We passed the stairway and headed for a large door to the side of the mansion. Stepping through the doors, I rolled myeyes. It was the weirdest thing. Looking back, I made sure we were still in the mansion and not another dimension.
As with his bedroom, this room didn’t fit the place. It looked like a clearing in the Amazon jungle. A flowery fantasy. Scanning the room, I couldn’t believe the array of plants.
There were a variety of trees and flowers. All different sizes, shapes, textures, and colors. In the middle of the clearing or opening stood two thin beds. Next to each stood a woman waiting with a robe in her hands.
The sun’s rays breaking through the trees shone on the beds, looking like glowing stripes of gold. Clara approached the women and spoke to them. My attention was drawn to the hanging beds in one corner and the gazebo in the other.
I noticed there was more as I turned to look at my surroundings. To the side was a trampoline, hidden among some trees. There was also what looked like a mattress between some flowers and fairy lights hanging from the tree above it. This was a spectacular place.
Clara lightly touched my shoulder, bringing me back to planet Earth. “Here, slip into this,” she said, handing me a robe.
I looked from her to the robe, and then at the women. “Back here,” she added as she walked around one of the bigger trees.
I followed quickly, not wanting to get lost. I was sure that if I entered these woods, I wouldn’t get out again. Coming around the tree, I saw the foldable room divider. Clara had pulled it open and was standing behind it. “No one can see you here. You can slip into the robe without worries,” she mumbled.
Before I knew it, the word had slipped out of my mouth. “Everything?” I asked.
“Yes, everything,” Clara said, peeking over the top of the divider. “You can keep your panties on, though. Have you never had a body massage?”
I felt my eyes widen as I shook my head at her. “Well, then, you are going to enjoy this,” she replied. “Come on, get moving, they’re waiting,” she added as she walked back around the tree and disappeared.
Changing quickly, I followed the same path around the tree. Clara was already face down on one of the small beds. The woman standing next to the open one waved her hand for me to do the same.
This was all very new, but I got onto the bed and lay on my stomach. There was a hole in the top part where my face fitted into. Glancing at Clara before lowering my head, I wondered how it was so normal to her. How many times has she done this? I have heard women talking about it. But I had never had a massage in my life.
The woman pulled the gown down my back. I tried pulling it back instinctively when I heard Clara laughing. Relax,” she said. “Let them do their thing.”
Letting go, I tried to relax. I expected the woman’s hands to be cold and braced myself. But they were nicely warm. She applied oil and then started rubbing my neck and shoulders. It was nice, not too hard or too soft. Her fingers were like magic. Soon I could feel my muscles relaxing.
“How long have you worked at the law firm?” Clara asked out of the blue.
Turning my head, I looked at her as I replied. “For two years now. But I have known melody much longer.” I tried to explain more, but the massage was so relaxing, I was havingdifficulty concentrating. Turning my head back down, I closed my eyes, absorbing this newly found relaxation.
“Okay,” Clara added. “It’s short-term then. You’re still new to the firm. What’s your current position? You're still the personal assistant, right?
“Law assistant to the head of the firm, that’s the way I see it,” I managed to say.
There was movement next to me, making me lift my head and look. Clara was practically sitting up now. “It’s only been two years, you say?” she asked.
“Yes,” I responded. I felt slightly irritated. What was she getting at?
“Then it doesn’t seem right. Generally, one has to work for about five years before getting such a promotion,” Clara stated it as a matter of fact and then lay back down.
Her words repeated in my head a couple of times as I lay back down. I noticed I moved up quite fast. But I was a quick study. I have skills and knowledge. What did she know? Who did she think she was? What gave her the right to tell me such things?
The rest of the massage was spent in silence. I was glad she had no other questions. I didn’t feel like talking much after that. I vaguely heard the music playing somewhere and focused on that. I wasn’t sure how long we lay there, but I dozed off more than once.
Once the women were done, we got up and moved to get dressed. I sighed as I stretched. My body hadn’t felt this good in a long time. I was calm and totally relaxed. Smiling, I could see myself doing this regularly now.
“May I ask you about Kolya?” I asked as I pulled on my shirt.
“Sure, anything,” Clara replied from behind the divider.
“Has Kolya ever been married before?” I wasn’t sure where I was heading with this question, but it seemed to just pop out.
Clara laughed. “No. Believe me, you are the first woman in his life I have ever met. I haven’t ever seen him dating. That was why I had to come and see it for myself. I wouldn’t have believed it otherwise. My brother got married. I thought it was a joke. But here you are,” she replied.
He was a force of nature. I could see why he was alone. It also started making more sense why he would have to force a woman to marry him. Not sure how she would take my next question, I spoke softly as I asked it. “Earlier, you said he was the sweetest man you knew. Can you explain that to me?”
