CHAPTER THREE
The next morning, I woke up feeling decently hungover. I reached for my cell phone and checked the time. The clock read 7:56 AM, but I had no recollection of when I had passed out. I shook Kate to wake her.
"What?" Kate yawned.
"I'm going to take Isabella out for a walk," I told her as I started to get up. Isabella was our pug. Actually, it was one of Kate's friends dog to begin with. We had inherited Isabella when Kate's friend had to move back to take care of the grandmother and Kate friend's grandmother was allergic to furry animals.
"Ok...Whatever," Kate said with a sleepy expression before hiding back under the covers.
"Oh, by the way, Kate," I began, "It is Sunday morning and it's almost eight."
It took a moment for the information to sink in, but when it did, Kate nearly flew out of her bed. She had to do an important interview for her papers and that interview started at eight. I watched with entertainment as my best friend rushed about the room, getting ready for it.
"Where are my keys?" Kate questioned as she threw on a blouse. Her effort at the gym was quite obvious, but the white blouse she was putting on would hide that. Since she was in a rush, she didn't care that the blouse did not compliment her fit figure.
I pointed at her nightstand where her keys were. She grabbed them and dashed towards the door. Before she left, she turned and looked at me to deliver a message, "Ana, eat a real breakfast today. Stop picking out carbs! If I see them in the trashcan, I'm going to spank you!"
I did not laugh at her private little joke. Instead, I became mortified as I remembered what she did last night. I could not believe that Kate had the audacity to give my number out to a complete stranger!
After walking our hyper pug, Isabella, for three blocks, I kept wondering what I was doing with my life, but then my phone chimed unexpectedly and notified me that Kate had sent me a text.
KATE: If he calls again, pick up! You'll never know what will happen! ;)
ME: Yes, like ending up chopped in a million pieces and thrown into a garbage bag!
KATE: Oh, don't be so cynical.
I rolled my eyes at her text and Isabella snorted as if she understood what was going on and was siding with me.
Then, Kate's words were starting to ring true to me. I was beginning to feel lonely, but that didn't mean that I had to resort to Craigslist for help.
August's bright sun was launching its intense rays at me and I squinted as the pavement became brighter. I could feel the burns kicking in on my skin from the summer heat, so I decided that it was time to head back.
Isabella wagged her cute, curly tail as she waddled behind me, struggling to keep up with my pace.
Once I had entered the cool air-conditioned apartment, I undid Isabella's collar and let her have at her chew toy.
I sighed as I ventured to the kitchen, searching for a low-carb breakfast to devour. Kate told me that I needed to gain at least five more pounds, but I begged to differ. I grabbed a green apple from the fridge.
This will do for now, I thought.
I brought my breakfast into my bedroom where I made plans to catch up on my summer readings. As I was changing into something more comfortable, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.
Am I getting fatter? I questioned myself as I did a 360 degree spin in front of my floor-to-ceiling mirror.
I had gradually gained twenty pounds over the year, and even though the doctors had told me that I was still slightly underweight at 110 pounds, I still wasn't sure if I was comfortable with gaining that much.
Urgh! What was wrong with me? I couldn't help but to feel my self-esteem washing away. All those years of being with Bryan, and trying to meet his impossible model quality standards, had my self-confidence evaporating away like a drop of water in the sizzling desert.
No! I wasn't going to let Bryan and his mother's model expectations hold me back anymore. I was not a stick, skinny super-model, I am a real woman. I could feel my self-esteem inching back in me as I headed for the kitchen to make a real breakfast.
I cracked a few eggs into the pan, along with some strip of bacons, and whipped up some pancake batter.
There on the kitchen counter, I proudly ate my hearty breakfast without a guilty feeling in the world.
In the dark hours, anxiety began to take over me as I heard my phone ringing. I prayed that it wouldn't be from that private number, but of course it was. I eyed my phone unhappily as the daunting Private Number flashed on my screen, tempting me to give in.
Oh, crap! If I ignore it, it'll go away.
I hid my phone underneath my pillows and headed for my desk to finish reading a chapter of Lolita. Just when I thought that he had given up, the phone chimed in again and again. I finally had enough and shot up from my desk, marching over to seize my cell.
"Please, stop calling me. I am not interested," I hissed. I could swear that my voice came out a bit shakier than I had wanted it to.
"But, you haven't heard what I was going to say!"
My eyes widened and embarrassment coursed through me when I came to realize that it was my friend, Kate. I held my phone away to look at the screen. God, it was Kate. Dammit, why did I have to assume every ring was from Mr. Dominate-Of-Craigslist?
"What's up with the attitude?"
"N-nothing, I'm sorry. What were you going to say?" I heard ear-bleeding music from Kate's end blasting its way over to mine. Kate must have been at a club. I creased my eyebrows as I tried to focus in on her voice.
"I'm at this new hot club called The Chandelier. Care to join me?"
"On a Sunday night?"
