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A Mysterious Colleague

By: erinsisle



A MYSTERIOUS COLLEAGUE

He loved his colleague but how to further the relationship is a problem.

This is entirely a work of fiction.

Jennie was an enigma. Most of her colleagues were content not to pry (they had their own problems) although in some cases, mostly female, they resented her svelte appearance. Generally however the staff respected Jennie's obvious desire for privacy and rarely questioned the young lady. She was not unpleasant in any way, it was more an unwillingness on her behalf to discuss either herself or her background. 

Everyone knew that she had qualified as a Chartered Architect before joining the firm but even the simple matter of where she lived was known only to the practice secretary.

However Martin did not share this general apathy. Far from it. In fact he was growing ever more deeply in love with Jenny and had been attracted to the young woman from their first meeting but despite having worked closely with his colleague for more than three years he still knew little more about his colleague than he had known in the first week.

They had started together as newly qualified graduates, but from different universities, and despite occupying adjacent work stations he still felt completely excluded from her life.

She had been friendly enough right from their earliest meeting but there it had stopped. There were none of those occasional admissions of frailty nor of growing trust which marked an emergent work relationship and no references were ever made to either her home or family life. In marked contrast Martin occasionally found himself running on about various problems outside of the office but not Jennie. All her conversation was limited strictly to work related matters. 

He knew that she lived somewhere central because she obviously walked to work, and that she had a posh sounding mother up North (there were very occasional incoming telephone calls which were always cut short by Jennie) but other than that he knew nothing. 

Did she have a boy friend? She never alluded to one even in passing and other than those personal calls from her mother she received none, at least not in the office. She took her full complement of holiday allowance but unlike others never gave any clue as to where she spent the breaks. 

All in all she had become a mystery woman.

Jennie wore sensible but expensive clothes to work, usually tailored trousers and a matching jacket over a buttoned up shirt or severe blouse, work wear suitable for a woman who as part of her job needed to visit building sites and clamber about on scaffolding. She wore a minimum of makeup, a mere smear of lipstick and eye shadow although her hair was fashionably and professionally cut. 

That was until the staff Christmas party. 

This was the first formal event to take place since Jennie and Martin had joined the firm and like all those already assembled in the bar his mouth had dropped open when she eventually made her entrance. In an electric blue designer dress with a boned top and knee length skirt, with shining black hair cut severely in a head hugging helmet and five inch heels she was drop dead gorgeous as conveyed by the sudden silence which greeted her arrival.

Since then his curiosity had grown ever stronger. In his sexual fantasies he clung to the memory of that first revelation of the sensual woman normally hidden by pin stripe suiting and presented with the minimum of makeup. He began to look forward to her dazzling appearances at those black tie events when the practice entertained clients and his admiration grew steadily. So much so that he would sometimes find himself mentally undressing this source of all his desires until a pointed look from Jennie would force him into surreptitiously adjusting his clothing and making a bid to concentrate on work related matters.

What's more he went home most nights feeling despondent at the attentions she received daily from almost every other red blooded male in the firm, from partner down to print boy. Perhaps it was one of those simpering idiots who got to fuck her? Did she put out for one of those prats who regularly sauntered up to their adjacent work stations merely to hit on Jennie? 

However there was one thing at least which cheered him and gave him limited solace for she never, ever, gave any sign of being partial to even a single one of those would be admirers. So he would eventually drift off to sleep often to partially wake in the early hours humping the mattress convinced that Jennie was there beneath him and urging him on to greater efforts.

.............

Three years into their careers they were now working jointly on the design for a large distribution depot. Early on this involved a trip out to the Midlands and an overnight stop in an hotel. The day had gone well with the client's representative making all the right noises so when they eventually booked in he suggested that they met later for a meal.

"Alright." 

She agreed but he could detect no particular warmth in the reply.

"What sort of food do you like?" 

He persisted unwilling to merely opt for the hotel dining room but in this he was disappointed.

"Oh anything. Let's just book a table here."

Later he was in his room and feeling dismayed at Jennie's lack of willingness to be adventurous. Surely she might have relaxed her uptight manner given where they were and how long they had worked together?

He stripped off his clothes and fiddled with the shower controls before eventually getting the temperature to his liking.

But how gorgeous had she looked when she eventually reappeared? In the half hour before they met in the restaurant she had applied full make up and changed into a dress which emphasised her shapely body without appearing in any way tarty. He was in love, there was no denying his emotions, but would it ever be reciprocated? There seemed little chance. However by the time he was soaping his body a semi erection had hardened fully as if to emphasise his sense of loss.

