“You sly dog! Excuse us, but we have to get going!”
Miquela nodded and waved goodbye.
“Your girlfriend, huh?” June crossed her legs… away from Miquela. “That was presumptuous of you.”
“What should I have said,mi amour?That you’re the most beautiful escort in the world?”
“It would’ve been the truth.” She smiled.
“Be that as it may, I have to think of my image as well.” Miquela hopped onto the dock and extended her hand to helpJune out. “I wish I could tell the whole world that you’re my beautiful girlfriend.”
Hand clasped in hers, June took two long strides through the boat and landed gracefully on the dock. She remained halfway in Miquela’s embrace. “If all my clients found out that I was your girlfriend… hm, it’s not great for business.”
Miquela quickly changed the subject. “So, where to now?”
Her tone changed as well. “What do you think? I want to go to Monte Carlo and see what all the fuss is about!”
Miquela knew she would say that. She didn’t have the heart to tell her that any dreams she had of them strolling through dressed like the most beautiful couple in the world, blowing on dice, and blowing hundreds of thousands of Miquela’s money weren’t coming true.
“What do you mean you can’t go inside?” June stared at the throng of tourists lining up like they were going to an upscale club. Bouncers were telling them whether they could go in, based on how they were dressed.Yes, my lovely, we would have to go back to my apartment and dress for the occasion.That wasn’t the problem, though.
“No, citizens are not allowed into the gambling rooms. We can go everywhere else on the premises, but we’re not allowed to gamble.”
“What the fuck!”
“You could go, if you want. That restriction wouldn’t apply to you.” Miquela grinned. “We would have to pretty you up first, though. By their standards, that is.”
“I don’t want to go by myself.” Was that a real pout, or June playing up her skills? “It’s no fun if I’m not with you.”
“Then let’s go somewhere else.”
“Wait.” June popped out of the car and took a picture. “Okay. Let’s go.”
Chuckling, Miquela pulled back out onto the road. “What are all the pictures for?”
“I want pictures in case I never come back again.” Before Miquela could protest that line of thinking, she explained, “I take pictures of all the new places I go. Just in case, you know? I know you have good intentions, but what if I die before I have the chance to come back? I could die of pneumonia or get in a car crash or something.”
Miquela, stopped at a light, eyed the surrounding automobiles and motorcycles with suspicion. “That’s… depressing. Let’s get out of here.”
They ate at Miquela’s favorite Monegasque restaurant for dinner. The place was on top of a building, an open-air abode with plenty of flora growing from relocated earth and looking as if they were under a rainforest canopy. There were plenty of openings to see the sea and twinkling stars as they emerged. The temperature remained balmy, meaning June never had to cover up those beautiful arms or legs. Nor did Miquela bother with a jacket, even though she had one.
They ate. They drank. They told off-color jokes and debated the current gold standard. The great thing about June was that she knew how to have fun and was intelligent in the areas Miquela lived and breathed every day. She had opinions on Quentin Tarantino movies like she had opinions on the latest named CEO of this company and the rising stock prices of that company. Most of the latter she had learned from her clients over the past few years, but a lot of it was also self-study, so she could be the perfect conversationalist. Miquela commended her on her abilities.
“The thing most of you clients don’t understand,” June began, on her third glass of wine, “is that I am as hardworking and clever as you lot who make billions playing a round of golf. I may not be a millionaire, but I have the skills to become oneover the long term. I’m not talking about the sex, although that’s the major draw. Once I have you ensnared, I keep you by being witty, charming, and always surprising you.” She tossed her bushy hair behind her shoulder. “Come for the thrill, stay for the emotional turmoil I bring to your heart.”
Is she wrong?Miquela managed to smile, but inside, she realized how much of a sucker she was. “I admit, it worked on me.”
“Of course it did! You’re one of the best clients from the beginning. You knew exactly what was up and what we were doing. You didn’t even pick me. My boss picked me for you, based on you saying what you wanted.”
“I only really told her one thing…”
June was still grinning. “Was she wrong?”
“No way. Although I’m glad there is so much more to you than that. Regardless of how I meet a woman, I rarely want to spend this much time with her.”
“The first since your Nigerian model girlfriend?”
“Perhaps.”I was thinking more like… since Rosa. She would never admit that, though. “I’m not the most social woman.”