"Sure, why not?"
Later after a ride in a cab, I finally made it to the club where Kate had been waiting for me.
I wore a conservative summer blue dress along with some nice black pair of sandals. I had let my dark hair cascade down to my shoulders with loose curls, and wore light make up. Meanwhile, Kate had on a one-shoulder, satin blue dress, pairing it with some hot spiked stilettos to give her outfit an edgy look. She painted her lips a daring, bold red.
The club was so lively with a good crowd of people for a Sunday, great music, and beaming lights. Dozens of crystal chandeliers hung high above us, shimmering and bouncing off neon lights. Hot guys chilling in VIP tables checked out ladies in skimpy outfits as they walked by. A group of girlfriends huddled around in a corner, laughing and having some great conversations.
Kate and I linked arms as we fought through the busy crowd to a bar where we both ordered a dirty martini.
"Cheers to the wonderful night we are about to have!" Kate shouted over the loud music, and we both clink our glass together.
Three martinis later, the loud music started to amplify the party animal within me. Kate and I hit the dance floor, twirling like free spirits with our hands up in the air and grinding our bodies up against strangers.
I grabbed Kate hand to pull her towards the bar again, "This one's on me!" I said as I waved down the bartender for two shots of patron.
"Ok! Ready?" Kate shouted when we held our shot of tequila, "One, two, three! Bottoms up!"
`We both downed the shot, letting the alcohol heat up our blood some more. As we sat, chit-chatting the night away, I noticed that at least eight guys had tried to make a move on Kate already. None had paid any attention to me and I was starting to wonder if I was the ugly friend tonight. Urgh! There I go again, taking a turn down Low-Self-Esteem Lane.
A good looking stud walked over to Kate. He whispered something in her ears and she burst out laughing. "I'm sorry, but I want to spend some time with my best friend," She said and thumbed me.
` "No!" I protested and pushed her playfully towards him, "I'll be fine. Go have a little fun!" I nudged.
"Ooh, you're telling me to go have fun?" she chuckled playfully.
"No, really, go have fun. I think I'm going to call it a night."
"Oh, come on! It's still so early!"
"It's eleven o'clock!" I retorted over the loud music.
"That's early!"
"No, I really ought to catch up on my summer reading. I have this list of books that I-"
"Alright, fine," she said and gave me a hug. "I'll see you back at our apartment."
Truth was, I didn't understand why none of the guys had shown any interest in me and that was a shot to my self-esteem. Did I have to wear heavy makeup and a provocative dress that advertised sex to get attention in the men's world? I felt practically invisible.
To hell with it, I thought as I entered my room and plunged myself onto my bed after changing. Why should I need to be hit on by a couple of drunken guys to prove to myself that I was beautiful?
What if it wasn't Kate's provocative fashion that had led men to hit on her? What if it was actually her beaming self-confidence that was really alluring?
My thoughts were interrupted as my cell alerted me that someone was trying to reach me.
Holy crap! It was him, the dominate guy from Craigslist.
As I stared at my phone, I noticed that the buzz from my martinis was allowing daring confidence to creep up on me. I bit my lower lip and decided to answer my phone.
"Uhm..Hello?" I answered uneasily. Oh, my god! Where could this conversation possibly go? How do women go about talking on the phone with a complete stranger they've never met?
"Hi," his voice finally answered.
"Hi," I repeated awkwardly and palmed my face after that.
"How are you doing?" The mystery man responded. I could hear the excitement in his voice. I felt my cheeks getting hot as words began to escape me. Holy macaroni! What if this guy was seventy-one, an old man with a sick fetish?
"Hello?" he asked again after a moment of me being mute.
I analyzed his voice more carefully. He certainly didn't sound like a senior.
"I'm fine, thank you," I finally replied clumsily.
"Your voice sounds sexy," he chimed in for the sake of breaking the silence.
Oh my God! Does it really? I asked myself. "You have a very handsome voice too," I complimented in response. I heard him chuckling.
"What are you wearing?" he then asked me rather boldly.
Is he a pervert? I thought to myself. Oh, who was I kidding? The guy posted a sexual ad on Craigslist with a picture of a woman being a spanked. If he's not a pervert, what is he?
My inner goddess was screaming at me to take advantage of the situation. She was down for some phone sex, but I wasn't sure what I wanted out of this. I wasn't sure if I wanted anything from it and was tempted to hang up again!
I could hear my inner goddess pleading me. She was pouting her lips and egging me on.
Fine, I thought, I'll play along. Why not? I was a little horny and decided to have some fun. My inner goddess beamed at me.
"I'm wearing a pink push-up bra and a matching lacy thong," I lied. I was really wearing a pair of baggy sweat pants and a tank top, but what would be the fun if I just said that?
"Wow! That sounds really hot!" he exclaimed, I could hear the excitement in his voice again. "I saw that photo you sent of you in your bikini, you look stunning."