Almost against his will he began to run his fist up and down the swollen flesh, sucking in air as the friction induced waves of pleasure which made him even stiffer. Did Jennie like sex, did she even enjoy fucking? Did she masturbate? Was she frigging herself now? Well one thing was sure, he would never know.

"Oh god," he whispered to himself as the thought of her naked body made his balls tighten before, in an abject feeling of loneliness, he jerked out arcs of sperm which joined the rivulets of soapy water on the shower curtain.

.............

Then came that eventful day when everything in his life changed. He did not know it at the time but so besotted was he with this puzzling and distant woman that he would have latched onto anything which might conceivably get him closer to Jennie.

It all began after the lunch break on one unremarkable Friday. 

They had spent the afternoon assembling tender documents for the Distribution Centre which were to go by courier that very evening. Finally the sets were ready, Bills of Quantities, Building and Services Specifications, and drawings neatly folded to A4 size all assembled in labelled boxes and laid out on the meeting room table. They paused for an overdue coffee break and Martin was recalling that Jennie had been unusually indecisive over the previous week or more when she suddenly turned to him and with one simple request changed their relationship for ever.

"Martin I need your help, I've got no one else I can turn to."

She reached out and put her hand over his. This first and totally out of character moment of contact caused an instant electrical charge to shoot directly into his groin.

"But first you must promise not to repeat anything that I tell you, and I mean not to anyone?"

"You have my word." 

Although astonished by the sudden turn of events he had no hesitation in committing himself fully. That this so secretive woman would seek his help, and his alone, was a real turn up for the book. However she still seemed to be having an internal battle with herself so he was made to wait before Jennie eventually came to a decision and finally spoke. 

"Will you pretend to be my boy friend?"

In the event this didn't seem such a difficult request. He had feared something far more onerous but as things turned out how wrong could anyone ultimately be? 

"Of course but why?"

"I need your help to get rid of a stalker."

"Why don't you just call the police?"

"Well you see it isn't as easy as that because for a number of reasons I can't risk involving anyone else."

Martin was now becoming very confused but by clinging to the simple upsurge of pleasure that he had initially felt but also the possibility of getting closer to Jennie he had no difficulty in saying yes.

"Of course I'll go along with whatever you want me to do, even be your boyfriend."

In this way he tried to inject some humour into the situation but was quickly disabused.

"Pretend boyfriend." She was quick to correct him before abruptly rising to her feet clearly having recovered at least some of her normal decisiveness. 

"Look, let's get this stuff over to the post room then get out of here. I'll buy you a drink and tell you the whole sorry story."

They ended up at a smart city pub which was far enough from the office to avoid chance acquaintances. Once installed in a booth with a bottle of wine she began her explanation. At first she was hesitant but slowly grew more fluent.

"I met this older bloke recently...I hadn't seen him for six or seven years and he wanted a date but I wasn't keen...anyway to cut a long story short he threatened to expose something from my past which I don't want to become public knowledge so I finally agreed to go out with him...not surprisingly the whole evening turned out to be a disaster and ended with him coming on far too strong so I left in a hurry, but he has been following me ever since."

"So when was this err...date?"

"Ten days ago."

"Is he here?" Martin was already looking around curious as to whether they were being watched.

"No, at least not yet, but I never know for sure if or where he will turn up."

Martin sat back his brain whirring but then leant forward.

"So how do you want to play this?"

"Well for a start I thought that we could go out for a meal tonight. Friday night is when he's almost bound to follow me and then with a bit of luck he'll see us together."

"Okay, that suits me. I haven't got anything on."

He showered and excited at the prospect of getting closer to the woman he worshipped began reviewing their conversation in the bar.

What was her previous relationship with this "bloke" that was following her and, more importantly, what was he threatening to expose? Having previously considered Jennie as being rather a conventional person, although a goddess in his eyes, he was having to rapidly rethink everything he had earlier assumed. Still, it might all be merely a foolish worry on her part and his presence on the scene would likely frighten the stalker off.

Martin arrived first. He was given a table towards the rear from where he saw Jennie enter a few minutes later and his heart leapt in anticipation as she waved and made her way over. Her hair was shining with health and she was wearing a crisp white blouse unbuttoned enough to show a tantalising cleavage teamed with a flared skirt which did not quite cover her delicious knees.

