FOURTEEN
All in a good night
Marlene sat to the vanity brushing her hair out she had just tucked in all of the boys the last week of school weighed on her mind, "Hello," Rebecca crept in. Marlene rushed to her and embraced her their lips met in a steamy kiss. "I've missed you," She threw her arms around Rebecca's neck. "Are the boys asleep?" She asked squelching Marlene's desire, "Yes, they're last week of school and I can tell you when Ollie dropped them off they were absolutely wild," Rebecca began to undress as she listened, "Ruth back?" She wondered, "She called and won't be back until tomorrow evening, I hope to be out by then so I'll be here by the time they arrive home," Rebecca took in a deep breath, "If not I could be, I've missed them," She grinned. "Have you missed me?" Marlene traipsed in front of her sliding off her nightgown and standing in front of Rebecca clad only in a pair of panties. Rebecca looked her over the rounded shape of her firm breasts the sleek elegance of her hardened abdomen, "Hmmm, not in the mood," She teased Marlene, "I haven't showered," She further voiced. "Go shower and I'll be in bed," She ordered pointing with her index finger.
Rebecca towel dried her wet flesh and strolled into the bedroom naked, Marlene gazed at her figure through the dimly lit light of the moonbeams that trickled in through the window, "I've missed you," She whispered again. Rebecca eased up next to her slowly kissing her lips, "I love you," She spoke into her mouth, Marlene grasped Rebecca's lower lip between her teeth, "I want you," She begged, "Been in the mood since I've been gone?" Marlene listened to Rebecca speak rolling on top of her, "Yes," She answered, "But I love you and I love having sex with you, makes me feel out of control," Rebecca giggled arching her brow, "Out of control huh?" Marlene opened her mouth sucking the side of Rebecca's neck she groaned relaxing and letting Marlene take complete control. Rebecca's hands found the tops of Marlene's shoulders pushing her downward and into her void, Marlene tasted the sweetness of the juices Rebecca exuded she twitched clutching the bed sheets in orgasm. Rebecca grabbed Marlene tonguing the hard nipples of her breasts her hand caressing its way down the length of her body and then to her abdomen she teased her. Marlene lay back, "You know what I want," She implored loudly. Rebecca guided her tongue down to her crevice penetrating her with great thrust. Marlene wriggled her hips moaning lowly her fingers running through Rebecca's short locks of hair until she came again and again. Rebecca rested her head just above Marlene's mound they were both exhausted from the love they made. The momentary quietness they experienced was broken by the shrilling sounds coming from Wolfgang's room.
"He must be having a nightmare," Marlene noted she wiggled out from under Rebecca and slipped on her robe, "I'll check him," Rebecca clutched her hand, "Let's see if it stops first," Marlene relaxed a little, "Seems he's stopped," She spoke and continued, "I'll just peek my head in and see. Marlene tiptoed across the hall looking in on Wolfgang she leaned over and could see tiny beads of sweat resting on his forehead she breathed a sigh of relief finding him relaxed and sleeping she pulled the covers up around his shoulders she turned out the night light in his room and rejoined Rebecca in bed. "He's just fine, I'm sure it was a bad dream, " Marlene voiced slipping her robe off and curling up next to Rebecca their nude flesh intertwined with each other. "We've been lucky our boys have been such good sleepers, even when they were infants," Rebecca spoke remembering. "Raising those twins wasn't always easy," Marlene added in a snicker, "True but we managed," She stated clutching her hand and locking it around her waist. "I need sleep," Rebecca complained closing her eyes, Marlene's lips met the side of her face with a good night kiss.
Tristan sat in the great room perusing a manifest from the bank, a cigar rested between his teeth a warm shot of scotch sat on the end table, "Tristan," Carla entered the room dressed in her pajama's and robe, "A nightcap to help you sleep?" He asked as she poured a shot of bourbon, "I thought it might help me, yes," She turned around and stared at him, "I assume Ansgar and his wife are still in Spain?" He inquired as she set down next to him, "Yes they've been delayed," She answered relaxing in the coziness of the chair she was resting in, "Emily will be back tomorrow," He smiled inhaling the smooth smoke of the cigar he was enjoying, "You must miss Zoey?" Carla added, "I do, Emily won't be able to travel much longer with the baby coming she'll have to take it easy," He seemed worried to her, "I assume Zoey was a difficult pregnancy?" Tristan raised a brow, "Yes she was and Emily struggle with a long and uncomfortable labor," He reflected. "Well let's hope for the best," She took a sip of her drink, "How was your visit with Marlene?" He had been itching to ask. "A nice visit, I hope I've met a good friend," She spoke. Tristan chuckled, "If you have your sights set on Marlene than you should be cautioned," He eyed her as he spoke.
