Epilogue
EPILOGUE
AUDRY
I had Lucia and Kylie on a Zoom call as I was totally desperate to find something to wear on my date. It was embarrassing to admit this was the first date that I had ever been on, which wasn't connected to a job.
After emptying almost my entire closet onto the bed, we had narrowed the choices down to three dresses: a little black dress, an elegant form fitting scarlet number, and an emerald green gown. Since the date was a surprise, I had no idea where we were going, but Marco had said to dress formal.
Lucia and Kylie were going back and forth, extolling the pros and cons of each dress. The green gown was the first to be eliminated on the grounds that it was the least versatile. “You'll save that for when you're sure you're going to a benefit ball or something like that.” Lucia said.
I bowed to her superior expertise and returned the gown to the closet. They asked me to try on the scarlet number, and then the little black dress.
“I mean the red is super sexy,” Kylie said.
“Yeah, it definitely stands out. But are we sure we want to stand out? What if it's not that kind of place?” Lucia asked.
“What kind of place is that kind of place?” I asked with trepidation.
Lucia laughed, “Don't worry about it. I'm sure it's not that kind of place. But since we don't know for sure, I would suggest the black. The scarlet is very confining. It outlines your figure faithfully but also kind of locks you in. There's no give in the satin. The black dress on the other hand is made of stretchy material, so it's more versatile. Plus, the length really allows you to show off those sexy legs. I know Marco will be dazzled.”
I laughed albeit nervously. “You really think so?”
“Yeah. I vote for the black.”
I looked to Kylie expectantly. She shrugged. “I mean Lucia made some good points, so I choose the black as well.”
I nodded with relief. “Great at least that's decided.”
Lucia leaned forward, “Now to the important bit. Accessories.”
I groaned. “What? We're not done yet?”
“Sorry girl.” Lucia said sympathetically before launching into a long dissertation on the virtue of silver versus gold accents to go with the black, and how high a heel I should wear. I let her and Kylie hash it out because I just wasn't in the headspace to make decisions. I didn't think I had ever been that nervous before. Which was weird because Marco and I practically lived together. We did things like walk to the corner coffee shop on a Saturday morning to drink coffee and people watch. Marco particularly enjoyed my take on just who a person was based on the few instants they were walking past us.
We were so domestic, tooth-rottingly so. There was no need for me to be this anxious. But I meant it when I said I wanted this to be a new start for us and this was the beginning of that. I finally tuned into the conversation to find that my two friends had agreed on a silver chain with silver earrings and red bottom heels.
“Thanks, you guys. You are life savers.”
“Have fun with my brother. Drinks tomorrow and a postmortem?”
“Definitely.” I said.
“Okay, then bye.” Lucia signed off immediately.
Kylie gave me a look. “How are you? Are you gonna be able to pull this off?”
I expelled a nervous breath. “No idea. Ask me tomorrow.”
She laughed. “Yeah, alright, see you then. Good luck.”
I gave her a thumbs up and she signed off as well. Grabbing my towel I went to shower.
Once I was ready, I examined myself critically in the mirror. The dress was asymmetrical, with one side being off the shoulder and the other reaching down to my wrists in a belled sleeve. It hugged my curves, but loosely, and fell to just above my knee.
I decided that it wouldn't hurt to wear flesh-colored thigh high stockings with my black Louboutin pumps. I added a silver choker to my neck and put silver hoops in my ears as well as a thick silver bracelet on my sleeveless arm. My hair was piled up in an untidy beehive atop my head, a few tendrils hanging down my face. The mirror was telling me that I looked tall and elegant. I kept my makeup minimal, a soft brown lip and smoky eyes. Looking myself up and down I had to admit that I looked good. Just as I finished, there was a knock at the door.
“Come in.”
I turned around to face Marco. He too, was formally dressed in a black Italian suit, a dove grey satin shirt, and a tie that matched his eyes. I walked slowly towards him letting him feast his eyes on me. He didn't look away for one second until I was standing in front of him.
“You are stunning.” He said in a voice filled with genuine admiration.
I couldn't help blushing, and I felt hot all over my body. I reached out and ran a hand down his chest. “You don't look so bad yourself.” I said in a low voice.
He smiled offering me his arm. “Ready to go?”
“Born ready.” I said as I slipped my arm into his.
“Do you recognize this place?” He asked and I looked around. How could I forget the first time we met. I looked towards the bar. I could see the very stool he had been sitting on.
“How sentimental of you to bring me here. I knew you liked me that first day.”
He chuckled, inclining his head in concession. “I did find you very interesting.”
“Mr. Cassio, welcome,” the hotel concierge said coming towards us, “your dining room reservation is ready.”
“Thank you.” He led me down a carpeted corridor to a room at the end. It was magnificently decorated with bunches of flowers and strings of light. A table was arranged by the window, with two places set - a perfect view of the city below us. It also held a perfect view of the entrance, which my mind noted without my permission.