He stood to greet Jennie only to be surprised when she flamboyantly pulled him close and kissed him full on the lips. Time stood still as he savoured the unexpected intimacy of the contact. With her breasts pressed against his chest and their thighs in contact he was blissfully happy until he realised rather belatedly that this embrace was all for the benefit of the possible watcher.

"Is he already here?" Martin spoke while restraining the urge to look over her shoulder.

"He followed me from home so he's probably outside peering through the window."

"Then that's the only reason you kissed me?"

"Why, did it offend you?"

"You didn't answer my question."

"No, I didn't...In fact I've wanted to kiss you for a long time."

"You have, bloody hell. And?"

"It was nice."

"Only nice! Perhaps if we practice I'll get better?"

"Stop it Martin, behave yourself."

Jennie then kept up an almost continuous stream of inconsequential chatter interspersed by occasionally and ostentatiously taking his hand in hers to point up the reason for the 'date'. Despite his knowing it was all merely make believe Martin was soon a fair way to being transported to paradise and by the time they had finished the main course he had completely forgotten the stalker. That was until she stood and he was hauled swiftly back to reality.

"I'm off to the Ladies. Don't look now but he's the bald bloke sitting at the bar."

She went off and Martin decided it was safe to let his gaze casually roam about the tables before eventually settling on the bar area. Thankfully the man in question had his back turned but he judged the drinker to be in his fifties or maybe a bit older and expensively dressed although clearly ill at ease. When Jennie reappeared he saw the man get up to leave and jerked his head towards the door in an effort to signal the departure. Jennie merely nodded knowing he had left.

"Will we see him again?" Martin was curious as to whether there was a pattern to this stalking.

"Who knows?" She shuddered expressively and passed up the pudding in favour of offering Martin coffee back at her place. Wow thought Martin as he paid with his credit card. I'll actually get to find out where she lives. 

When they emerged onto the street a Taxi appeared by magic as soon as she raised her arm.

"That's a very useful skill to have." His laugh which accompanied this admiring observation was genuine and her almond eyes lit up with shared amusement although she was at the same time taking a surreptitious look around.

"It's a gift I have. I just happen to believe that one will appear and then of course it does." They settled back in the seat for the short drive. 

"Did you see him outside the restaurant?" He asked.

"No. Maybe he's got the message." But she seemed to be more hopeful than truly convinced.

The black cab dropped them at the entrance to an apartment block which had clearly been converted from a dock side warehouse. The refurbished goods lift took them up to the top floor and she opened the door to the penthouse suite. Martin"s jaw dropped as they entered a space which he remembered well having seen it illustrated in all the trade journals and even the Sunday Newspapers. His amazement was clear enough to impinge on Jennie who was still worried at encountering the stalker.

"All thanks to my father." She encompassed the space with a negligent sweep of her hand. "Sit down anywhere you like and I'll get the coffee." Jennie turned back to him as she was making her way to the open plan kitchen, "Would you like a brandy to be going on with?"

He nodded yes but spoke on a different matter. "Who is he, I mean that bloke in the restaurant bar?" She took her time before answering.

"It's a long story but you deserve to know more." She poured two hefty slugs of Armanac before continuing. "When I was a teenager I was a wild child, particularly after my parents had their final argument, which was when I became a prostitute."

With that bombshell she heaped coffee into a cafettiere leaving him winded and bereft of words.

"Not on the streets you understand," she then continued in a matter of fact voice, "At seventeen I became a high class tart with a pad of my own and the clients all came through an agency. Anyway, to cut a long story short, the punter that you saw tonight was one of my regulars before I eventually saw the light and got out of the game. That incidentally was when I went off to Edinburgh to study Architecture."

Martin was now reduced to a stunned silence. She laughed at the bewildered expression on his face as she came over with a tray.

"You thought all along that I was secretive, didn't you? Now you know why."

She sat down facing him but with a low table between. It was now clear to him why her clients must have kept coming back. After all hadn't he lusted after just the plain workaday Jennie but looking at her now, all dressed up, she was definitely dynamite. With an effort he pulled himself back to the present

"So how did he find you again?"

"Oh it was one of those freak accident's...but then when I wouldn't resume sexual relations with him he threatened to write to the partners at the office...and may still do so for all I know."

"What a bloody mess."

"Isn't it just, and I'm reluctant to get my father involved because his solution would inevitably result in the bloke being harmed, or worse."

