Crimson Letter
My last night home for a while was as good as it gets. Two hot and horny women whom I love dearly reminded just whit I would be missing. We made love until it was time for me to leave. I would catch up on some sleep on the plane. We showered together, this time they gently shaved my cock and ball sack as if they had both done this many times before. Shower sex has got to be one of the best places with the warm water and slippery bodies. I kissed them both goodbye and headed back to the airport for a trip that would possibly define our company’s future in China.
I met Paul and Jim in the line, Wally was already in the business club lounge waiting. We checked in and headed through customs and immigration when my phone rang. I didn’t recognise the number.
“Hello, Will speaking”
“Hi Will this is Isabelle, Dave gave me your number. I am just checking in, where are you?” her voice was warm with a hint of an accent.
“Hi, glad you could make it. We are just going through customs, do you want us to wait?” I replied.
“No that’s fine I will see you in the lounge in 10 or so.” And she hung up.
We got to the lounge, found Wally eating enough for three and grabbed some food and drink for ourselves, and waited for Isabelle. None of us knew her but Dave had picked her so she must know her stuff. Shortly after, she arrived and we all introduced ourselves. Bella, as she preferred to be called, was about 5’8” with a short blonde hair and tanned skin. She was dressed in tailored pants, shirt and jacket, and looked more like an executive than an engineer. She was born and raised in Oregon but moved to Australia with her family when she was 18. She studied Electrical engineering and has worked with both the power supply companies, a large mining company and now with our business. Her previous work was focused on risk management and process engineering, which gives her the skills we need on this job. She was very smart and very attractive, something not lost on me or the others.
At 34 she has maintained her good looks and when she passed around a photo of her family, you could see the genetics. We continued to discuss work, football and hobbies until we were called to board our plane. We found our seats, Paul Wally and Jim all had seats next to other passengers, while Bella sat across the aisle from me. The flight was uneventful compared to my flight yesterday, and we chatted to each other about what we might expect when we arrived and began to formulate a number of key milestones and report formats. None of us slept and we arrived late in the afternoon. The documents that had been provided to us ensured a speedy passage through customs and immigration. