Chapter 5
She stumbled up from the floor, gathered her rumpled clothing in one hand and rushed over to the door and locked it.
God! It had been unlocked the whole time.
Well, there was nothing to do but pick up the pieces-if she could. There was something about being aroused sexually that did Patricia Worth in. She was going to have to let Patty take care of all that. But before it had been only Patty who was able to respond. What was happening to her?
The hose she discarded. They weren't worth trying to salvage. The garter belt went into her purse. She did the best she could with her appearance, once more bathing her little box in tender concern. After all, it had really been having a workout.
Then she dressed quickly and redid herself. Not bad. In spite of the hassle, her skin glowed. Or was it because of the hassle?
No time to wonder about that.
She put herself together before the mirror for the last time that day. As the last hair went into place, she gave herself a cool look.
"And what do you want out of all this, Patricia Worth?" she asked quietly.
"To be head of Heard Advertising," she replied.
"OK then let's go get it."
She turned and marched back into the office and picked up the folder where she had left off when Bob came in.
But there was still Gerald to be dealt with. She got him on the intercom and broke the date.
He wasn't too happy. In fact, he was more than a little suspicious but there was nothing Patricia could do about that. She had to take care of Randy first.
At least her mind was beginning to operate with its accustomed efficiency. She put it into high gear and went whirling through the folders before her, first making sure that she put in a specific request for a photographer to replace Bob Haines on the Fallon job. That would take care of that little item, despite Mr. Haines' high and mighty assumptions about the matter.
Finally, as she was putting the last folder back in place, she saw that it was five. Ok, then turn off the businesswoman and on to the next item. Randy.
But food first. She stopped at a cafe on the way home and ate so that she wouldn't be distracted by cooking. She wanted all of her attention focused on getting ready and on planning how she would handle Randy.
She had decided on a gamble earlier and had called Randy to meet her at her place. The imposing apartment should have its effect on him, impressing him in a way that would weaken his defenses. Maybe she could work a plot that would keep Patty happy without interfering with Patricia.
All through dinner, men kept flirting with her in the little cafe. It wasn't usual for her. Most times, her severity seemed to check any temptation to flirt. Something must be showing through. The thought alarmed her even as it excited her.
How would it be to be a real sexpot, eager and able to accept every encounter that came to you, to enjoy the act and give back something to the man you were with and not be plagued by that cold feeling that made every touch an invasion?
For a moment longing swept over her and she felt stir inside her a need deeper than she had ever admitted to herself. Patricia Worth vanished for a moment and some new being appeared only to vanish immediately as she fought the feeling back.
Down the aisle was a man sitting in another booth facing her. His eyes kept wandering back and she could see them go furtively beneath her table, seeking a view of her skirt. Her legs were together, her skirt an acceptable length so there was little to see.
But supposing she casually spread her legs wide. She had seen women do it before, just open them enough to afford a view. She knew that women got a secret thrill out of being seen this way-some women.
Or supposing she went all the way and getting up, went into the women's room and slipped her panties off and slipped them in her purse? Then, when she had seated herself at the booth once more, she could wait for the man's eyes to seek her out once more and then spread her legs slightly, giving him a real shot of her little bush. It would be a thrill for him and even if she froze up, she could think back on it later and remember the little evil thrill that went through her.
For a moment, she was almost tempted to do it. But no, save that for Patty. She had a feeling that Patricia's defenses had been breached once too often already. She couldn't afford to expose her again for fear that she would be destroyed and all her plans lost.
Better to think about Randy.
The machinery clicked in and she was suddenly Patricia Worth, strategist, again. It was going to have to be good but it was going to have to be simple. Randy, after all, was only a boy.
Well, that could be arranged. Her mind churned on while she finished her supper and by then she was ready for action once more.
"There's more life left in the old girl than I imagined," she told herself contentedly.
She drove home.
In the apartment, she headed for the John, flinging clothes as she went. A bath wouldn't be enough. She wanted to be clean inside and out. She stripped down, flinging the much-used garments from her with a grimace.
"Ughhh! I'll never wear them again."
It was nice to be able to make a statement like that. She remembered the slim days when every rag, every penny was important. Well, those days were gone-if she could just get Gerald Heard cornered.
And that was the next task. Cool Randy out and then put the rush on Gerald before something else happened to interfere. She was pretty sure she could do it. Just treat him like any other contract she was gunning for, that was all.
Yes, that was all. Things stayed relatively simple if Patricia kept control. But she knew that there was only so long that she could keep Patty squelched.
She got her douche bag off the shelf, filled it and, squatting on the john, washed herself inside thoroughly. The ablution had a mental effect: the day's sexual encounters seemed to vanish. She felt clean and new inside.
Running the big tub full, she stepped into it and bathed herself thoroughly, thinking about what she would wear. It had to be sexy but it had to suit Patricia for it was she, not Patty, who would greet Randy at the door. Patty would not appear-if she appeared at all-until Patricia had him well under control.
She scrubbed breasts and arms, wrinkling her nose at the funky smell of sex from her armpits. It had its own particular aroma that there was no mistaking. She wondered why mothers never smelled their daughter's armpits when they suspected them of misdoings. Of course, that was the problem. So many mothers weren't that acquainted with their bodies or their glands. They had probably never noticed.
It was just as well.
Still, it wasn't a bad smell, just a strong one. She sniffed once appreciatively and then put the rag to work.
Then squatting in the tub, she washed her bottom front and rear, removing the last faint traces of Bob Haines' invasion. Now she was thoroughly herself again. And certainly a match for an awkward, if sexy, schoolboy of eighteen.
Climbing out of the tub, she rubbed herself briskly till she was dry and her full body shone with health.
Then she spent a long time before the mirror, brushing her hair and putting it up once more. Finally she did her face.
That was most of her preparations for Randy as she had already decided what to wear and it would only take an instant to slip into.
"There!" she murmured, satisfied at last. "That ought to do something anyway."
She stood admiring herself. Her eyes made up, dark and mysterious, the golden hair high on her head, gleaming. Her breasts showed also, high and conical, nipples pink and velvety. Well, he wouldn't see that at first, of course, but they would come into play shortly. The high hairdo somehow added a note of impressiveness to the full breasts. It was just the effect she wanted: sexy but a little intimidating. Then, if she climbed down off her pedestal, he would feel rewarded and grateful.
She got the white nylon negligee out of the closet. It looked lovely, lots of lace and frills but all of it transparent. She debated wearing underwear but decided against it. "Now, let's see."
She slid it on. The long skirt swept the floor. The collar was high with frilly front. But through the shimmery frills she saw the coral pink of her nipples, the weighty heft of the big perfect breasts. Impressive.
"Yes, that should do it," she murmured contentedly.
The clock showed eight and she doubted that Randy would be late.
The bell rang as though on cue and she walked over and opened it wide.
Randy's look had been sullen as the door came open but then he saw her and his eyes went wide as his mouth dropped. x
"Wow!" he said.