"Jesus H. Christ, Jennie! I can't get my head around a man who can afford this place and who can deal violently with a stalker."

"Oh he wouldn't do it himself. It would all be delegated."

"So who is your father that he can wield such clout?"

"He is Sheik Harrifa Ouaza, a member of the Arabian royal family, an international oil baron and a big wheel in OPEC."

"Oh fucking hell," was all Martin could manage following this revelation. His mind was now in serious danger of melt down what with one amazing disclosure after another. In fact he knew precisely who the Sheik was for his photo regularly appeared in all the papers, seen with his horses in the winners enclosure, with royalty at various functions, and on his yacht in the Med.

..................................

"We have to make a plan." She was now appealing directly to Martin not only verbally but also with expressive eyes.

"What do you mean we?"

"You said that you would help me or are you having second thoughts?"

"I did didn't I and no, I'm not about to desert you." 

He fell back against the expensive leather and covered his eyes thinking that the original request merely to be a 'pretend' boyfriend had escalated alarmingly. But he accepted that he was in this for the long run and would continue to help whatever transpired. So it was a fully committed Martin who broke the pregnant silence.

"Perhaps I need to have a quiet word with your stalker and convince him of the potential trouble his actions might cause."

"Thank you Martin. That seems to be the first step, and it will come better from you," she was now all of a sudden looking hopeful, "he might believe you when he would just think that I was trying yet another way to be rid of him."

"Is he outside right now?"

She went through to the front of the apartment and after a minute or so came back.

"He's at his usual place across the road, half hidden in a doorway."

"Well I'll go down and confront him. There's no time like the present." 

It proved to be brave talk and in fact he was close to chickening out before tentatively approaching the man a few minutes later. 

"Don't go, I mean you no harm."

The man had looked about to flee and the fear on his face when suddenly faced by a younger and obviously stronger male did much to restore Martin's confidence.

"You must leave Jennie alone."

"Jennie? Is that what she calls herself now?"

Martin suddenly realised that the stalker must know his colleague by another name.

"What do you call her?"

"Yasmina." 

He filed that away for later consideration then got on with the purpose of this confrontation.

"You've got to stop hounding her."

"How can I? I love Yasmina."

"But she's going to marry me."

"I don't think so. Not when you find out about her past."

He was now getting increasingly cocky which in turn caused Martin to suddenly lose his cool. Grabbing the man by the collar he drew back his arm to strike but then stayed his fist in mid air. After all he had himself worshipped the same woman for years without hope of any recognition. He spoke honestly.


A Mysterious Colleague



"I know all about her having been a call girl and it makes no difference to me."

This admittance at first caused the stalker to pause but he rapidly recovered enough to retaliate.

"Well it might not at the moment while you still lust after her body but what about in the future when thoughts of her past begin to gnaw away at you."

Martin stepped back as he recognised the irrefutable truth contained in the man's argument but he had promised Jennie to intervene so he was now forced to resort to the ultimate weapon.

"You have no idea what trouble you could be in from her family. If I was in your shoes I would be very afraid."

"This is England laddie. Why would I be afraid?"

"If you force Jennie into telling her father about the threat you have made than I fear for your life. It wont be a case of a few broken bones, you will just disappear off the face of the earth."

"And why should I believe such melodramatic nonsense?" He was now all but laughing in Martin's face.

"Because I know his reputation and in your shoes I would be scared shitless."

Okay this was laying it on a bit thick but his threat was clearly not worrying the stalker who merely sneered in disbelief as he ducked under Martin's arm before hurrying away down the street. 

"Were you watching?" he said to Jennie as she closed the door behind him.

"Of course, but do you think there's any conceivable chance that you succeeded?"

"I don't honestly know. He's clearly obsessed with you but whether the combined threat of me and your father will frighten him off only time will tell."

Impulsively she pulled him close and kissed him softly leaving Martin weak kneed and with an instant erection.

"Thank you for trying." She whispered in his ear before releasing him.

Then, thinking that the so called 'date' was now over, he made a move to depart but Jenny laid a hand on his arm and gave him a look of melting appeal.

"Will you stay the night please Martin. I would sleep a lot easier if I knew you were here to protect me."

"Sure if that's what you want." The decision for him was a no brainer.

"You can use the guest bedroom and as my father spared no expense with the place then I'm sure the bed will be very comfortable."

She showed him to his room and in the ensuite bathroom opened a cabinet to disclose all the toiletries which he might conceivably need. Then with a peck on the cheek she left him alone.

