Chapter 137: New York Stories – The End
Saturday, January 7th, Late Night
The night ended and Fallon found herself standing over by the painting Shu Swamp in the Spring. She was finishing up her last flute of champagne. Looking over the painting and wondered why she found herself drawn to this one painting.
Grant was across the room talking to his boss and Alex Grasland. Fallon studied the statuesque blonde and felt jealous. Alex was what men were supposed to want, a tall model-like blonde. Not a short, dark-eyed, brown-haired stick that she was. Grant's closeness with Alex, made her wonder if there was more than an artist and gallery employee one, it's not unheard of.
Again, tonight she's Fallon Adams, the poor working girl, not Fallon Stafford, the billionaire. She's in this place because, she put herself there, to see what it's like to be wanted for being who she is, not for her bank account.
They finished talking and Fallon watched them separate. Grant went off in one direction, while Alex came to Fallon. Looking up at the taller green-eyed woman, Fallon gave a partial smile.
"You look like you had a good opening," Fallon said.
"As good as once could expect, I've already sold a few paintings," Alex said.
"That's good," Fallon said.
Alex shrugged, "It is," she said, and looked at Shu Swamp in the Spring, "Except this orphan, no one wants her."
"I didn't know it was for sale," Fallon said.
"All except my painting of Kora is for sale," Alex said.
Fallon nodded and turned back to the painting. She feigned looking it over, but averted her eyes to the label and memorized the catalog number.
"I love this painting, but I can't afford it," Fallon said, "Maybe if it's ever made into a print."
"It's okay, this one is the only one from it's year that hasn't found a home," Alex said.
Fallon nodded, "Sad, by the way, how do you know Grant?" she asked.
Alex laughed, "Jealous?" she asked and shook her head, "I dated Grant's brother and we become friends, also he gave me my break here."
"That's good, Grant seems to be a good man," Fallon said.
"He is, and you don't have to worry about me unless you fuck with him," Alex said.
"I won't fuck with him," Fallon said.
"Good because he's very into you," Alex said and nodded looked off to the side, "Speaking of the devil."
"I hope you at least put in a good word for me," Grant said and offered Fallon her coat.
"Only the worst stuff," Alex said.
Fallon laughed as she took her coat and bag. "I wouldn't expect anything less," Grant said and exchanged kisses on the cheek with Alex.
"That's why we're friends," Alex said, "Oh Fallon dear, let me take that." Fallon took the flute and Grant helped her with her coat.
"Thank you," Fallon said.
"You're welcome," Both Grant and Alex said, at the same time, which was followed by a laugh.
Grant lead Fallon out of the gallery towards the street and the waiting car.
"So, what do you think?" Grant said.
"Not bad and you said you had to move it up?" Fallon asked.
"Yeah, Alex was requested to do an exhibition in Walberge by special request HSH Walther Furst Von Walberge," Grant said.
"Grant, isn't that the country that is always at war?" Fallon asked.
Grant shrugged, "From what I understand there are issues there," he said.
Fallon nodded, as Grant showed her into the car. She noticed Grant looked tired, it had been a long day for him. He sat silently looking out the window at the Hudson River. Fallon studied him and noticed the large gray shape of the Intrepid in the distance. They weren't going to be that far north, in the Kitchen.
The car arrived at the building they were using as Ellie's apartment. The old woman wasn't on the stoop anymore, probably went to bed. Both Grant and Fallon got out of the car and walked her to the front door.
"well I'd invite you in, but I'm crashing on the couch and Ellies probably asleep now," Fallon said.
"I understand," Grant said.
"I had a lovely night, and Alex is an interesting woman," Fallon said.
"That she is," Grant said.
"I'll call you tomorrow when I get home," Fallon said.
"I look forward to it," Grant said.
Fallon smiled and was suddenly taken aback when Grant leaned down and kissed her. At first, she was stiff with surprise, but she went with it and went with Grant's actions. Slowly she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him closer, and greeted his lips and tongue with welcome.
