The Wives of Beverly Row 4: Lust Has a New Address Read online

  The Wives of Beverly Row 4

  Abby Weeks

  Copyright © 2014 Abby Weeks

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  This work is presented by the author.

  To get in touch please contact:

  abby@type‐writer.net

  ISBN 978‐1‐927947‐33‐3

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Quote

  Chapter I

  Chapter II

  Chapter III

  Chapter IV

  Chapter V

  Chapter VI

  Chapter VII

  Chapter VIII

  Chapter IX

  Chapter X

  Chapter XI

  Chapter XII

  Chapter XIII

  Chapter XIV

  Back Matter

  *

  “ALL ART IS EROTIC.”

  Gustav Klimt, 1862‐1918

  *

  “EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD IS ABOUT SEX EXCEPT SEX. SEX IS ABOUT POWER.”

  Oscar Wilde, 1854‐1900

  *

  I

  ARIEL AND VERONICA WERE SITTING together at a fancy cafe in Beverly Hills. Waiters in white shirts and black pants served them fresh salads and sparkling water and white wine. Ariel sat back and watched the waiter. He was young and good-looking. Ever since sleeping with Jake she’d been feeling guilty but she’d also been feeling alive and vibrant and aroused. It was as if he’d woken up inside her something that had been asleep a long time. He’d brought back her desires for sexual excitement and risk.

  “You’re staring at that poor waiter,” Veronica said, smirking.

  “Am I?”

  “Yes,” Veronica said, “you are!”

  “I’m sorry,” Ariel said.

  “Don’t worry about it. You’re single, you’re free. You can look at whatever you like.”

  Ariel smiled. She knew Veronica was going through a difficult time in her marriage. She was trying to play the good wife, she was trying to be loyal to Hank, but Ariel knew she was finding it difficult. It was hard to be in a relationship like that where there was loyalty and friendship but no passion or excitement.

  “You can look too,” Ariel said.

  Veronica nodded, a little sadly. “I can look, but I can’t touch. That’s the difference. You can look and touch.”

  “I don’t think that waiter will be letting me touch him any time soon,” Ariel said.

  “But you know what I mean,” Veronica went on.

  Ariel nodded. It was true. She’d been in a difficult marriage of her own for sixteen years. She knew only too well what it was like to be stuck in a relationship, to feel like all her options were shut off. She felt sympathy for Veronica, for her situation, but she wasn’t sure how she could help her.

  “So it’s exciting that Hank wants you to open a restaurant,” she said, changing the subject.

  “Yes,” Veronica said, glad to have her attention directed at something other than her difficulties. She pulled out a folder and opened it. It was full of pictures of different restaurants that she liked. There were different interior styles that she could consider, different furniture, different tableware. There were so many options.

  Ariel pointed at one of the pictures. It was a sparse, white interior, very minimal. “I like that one,” she said.

  “I love that,” Veronica said. “That’s exactly the kind of thing I’m going for.”

  “I guess the first challenge is to chose a location. Once you know the neighborhood you’re in you’ll know what kind of style to go for.”

  Veronica looked up from the folder. “Oh Ariel, how am I going to get through this?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You know the history I have with Matt. You know how strong our feelings are for each other.”

  “Yes I do, but I also know that you two never crossed the line.”

  “But if he’s working with me, setting up the restaurant, think of all the time we’re going to be together. Think of all the opportunities. What if something happens?”

  “Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Ariel said. “You’re acting like something’s already happened.”

  “No I’m not. I’m just being realistic. I’m thinking of my marriage. I know how close Matt and I have been in the past, I know there’s a real risk of something happening.”

  Ariel shook her head. “You’re getting ahead of yourself. You should spend more time thinking about what has happened, and less time worrying about what might happen.”

  Veronica looked up at Ariel. Ariel looked away. “Ariel,” Veronica said, “what is it? You look pale.”

  “It’s nothing.”

  “It’s something,” Veronica said. “I know that look.”

  “What look?”

  “Something happened. Tell me what it is.”

  “Something did happen,” Ariel said.

  “Well?” Veronica said. “Tell me.”

  Ariel looked at her friend. She looked around the cafe as if someone might be watching her. Everything was normal. No one was paying her any attention. She took a deep breath.

  “I slept with Jake Medeiros,” she said.

  As soon as she said the words she regretted it. She regretted sleeping with Jake and she regretted telling Veronica. She knew this was big news. This would change everything. Maybe Veronica wouldn’t even want to be her friend anymore. She realized all of that as she heard herself say the words. What had she been thinking, sleeping with her neighbor’s husband? There was no way it was going to go over well with the other women.

  She looked up at Veronica.

  Veronica’s eyebrows were raised. She was shaking her head.

  “Say something,” Ariel said.

  “What can I say?” Veronica said. “You know what you’ve done.”

  Ariel nodded. She’d ruined everything. She’d ruined whatever trust she’d gained with Veronica and the other women on the Row.

  “You’re shocked. You hate me now, don’t you?”

