Chapter Five
The Card
Xolani
“We are our decisions.”
– Professor Salam Al Shereida
Xolani flipped the card back and forth several times as if some magical explanation would present itself before her.
She bit her bottom lip as she focused on the card and tried to remember where she’d picked it up.
She placed it down on the coffee table in her living room as she eyed it warily, almost expecting it to just vanish or move on its own.
She sat down next to her friend with a large glass of wine between them both to relax for the evening. She’d called her over because the presence of the card had her flustered. She told her how she found the card and that she had no idea where she’d picked it up, or if Aurora had dropped it.
Looking over at her bestie Aurora Cruz, she asked, “Well?”
“Well, what?” Aurora asked as she shrugged. “It’s a business card for Club Fantasy.”
“Did you drop this in my office when you came to visit?”
“No, I didn’t drop it or leave it in your office.”
Xolani huffed and picked up the card again, turning it this way and that. “I can’t help but wonder how it ended up in my office of all places.” She gazed into Aurora’s eyes and didn’t see any deception. Her friend wouldn’t lie to her, she knew, but where could this card have come from?
“If you ask me, it’s a sign,” Aurora remarked.
“A sign of what?”
“You remember some years ago, when I was basically suffering from the same workaholic issue that you have now?”
“Yes, but what has that got to do with me?” Xolani asked.
“Everything. I went to the club and that magical night turned into hours of pleasure. It helped me to finally be able to get straight.”
Xolani laughed so hard that, for a few minutes, she was gasping for breath.
Aurora just crossed her arms over her chest and waited for her to stop her giggling fit.
With tears still in her eyes, Xolani tried to keep a straight face.
“Are you done?” Her full lips turned up in a grin letting Xolani know she wasn’t as upset as she sounded.
“Yes ma’am, at least for now.”
“You are due some vacation so a few nights or two or three or four won’t hurt you. Have your patients talk to one of your colleagues, so you can get your gas tank rearranged.”
“Damn girl, do you have to put it like that?” Xolani exclaimed.
“Yep. What are you going to do? Besides, from what my husband said, the cards are tuned into the receiver and whatever you need or want displays on the card.”
“Well when I look at it.” Xolani shook her head. “It means I need sleep, not some hot fuck.”
“Has anything else helped to get you that sleep?”
“Well...no.” Xolani eyed the card again and the number seemed to shimmer brighter, making her blink as she stared down at it.
She wasn’t a person who believed in things that went bump in the night or magic, but damned if the card didn’t seem full of magic just the same.
She sighed and looked over at Aurora. “I think if I can get this one man out of my head, perhaps I could function.”
“I know that the club worked miracles for me, the same thing can happen for you. You just have to be open-minded. Maybe they can get some close enough in features for you to pretend.”
“I’ll have to fill out some forms and, voila, they will find my dream lover?” Xolani asked in disbelief.
“Felipe said that with the rise of technology and artificial intelligence, they now use computers. I would think that would mean any new clients would be using the newest tech.”
Xolani shook her head. “I can’t believe I’m seriously thinking about this.”
“Why not? You deserve to be sexually satisfied just like the next person.”
Xolani shrugged in agreement. “True, but will they get as close to my dream lover as possible? That is the question.”
“Let me tell you something.” Aurora grabbed her wine glass and took a small sip. “All they can do is say no, they can’t kill you.”
“Girl, where did you hear that from?”
“My grandma used to say it every time I got scared to do something. So that is an analogy I remind myself of.”
“What if I get a serial killer or something?”
“Felipe would never allow you or anyone else to be hurt, unless that is what they want. Are you into that?”
“Fuck no, girl.”
They both giggled.
Once she finished giggling, Xolani glanced at Aurora. “Promise me you didn’t have anything to do with this? That no one knows my issues.”
“Girl, I promise. I never told anyone about your sleep issues or what happened in your past with Ricky. Least of all, my husband. My girl code is intact.”
Xolani nodded. “Thanks girl, I had to ask.”
“No problem, I get it.”
“You hungry for snacks?” Xolani asked as she smiled at her friend.
“No, that’s okay. I need to finish this drink and get over to the club to meet up with Felipe. He has something planned for our anniversary. Dante is outside with the car.”
Xolani smiled at this.
Felipe did indeed take care of his wife. He knew that they’d been sipping on some Moscato, so a ride would be imperative.
