It was a quiet and dreamy walk from the bar to his apartment. Agnes was hanging onto his arm and leaned against his shoulder, and he was unable to walk at his customary pace. It irritated him a bit but he realized she was probably a little tipsy and lost in her own thoughts to be hurried along. She had clearly been dazzled by the time in the bar, the brandy and the people, the music and the goings on; it was obviously something very new and different for her. Truth be told he was a little over tired and full of the effects of drink himself. He was delighted to have had the opportunity to expose her to a yet another aspect of her new life here in Paris. It was something he intended to continue.
Fortunately, his apartment was only a couple blocks away and took just minutes to reach. When they turned into the building, he slowly followed her up the stairs. He became transfixed with the view of her back side and legs moving slowly up the flights of stairs. When she had been at his apartment the last time he had enjoying the look of her trim ankles, the shape of her calves, and musculature of the backs of her thighs, but this time she had worn an even shorter skirt. He was pleasantly surprised to notice the bikini style panties she was wearing. For some reason he had imagined she would wear much more modest full briefs.
Suddenly they were at the top of the stairs and he nearly ran her over as she stopped, indecisive about where to go. He told her to turn left and follow the hallway, which she did, but she turned down the hallway and walked right out the hallway door onto the balcony, completely missing the apartment door. He reached out and took her arm and pulled her back into the hallway and opened the door to the apartment and led her in. He closed and locked the door, and took her sweater, hanging it on the coat tree.
“Would you like some hot cocoa?” She said she would like that, but that she really needed to use the bathroom. He showed her where it was and turned on the light for her. She closed the door and he went to the kitchen area and busied himself with preparing the milk for the cocoa, getting out the cups and took down a small tray for some chocolates. He hoped that now that they were settled in his apartment she would regain her composure and not be so flighty.
After he had started the milk and gathered the plates and cups he realized she was still in the bathroom and wondered if she had fallen asleep. He leaned in through the doorway to his bedroom and noticed that the attached door to the bath that he always kept shut was ajar. He grinned to himself, imagining that she had seen the other door, peeked through and realized it led into his bedroom. He wondered what was taking her so long.
He returned to check on the milk and just then she came out of the bathroom and asked if she might help? “No, just make yourself comfortable,” and he gestured to the sitting area by the picture window. She walked over and stood in front of the window, looking out at the view of the city. After a couple minutes he noticed she had sat down at the end of one of the couches and was looking over the magazines and books on the table in front of her.
“You have a lot of architectural magazines here, and landscaping gazettes as well. I thought you had said you worked with financial matters?”
“Yes, I do, but landscaping and how it fits with architecture has always been an interest of mine. Tomorrow, or another day, I will show you the courtyard. I have made a deal with the landlord and I have done a complete landscape design. It is a wonderfully vibrant and luscious space, if I do say so myself. I know you will enjoy it.”
“I will look forward to that very much Frederick. You continue to amaze me.”
As he had the preparations underway he walked to the desk on the wall next to the window and tapped out some instructions on a computer. She asked what he was doing but he dismissed her question with an off handed remark about checking some market points. He moved from the desk and sat directly across from her on the opposite couch.
As he settled into his seat he again noticed how short her skirt was, how it had ridden up her legs as she sat on the couch, and his attention was once again drawn to her lovely legs. He noticed her relaxed posture as she leaned forward to look at the magazines, probably not realizing how revealing her posture was, giving him a view of most of her thighs and glimpses through the opening at the front of her blouse. She was a wonderfully attractive young girl, a simple but charming and pretty girl.
She asked, “Is there something wrong?” “No, not at all.“ he said. He realizing he had indeed been staring and she’d ‘caught’ him off guard, appreciating her body and ruminating in his thoughts. Covering up his embarrassment, he said, “The milk is ready. Would you like some chocolates and a little brandy as well?”
He did not wait for an answer as he got up and went to the kitchen and made the cocoa. He retrieved the chocolates and puts them on the tray. He brought the serving platter to the table, placed it between them and returned to his seat across the table. He moved a cup of cocoa in front of her and set a small snifter of brandy down next to it. He pointed out the platter of chocolate, “Help yourself.” As she was blowing and sipping at the hot cocoa, he again found himself staring at her, and looking her over very thoroughly, liking her demure personality.
He pulled his attention away reluctantly and made a comment about the view out the window. She looked out also, and he launched into an exposition of some of the special sites that could be seen from just where they sat. He demonstrated his awareness and knowledge of architecture, commenting on the different styles and periods of a number of the buildings he was pointing out.