  Veronica shook her head. “Don’t be so dramatic, Ariel. To be honest, I’m not that surprised.”

  “You thought I’d sleep with someone’s husband?”

  “No, not at all. I’m surprised at you. I didn’t think you were like that.”

  “I’m not usually. Something’s just come over me lately.”

  “But Jake? Jake’s slept with every girl within a thirty mile radius. I know he’s into all sorts of perverted things. I’ve heard stories about him.”

  “What kind of stories?”

  “I wouldn’t even be surprised if Trudy’s slept with him.”

  “Veronica. What kind of stories?”

  “Oh, you know. Nothing I should repeat. Just kinky stuff.”

  “What kind of kinky stuff? You mean swinging?”

  “Oh God!” Veronica said. “So it’s true.”

  Ariel looked at Veronica and nodded slowly. Then she covered her face in her hands. She felt so embarrassed. She was embarrassed about Jake’s sexual habits! She wasn’t sure why she should feel responsible for those things, but having slept with him, she somehow felt as if she was a part of it all now.

  “What happened?” Veronica said. “Tell me everything.”

  “Well,” Ariel said, “I was in a bar having a drink after work. I wasn’t sure what I was in the bar for, I hadn’t planned to meet anyone there.”

  “And Jake was there?”

  “Yes, he was there and he was so charming. I guess I’d gone in there looking for some sort of trouble, and when I found Jake I felt relieved to know someone in th
e bar so I let him flirt with me.”

  “And one thing led to another?”

  “Well,” Ariel said, “not exactly. I mean, sort of, but he told me that Zola was in on it. He said he and Zola had a very open relationship. He told me she wouldn’t mind if we did something.”

  “And you believed what you wanted to believe.”

  Ariel knew she should stop talking. She knew that Zola’s private life deserved some respect, but she wanted to try and justify her decision to sleep with Jake in some way. “Yes, but he showed me a video.”

  “What do you mean?” Veronica said.

  “He showed me a video on his cell phone of Zola having sex with another man. She was having a threesome with this other guy and Jake at the same time!”

  Veronica’s hand flew up to her mouth. “You are kidding me!” she said. She said it so loudly that some of the other diners looked over at them.

  “I’m not kidding,” Ariel said. “I mean, I still feel horrible about it. I know I never should have done anything like this.”

  “But you figure if Zola’s into it, then where’s the harm?”

  “Well, I just sort of let it happen,” Ariel said. “I’m not proud of it, really I’m not.”

  “I should think not.”

  “But you don’t know what it’s like to be single after so many years of loveless marriage,” Ariel said.

  Veronica was quiet. Ariel felt bad then. She knew that Veronica knew only too well what it was like to be lonely, to be wanting for passion and intimacy.

  “I can see where you were coming from,” Veronica said.

  “I just let him have his way with me for the night,” Ariel said. “I know I shouldn’t have, but the video with Zola, the swinging, the wine I’d had, my own stupid horniness, it all just added up to a very bad decision.”

  “You’re going to have to sort this out with Zola,” Veronica said.

  “I know,” Ariel said, “but how do you tell a girl that you slept with her husband?”

  “Well, if she’s into this swinging like Jake said she was, it might not be so bad.”

  “Can you understand why I did it?” Ariel said.

  “Relax,” Veronica said. “I’m your friend, Ariel. You can tell me anything. I might not agree with every decision you make but I’m not here to judge you. There’s enough judgement in the world.”

  “Oh, thank you,” Ariel said.

  “Just promise me one thing,” Veronica said.

  “Anything.”

  “Let me know if you plan on doing anything with Hank!”

  Ariel burst out laughing. “I swear I will never touch Hank,” Ariel said.

  Veronica was nodding. “I know,” she said. “I know.” And then a very wicked grin crossed her face. “Although, maybe something like that would be just what my boring marriage needs to spice it up!”

  II

  “BRING ME ANOTHER BEER, WOULD YOU, HONEY?”

  Zola hurried into the kitchen and grabbed a beer from the fridge. She always jumped when Jake gave her an order. She hated that she was so weak and obedient but it didn’t seem like there was anything she could do about it.

  She’d been waiting up all night for him to come home, she had no idea where he’d slept, and now that he was home she was running around trying to please him.

  “Can I get you anything else while I’m here?” she called out.

  Jake didn’t answer. Zola felt cheap, like a servant.

  “I bought you something,” Jake said when she entered the bedroom with his beer.

  “Oh?” she said.

  “Yeah, something for you to try on.”

  Zola tried to smile even though she had knots in her stomach. She didn’t know why but she always had knots in her stomach around Jake. He kept her constantly on edge.

  There was a package on the side of the bed wrapped in black tissue paper. She handed him his beer and picked up the package.

  “Open it up,” Jake said.

  “Thank you,” Zola said.

  “I thought you deserved a little something,” Jake said. “After the show you put on the other night for my friend, you really deserve something.”

  “Oh,” Zola said, uncertainly. She wasn’t sure how she was supposed to talk about what had happened. “Did Peter have a good time?” she said awkwardly.