Martin was woken by a hand squeezing his shoulder. He swam up from the depths of a deeply lascivious dream only to find the subject of his fantasy standing next to the bed.

"He's back."

"Who."

"Mr. Fisher, if that's his real name."

"You mean that bloke who's been following you."

"Of course. Who do you think I'm talking about?"

"Sorry to be so dense," he muttered, "I'm still half asleep."

Martin hauled himself out of bed quite forgetting that he was completely naked then to his embarrassment realised his erection was now full in her face. But Jennie's only reaction was to hand him a dressing gown before pulling him through to her bedroom and then over to a window which overlooked the street. 

In the light from a street lamp he could see the stalker clearly. The man was staring up at the apartment and Martin sensed defeat.

"Well so much for my warnings. Now you have no choice but to involve your father despite my fears for the health of that raving idiot."

"You're right. I think it's the only solution left to me. I can't risk details of my past spreading round the firm and worse still then being broadcast in the tabloid press."

"The press?" Tom was clearly still half asleep. 

"It's inevitable once someone discovers my relationship to the Sheik."

"Oh of course. But how soon can you get hold of him?" He was also very conscious that she only had the rest of the weekend before the stalker could make contact with the partners in the office.

"What's the time now," she looked at her bedside clock, "6 am. Okay so its about 9 am in Doha. I can get him in an hour, at the worst two, so lets have some tea while we wait."

But as they passed the door to his room she stopped and turned so that they were face to face.

"I'm sorry that I interrupted something when I woke you."

He coloured to the roots of his hair and she put her hand on his now vanished erection.

"Shall I do something about it? You will find that I'm very experienced."

He managed to get out a strangled "No everything's fine," before she sought to calm any fears he might be labouring under.

"I'm quite clean you know. I've never had any sexual deceases."

"Much as I might like that, it doesn't seem the time or the place?"

She smiled and he followed her through to the kitchen area feeling totally surreal. In less than twelve hours this retiring young woman had gone from an unknown cipher to being an ex-prostitute with a stalker, then a woman with an amazing penthouse apartment straight out of the design magazines, followed by having a father who appeared to be little better than a fabulously wealthy gangster, and to top it all she had just offered to deal with his sexual frustration.

Jennie, or was she now Yasmina, brewed a pot of Assam and then sat next to him before impulsively linking her arm in his.

"Look Martin, there's something else that I must tell you."

"Oh shit," was forced out of him and she giggled when he tried to move away.

"No, it's nothing that you will dislike." He subsided and she pulled his arm back into hers before continuing. "I've known ever since we first met that you fancy the pants off me," now she was squeezing his arm against a firm little breast whose erect nipple poked at his bicep, "but I had made a vow that I would never mix sex with my job."

He disengaged himself then, knowing he was getting over-excited by the close proximity of this delectable body covered only by a thin silk robe. In a doomed effort to cool his ardour he actually moved to a seat well away.

"Now I've offended you." Jennie's statement was way wide of the mark but Martin made no attempt to put her right as he hung on her every word. "But that doesn't mean that I wasn't affected by your obvious worship of me. In fact I was very flattered."

He still said nothing although thinking all this sounded like mere sympathy. She seemed in turn to divine his suspicions.

"Martin, it's not pity that I feel. Despite my vow not to get involved in an office affair I do rate you, in fact I think you're a very fit bloke. Do you work out?" He nodded and she continued. "And you're very good looking...like all the girls in the office have wet pants for you although you never notice...and you're kind." She giggled at her solemnity, "And, if it helps at all, when I masturbate then it's always you I think about." 

This frank admission rendered him speechless until encouraged by her frankness he tried to delve deeper.

"Do you actually have a boy friend?"

"What you mean is do I have sex with anyone?"

"I suppose so." His shamefaced look made her smile again and went some way to breaking the mounting tension.

"No. I went off sex for years after I stopped being a call girl."

She then moved to sit beside him once again.

"I was off it completely all the time I was at University but later, when my body woke up again, I made do with my own efforts rather than get involved."

As she spoke Jennie wiggled her fingers at him in a parody of female masturbation but this graphic image was too much for Martin who immediately lost the battle with his hormones and felt his erection return in full force. The blood had surged to his groin from all points and he gave up struggling to hide the evidence. But his embarrassment became unnecessary when Jennie simply stood and with her long legs parted straddled his thighs. 

