fit into the carton,
and, presumably, had been removed from it, after having been brought into the
room.
“Never mind them now,” be said.
The metal box appeared extremely heavy and strong. It reminded me of a safe. I
wondered if it was. Too, I wondered why it had been brought to the apartment.
“Is that a safe?” I asked, indicating the box. It was sitting on the rug, like
the carton. It was squat and stout, and efficient looking. Because of its weight
it was impressed, with sharp lines, into the rug.
“Not really,” he said. “But it may be used for the securing of valuables.”
I nodded. There seemed little doubt about that. It appeared to me, indeed, that
it might serve very well, by virtue of its strength and weight, for the securing
of valuables. I conjectured that I, with my strength, would scarcely be able to
move it about.
“What is in it?” I asked. I was curious. In the side of the box facing me I
could see two small holes, about the size of pennies. I could not, however,
because of the light, and the size of the holes, see into the interior of the
box. The interior of the box was, from my point of view, frustratingly dark.
“Nothing,” he said.
“I see,” I said, in an acid tone. I was certain he was not being candid with me.
“Come over here,” he said, pleasantly, beckoning to me.
I joined him.
I glanced over at my robe on the easy chair, and the slippers at its foot.
“My robe and slippers,” I said, “were in the bathroom, were they not?”
“Yes,” he said.
“You then entered the bathroom while I was showering, and removed them, did you
not?”
“Yes,” he said.
I had neither seen nor heard him doing this, of course. The water had been
running. The shower curtain had been drawn.
“Why?” I asked.
“We decided that you would appear before us much as you are,” he said.
“But, why?” I asked.
“It would be more convenient for us,” he said. “Matters might then proceed
somewhat more simply for u~ than might otherwise have been the case.”
I was angry. Obviously I had been manipulated. I had been ordered to shower.
Then, while I had showered, my apartment had been entered and my robe and
slippers removed from the bathroom. I had been surprised in my own apartment.
Then I had been given little alternative other than to present myself before
them, doubtless as they had planned, well cleaned, fresh from the shower, and
half naked.
“Are you angry?” he asked.
“No,” I said, suddenly, “of course not.” I was suddenly afraid that they might
cease to find me pleasing. Doubtless their entry into my apartment had some
purpose. I was then certain I understood their motivations. They had wished to
take me by surprise, to observe my reactions, to see me as though I might be
confused or startled, to see bow fetching and exciting I might appear, captured,
so to speak, in a moment of charming disarray. I hoped I had not disappointed
them. Doubtless they were interested in testing me for a performance in some
commercial, perhaps having to do with soaps or beauty products. I hoped that my
responses had not jeopardized my chances for participation in whatever might be
their intended projects. I did so want to please them. They paid well.
He was looking down at me. He was so large and strong. I was afraid he was not
pleased. I smiled my prettiest up at him. I adjusted the towel a bit about my
breasts, seemingly inadvertently, accidentally, pulling it down a bit, and then,
hastily, with seeming modesty, tucking it securely, much higher, even more
closely, about my body. “It is only,” I smiled, “that you took me by such
surprise. I did not know what to do.”
“I understand,” he said.
“It is not every day,” I said, smiling, “that a girl finds herself surprised in
her own apartment and then, in effect, forced to present herself before
unexpected guests clad only in a towel.”
“Mat is true,” he said.
I smiled
Massimo Carlotto, Anthony Shugaar