Marco seated me down before taking his own place opposite me. I put my elbows on the table and my face in my hands, staring at him in disbelief. “Well, well, well, I am impressed.” I said.
He smiled cryptically, “You ain't seen nothing yet.”
“Ohh mysterious.”
“Yes I am.”
The sommelier brought some wine, launching into a long soliloquy on why it was the perfect aperitif. I barely listened, though I appreciated the attention to detail. When he was done, I held up my glass so he could fill it and took an experimental sip. “Mm, it's good.” I said as if I could tell the difference between box wine and an aged Merlot.
The sommelier smiled and inclined his head in appreciation, before leaving us alone. We didn't stay that way for long. Soon a waiter came up to us with menus ready to take our orders.
As far as dinners go, it was definitely on the far end of elegance. However, I got the feeling that Marco was waiting for something. He kept glancing towards the entrance, and then peeking at his watch…
“Are you expecting someone?” I asked coolly feeling rather pissed off.
He grinned breezily at me. “It's a surprise,” he said.
I narrowed my eyes at him suspiciously. “What kind of surprise?”
He just continued to grin. “You'll find out soon enough. Now eat your steak.”
He took a sip of wine looking extremely pleased with himself. I figured I should wait and see before I got annoyed with him. I didn't want to spoil the mood, because we were really vibing. Marco was an interesting conversationalist, and he knew a lot of things that one wouldn't expect a gangster to bother with.
Finally, as we dug into our dessert, he told me what the surprise was.
“I'm sure you know about the Asiana jewel, right?” He said.
I gave him a look that said very clearly, ‘duh.’ The Asiana jewel was a fascinating piece. Literally one-of-a-kind. The theory around it was that an emerald, a diamond, and an opal somehow fused together to produce this multicolored stone. Then someone dug it out of the earth, it was cut and polished by De Beers and set in a necklace.
While it was highly coveted, no one ever bothered to try and steal it because it was such a singular piece. Unless one intended to keep it in a very private secret collection, there was barely any resale value to it.
“It's here in this hotel.” Marco said.
I shot to my feet. “What? How? Where?”
He chuckled indulgently as I stared impatiently at him. “Well, it would seem that the owner would like to give it to his daughter at her wedding, which is to be held here tomorrow. He's currently in the penthouse suite. Or rather the necklace is. Mr. Botha has just left the hotel, after he was told about a very unique brothel that operates somewhere in Hollywood - invitation only of course - where you might get the chance to fuck an actual actor.”
“No.” I said in disbelief excitement bubbling through me.
“Yes.” He confirmed.
“Then what are we waiting for? Let's go.”
He grinned dropping a wad of cash on the table and offering me his arm. I was so glad that I carried my lock picking kit everywhere I went as well as a pair of gloves. They were currently in my purse along with my phone. I had, however, forgotten to bring lipstick.
We took the elevator up kissing all the way to the penthouse. There was a special code needed for the lift to open on the penthouse floor. Luckily, Marco had it. I gave him a thumbs up, really proud of his forward planning, and then practically skipped to the penthouse door. The lock was electronic. Another password would be needed. I turned to Marco, “I don't suppose you have this one too?”
He held up his phone, “Give my girl ten minutes. She'll have it for us.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, “And by your girl, you mean…?”
His face lit up with amusement. “I mean the comely little starlet who is currently seducing Mr. Botha, finding him endlessly fascinating , and wanting to know just everything about him, including the code on his hotel room door.”
I couldn't help laughing at his very sad imitation of a coquette. As if on cue, his phone beeped. He held it up in his gloved hand. “There she is.”
I generously let him be the one to enter the code, but as soon as he opened the door I was inside looking around, trying to gauge where the mark could have hidden the jewels. It was best to touch as few things as possible, so as not to leave a trail that could be followed back to us. Seeing as he was a simple man, I started in the obvious place. The room safe. The same code that opened his door worked on the safe. However, while it contained a good stack of money, there were no jewels in there. Next, I went for his suitcase. His clothes were meticulously folded, and without disturbing them I patted them down trying to feel for the necklace. There was nothing there, so I carefully picked up the clothes and put them on the floor.
“Bingo.” I said.
There was a hidden compartment at the bottom of the suitcase. I opened it and reached inside carefully. I touched something hard and cold, and pulled it out.
My jaw dropped. I had seen pictures of it but to behold it in person was something else entirely.
It was easily the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
“Shit.” I said, as eloquently as ever.
“Are you gonna take it?”
I looked towards Marco startled by his question. “I can do that?”
He laughed, “You can do whatever you want.”
I looked down at the necklace thoughtfully. “We’d never be able to display it, sell it or wear it.”
“Yeah, but you’d also be legendary.”
My mouth twisted. “Yeah, if I was stupid enough to open my big mouth and talk about it.”
“They won’t have to know your name to know someone stole the jewel right from under its owner’s nose.”
I pursed my lips, thinking about it. Then I put the stone down. “No. I don’t need it. But let’s see what else of Mr. Botha’s is lying around.”