With her eyes fixed on his she then freed them both from their robes and sank down to envelop his full length in her already moist vagina. He sucked in a long breath as pleasure enveloped him and she paused seated squarely in his lap with her pelvic floor muscles pulsing.

"I think that this must have been pre-ordained somewhere my love," her arms had stolen around his neck thus presenting her breasts to his face, "fuck me Martin, I have been very foolish to keep us waiting for so long."

At one point after they had fallen to the floor he remembered to ask "Are you on the pill?" and when she urged him on he obeyed without further thought. 

Sex with Jennie was all he had ever dreamt it would be but, in the event, far better. Her skin tasted of the orient and the musky smell of her aroused body seemed to drive him on. As she built to an orgasm her movements grew more and more abandoned until he ended up clinging on for dear life with only the strength of his thrusts keeping him in contact.

But eventually three years of desperate wanting finally overcame his resolution and he cried out in exultation before being quickly joined by her own growls of triumph. Sated they lay exhausted and spent but still clutched in each others arms. 

So it was much later before she reluctantly pushed him off.

"Lover, it's time to ring my father."

.......................

The ensuing conversation was relatively short, also clearly very much to the point and conducted in a language he could not understand but when she had rung off Jennie came to sit beside him. 

She had made the call still entirely naked being clearly happy in her own body and had strode around the living space with the receiver at her ear whilst gesturing emphatically. 

Martin had watched mesmerised. Having so often been forced to observe a fully clothed body and having to imagine what was concealed beneath that prosaic office 'uniform' the reality exceeded all his previous fevered thoughts. In Yasmina/Jennie the mixture of Middle Eastern and Noble Scottish bloodlines had combined to produce a peerless beauty and by the time she rejoined Martin he was unashamedly erect once more.

"There'll be somebody calling round within the hour."

She spoke even as her hand dropped to caress his penis. For this reason he struggled with a reply.

"How does he have that sort of power...oh that's very nice...let alone get somebody here so soon?"

"He knows some very strange people and all of them seem to owe him favours."

"So are you Jennie or Yasmina?"

"I was christened Yasmina Jahbibah Harrifa but my aristocratic mother called me Jennie, after her own mother."

"So what nationality are you?"

"I have both a UK residents and a Qatari passport so I'm dual."

He drew a breath to continue but she put a finger to his mouth.

"Stop talking and make love to me again."

This time she was calmer but no less avid. She made him delay his own gratification (in that he was perfectly willing) and showed him how she liked her shaven pussy to be licked so by the time they came together she had already orgasmed once and was well on the way to a second.

"I cant get enough of you my love." She had gasped as they fell back completely satisfied, then roused herself to break free from his embrace. "Come and shower with me." 

Later the outer door bell rang and Yasmina listened before pressing the button to let the caller in from the street. She then hurried off to get dressed so it was Martin in a female bathrobe who opened the apartment door to be confronted by a couple of sharply dressed East End lads who both seemed about his own age.

"We're looking for Yasmina Harrifa?" The name was only just understandable being mangled by the thick Essex accent of the speaker.

"She'll be with you in a minute, please come in."

It was Jennie dressed in her office garb rather than Yasmina who finally appeared.

"I'm Ronnie and this is Lennie." Then with the simple introductions made it was Ronnie who carried on. "I understand you've got a problem that needs a quick solution."

Brighter than he first looked thought Martin who had instinctively taken a back seat as Jennie then explained what was needed.

"Understood Lady but when can we cop a look at this geezer?"

"He was outside earlier on although he's gone now but he usually turns up on a Saturday evening and hangs around in a doorway on the other side of the road."

"Okay love, then here's how it'll go down. I'll be back about fivish and when he appears you can point him out. Lennie will be waiting not far away so I can whistle him up on me mobile and that'll be that."

"What will you do to him?" This was Martin's first and only contribution to the conversation.

"Best you don't know nuffing mate," said Lennie paternalistically, "Then you can't get into any trouble wiv the law." 

When they had gone Martin managed to get his brain into gear.

"I'll go back to my place now to change my clothes and do a few things but I'll be back before those lads arrive."

"Bring your night clothes if you need them, I really don't want to be alone tonight."

.............................

Martin got back just before Ronnie was expected and looked up and down the street before entering the lobby but could see no sign of the stalker.

This time it was Yasmina rather than Jennie who opened the door and crushed him to her gorgeous body.

"I have been so scared all the while you've been gone."

