and roses, while the Pernod on her breath added a tangy sharpness to their kisses.

He found himself making love to her with more feeling than he’d known in a long time.

She murmured that she’d been wanting to sleep with him ever since he’d first come into her family’s restaurant, but she’d felt that he wasn’t at all interested.

He was taken by her lilting accent, the way she touched the back of his neck, the smoothness of her hands. Mai was the first woman in a long time who was actually getting through to him.

And did he want that?

No.

Feelings only led to heartbreak.

Eventually they fell asleep, entwined in each other’s arms.

When he awoke at dawn, she was gone.

For a moment he was relieved, then upset. Had he not pleased her? Why would she walk out without so much as a goodbye?

Suddenly the realization struck him that he was actually experiencing real feelings.

It was a shocker.

* * *

Xuan arrived later in the morning carrying a shopping bag of warm baguettes, a jar of homemade jam, and a tub of thick creamy butter.

‘Breakfast,’ she announced, placing everything on the small kitchen counter. She paused for a moment and sniffed the air. ‘You had a woman here,’ she said matter-of-factly. ‘Will she be joining us for breakfast?’

‘No,’ Flynn said evenly. ‘She will not. How did you know?’

‘Ah… I smell her fragrance in the air. And I notice the smile on your face.’

‘I’m not smiling.’

‘Enjoy it for once.’

‘I am not smiling,’ he insisted.

Xuan shrugged. ‘Too bad she isn’t here. However, that means all the more for us.’

Flynn nodded, his mind elsewhere.

‘Can you make coffee while I take a shower?’ Xuan asked. ‘I was out on the streets all night. It was worth it because I gathered some very interesting material.’

‘I’m sure you did,’ Flynn said, finding himself thinking that he wished he’d invited Mai on the trip as opposed to Xuan. He was already looking forward to seeing the French woman again, which was a positive sign that maybe he was finally ready for more than a two- or three-week stand.

‘It’s good that you’re happy,’ Xuan said. ‘This woman, she pleased you?’

‘None of your fucking business,’ Flynn replied, trying to suppress the stupid grin that seemed to bubble up from nowhere.

‘Ah yes,’ Xuan said with an all-knowing smile. ‘She pleased you.’

‘Are you packed and ready to go?’ Flynn asked, quickly changing the subject. ‘We’re supposed to meet Aleksandr at the Plaza Athenee at three. Then we’ll head straight onto the airport.’

‘Me? Packed?’ Xuan said with a gesture of surprise. ‘I never unpacked. Or didn’t you notice?’

‘Right.’

‘It’s nice to know that you can still summon up feelings,’ Xuan remarked. ‘Unfortunately for me, that is not possible.’

He didn’t need to ask why. Xuan had shared with him some of the horrors she’d experienced, and for her own peace of mind it was best not to dredge up the past.

‘I don’t know about you, but I’m starving,’ he said, keeping it casual. ‘Let’s eat.’

‘Ah yes,’ Xuan said. ‘Making love always gives one a hearty appetite.’

‘Will you stop?’ he said, slathering butter on a baguette.

Xuan allowed herself another mysterious smile. ‘Of course,’ she said. ‘Only I so enjoy seeing you like this.’

‘Like what?’ he said, attempting a frown.

‘Vulnerable.’

‘Come on,’ he said, almost choking. ‘Let’s not get carried away.’

Yet he knew she was right. Maybe he was finally giving himself permission to move on.

And maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Even though he was a major movie star, and had been for many years, Cliff Baxter did not own a plane. It wasn’t necessary, because whenever he wished to go anywhere there was always a studio plane available for his use. All he had to do was ask. So he did, and a company jet was on hand to fly him and Lori to Cabo San Lucas the following day. In the meantime he had his valet pack his clothes, and he had Enid come to his house to go over any last-minute business.

Enid was her usual cryptic self. ‘I hope and pray you’re not planning any surprises for me on this little jaunt you’re taking off on,’ she said, giving him a piercing look.

‘Now what kind of surprises did you have in mind, Enid?’ Cliff asked, his eyes crinkling.

One thing about Cliff Baxter, he had not succumbed to the Botox and plastic surgery some of the older male stars had dipped into. He was of the George Clooney/Clint Eastwood school. You are what you are, take it or leave it. But he did look fabulous for a man approaching fifty; he had just the right amount of lines and wrinkles, and only a fleck of grey in his lustrous head of hair. Not to forget the devastating smile that had women across the world swooning.

‘The marriage surprise,’ Enid said bluntly. ‘You know exactly what I mean.’

Cliff roared with laughter, only perhaps his laughter wouldn’t have been quite so hearty if he’d known that Lori was lurking outside the door to his study, listening to every word.