Max
For me, Hawaii in August is a true gift. The refreshing ocean, the mind-blowing scenery, the showers in the morning. I bought a condo here on purpose, so I could experience summer no what time of year it is. Alex is here more often than I am, and I allow her that freedom.
That's why she feels more like a hostess than I do.
Early in the morning, before the clock strikes six, I sit on the balcony with my iPad, reading press, browsing the "glossy", answering e-mails and watching the quotes. For the third time this , Dave calls. There's activity on the exchange, we're coordinating details. I smell mining. A sensation, like an athlete before a jump, as if intuition tells me when to push off from the to take the bar.
Alex is fiddling with lunch in the kitchen, bringing me a glass of freshly squeezed juice.
- Shall we go to the beach?
- You go, I've got work to do, – I answer her, checking the messages from Dave and the numbers.
- Max, why are you being so tedious?! We're in Hawaii! A house on the ocean! It's a few ' crawl to the beach, and you're going to work! - Alex is pouting her lips. I slap her ass with newspaper.
- If I didn't work, you'd have no money for a photography studio or Hawaii. Painting, of , is everything, but the art of investing money is no less fascinating. It's better than poker, – I at Alex. - Call your girls, they'll keep you company.
- I called. We're meeting at the beach. Stephanie and Angelina will be there. And Melissa, –
Alex gives me a meaningful look.
- So? I'm supposed to, figuratively speaking, jump out of my pants? Spare me the bigotry, –
I laugh.
Melissa is a funny and cheerful girl, but her certain preoccupation with the male sex, or with the object she has chosen to be "sexy", is a bit straining. She can hang around the one's heels, and literally, impose her society. In fact, she's still a child. She was only years old last year. It was me who had the "honor" of being her last year's "victim"; that, she'd gone after people her own age.
- Hopefully she'll find a new idol this year, – I hum.
- She was interested in you, – Alexis looks at me meaningfully.
- Oh no! I'm definitely going to another beach then, – I jokingly protest. My phone rings. It's
Dave. I gesture to Alex that I don't have time for her, plunging back into my work.
Here in Hawaii, I have a property with a small marina nearby. What else does a man need he has a small yacht? It's small, sporty, but fast and reliable. I could only give preference to British, my PRINCESS has fully confirmed its good reputation. I love to go out on the ocean swim in the open waters.
It's time to walk the PRINCESS.
In the open ocean, I have the luxury of swimming in whatever I can find. I've had my fill of and swimming, and I climb aboard. There are five missed texts from Alex on my . The last one, apparently, was to finish me off: "Brother, get your white slacks ready, 're having a party tonight.
In Hawaii, thanks to Alexis' efforts, we have grown a solid company.
Dialing it.
- Aren't you in a bit of a hurry, sister?
- Max, I'm here to relax, not to be smart. Uh, I'm sorry. I invited clark. I didn't see Mark and
Nina, but I think you'll have company. Steven and Rick are supposed to be here. I'm gonna go to store and get some drinks and make my own tartlets. The girls will help me.
- What, are you home already?
- Not yet, but we will soon.
I can stay on the boat for at least another hour.
Lucky for me, Melissa had a new crush this year. She decided to try her charms on Rick.
Where Alexis manages to meet so many people, I don't know. My apartment is full of all of people, twenty of them. Considering it was our second day on Oahu, the number was .
Me, Clark, Steven and a guy I'm seeing for the first time named Jeffrey are playing poker.
Dave's on the phone again.
- Max, you were damn right. The Serbs came to see me. It was pretty predictable. The was that they had come to me on Max Cameroons' recommendation.
- Serbs? Hmmm... – I smirk. - The guy's keeping his brand of incognito? Thanks for the call.
What'd you tell them?
- It was funny to watch their reaction when I told them it was a bad recommendation since stopped working with you over three years ago due to financial insolvency, – I hear Dave .
- That's great, buddy.
- They couldn't even find anything to say and our conversation ended almost immediately. It very strange.
- What do you mean?
-
It's all too fast. It's like they're in a hurry. They could at least pretend to care for ' sake.
-
Okay. Thanks for the info, Dave.
I return to the card table, but my thoughts are far away.
Polina. If Igor's in a hurry, there's a danger of her getting hurt. I'm going over in my head the he can get close to her.
