Olivia slammed the lid back on the box and stared at it with wide eyes. She lifted the lid to peek back into the box, hoping she was imagining things. She grimaced when she saw the overwhelmingly large, glass appendage nestled in the tissue paper.
The door opened and Olivia let the lid drop back onto the box.
"What?" She asked quickly when John walked in.
"Are you alright?" He asked as Tommy looked in over his shoulder at her.
"Yes, I'm fine." She said.
"What's in the box?" John asked as he took a step toward her desk.
"Nothing!" She said as she practically pounced on it, pulling the box close to her body.
"What is the matter with you?"
"Nothing, I'm fine."
"Show me what is in the box." Tommy said as he walked toward the desk.
"No. Its… private." She said as she pulled the box farther away from him.
"Private?" He repeated.
"Yes. It's something I purchased and had sent here. I forgot it was coming, that's all."
Tommy stared at her with calculating eyes. "What is in the box, Olivia?"
"Just a lady's thing. For women. You won't want to see." She urged, praying he would walk away.
After a moment of attempting to read her, Tommy sighed and exited the room, John right behind him muttering that all women are mad. Olivia sighed into her chair before taking another peek at the glass instrument and closing the box.
"I'm not feeling well. Going home for the day." She muttered as she all but ran out the door, her gift tight under her arm.
She slammed her door shut and marched to the telephone setting on a console table in the corner of her sitting room, dropping the box on her sofa.
"Let me speak to him!" She barked into the receiver as Ollie, Alfie's assistant answered.
"Who?" He asked.
"Oh, you know bloody well who!" She yelled. "Give him the damned telephone. Now!"
"Who is calling?"
"GIVE HIM THE FUCKING PHONE!"
Olivia thought her head was going to explode with the anger she felt flowing through her veins. She could hear muffled voices; one she knew beyond any doubt was Alfie's before Ollie picked up the receiver.
"Sorry miss. He's not in today. Would you like to leave a message?"
"HE IS THERE! I CAN HEAR HIM TALKING!"
"Sorry." Ollie said, "Please try back later." Before hanging up.
Olivia stared at the telephone in disgust and shoved it down on its receiver.
"I need a drink." She said before pouring herself a large whiskey.
She was pouring her second glass when there was a knock at her door. Growling, she sat her glass down then froze as she opened the door.
"What is the matter with you?" Tommy asked, his face full of irritation and concern.
"Nothing." She said with a shrug and he pushed passed her into the house.
"First you get a mysterious letter and then a package that you run out the door with. What is it Olivia? Are you in trouble?"
"No. Um, the letter was a correspondence from the person who sent me the package. It was about the package." She said, thinking up her lie as she spoke. "I ordered it from someone who makes things… private things… for women."
"And?"
"And when it arrived, it wasn't exactly as I had ordered it. That's all. I came home to try to call this person and correct the, um, issue."
Tommy clenched his jaw and reached into his pocket for his cigarettes, as he did, he noticed the box on her sofa. He glanced back at her before he walked quickly to her sofa and lifted the lid.
"No, don't!" She tried but was too late.
Tommy stared at the overly large glass phallus then at his cousin, before dropping his eyes back to the box and slowly covering it with the lid and clearing his throat.
Olivia was mortified. Oh, please ground. Just open up and swallow me whole.
"Olivia," Tommy started before he opened his mouth and shut it again, clearly trying to find words.
"It wasn't supposed to be like that." She said, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
Tommy nodded awkwardly, avoiding her eyes. "Well, I should get back to the office and leave you to your, um… purchase."
He quickly turned and walked out, heading back to the office to forget this ever happened. Meanwhile, Olivia burst into angry and humiliated tears. Grabbing the box, she rushed outside and to her car.
Alfie sat in his office, smiling an accomplished grin, when he heard angry words and the sound of heels on his stone floor.
"And to what do I owe this pleasure?" He asked as he leaned back in his chair, smiling up at Olivia.
"You bastard! I hope you're satisfied!" She said as she threw the box at him.
"Gentle, love. You don't want to break that." he said as he caught it and put it on his desk. "And I bought it so that YOU would be satisfied."
"Are you mad? That would not fit in any human woman! It is so…grotesque! And what's more, Tommy saw it!"
"Did he?" Alfie asked, his face lighting up. "I hoped that would happen, that's why I didn't put a card in the box."
"This isn't funny!" She blurted. "I had to tell him I purchased it and that it wasn't meant to be that large! Now he is going to think I'm some sort of… of.." She stopped at a loss for words.
"I haven't received any of my letters back." Alfie pointed out, changing the subject.
She glared at him as he stood and walked toward her. Olivia folded her arms across her chest and turned away from him.
"I'm sorry, treacle." He said as he walked up behind her. "I didn't mean to upset you."
"What did you think was going to-" She started as she spun around but was cut off when she found herself nose to nose with him.
"Let me make it up to you." He lowered his mouth to hover next to her neck, his warm breath sending tingles across her body. "I know you liked my letters." His nose skimmed her ear. "We can act each one out."
Olivia swallowed.
"Select one.. doesn't matter which." Alfie said as his hand skimmed the inside of her knee. "That is where we will start."
She stayed silent as his hand moved upward. He growled, low and seductive, when he found her wet. He ran his finger up her core and then began to draw feather light circles around her swollen nub.
Olivia threw her head back as the content of his letters invaded her mind. The light touch was so teasing, she shifted her hips in an attempt for more, but Alfie didn't give it to her.
"Alfie.." She breathed. "Please."
"What do you want?" He asked, watching her tortured expression.
"More."
"I'll give you every inch. All you have to say is 'yes'"
Olivia shook her head. "Just… your hand. Please."
His teasing touch immediately stopped. "I have work to do. You should probably be on your way." He said with a smirk.
"But-" She started to protest.
"You are welcome to take this with you if you'd like to keep it." He said lifting the box.
"I hate you!" She said between clenched teeth.
"What's wrong treacle? You seem a bit.. frustrated." He said putting emphasis on the last word, an echo of her tone when she had said it to him.
"This isn't over Solomons!" She said before turning on her heel and leaving.
Olivia sat on her sofa, staring at the fire when the knock at her door drew her attention. She smiled as she stood and opened the door.
"Hello. Miss Shelby?" The skinny man with round glasses asked.
"Yes, Mr. Davies. Come in, please."
He followed her in, and she led him to the sitting room where she poured him a cup of tea.
"You have a lovely home. Such beautiful paintings." He said as he nodded toward the artwork above her armchair.
"Thank you. Mr. Davies, I asked you here because I understand you are an artist, yes?"
The man nodded. "I do paintings and sketches."
"Lovely. Do you do only landscape or do you do people as well?"
"Oh no, my best sketches are of people."
"And how do you feel about sketching nudity?"
He furrowed his brows. "I am an artist. The body in its natural state is the most purest form of art."
"And you have drew nude women before?"
"Yes?" He answered, the question clear in his tone.
"Would you consider doing a sketch of me?"
"Um.."
"I will pay you for it of course." She said with a smile.
"Alright." He said, knowing he couldn't say no to a Shelby, even if he wanted to.
Her smile broadened. "Lovely."