Realizing that his cup was empty, he collected the two mugs to go pour more cocoa. Just as he got up, there was a beeping sound from the computer on the desk. He stopped at the desk and attended to the computer for a couple minutes before heading to the kitchen. When he returned with the cups he saw that Agnes has dozed off. He spoke to her and she stirred herself awake and took the mug. They continued talking about Paris as he explored what she had and had not seen or done so far.
After a few minutes, there was signalling from the computer and he excused himself. When he returned, Agnes had fallen asleep on the couch again, leaning herself against the wingback and armrest. He went and retrieved a couple of pillows and a comforter. He repositioned her so she was laying down more naturally and covered her. He sat back down and sipped on his brandy and watched her sleep for a while. He watched her slow deep breathing as her chest heaved and sighed. She made soft noises, nearly snoring. Frederick was glad she was comfortable with him enough to have spent the evening and to now be sleeping so well on his couch. He pondered where he was going to go with this girl that he found so appealing.
He continued looked out the window over the city, and eventually went and cleaned up from the cocoa and treats, and put everything away. When he came back and checked on Agnes, she was still soundly asleep and he decided to lay down and sleep himself. Rather than undressing and going to bed, he stretched out on the day bed in the alcove where he could keep an eye on her and look out the window into the dark night. Nearly immediately, he drifted off to sleep.
He awoke to the soft light of dawn and he found himself partially covered with the comforter he'd given to Agnes. He realized she was curled up next to him, with her head on his shoulder. Her presence next to him made him smile. It felt good and he was pleased things seemed to be advancing well. He adjusted the comforter over the both of them and drifted off back to sleep again.
When he woke up again, she was still cuddled up next to him, sleeping soundly. He looked at the clock and seeing it was 7:30, extricated himself and got up. As he started his morning routine he realized it was Friday and wondered if Agnes was supposed to be working. He looked at the time again and as it was not yet 8:00 AM, he decided there was still a little time before he needed to make a decision. His mind waffled between being responsible and a desire to keep her around for the day and enjoy her company further.
He put on a pot of coffee and went and changed out of his slacks and shirt from the night before into a pair of light linen pants and a long sleeved cotton pull over. As the coffee was finishing, he stepped out onto the balcony to relish the fresh crisp morning air, hoping it would help clear his brandy addled brain a little. As he stood savoring the fresh air of the morning mixed with the scent of coffee brewing he heard the sounds of the springs of the bed in the alcove. He stepped in and saw that Agnes was not awake yet, but had tossed and turned onto her side facing the edge of the bed. He looked at the clock and decided it was time to wake her.
He filled two cups and brought them into the alcove and set them on the side table. He seated himself on the side of the bed. The movement of his weight seemed to awaken Agnes a bit, she stirred and moved herself to the edge of the bed. She wrapped her arms around his knee and thigh, pulling herself in tight against his leg. He reached up and pushed her hair back off her face, put his hand on her cheek, and said, “Good morning.” She simply smiled back at him, nuzzling her cheek into the palm of his hand.
“I assume you are supposed to work today; it is Friday. I will bring the phone so you can call the shop and let them know you are not going to be in to work today. It is 8:30 now, what time should you call?”
“I do not work until 10 o’clock and so any time soon will be fine, but what am I going to tell them, I am not ill and have no excuse?”
“Tell them you have a day of instruction ahead, and will be back fresh and renewed on Monday. Or, tell them you have been kidnapped and are being held captive by a benevolent friend, or fiend. I am sure they will not make much of a fuss, they know you are a reliable and diligent girl. It is just that you will spend the day under my guidance and I will test your diligence.” He noticed the quizzical look on her face and wondered if she had any idea what he might have in store for her, surely not.
He went and got the phone, and Agnes took a big drink of the coffee. He handed her the phone and sat back down. She repositioned herself back against the side of his leg and dialed the phone. She had a brief conversation excusing herself from work. She assured the photographer that she was fine, just not feeling up to par and should be back at work the next day. She thanked him for his understanding and clicked off of the call.
She looked up at Frederick, “Okay.”
He smiled down at her, took the phone and set it on the side table. As they sipped at their coffee he moved his hand under the comforter and placed it on the side of Agnes’s leg, then moved it a little ways up the back of her thigh.
Frederick wondered how Agnes was feeling this morning . . .