- Max, it's your move, – Rick said to me. I make a move, apologize, and go back to the . I don't have much time to think, the six-hour difference is significant now.
I dial the number of the manager of the security firm that occasionally provides me with . I voice my order and agree on the nuances. From now on, Polina will be followed by a , and twice a day I will be given a report. Thank God, our contract is open-ended, so I'm of paperwork.
It would be right to talk to Polina's father, but it would look suspicious. I have no proof, only speculation. Holy shit! I should have shared my thoughts with Polina about her "old " back when we were together. How do I do it now? What words can I find?
The answer is obvious - the usual way. Just meet and explain. Even if she doesn't believe , I'll find an argument. As long as she's okay until I get back to New York. First things first. Do I to talk to her right now? I could call her. Or Skype her.
Nonsense!
I'm just looking for a way to meet her. So I'm hiding my desires deep down and getting back the table for the game.
- -
Alex has a bad habit of coming into my bedroom in the morning, flopping down on the bed broadcasting whatever she's worried about. I have to sleep in my boxers, which I hate.
She came in earlier than usual today, thank you for knocking. I barely woke up.
- Max, are you still asleep? - she tickles my nose.
- Alex, get your hands off me! Let me sleep! - I bark.
- It's almost nine and you're still in bed! - she pulls the sheet off me.
- What an asshole! What if I was naked? - I sit up on the bed, rubbing my eyes and .
- Like I haven't seen something. You're all the same out there, – she giggled.
I open one eye, squint at her, and throw a pillow at her:
- Easy there, sister.
She screams at me and throws me on the bed. What an obnoxious girl:
- Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah, – she yells. - I love you like this, brother!
It rained early this morning, bringing a pleasant freshness. We're having breakfast on the . We make our own breakfasts, so this morning Alex entrusted me with the honorable .
- We're going to a party tonight, – she informs me, sipping a cocktail through a straw.
I take it that I don't have to worry about the schedule for the islands at all, my trembling sister has taken it over, leaving me no maneuver for retreat.
- Where to?
- To the clubhouse, by the pool, – she giggled. - I hope you'll be more fun than you were the before.
- Alex, if you didn't get your ass handed to you, I wouldn't go anywhere. But knowing you,
I'd rather be your bodyguard, as you so aptly put it, and your future husband will hopefully invite to be your best man at your wedding.
- Maybe you'll get married sooner, – she waves her fork away from me. A complete lack of manners.
- I doubt it.
She snorts and gives me a sarcastic look.
Back from the beach, I look through my mail. A report from Polina's "guard" has been for me for a long time. They can be called bodyguards only conditionally, more like a who accompanies her, following at a distance.
I've been getting reports for over a week now and I realize that I would be many times more if I didn't know any details about her life.
Every day she had lunch in the company of male and female colleagues, but on Monday and
Wednesday she had lunch only in the company of a man. Probably the tanned brunette who came of the office with her.
She had been vacationing with a group of friends at the zoo over the weekend, and then they up late into the night visiting Polina.
Since Monday, I've been getting some killer reports. Every night she's accompanied home work by a man, I don't have to guess who it is. I have a picture of a brunette with light eyes, same man I saw in the office lobby.
Familiarizing myself with the new report, about her last night, I feel like I'm getting a kick the butt. In Polina's apartment there was a girl waiting on the balcony - it was easy to guess from description that it was her sister, she attracted the attention of Polina and her companion, them, the pair entered the entrance, but soon the guy came out and left in the usual .
Oh, Polina, what are you doing to me?! I realize he kissed you. Oh, Baby, Baby! You're me. I crumple up the fax machine and throw it in the trash.
I have to get over the idea that you are not mine, that you have your own life and there will be men around you, this one or the other.
To hell with it! I don't want this! Damn Diana! Damn Igor who paid her to meet you!
"Vladlen." I understand perfectly well who is behind this certain mystical Vladlen. Diana is a stupid , she could sell me information about Igor, much more expensive than he paid her. I'm to spend any money to keep her away from you, Babe.
But it's too late! It's not like that! You're with another man now and you've obviously already me.
- Alex, I left on the boat, – I say as I walk away, but my sister immediately follows me.
- I want to be alone, Alex, have some tact, – I could barely contain my irritation, or I'd snap her. But I couldn't get away from Alex that easily.