It was quick, maybe a few mere moments, but it seemed to last forever. Her head was swimming with emotions and feelings, but it soon died down, as he broke the kiss, and the hormones in her brain leveled out. She could see his face through half-opened and hazy eyesight, he was wondering, waiting, and all she could do was let out a pleasurable sigh.
"Wow," was the only word she could breathe out.
"I'm sorry," Grant said, "I was too forward."
"No, no," Fallon muttered out, "It was fine, no great, I just wasn't expecting it."
"It just seemed right," Grant said.
"It's right, it's perfectly alright," Fallon said.
Grant nodded, "I got to get going," he said.
"So, do I; I'll call you tomorrow," Fallon said.
"I look forward to it," Grant said, and rushed back to his UBER. Fallon smiled, watched the car drive off as she unlocked the front door. As soon as the car turned the corner, she stopped acting with the front door, pulled out her smartphone and called for her own UBER to bring her home.
At the beginning of tonight's venture, all Trin hoped would be that it would be something different. Her usual Saturday night was watching TV and hanging with Wyatt. She loved her son, but sometimes you just need a night out.
The night succeeded beyond expectations. Trin went to a bar she would never have gone before, watch games with other fans, and top it off she met Zav.
Zav and her hit it off even though he's a Ranger's fan. They cheered on the players they watched on the screen and even shared a few plates of starters. After quite a few beers, Trin stopped counting after three, they headed out together.
They walked several blocks and came to a typical Lower Manhattan tiny park. They walked around this tiny green space and chatted for go knows how long and about who knows.
Finally, Trin called an UBER and Zav agreed to share. They rode together up to the Upper East Side. On the ride north, Trin found she didn't want to hold hands, no, she wanted more. Soon enough there was some heavy petting going on in the back seat of the UBER.
About halfway home there was not just petting, but making out as well. The UBER driver got an eyeful of what he would normally see on a Saturday night, and Trin didn't care. The UBER pulled up in front of her building the petting had moved to full-on feeling up. It was borderline moving on to hands doing more than what is legally allowed.
Trin pulled Zav out of the UBER, paid for the ride and dragged him into the building. In the vestibule, they paused and attacked each other's lips again. They were pawing at each other, then Zav stopped and pushed away.
"What?" Trin asked, looking shocked as Zav just stood there.
"This is where you live?" Zav asked.
"Yes, I said I live on the Upper East Side," Trin said.
"I didn't expect this," Zav said, taken aback.
Trin shrugged, "I had a few good years," she said.
"This is just so…" Zav never finished his statement, as Trin grabbed him and kissed him hard. Zav was taken aback from Trin's extreme forwardness. He eventually went with it. When they broke apart, he looked at her.
"So, we doing this?" Trin asked.
"I…I…I…" Zav said.
"Look it's just yes or no," Trin said.
"Ya…ya…Yes," Zav said.
Trin smiled wickedly, and looked Zav up and down, "Good, follow me," she said, grabbed Zav's hand and pulled him into the building.
Trin didn't stop in the lobby and greeted the person that worked there. Pulling Zav, who was only average height, but was still bigger and taller than Trin. He was amazed at how strong Trin was. She stopped at the elevator and pressed the button.
While waiting for one of the elevator cars, Trin wrapped her arms around Zav's neck, pushing him against the wall. They continued there making out while one of the elevator cars came to retrieve them.
Once the elevator arrived, they rolled into it. In the car, Trin broke a hand free and pressed the button for her floor. Pressing the button didn't even end what she was doing with Zav. They kept it up the whole ride up to Trin's floor. Slowly, clothes were being loosened and unfastened. This was all done to the Muszak that was being pipped into the elevator car. Trin listened unintentionally to the music, she couldn't place the artist, she wasn't her brother-in-law, but she knew the song, and just ignored the lyric and went with the beat.
When the car stopped, Trin checked to make sure it was her floor. She pulled Zav out of the elevator with a force he couldn't imagine coming from her. He slammed against the wall, where she crushed up hard against him, and nipped his neck.
"You still game?" Trin asked, with a hunger in her voice.
"Yes," Zav said.