"He can't get in here unless you let him and you're hardly likely to do that."

"No you're right of course but I suppose it's all beginning to get on top of me." 

She was still holding him fiercely and he was in no hurry to break the clinch when the buzzer sounded beside them.

"It's Ronnie, can I come up?"

Yasmina took the first watch at her bedroom window but after an hour of awkward conversation with the monosyllabic hard man Martin went through to relieve her. He did not have long to wait for as it began to get dark the unmistakeable figure appeared and stationed himself opposite.

Ronnie subsequently got a good look in the illumination cast by a nearby street light then used his quick dial to call Lennie.

"He's a bald toff about sixty, wearing a dark military overcoat. Looking from above I reckon he's about five foot eight tall." Ronnie looked at Martin for confirmation and receiving a nod continued into the phone. "And he's skulking in the doorway opposite." Ronnie paused as Lennie was obviously replying then signed off with, "Right, I'll wait in the lobby until I see you arrive."

He then patted Yasmina's hand comfortingly much as if she was his mother, "It'll all be over in ten minutes love and then you can forget about him."

They watched intently from the darkened room as an unremarkable and very dirty white van idled down the deserted street pausing regularly while the driver made a convincing impression of searching for a particular address until it eventually came to a halt by the waiting stalker. The driver got out like a man about to ask for directions but as Ronnie appeared moving swiftly across the street they saw Lennie raise his arm and the sodium light glint on something metallic. 

Then the hand came down swiftly and the limp figure of the target slumped into the arms of both men. The last they saw of the stalker was his limp body being bundled unceremonially into the back of the van which then disappeared sedately into the night.

They both breathed out together as the tension slowly dissipated but it was Martin who spoke first.

"Bloody hell fire....they looked as if they might have done that once or twice before."

"Well I think they were ex squaddies. They had SAS written all over them." 

The pair went back to the living room and sat speechless for some minutes each busy with their own thoughts. Yasmina however had news for Martin and in time broke the silence.

"My father has phoned me. He will be in London later tonight and we are summoned to meet him in the morning."

"What! Me as well?"

"Both of us."

"Is he okay about me?"

"I got the impression that he is quite pleased with the part you have played and the fact that I told him I love you, but I also think that we have a lot to talk about, don't you?"

"Everything has happened rather suddenly hasn't it?"

"You can say that again...so what if I ring for a take away then we can discuss everything without interruption?"

They argued a little before finally settling on Lebanese food which was delivered within an hour during which time they had already made a sizeable dent in a bottle of Malbec and were well into a duologue.

"I told my father that I love you and it may not have escaped your notice that I have called you "love" or "darling" more than once since last night. So it will make things a lot simpler if I tell you that I have also been in love with you almost since we first met."

"But why didn't you ever say anything, you never gave any clue about how you felt."

"I didn't because I've learnt the hard way to hide my emotions," she was obviously nervous and sought to explain further, "and I'm frightened that you might reject me now you know my history."

"Well you already know I love you, that I love you to the point of distraction, and nothing will change that."

"But would your love survive the future. Say we were to have a serious argument and then you remember that I was a prossie. Would you fling it in my face? Will your love withstand that sort of pressure?"

"It's funny but your stalker made that very comment when I told him I was in love with you. For that reason I've already given the matter considerable thought."

"And what did you decide?" She made no effort to hide her concern but in the end he said everything that she could ever have wished for.

"How do I know how I will feel in the future? Does any of us know? All I'm sure of is that for three years I have loved you to the exclusion of any other woman. During that time I have not slept with or even dreamt of anyone else and I certainly have never met the female who could change my mind."

She looked at him her eyes suddenly brimming with tears which she had to fight back before replying.

"But there's something else as well." Oh god Martin thought, are there more shocking revelations to come, but she continued in the face of his clear uneasiness. "I'm ridiculously wealthy thanks to both my parents. Can you cope with that?"

"I've no idea." In this he was being completely honest. "But as long as you remember that I fell in love with you long before I knew anything about the money then it shouldn't be a problem."

She smiled but then kept up the grilling as if anxious to get everything out in the open.

"Do you want us to get married?"

Martin could not decide what she truly wanted from him so he answered candidly.

"Yes but only when and if you are ready."

She had risen to clear away the remnants of the meal and was now talking as she went back and forth to the kitchen area. 

"Perhaps we should just live together until I get my head settled?"

"I would like that."

"But could you bear to leave your place and move in here?"