Yikes! I did not send that picture, but I'd let him believe that for now.
As he continued to compliment me, I felt my courage grow, but the compliments weren't something new to me. Bryan had once dropped the same lines on me, yet, the anonymous guy was beginning to faze me. I was flushing and blushing away, letting myself be drenched in his compliments.
Thanks to a couple of martinis earlier, I felt relaxed and I was starting to feel bold as well, so I asked, "Tell me who you are. What's your name? And…what are you wearing?"
He chuckled in response and said, "Are you agreeing to be my submissive?"
I creased my eyebrows at that, "I don't even know exactly what that means. What do I have to do to begin this…agreement?"
"First off, I draft a contract up and e-mail it for you to sign. Are you on birth control pills?"
"No," I answered. Wow, the guy was quiet frank and straight to the point.
"After you sign the contract, we will proceed by getting you on birth control pills and a full on STD check."
"Whoa! Don't you wanna take the gal out to dinner or at least for a drink first before demanding her go on birth control and a full on STD check?"
"Well, of course, after you sign the contract, we will proceed to meet each other in private-"
"I prefer public since I don't even know what you look like or who you are," I stated bravely. Was I really going to go through with this, or was it all curious hypothetically speaking?
"I'll e-mail the contract to you. You won't regret it, Ana, I could make this worth your while," he said smoothly.
Oh, god, he knew my name, probably because Kate mentioned it when she e-mailed him a photo of me along with my number.
"And what is your name? Mister?"
"I will reveal myself to you as soon as you sign the contract."
Curious as to where this was all going, I told him my correct e-mail address so that he could send me that damn contract.
We hung up, and moments later, I received an e-mail with an attached document to it. I downloaded the document onto my laptop, hoping that there wasn't any virus with it.
As I proceeded to open the document file, I found that it was thirty pages long! I skimmed through it, going through some sections about respecting privacy and on to some weird sections about bondage…and gagging? Oh, god! What a buzz kill!
"The guy you tried to set me up with," I began. It was early the next morning. Kate and I had decided to take a stroll down a park with a cup of ice tea for rejuvenation.
"You answer his call?"
"Yes."
She led out a squeal of excitement. "Well, how was he? What is he like?"
"Weird just about sums it up," I answered.
"Oh, don't be like that," she said and took a sip of her ice lemon tea.
"No, I'm serious! The guy refused to e-mail me a photo of him. Instead, he sent me a contract, thirty pages worth! I'm wondering if I should have a lawyer look at it before signing," I stated, sarcasm dripping from my voice. "Is this normal internet dating behavior?"
"Dating? Who said anything about dating?" asked Kate. "Craigslist is basically a place where people meet up to fuck."
"Fine, is this normal Craigslist behavior?"
Kate tossed her head back and burst into laughter. "Oh, honey, nothing is normal on Craigslist."
"Why do you bother going out with guys on there then?"
"Because it's the abnormal ones who are brilliant and creative at fucking," she chuckled. "What's the big deal anyway? Just sign the stupid contract and meet him in person. If you don't like him, you could always bail. Just meet him some place public."
"What if somewhere in his lengthy contract, there's a fine print that states it's okay for him to murder me and I signed it!"
Kate nearly choked on her tea when I said that. "Ana, don't be ridiculous! You're being so paranoid."
"He could be a murderer, Kate."
"-Or, he could be a famous movie star or someone who is trying to protect his identity, like a rich billionaire!"
I snorted at Kate's little optimistic fantasy, "Yeah, right." Then I wondered: if Kate had been seeing men from Craigslist, what had been the weirdest one she'd encountered. So, I asked, "You've met some weird guys on Craigslist, haven't you?"
"Oh, sure, they're everywhere, not just on Craigslist, you know? But for every twenty or so weird guys, I have met a few nice ones."
"What was the weirdest one?" I asked.
She spun to look at me and lowered her voice down to a whisper, "One time, I met this guy on Craigslist," she began, "he wanted to pay to have my hymen reconstructed just so that he could "deflower" me."
"Oh, my god! That is weird!"
"Isn't it? I never did it nor did I ever talk to him again after that. But, you know, BDSM is pretty hot. I think you should try it out. I don't think that's too weird. Bryan was weird too, you know? He had an obsession with models and ladies with enormous breasts. It was quiet clear. He even tried to turn you into one. And didn't he even try to convince you to get breast implants? Oh, thank god, you didn't! I guess everyone has a weird obsession."
"I don't know…"
"Well, there are plenty of men out there," she squeezed my shoulders, "You don't have to go along with that guy who is making you sign a contract. I'll hook you up with a different guy."
I wasn't sure if Kate was a qualified matchmaker and I questioned her choices in men sometimes. I don't think her mission was to find me a date though, I think her mission was to get me laid. Period.
….Still, I couldn't help but to feel intrigued by Mr. Dominate-From- Craigslist… Will I have the nerves to go down that road?