We found his iPad, sat on the dressing table and it was such a déjà vu moment for us. We grinned at each other, kissing hard before trying to figure out the pin.
“I say he’s unoriginal. Bet it’s the same as the door.” Marco said.
“I won’t be taking that bet because- yeah.” I put in the pin, and the device was ours. It didn’t take much to get into his email, find his bank accounts, find out he had a mistress, as well as a wife, and was skimming money off the top of his company. I laughed out loud.
“Hey, how about we send a screenshot of this very explicit message he sent his mistress, to his wife.”
“Oh… you are evil.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Absolutely, send it.”
I did that and then went back to his account. Of course, I couldn’t empty it, but I could send myself a tidy chunk of change from his secret account in the Caymans. He clearly had a habit of pulling cash from there to pay for stuff and so it was a matter of a moment to pay Mercer Enterprises ten million dollars through their PayPal for the purchase of ten thousand dildos.
Marco laughed so hard at that. “Oh my god, I didn’t realize scamming people was this much fun.”
I shrugged one-shouldered. “We take our pleasures where we can get them.”
I put the iPad down where I found it, returned the Asiana jewel to its hiding place and then paused. “Wait. I feel like we should give him a bit of scare. What if we leave the jewel on his pillow, just to let him know we could have taken it, but we didn’t?”
“Diabolical, as always.” He bowed to me.
“Thank you.” I grinned.
I laid the jewel carefully on his bed and then took Marco’s hand. We left the room together. As we reached the elevator, I turned to him. “What about cameras? Won’t they have quite a few on this floor?”
“Yeah, but I had George hack into the feed. We’re good.”
I smiled at him and then leaned in and kissed his cheek. “You thought of everything. Thank you for the perfect date.”
He grinned. “I thought you might like it.”
We left the hotel through the basement, driving off with screaming tires just to complete the picture of the perfect heist. I screamed with joy and laughter as we drove, unable to believe I could possibly be this happy just sitting next to a man, driving a car.
I turned to him and smiled. “Thank you for such a great evening. I think I love you.”
He laughed, turning to wink at me. “I think I love you too.”
Getting home, we could barely wait to get to the apartment before we were tearing at each other like hungry wolves.
He lifted me up in the elevator so that my legs were around his waist, and I could experience first-hand just how hard he was. We kissed frantically, biting and sucking at each other’s lips like they contained sustenance. As the lift dinged open, we staggered into the apartment, still kissing, Marco’s hands tight on my ass. I grasped his tie, using it to pull him towards me, so I could devour his mouth. He lowered me onto the couch, pushing me up so I was nestling against the pillows, as he continued to kiss and caress me passionately.
I dug my nails into his back, urging him closer, wanting to feel him everywhere. “Fuck me.” I whispered into his mouth.
“Oh yeah, trust me I’m going to.” He bit into my shoulder, and I cried out, holding him closer, tighter, as he gnawed at my flesh, pushing my dress up as he did so. He began to kiss me, his other hand pulling my panties aside so he could caress my pussy, rubbing at my clit before pressing his middle finger inside me.
I spread my legs wider by lifting them higher so instead of straddling his waist, I was straddling his back. I snaked one hand between us, reaching for his fly and unzipping it before pulling out his dick.
He moaned into my mouth, hips jerking as if his dick was compelling him forward, wanting to join with me. I arched up in encouragement and that’s all he needed to surge into me. He flicked my breast out of my dress, and put his hot mouth on my nipple, suckling gently as he thrust into me softly. It was maddening. I needed more, harder, deeper but he would not be rushed.
Instead, he scooped his arms beneath my armpits and placed his hands on my shoulder, using that leverage to fuck slowly and deeply into me. I let out a long plaintive cry, unable to stand the utter pleasure of his dick dragging against the soft walls of my insides and then sparking a reaction that traversed every nerve in my body, until I was shaking with it.
“Marco… please.” I moaned.
He seemed to know what I was asking for because he gave it to me. Faster and harder, hitting my g-spot again and again, while his thumb pressed down on my clit, rubbing and rubbing, driving me literally up the wall. I was too far gone to reciprocate. All I could do was lay there, moaning, clutching at nothing, occasionally screaming out his name, panting and floating off in a cloud of ecstasy. By the time I came back to earth, I found that I was lying on the couch, one leg on the floor, the other hanging over the arm of the chair, panting gently. I could hear Marco moving around somewhere close but couldn’t be bothered to see where he was.
I didn’t even know if he had come. From the amount of wetness seeping out of me, I would guess that he did, but again, that could have been all me.
“Here. Drink.”
Marco appeared, holding out a glass of water. I reached for it and gulped it down before placing the glass on the coffee table. He bent down, picked me up and carried me to the bedroom.
“Best date ever.” I murmured sleepily.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
Eager to learn what the future holds for Audry and Marco ?
Then you may enjoy this extended epilogue .
Their next heist is their most daring yet… My dear, you really don’t want to miss this one! ;)