  “A good time? He’s been all over the forum, telling everyone on there that you’re the best wife he’s ever tried.”

  Zola nodded. Her stomach felt so tight, she tried to take a deep breathe but she was too tense.

  “I’m going to really plan something big for you,” Jake said.

  Zola nodded very slightly. She didn’t know what he meant by that. She was too afraid to ask.

  She opened the black tissue paper carefully and saw that it contained leather lingerie. There was a black collar for her neck.

  “Put it on,” Jake said.

  “Now?”

  “Sure, why not?”

  She tried to act like she was excited to put on the collar. Her stomach was so tangled up in knots that she could hardly focus on what she was doing. She opened the zip on the back of her dress and let it fall to the floor.

  “That’s it,” Jake said. “You might as well take off your underwear too.”

  She opened her bra and got out of her panties. She was naked now in front of him. She knew she shouldn’t feel so nervous, Jake was her husband, but her heart was pounding in her chest. She put the collar around her neck. It fastened with a buckle.

  “Come here. I’ll close it for you.”

  She leaned down to Jake. He was sitting on the bed in the clothes he’d worn the day before. He’d come home early in the morning and offered no explanation for where he’d been. He could do anything he wanted without a care in the world, and when he came home, she had to obey him. He fastened the collar around her neck.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  Jake smiled.

  She went back to the little bundle of tissue paper. There was a skimpy black satin bra and a thin thong of the same material. She put them on and then stood in front of the bed.

  “Beautiful,” Jake said.

  “Do you like me?” Zola said. She was being desperate. She knew she was. She was so hungry for any kind of affirmation or words of kindness.

  Jake didn’t answer. He picked up the controller for the television and switched it on.

  “The outfit will do perfectly,” he said. “This is going to be so much fun. You’ll see.”

  Zola stood there and nodded. She looked at the TV. A baseball game was on. There were so many things that she wanted to say to Jake, that she needed to say to him. She wanted to tell him that she was finished with all of this, that she was never going to allow him to use her like a whore again, that she wasn’t going to be passed around his friends like some piece of property, but she had no voice. She wasn’t able to stand up to him. She was too scared. She didn’t know what she was afraid of but it was blatantly obvious to her that she lacked the courage to stand up to Jake. She stood by the bed feeling foolish in the black lingerie he’d bought her.

  “That will be all,” Jake said, his eyes firmly fixed on the television screen.

  “Oh,” Zola said. She felt silly just standing there. She bent down and picked up her dress and underwear and hurried into the bathroom to get dressed.

  III

  ARIEL AND VERONICA PULLED UP to the property on Sunset.

  “Is this it?” Ariel said as she got out of the car.

  “Looks like it,” Veronica said. “This is the address they gave me.”

  Ariel looked at the realtor’s prospectus. It looked like the right place. It was a good location for a restaurant, a lot of street traffic, a corner location. There was good signage.

  “Matt’s meeting us here?”

  “He’s supposed to. He said he had a client meeting nearby and would take a look with us.”

  They walked up to the door. The unit had been empty for a while. It
had been a restaurant before but something very different to what Veronica had in mind. She was going for an upscale, evening kind of place, somewhere to get a glass of wine and some antipasto after work. The last tenant seemed to own a burger joint.

  “What are your first impressions?” Ariel said as they stepped into the space.

  Veronica looked around. “It will be a lot of work.”

  That was true. There would certainly be some work required. Ariel could see that much. But she could also see the potential in the place, and she thought Veronica did too. At least she didn’t look daunted.

  “The light is great.”

  “Yes,” Veronica said. “I love the windows. The high ceilings are good too.”

  “Those are things that would be very expensive to put in.”

  Veronica was nodding. “The floors are nice. Worn, but good wood. Matt could clean them up.”

  Ariel smiled. Veronica was already picturing Matt in the space.

  “The size is good too,” Ariel said.

  “I could fit fifteen, maybe twenty tables.”

  “Is that enough?” Ariel wasn’t sure what the economics of restaurant management required.

  “It’s perfect for what I have in mind,” Veronica said. “Let’s go through to the kitchen.”

  Ariel followed Veronica behind the bar and through the swinging doors that led to the kitchen. It was a clean, large space with a ceramic floor and white tiled walls. There were some steel prep tables for food but not much else.

  “Good size,” Ariel said.

  “Venting is in place. That’s good. That costs a lot.”

  Ariel was impressed with Veronica. She seemed to know what she was looking for, what she needed to make the business work. Ariel never would have guessed that Veronica was a hard-worker when she’d first met her up on the Row, but here, she could tell that there was more to this woman than just being Hank Roycroft’s wife.

  “You’ll need equipment,” Ariel said.

  Veronica was nodding. She took a pen and notepad from her purse and began jotting down a few figures and notes. She seemed positive, optimistic, like she could make a business work in this space. While Veronica calculated the cost of various improvements, Ariel went back out to the main area of the restaurant.