I'm squeezing my PRINCESS for all she's worth. The boat is literally flying across the .
Alexis is thrilled, she loves the speed and drive.
When we're pretty well offshore, I turn off the engine. I drop the anchor and head for the .
- Turn around, – I command Alexis briefly. She obediently does as she's told. I throw off my and jump from the stern into the water, cooling my head and body. I swim as long as I can and my legs start to cramp. Without warning, I climb onto the boat. Alex looks away in when I'm on deck.
- You said we're all the same, – I wrap the towel around my thighs.
- Max, you've been gone for over an hour and a half. I didn't know what to think, maybe a ate you, – Alex's face was really scared.
I silently leave for the shower. Alex pauses outside the door.
- Max, what's wrong? Something's going on with you, – she asks as I step out, peering into face.
- It's okay, – I waved it off and pulled a bottle of water out of the fridge. I empty it, toss it a basketball in the trash, and then head for the control room.
- Max, – Alex's gaze was wary and worried. - I'm your sister. I love you, – she hugs me. -
When you're like this I know you're not okay.
- Alex, temper your fervor and your curiosity - I don't want to think about it. I don't. Alex offense. She goes to the upper deck and lies down under the awning. I start the engine, the yacht at top speed toward the shore.
That's when Carmen calls.
- Max, your order's ready.
- Great, - damn, how inopportune, this information!
- Shall I deliver it or will you pick it up?
- Carmen, I'm in Hawaii right now. I'll be home in a week. Can you keep it in the safe for ? My bank will settle the balance tomorrow.
- Yeah, Max, sure, no problem. Have a nice vacation.
- Thank you, Carmen. I'll see you later.
My imagination paints a seductive picture: my temptress, my siren, bending toward me on black silk sheets, her delicate, smooth body naked, jewels glittering on it, emphasizing her and fragility. I stroke her and hover over her. But immediately I "see" Polina in the arms of brunet, crushing her lips with his.
I throw the images out of my head-all of them at once. Just as the "tether" tightens, a dull fills my chest.
"I'll send it by courier as a wedding present."
My jealousy is eating me up. Shit!
I hate my new weakness, it seems to be my natural state now. I hate that I find it hard to myself. I'm possessive! I am poisoned by jealousy, even though I know that Polina is no longer .
Why I'm kidding myself. She was never mine. I drew the line between us.
My smartphone vibrates again. It's dad.
- Good afternoon, – I replied with restraint.
- Good afternoon, Maximilian, – he deliberately addressed me by a name I didn't perceive. -
I got your message, thank you. I'm in California now.
- How was the tournament?
- It just started. Are you vacationing somewhere?
- Yeah, I'm in Hawaii.
- You don't have time to fly here, even for a day?
- I can't make it. I have an emergency in New York. We can meet there. I'm inviting you to opening of my photography exhibit on September 1st.
- Okay, Max, I'll think about it. If I'm in New York, I'll see you there, – my father says in a voice. We say goodbye. His call seems like an attempt at rapprochement. It remains to be seen he would do that.
When going to a party, I take a pack of condoms from the top drawer of my dresser and put in my jeans pocket.
A pool party is a must for a program of shared recreation with Alex. The disco is in full . Alex and the girls are dancing on the dance floor, sometimes jumping into the pool. A new Jeffrey is here with us, I met him at the party thrown by Alex at the beginning of the . His interest in my sister is obvious, and I think I might leave her in his care.
I look around at the crowd, sipping my third tequila cocktail. In principle, it would be easier buy a prostitute, so I'd be spared my morning headache. But I don't have a car, and I don't feel taking a cab around the island looking for a prostitute.
Two of my girlfriends have been staring at me all night and sending nonverbal signals. I sit at the bar and offer them a drink. Conversation ensues. Everything is the same as always - , with a completely predictable finale, flat humor and billets on seduction for all times.
A quarter of an hour later, the long-haired blonde and I are dancing. Another half hour later I'm a room at the hotel reception.
In the semi-darkness of the room, this strange girl and I undress each other. I guide her, to turn me on. She's understanding. Closing my eyes, I wiggle my hips toward her. When time comes, I pull on a condom and lay on top of the girl from behind. I don't want to see her . Less than a quarter of an hour later, I go to the shower, throw away the used condom and wash the smell of a woman who is a stranger to me. No feelings, no emotions, no satisfaction. It's not orgasm, just an ejection of semen. I feel used myself.