“Well, la-di-dah,” Xolani teased. “You don’t have to show me what I’m missing out on. But I do love it that he takes care of you.”
Aurora squealed. “You play your cards right, or I should say dial in what you want right, you won’t be missing out. Get the card and make an appointment.” Chuckling, she finished off her wine.
Xolani did the same.
Once done, they both stood.
Xolani walked with her to her apartment door. She opened the door and leaned against it. “No promises but I will think about calling.”
“Good. You won’t regret it.” Aurora leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek then turned and headed to the elevator so she could go to the car park entrance.
Xolani watched as Aurora got in the elevator and the doors slid closed, she shut her door. She thought back to the card sitting on the coffee table. Could I really do this? Should I really do this? She wasn’t so sure.
She knew she had some time she could take off. But how much was too much? What if the person they set her up with wasn’t to her liking? Diego Valdez was as hot as they came. Could anyone but him measure up to what she wanted and needed?
She glanced at her watching, noting that it was 8 PM. Time to get a bath and relax before she tried to get some sleep.
Yeah right, like I’d been able to sleep these last few months.
Locking the door, she headed to the living room to grab the wine bottle and the glasses. She took them over to the kitchen, putting the glasses into the empty sink and then thrusting the bottle into the fridge. She preferred wine to be cold, the taste seemed to punch back better when it was cold.
She found herself yawning softly as she made her way through the apartment into her bedroom.
As she stopped near the bed, she took off her clothes, tossing them into the hamper in the corner of the room.
She’d only moved into the place about three months ago and she still hadn’t decorated.
It looked about as plain as one could get.
The only area decorated was the living room as she entertained her friends there.
Glancing at the bare walls, she grunted and headed naked into the bathroom. “Yeah, yeah...I need to decorate. Fuck, I need sleep first.”
As she sat down on the side of the porcelain tub, she turned on the faucet to adjust the temperature to her liking. A large sunken tub. One of the reasons she’d bought the place had been because of this very feature. She also loved the large kitchen and master bedroom.
Grabbing her bath oils off the bathroom caddy, she drizzled some into the water then set the bottle down, satisfied with the amount. Standing, she picked up the hot pink bonnet on the sink counter and slipped her long coils into it as she placed it on her head.
Moving back to the tub, she reached down and turned off the water.
She swirled a finger in the water to test its heat and was happy with the results, so she stepped in and settled down in it with a groan.
She laid her head back against the tub and sighed as the warm water caressed her body.
The bathroom filled up with a pleasant steam.
She relaxed and let out a happy sigh as she closed her eyes.
Her eyes popped open, so she could reach for the washcloth and settle the white strip of material over her eyes. Once again, she settled back into comfort. Soon, she found herself drifting back to the card and then the object of her desires.
Dima Valdez.
A male with the physique of a damn god. She knew that beneath his t-shirts had to be abs of steel.
A six pack she wanted to lick. From what she’d seen of him, he liked tattoos, or so she thought as his arms were covered in full sleeves.
It made her wonder if he had tattoos on his chest. Fuck. She wished she could find out.
Wishes.
Wasn’t that what this was all about? Her wishes? She could look at this from the perspective of a doctor. Be able to gather some data and help her patients.
If she went to the famed club that Felipe ran, she’d get her wishes and then some, she was sure. But at what cost? Would she be able to differentiate fantasy from reality? Would she be able to allow a man to touch her and look at her body?
Her thoughts turned to Ricky and the life she’d had with him. He’d been demeaning, humiliating her for her sexual needs but not above using her body.
She could still see herself cowering and Ricky standing over her as his words echoed in her memory.
She hated to think about what life was like with him.
She could still feel the heat of his hand on her skin and taste the coppery blood in her mouth every time he hit her.
But even more painful were the words he spewed.
You’re a frigid little fat bitch. No one wants you! You’re lucky I even look your way!
Taking several deep calming breaths, her heartbeat began to rise from the memories.
On the last breath, she thought about Dima.
Maybe she could do the fantasy which would allow her to keep her heart safe.
She felt so tired. Drained from all the worry, from no sleep.
But also, from the possibilities if she could allow herself to believe. There was too much to think about.
I’ll just close my eyes for a little while.
Xolani found herself drifting to sleep as the water and her thoughts lulled her into a restless peace.