“Our top of the line, or what I have left, is going to run you about five grand with the going out of business price, and that would be the Janome Horizon MC 15000 Sewing, Embroidery and Quilting Machine,” she said, pointing at the machine.
The original sticker price was nearly seven grand, which made him stare at the machine, expecting it to transform into a Decepticon. The sale price was a portion of the original cost, which was still pricey as hell, but Willow would like it.
“Okay, I’m still on the road and in meetings for the rest of the day, but can I pay for half now, and the other half when I come back to pick it up tomorrow?”
“Ah, sure,” the lady said.
“Great, have everything lined up by the door for me when I come back, probably around this time. I want to load up and head out,” Raphael told her, taking out his credit card. Half of it was still a shit load, but in the end, it would be well worth it. “Thanks, see you tomorrow, around this time.”
He was pleased. He had added a few coins to his karma can and helped out the lady with the failing business. Dropping nearly four grand today and another four tomorrow would go a long way to helping the lady stay afloat.
His stomach growled and he’d missed lunch. The coffee he tossed in the trash, but he saved the cookie. A full-service restaurant was in the lobby of the hotel where he would order an early dinner and prepare for the job tomorrow. Plus, he needed to call home.
Raphael had barely taken a seat and been handed a menu when his phone rang. It was his bank. Concerned, he took the call while simultaneously ordering a sweet tea with lemon in a to-go cup, along with the giant steak he was going to order.
“Hello,” he said into the line.
“Mr. Hoyt, this is Jamie with Fraud Protection at Chape Bank. There have been some unusual charges to your accounts that we need to review,” the man said.
“Go ahead,” Raphael answered, pointing at the menu for the ribeye with the hot pink center and the creamed spinach.
“There is a charge for $4,200 at Sew, Sew Good in Charlotte, North Carolina today,” Jamie said.
“Yes, that was me. I am going back tomorrow to pay the balance which is equal to what I spent so please make a note on the account,” he told the customer service representative. “What else?”
“Also, at the same time, while you’re in Charlotte, there are charges to an online retailer in various amounts. What is raising the red flag are the items being ordered,” Jamie said.
“Items being ordered?”
“Feminine items, undergarments, lingerie, personal pleasure devices, kids clothing, socks and various items,” Jamie said.
“Personal pleasure devices?” Raphael said, leaning forward in the seat, curious as to what the hell Willow had ordered. “What is it called.”
Jamie cleared his throat, “Mr. Hoyt, it is a pink clitoris stimulation sucking tongue rechargeable sexy toy for women with a wand and bullet vibrator egg that is waterproof.”
“That’s a mouthful,” Raphael said, then had an image of Willow on the bed with the thing which immediately drew a reaction from him. A very physical reaction that he would more than likely need a tongue sucking rechargeable sex toy to help him make it through the night.
“Jamie, my wife is using the card. When I get home, I’ll bring her by the bank to sign onto the account,” he said.
“There are other charges here as well for girl’s shoes.”
“It’s fine, Jamie. She’s buying items for our daughters,” he said.
“Would you like to put a cap on the limit for the card?”
“Sure, cap it at 10 grand,” Raphael said.
“Yes Sir, Mr. Hoyt. Thank you for using Chape Bank,” Jamie said.
“Thank you for having my back,” Raphael said, disconnecting the call.
His food arrived, but his appetite had waned. Six years was a very long time to not be touched by a man. Now she was home alone, the girls were sleeping, and the poor woman had to resort to a pink clitoral sucking something or other with a vibrating egg. Under the table, he was harder than Don Lemon on a Friday night sitting behind his anchor desk at CNN commenting on President Number 45.
“Good grief,” he said, focusing on the woman’s ankles at the table next to him. The poor matronly lady had taken time to ensure everything else on her person was perfect with the exception of her ankles. It looked as if she was wearing a pair of mottled gray hose. The longer he stared the calmer he became. He had a perfectly juicy steak waiting for him.
“I’ll call and check on them when I get to the room,” he said, slicing into the steak.
AN HOUR LATER, IN HIS room, ready to go over the plan for tomorrow one more time, he dialed the phone he’d given to Willow. He punched in the number and waited for her to pick up.
“Hello Raphael,” she said into the line. The sound of her voice, coupled with the image of her on the bed with a pink clitoral vibrating tongue sucking egg shot energy spikes straight to his crotch.
“You’ve been doing some shopping today, I see,” he said.
The line grew quiet. “What? You can see what I’ve been buying?”
“No, I got a call from Jamie at the bank who went down the list of items,” he replied chuckling. “I don’t think Jamie is okay.”
“Oh my God, I am so embarrassed,” she said, biting on her bottom lip.
“Don’t be, the imagery, is well, there’s that,” he told her. “How is everything and how are the girls?”
“They are really not used to being locked up inside, so we went for a walk today down to the beach. We wanted to give Marla some room,” she said. “I don’t think she likes us.”
“She’s Russian, so she doesn’t like anybody. Plus, she’s been with my family for over 20 years,” he added, “and she took care of my father when his health began to decline. She also served as a personal caregiver to my mother when the cancer took hold. Marla is family.”
“Received,” Willow said. “How are you? Were there any problems on the drive?”
“No, everything has gone smoothly thus far. The job is going to be an easy in and out, then I’m heading on to the next meeting,” he said.
“The meeting with the $400 bottle wine.”
“Yes, one and the same, but if I may be truthful, at this point, we can probably make it happen with a video chat,” he said, not wanting to make the drive.
“No, your first instinct was a face to face. Your second instinct was to grab that bottle of wine. Going with your gut can be the right answer when there are too many questions,” Willow said softly.
“Willow, is that what you’re doing with me, going with your gut?”
“It’s all I have, but like you said we’ll talk about that when you get home,” she said, responding to ruckus in the background. “Yes, yes it’s your Daddy. Karli, please allow me to finish my conversation with him first.”
“But Mommy, I have so much to tell him. And I miss him, and he needs to get my butterfly kisses through the phone,” Karli demanded.
Willow handed the phone to her “Hey Daddy! Are you missing me yet?”
“Each second of each day that I am away from your smile Pooh Bear. Are you behaving and minding your Mom?”