Trin gave him a hungry wicked smile, "Good," she said, nipped his neck. She pulled away from him took a tight grip his hand and pulled him out of the elevator lobby and down the hall.
Zav's head was swimming as he went down the hall. This place was very posh, and not where he expected to be tonight, doing what he assumed they would be doing.
Suddenly they stopped by a door. Trin looked at Zav. "You're good to have to leave before dawn," Trin said.
"Why?" Zav asked.
"My son is staying over a neighbor's, he doesn't know, and I don't want him to know," Trin said.
"Okay," Zav said.
"Good," Trin said, unlocked the apartment door and pulled him inside, closing the door behind them.
The night ended as they walk out of the club. It was one hell of a night, and Ellie felt more than a little drunk from the drinks and shots she consumed during the night. Outside the club, the group started to break up.
Ellie watched as Jade and Jared headed off. Jade was on her phone ordering their ride home. They were an odd pairing, living together and they were both single.
Finley, Justin, and Hardy agreed to share a ride as they lived nearby. They were a fun group to hang with, and Ellie couldn't wait to see them again.
"Hey Libby," Ainsley said.
Ellie turned to look at Ainsley," Yes Ains?" she asked.
"Can I stay with you tonight?" Ainsley asked. Ellie noted Ainsley was very drunk, it was clear by her eyes.
"Don't want to take the subway back?" Ellie asked.
"Not at this hour, it would be an UBER or a Lyft," Ainsley said.
Ellie shrugged, "I don't know," she said.
"Yeah, well it's late and I don't want to deal," Ainsley said.
"Sure, I have spare rooms," Ellie said.
"Great Libby, I'll call the UBER," Ainsley said, and broke out her smartphone and ordered a ride.
Ellie looked down the street and could see the faint lights of the shoreline of the Hudson River. Taking a deep breath, she exhaled and watched the steam of her breath.
"They're on their way, Libby," Ainsley said.
"Okay," Ellie said.
"Did you have fun tonight?" Ainsley asked, with a slight drunken slur.
"I always have fun," Ellie said.
Ainsley nodded, "Why are you single, Libby?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" Ellie asked.
"You're a beautiful woman, with a great personality, why hasn't someone snatched you up?" Ainsley asked.
"I've not felt the need to have a steady relationship as of recent," Ellie said.
"Who was your last relationship?" Ainsley asked.
Ellie thought about it for a second, "It was a guy back home, named Dylan," she said.
"Why did you end?" Ainsley asked.
Ellie shrugged, "He stayed local, I went away for school. I think when I moved up here it was pretty much the end," she said.
"So, it's a function of distance and time?" Ainsley asked.
"That and I think we wanted different things," Ellie said.
"Was he your only serious relationship?" Ainsley asked.
"No, in high school there was Marc," Ellie said.
"How did it end with Marc?" Ainsley asked.
"Badly," Ellie said, "Can we please change the subject."
"Sorry," Ainsley said.
"It's just a time of my life, well, I don't want to visit again," Ellie said.
"Sure Libby," Ainsley said, as their UBER pulled up.
As the headed north on 10th Ave. Ellie looked out the window at the passing by buildings. She did love living in the city, but there was nothing like the late night/early morning hours back home.
"I heard you were quoting Anna Becca to Hardy earlier," Ainsley said.
"Oh, you heard that," Ellie said.
"I've read that book, is it the reason why you always wear purple?" Ainsley asked.
"I have my reasons," Ellie said.
"It was one hell of a sex book," Ainsley said.
"I guess," Ellie said.
"Do you think it was a story of the truth?" Ainsley asked.
"Maybe it's like Go Ask Alice," Ellie said.
"What does that mean?" Ainsley asked.
"A hoax," Ellie said.
Ainsley nodded. The UBER dropped them off in front of the Scott Brownstone Townhouse in Hell's Kitchen. The two women walked up the steps to the parlor floor of the townhouse.
At the door, Ellie pulled out her house keys. As she put the key in the lock. Before she could turn the key, she felt Ainsley grab her.
Ellie was turned to face Ainsley. Ainsley had both hands on the side of Ellie's head. Ainsley leaned forward and kissed Ellie.