As I stand under the jets of water, a girl joins me. She tries to touch me, but I step out of the , making way for her. While she rinses off, I get dressed. Wrapped in a towel, she slips into room, looking at me in surprise.
- Are you already dressed? Aren't we going on?
- You can use this room if you want. I paid for it for twenty-four hours. Thank you, – I her on the temple. - You're doing great. I gotta go.
She shrugs, turning away disappointedly to the window. I know, baby, I'm disgusted with right now.
Back at the pool, I find Alex, telling her I'm leaving. I take Jeffrey at his word that he'll get sister home safe and sound. He understands me correctly. If he disobeys, I'll get his skinny ass the bottom of the Mariana Trench.
It's pouring, and I'm soaked to the skin as I walk from the car to the house. Without turning the light, I throw my wet clothes on the floor in the bathroom and walk naked into the bedroom.
Lying on fresh sheets, I look at Polina's photos on my smartphone. There are a lot of them, but I my favorite ones, taken during our walks in New York. I need a release. At least physically.
Everything that has accumulated in me during these days without her needs to be released.
I close my eyes, put my hand on Gringo's and caress myself. I squeeze my cock, rocking it, speed up the motion with my hand.
Oh Baby... How much I love you. You alone. Before my eyes, in my memory, your face with lips open in sleep, your eyelashes fluttering, your dark hair rippling on the pillow. How I want kiss you. To caress you. To tell you in your ear how sweet I am with you.
My hand speeds up and slows down. I haven't masturbated since my teenage years, there's someone to get a release with. But now everything has changed. I can't release my tension anyone but you.
Baby, how much I want you. How much I love you. And that's why I want you so much !
Hot cum shoots out onto my stomach and I bite my lip, suppressing a quiet moan.
Polina, where are you, who are you with.....
I roll over onto my stomach and pile the pillow on top of me. Polina... Please sleep alone.
Sleep alone.
- -
Late one morning, Alex knocks on my bedroom door. For the first time in years, she's not in, but stomping in the doorway.
I lie with my eyes open and stare at the ceiling.
- Max, – she called from behind the door. - Are you okay?
- Yeah, I'm fine, – I said, not loudly, but firmly. - Go take a walk with the girls; I'm staying tonight.
I hear her sigh from behind the door as she shuffles from foot to foot, but soon I hear the of her footsteps moving away.
When I'm alone in the apartment, I sit down with my legs off the bed, leaning on my knees. I at nothing. I wish I hadn't read this morning's security company report from last night. Polina her friend went on an outing where they flew in an aerotube. If yesterday I still had hope that hadn't yet decided on her feelings for someone else, now I had no doubt: they were dating.
Dating! Damn it!
She could only fly in an aerotube with someone close to her. I remember the day of her jump, her delight, her laughter, her joy shared with me. Thank God the report does not her emotions. My fertile imagination already paints pictures one more vivid than the other.
All the worse for me!
I sink to my knees, resting my forehead on the floor. My heavy breathing sounds larger, off the floor, trapped between my body and the flat surface. I need to let these feelings out me-jealousy and heartache-or I'll go crazy!
I let them out with a shout.
I'm screaming at the top of my lungs! I scream as loud and long as I can.
- - - -
After lunch, I contact the office of the Foundation for Children of War and Homeless
Children in the Middle East and Africa. In the first days of September, the annual charity ball of the , of which I am one of the founders, will be held.
- Good afternoon, Vanessa.
- Hello, sir.
- I have an assignment, Vanessa. Please send more invitations than usual to Deloitte as a you for their annual contributions. You can send a dozen more than usual, and a few ones for first-timers, of course. Two more personalized tickets. One is in the name of
Polina Vekshina, and the other name you'll have to find out for yourself. She is an employee of the , a woman in her thirties, with blond hair, most likely she has a child - a daughter about years old. Unfortunately, I can't give you any more information. Oh, yes, Vanessa, send as soon as possible.
- I'll have it done soon, Max, – the secretary replies.
- Please repeat the name, spell it. There should be no mistakes.
Vanessa says Polina's name. I correct her, and then we say goodbye.
Like it or not, Polina, we're going to meet you. Soon.
I'll see you very soon.