Carla felt numbed by his words, "What do you mean?" She tried to stave him off, "Marlene is a beautiful and vivacious woman," Carla swallowed hard, "She's nothing more than a friend, yes she's beautiful and friendly," A smile crept across her face, "And she's married to Rebecca," He gripped his drinking glass tightly as he relayed, "Marlene turns a lot of heads and I can tell by your reactions to her that an interest lies there," He was truthful standing up and pouring another drink. "That's not true, she's a friend, I'm not ready for a relationship and I wouldn't do a thing to cheat Rebecca," She answered sternly, feeling uncomfortable. "As I said, you should be more cautious, friendship is one thing but I can see you taking it a step further if a chance to do so opens itself up," He smiled swigging his drink down and grimacing, "Goodnight Carla, I'll see you tomorrow," He left her to ponder his words she stared into the glass she was drinking from her heartbeat rapidly she clutched her robe knotting it closer to her chest, "I can see you taking it a step further," Echoed through her mind over and over like a broken record she pursed her lips in anxiety and then tasted the stiffness of the bourbon that was left. Justus entered the great room, "Countess, will there be anything else, I'll put the fire out and I'm about to turn in for the evening," He turned the key to gas off closing the doors, "No, no goodnight," She followed him out thankful he had startled her from the daydream she was in.
Marlene removed her jacket and hung it in the coatrack behind the door of her office, "Good morning," Miriam entered, "Morning," Marlene flipped open her planner, "Rebecca make it back?" She questioned sitting down with a hot cup of coffee in her hands, "Yes and all is good, we didn't talk much she was late and we were both tired," Marlene jotted a note down as she spoke. "Hmmm, are we ready to get started our first person is here," Miriam opened up her notepad, "Bjorn Petersen, Swedish and has been living and working in Stuttgart for the last ten years," She squinted her eyes in continuance, "A college Professor by profession since he graduated from Oxford," She puckered her lips, "Strange," She added, "Why Düsseldorf?" Miriam further mentioned surprised by his unusual background. "Don't be so surprised, we have a lot to offer, a big beautiful city, teaming with nightlife, there's culture, history, museums, I could go on," Marlene seemed pleased by the applicant's they were interviewing. "I'll go and set up, Professor Petersen might be getting impatient," She smiled at Marlene, "I'm going to phone my father real quick to make some arrangements, I'll be there momentarily," She watched as Miriam left quickly phoning Thomas.
Abby Wilkes picked up the phone on her desk and dialed Tristan, "Abby," He answered, "What can I do for you today?" He asked, "The rest of the ledgers, I'm ready for them," She told him, "I can have Carla bring them over this afternoon," Tristan offered, "That will be fine," She hung up with him. Tristan walked down to Carla's office knocking on the half opened door, "Tristan, please come in," She motioned hanging up the phone. "I hope I wasn't interrupting your conversation," He quietly spoke, "No not at all, actually it was Ansgar they've made it back in, what can I do for you?" She stood up from her desk. "Abby Wilkes our accountant over at LCL is ready for the last ledgers if you are finished," He leaned against the door jamb, "I am, I could take them, I haven't toured LCL in a very long time," She seemed willing, "Great, I told Abby I thought you could drop them by this afternoon," He looked at his wrist watch. "Let me finish up this status report for the loan department and I'll be on my way," She smiled, "I'm going to leave early, I haven't spent much time with Emily and Zoey as of late and I should," He appeared worried to Carla, "Everything alright with the baby?" She inquired, "Yes she's just tired from her trip to Switzerland and of course her mother's health weighs heavy on her," He shrugged his shoulders, "I'll see you at dinner," He voiced leaving her office.
Rebecca and Aaron stared at the props on the sides of the catwalk, "I'm not sure if this will work, Katherine's designs will be featured after Angelo's Scarlett collection," Aaron remained silent his mind focused on the props and their positions, "Are there going to be young models standing on those blocks?" He finally broke his silence, Rebecca walked forward, "Some sitting and some standing, I think the idea is to show hip fashion in different scenarios and not with a straight walk down the runway," She uttered, "So Angelo then Katherine, maybe Laura's evening collection and then the swimwear line?" He looked Rebecca in the eyes," She laughed, "You know this so well," Aaron paused for a second, "I do, it's my job," He stated when Carla entered the front door, "Wow, who is that?" Rebecca quickly turned around. "Carla, my cousin," She walked towards them the ledgers resting in her arms. "Carla, what nice surprise," She smiled Aaron looked her over, "Aaron Strauss," He nodded to her, "Oh hello, Carla Von Lahnstein, it's a pleasure," She gestured back, "I'm here to see Abby Wilkes," She looked around at the first floor foyer, Rebecca rolled her eyes, "Third floor, right off the elevator you'll see her office and when your through, my office is right over there," She pointed to it, "I'll stop by, maybe a tour?" She chuckled, "Certainly," Rebecca grinned, "Let me help you with that," Aaron took a few of the ledgers from her and escorted her to the elevator.
