WALKING IN THE WAKE
By Wood nee Hughes
Victoria stepped into the palatial room of Sheikh Zied’s reception at the Phoenix Hotel in Beirut. Silence fell over the rest of the guests as one by one heads turned. Victoria was used to this. Looking up at her husband Shane she squeezed his arm.
“You’ve done it again,” he muttered through clenched teeth as he gently allowed himself to smile. He returned the squeeze. Victoria laughed as if he had whispered a pleasant joke. Throwing her head back she moved forward as the Toast Master’s voice boomed: “Mr Shane Thornbury and Victoria.” Victoria had always insisted on being named. She was not a mere ‘Mrs Shane Thornbury’, she had her own name, so Victoria it was.
“Victoria, darling,” a blond lady had stepped forward. A graceful ‘kiss kiss’ followed.
“Angela.” Shane leaned down from his six foot stance and made the usual ‘mwa mwa’ sound as he followed the ‘kiss kiss’ style of greeting. He felt her soft skin against his cheek as she gave him an extra moment. “Hello, gorgeous,” she whispered. Victoria was quick to notice that moment. She turned to Shane. “What did she say?” she demanded.
“Oh, you know what Angela is like darling, she called me ‘gorgeous’.”
Victoria’s eyes smouldered with hate. Why did she have to do that? Why did she have to do anything at all? She flashed a warning look at Angela, widening her big brown eyes and holding Angela’s gaze for a moment. Angela held the gaze. She knew what Victoria meant and quickly touched Victoria’s hand. “Well, he is gorgeous, darling. Look after him,” she warned. Meanwhile Shane had been distracted by another female. Victoria was really glad to get the greetings over. She was always uneasy when first arriving. Always ready to protect her man. There were so many ladies with little or nothing to do in the heat of the desert.
The desert. Victoria thought about how long she had been here. For a time she seemed a little far away as she pondered on her chosen lifestyle. So easily she could have stayed behind in the UK but she had decided to stay by her husband’s side, leaving one boy at boarding school in England. “Oliver should be over soon,” she murmured.
“Oliver? Darling, what on earth brought him to your mind?” enquired Shane. He looked down at his wife. “Are you all right?”
“As right as I’ll ever be, married to you. Do you have to pay so much attention to the ladies?” Victoria swung her sash over her shoulder in a regal manner.
“ Oh, okay, I’ll just stay by your
side and say nothing.” She looked forlorn. “Yes, Oliver will be here soon,” he meekly agreed.
The party and the continual kisses went on well into the night. Victoria’s mood began to mellow. The soft music was enticing. “Let’s dance,” she said, looking straight into his eyes. Shane put his arm around his voluptuous wife. With the music, the atmosphere, flowing champagne and the closeness of his wife, Shane fell under Victoria’s spell. Victoria relaxed. That’s right, she thought. She knew she had him now. He was all hers. Holding the moment she laid her head on his shoulder. Oh, how she loved him.
THE DESERT
Victoria opened the veiled window. The air conditioning was purring away like a contented cat. “Contented cat,” murmured Victoria. What would today bring? Shane had left early for the office, the maid was busy dusting and the garden boy seemed to be attending to the garden.
The net curtain blew inwards slightly touching Victoria’s face. “How nice,” she whispered. Oh, how she loved to be pampered. The sound of the Call to Prayer filled the air and for a moment she allowed herself to drink in the atmosphere. Then: “I think I will have my bath early today,” she called to her maid.
Yes, madam.” The maid, bowing her head slightly, made a sort of curtsy and left the room. The surroundings of pale blue and cream loungers with soft cushions were perfect for Victoria. |
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She had furnished and organised the décor: exotic flowers in dainty vases, huge green plants, a dining table to seat twelve guests, fully stocked bar; she had everything she required. Slowly she made her way across the red and gold carpet
towards the air conditioning, letting her housecoat fall away from her shoulders leaving her breasts exposed. The air felt cool about her body; stretching her arms up above her head she allowed her hair and housecoat to blow away from her.
A voice interrupted her ‘purrfect’ moment. “STAY LIKE THAT.” Victoria stayed just like that knowing she must have made a perfect picture.
“You are beautiful,” continued this seductive voice. A tanned blond haired man dressed in a gleaming white shirt and dark shorts smiled across at her. For a few seconds Victoria remained in her pose. “Oh, darling,” she declared. “I had no idea you were in Beirut.” Pulling her gown around her she walked slowly across to a cushioned lounger and placed her body in a seductive position. “Fancy, Shane didn’t mention you were here.”
“I guess I’m in time for drinks?” James, one of Shane’s longstanding friends from England came forward. Victoria clapped her well-kept hands and a servant dressed in white with matching gloves appeared.
“Drinks,” she ordered quietly. “So it’s you, James, what brings you here?” This meant more parties she quickly planned. “Shane will be here soon, you can join us for luncheon,” she added. The servant quickly dealt with the drinks.
“Just relax.” Victoria swept out of the room. She reached the bedroom and stepped into the shower. “No bath today,” she called to her maid who was busying herself with towels and essence of oils.
“That’s better.” Victoria quickly dressed, reaching for a purple silk gown. She held it against herself. The reflection in the mirror was pleasing. Her olive skin had become deeply tanned. Slipping a glistening chain about her neck she watched it fall across her breasts. “That’ll do.” She quickly added a pale pink lipstick and dark eye liner.
“Am I to drink alone?”
The gentleman is impatient, thought Victoria. “No, here I am.” The same slow walk, the same seductive movements, step by step. James was drinking in the sensual scene. The servant came forward. “Vodka, madam?” A cut glass goblet was duly placed next to her. Sounds of ice falling into it made Victoria’s mouth water. The vodka rushed around the glass. She ran her tongue over her lips.
“He must be mad.”
“How?”
“Leaving you alone like this.”
Victoria moved into a more seductive pose. “Well,” murmured James. Joining her on the lounger and moving closer, he brushed his lips across her shoulder.
Victoria smiled. She knew she had him in her power. For a moment one thought they may have kissed but Victoria’s mood changed. “Why not come for drinks tonight at seven? Perhaps you are right, he must be mad.”
“Is that a dismissal?” asked James knowing he had been led on.
“No, darling, of course not. You know you are welcome any time.”
“Well.” James was a little flustered. He downed his drink in one. “It must be the heat,” he declared dragging himself away from his position next to her. With that he quickly moved over to the terrace and with a wave: “See you at seven,” he was gone.
“DAMN!” Victoria took a deep breath and reaching for her vodka she also downed her drink in one. |
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