At 5:00 Ann appeared at the door to my office. She was dressed and told me she would be leaving then if I did not have anything for her to do, that she had one stop she needed to make, and that she hoped I would be at her apartment at 6:30. I told her that I would be on time. She left me her address which I recognized as a tony condominium on the east side.
I finished as much paperwork as I could over the next hour and around six I washed up, changed my shirt and tie, ran a comb through my hair and then caught a cab to Ann's apartment.
I arrived a few minutes after 6:30. I gave my name to the doorman and asked for Ms. Bennett's apartment. I was directed to the left wing elevators and was told to go to Apartment 20K.
Ann greeted me at the door. She was wearing a blue robe and had refreshed her makeup. There was a small entrance gallery to Ann's apartment which opened to an airy living room with dramatic views on two sides. To the east was the river and I followed its course from the Queensboro Bridge north to Hellgate. To the south, sliding doors opened on to a terrace beyond which I could see many of the city's skyscrapers suffused in the orange glow of a setting sun. Ann had fresh flowers arranged on two tables which were placed at both ends of a leather-covered sofa. Ann gave me a quick tour of her apartment showing me a walk-in kitchen which opened on a small dining area. There was a mahogany table with four chairs.
Ann handed me a glass of white wine with a swirl of a red substance not quite mixed in. I recognized the kir and complimented Ann for remembering what I had ordered at our lunch. Ann beckoned me to follow her and she led me into her bedroom.
"Make yourself comfortable" she said motioning for me to sit on a stuffed armchair. "Is there any special way you'd like me to dress tonight?" Ann inquired repeating the question to which I hadn't an answer earlier.
"Not really. What do you mean?"
"Well, do you want to show me off, do you want me to be very prim and proper, something in between?"
Sensing that I didn't have an answer, Ann said she'd try on a few outfits and that she'd wear whichever I wanted. Ann opened a door to a walk-in closet in which I could see a chest of drawers and a whole series of built in shelves with various garments neatly folded. She reached into an area where there were double hung bars filled with clothing on hangers and removed a dark violet dress. A gray suit followed as did a pair of black velvet trousers.
Ann let her robe slip off her shoulders. She was wearing a bra and pantyhose, sheer to the waist-and no panties. She pulled the violet dress over her head, stepped into a pair of heels and facing a mirror smoothed the way the dress lay. Turning to face me, Ann said that she thought this would be a conservative choice. She was stunning. She looked elegant and refined. I told her that she looked wonderful and that I'd be very happy if she went like that.
"If that's what you want, this is what I'll wear but let me show you your options."
Ann removed the dress carefully placing it on the bed and she took her bra off as well. As she stepped out of her heels I saw her notice that the glass I was holding was empty. "I'll get you a refill." Ann took the glass from me and went to the kitchen. I looked around her bedroom. There was a TV opposite her bed, a small chest with colored glass objects arrayed on it. The walls were covered with a green and yellow quilted fabric with a subtle floral pattern. Ann was back. She handed my drink and sat on the arm of the chair in which I was sitting. I was conscious of her proximity. The fragrance she was wearing was headier, more intense than what she had been wearing to the office. And her bare breasts were inches from my right hand. I noticed the silky, fine down which graced her arms. But I was frozen. I couldn't bring myself to do what in any other circumstance I am sure I would have: reach for Ann and draw her to me.
After a paralyzing moment, Ann stood and walked to her closet and pulled on a white sweater. She then wiggled into the velvet trousers. "If you wanted to show me off, I could wear this." The black pants functioned as a second skin. The sweater was a special item. It had a series of panels of a light material joined it seemed by a band of sheer stitching. Through these bands you could see her skin and the way her full breasts rested on her chest. "That is a bit much I think."
"O.K., maybe this is a good compromise." Ann stepped out of the pants took off her sweater and put on the gray suit. "I can wear the jacket over nothing, over a blouse or over a slip-and I can go with or without a bra. What do you think?"
The suit gave Ann a more formal look. And I realized the possibilities inherent in the jacket which could be buttoned or not as Ann chose.
"I really liked the first dress, Ann."
"Somehow I thought you'd say that" Ann answered. "What time is it?"
"7:15-we really should be leaving soon."
Ann hung up her suit, put the trousers away, and quickly donned her bra and the violet dress. As stunning as she was, I knew I made the right choice. "Ready?" "Let's go."
Ann locked up and we stepped into the elevator. "Well what am I?" she asked.
"What?"
"Am I your lover, just a date, a friend? – who did you say I was to your partner?"
I admired Ann's anticipation of that issue. What had I said? "I said I'd bring a date. Look, Richard may well run into you in the office. Why don't we stick to the truth. You're my office manager and I asked you out."
"Goodnight Miss Bennett" Ann's doorman said as we walked by. We got into a cab and headed over to Lincoln Center.
There was the usual cross-town jam getting through Central Park and the mile or so ride took about twenty minutes. As we walked across the plaza at Lincoln Center I easily spotted Richard from a distance standing near the entrance doors to the opera house. We exchanged quick introductions and hurried to our seats in the Orchestra. Richard told us that these were the seats that went with his subscription and we settled into them moments before the chandeliers were retracted towards the ceiling and the house lights dimmed. Ann was seated to my left, Richard's wife Ellen to my right and Richard next to Ellen.
Ellen was quite striking in appearance. She had a very deep tan which set off and emphasized brilliant white teeth which showed as she gave us an easy smile. Ellen's hair was thick, black, shiny and long. She was wearing a black dress with a bolero style jacket edged with a red trim. We had time only for a few pleasantries before the conductor raised his baton and the performance began.
We stayed at our seats during the first intermission and talked about the performance and exchanging comments about, the music, and our favorite operas. The banter was easy and Ann seemed to hit it off well with both Richard and Ellen. The second act was well staged, but when the curtain fell we were all anxious to stretch our legs. Ann and Ellen engaged in the female twinning ritual of escorting each other to the ladies room. Richard then excused himself to stand on line at the bar, promising to return with champagne for all of us. I was on the lookout for the ladies. As I was standing by myself I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was Saundra. Saundra introduced me to her cousin, Cynthia. Cynthia was visiting, New York and was excited about the glitter of the evening. As I was telling Saundra that I was at the opera that evening with business investors, I noticed that Ann and Ellen were on their way over, but Ann, for some reason, directed Ellen away from where I was standing. Just at that moment the house lights dimmed and Saundra and Cynthia made their way to the second dress circle where they were seated. They were busy in conversation as they walked past Ann and Ellen. After they passed, I walked over to Ann and Ellen and we headed to where Richard was waiting for us.
When the opera ended I was anxious that we get to the restaurant quickly; actually I was hoping not to bump into Saundra. Our reservations were at Augustine's back on the East Side. We piled into a taxi and headed back through the park to the restaurant.