He laughed out loud.

"I think I might manage to give up my draughty poky flat in favour of all this luxury but I will insist upon paying half the rent."

"There is no rent my darling, only a nominal ground rent and service charge. Thanks to my father I own this place mortgage free."

Later she suggested he came into her bed but in the event they got little rest for there was three years of abstinence to be made up for.

"Do you like my body?" She was either fishing for compliments or for reassurance or maybe a bit of both but his reply surprised her.

"I think you need a touch more flesh around your hips but maybe pregnancy would fix that."

"Oh shit," she buried her head in his shoulder, "Martin, I can't have children."

He was suddenly conscious of her abject misery.

"I was only joking my love, really I was. I don't give a damn about having a child, there's far too many people in the world as it is."




A Mysterious Colleague



"Do you mean that, you're not just trying to make me feel better?"

"Of course it's true. Tonight has got to be all about honesty between the two of us, even when it hurts."

"I had my tubes cut and tied when I was seventeen."

...........................

Later still she put her mouth to his ear and blew softly to waken him.

"Martin, I'm ready for more sex."

He raised his head from the pillow to discover a grinning face.

"I know it's not so easy for men to get it up as often as a woman needs. Most of the women I knew could go on having orgasms all night."

He thought for a minute as she explored his groin then couldn't resist picking up on her admission.

"Women, what women?"

"The women who were my clients"

"You had women punters when you were a call girl?"

"Mostly women actually, there were very few men."

"Honestly?" 

He made to sit up but she pushed him back down.

"You don't believe that a woman could fancy me?"

"It's becoming quite clear to both of us that I know nothing at all about women in general and you most of all."

"Look lover, It's really rather simple. Women know how other women's bodies work and they can have multiple orgasms."

"Okay I'll try to remember that in the future, but women paying for a call girl. Wow."

"Shut up and fuck me."

Later still he lay watching her sleep. She was on her stomach making little bleating noises into the pillow much like a kitten deep in a pleasant dream and he longed to be there with her.

Much later, it must have been five in the morning, she rolled off him with the combined results of many shared orgasms now very evident on them both. She slipped out of the bed and came back with a damp face cloth and a fluffy towel then set herself to lovingly wash and dry his limp penis.

"Is that nice?" Jennie asked before patting him dry and subsiding back beside his prone body. She rolled closer and sucked gently on Martin's nearest nipple. Yasmina or was it Jennie was clearly blissfully happy and deeply in love. 

On the Sunday morning her father sent a chauffeur and a large saloon which together delivered the pair to the Hotel where he and his entourage now occupied a complete floor.

The Sheik rose to greet his daughter formally by kissing both her cheeks but Martin could tell from the body language that the man truly loved his by-blow child. Martin in turn was offered a formal handshake and the three then sat separated slightly from a group of chattering wives and female relations who were all dressed in Western garb.

"My child I am informed that your little problem has already been dealt with, and on a permanent basis, so let us turn to more pleasant subjects." He paused as a waiter took their order for drinks then continued. "You have both been with Johnson and Fry for three years now," he nodded at Martin to include him in the conversation, "and I'm told that each of you is extremely well thought of."

Yasmina looked quickly at Martin both obviously wondering who this informant could be.

"So I have a proposal to make."

"Father, no, please don't do this."

She had obviously received a rapid presentiment of what his plan might be but her father merely proceeded as if she had never spoken. 

"I intend to appoint your firm as architects for the new chain of hotels that I'm financing in Northern Africa but only on condition that you are both part of the design team. I am assured that this commission will achieve rapid promotion for you both."

Seeing the distress on Yasmina's face and having strong objections himself Martin finally spoke up.

"I would rather you did not push us forward Sir. Neither Yasmina nor I have nearly enough experience to hold down the position of partner and I for one cannot afford to buy in."

"Well the money is not a consideration, but nobody succeeds in business without some form of preferment."

"I am well aware of that Your Highness but it would be inappropriate at present."

The Sheik paused while giving due consideration to this determined reply and clearly reassessing a young man who had the nerve to stand up for what he believed.

"Very well, I will not make your promotion a condition of the deal but none of us can see very far into the future."

He then excused himself and spent the next ten minutes on the phone before giving detailed instructions to his male secretary but as they rose to leave he left them with a final thought.

"Should there be any problem over Yasmina's ex-client then someone will be in touch." But it was clear that he had no expectation of that eventuality ever happening.

THE END