Rebecca sat in her office the door opened, "She's absolutely beautiful and charming," Rebecca had a half grin, "And she's absolutely gay," She crossed her hands placing them on the desk top, Aaron was speechless for a brief moment, "Oh!" He exclaimed loudly, "I hated to burst your bubble but before you made a complete ass out of yourself," She snickered looking at him. "Why don't you ask Laura out?" Rebecca pushed the question to him catching him off guard, Aaron scratched his head not immediately answering, "I like Laura, she's attractive but, I don't know she seems confused about things at times, I know she likes me and we've met for drinks," Rebecca furrowed her brow, "I think she doesn't know how to approach you, yes she's very beautiful and she seems kind, hard to find anyone with those attributes anymore," She stated. "I think I'll have an espresso," Rebecca stood up from her desk, "Care to join me? Carla shouldn't be too much longer," She further questioned him, "No, I have to finish entering those numbers in and book a flight to New York, I haven't exactly done that yet," He mentioned to her. "Suit yourself, I need to get home early, Marlene will be on pins and needles I'm sure, she had interviews today," Rebecca worded, Aaron groaned waving to her with a motion of his hand.
Abby looked at the last book as Carla sat in front of her desk, there was a sigh, "Very thorough," She voiced gazing into Carla's eyes, "I double checked each and everyone," She admitted, "I'm preparing for a strong budget this year, I'm sure Rebecca will want a raise," She smirked closing the last ledger and stacking it off to the side. "Well I've found everything in order, LCL is doing extremely well," Carla relayed and stood up from the chair she was sitting in she looked at Abby with a curious eye, "Yes, I'm sure Lahnstein enterprises is very excited to have you back," She found Carla to be charming and wholesome, Abby stuttered a second, "Would you be interested in drinks one evening? I could fill you in on what's been going on the last few years," She awaited a word from Carla, "Yes, I think that's a wonderful idea," She replied. Carla gave Abby her cell phone number, "I shall be expecting a phone call," She answered with a smile. Carla left the ledgers exiting her office she entered the elevator, "Hmmm," She mildly grunted. Abby closed the door and returned to her desk she stroked the top of the last ledger she had studied, "How attractive," She muttered under her breath she picked up her cell phone and entered Carla's number in it.
Carla found her way over to the coffee bar, "Are you ready for that tour?" Rebecca offered, "Or would you care for some coffee?" She quizzed finishing the last drop in her cup, "No, no thank you but a tour would be nice," She remarked. They headed up the stairs to the designing room, "Nicely laid out, seems you and Tanja have made some fabulous changes, it's apparent," Rebecca smiled, "Thank you, means a lot," They walked towards Laura who was busy cutting out a pattern, "Carla, our head designer, Laura Navarrone," Carla extended her hand they shook, "Laura has just recently started with us and she will have her first collection at the summer fashion show," Laura grinned with excitement. "Nice," Carla mentioned, "Laura I will need to meet with you later, Tanja has something she wants me to discuss with you," Laura arched her brow in wonderment, "Ok, when you get a moment, it was nice to meet you," She added, "Likewise," Carla relayed as they walked away, "You should come for dinner one night, Marlene is an excellent cook and I'm sure our boys would like to get to know you," Rebecca spoke looking at her, "Actually, I had lunch at your house this past Sunday, Marlene is a very talented cook, invite me, I would love to spend time with your boys," Rebecca escorted her to the front doors, "I'll see you soon," She waved goodbye, Rebecca wondered why Marlene didn't tell her about the luncheon date she had with her.
"Rebecca," Laura called out racing down the stairs her belongings in hand, "I'm glad I caught you, I was about to leave and I had forgotten you wanted to talk," Rebecca stopped walking waiting for her to catch up, "Sure," They moved to the bench outside, Rebecca began to tell her, "Tanja wants me to spend some time with you, working on a lingerie line," Rebecca cleared her throat and continued, "I'm not really sure why," Laura frowned, "Lingerie, I've never really designed lingerie, I thought we had a designer in Paris for that?" She questioned in confusion. "Obviously Tanja isn't totally happy with Angelo, my visit to Paris found no discrepancies," She shrugged her shoulders. "I will do what I'm asked but Tanja has to realize that this won't be overnight," She began to worry. "Rebecca remained quiet in thought, "I will handle Tanja but I've promised my summer would be spent with my wife and boys," Her voiced trembled as she spoke, "Oh Rebecca I wouldn't do anything to infringe upon that," She stated loudly, "We will find the time, however I'll need to do the research," She insisted, "I will follow your lead," She stood up from the bench they were sitting on, "I'll see you tomorrow," Rebecca watched as Laura walked into the parking lot her mind reeling on how to put together a lingerie line.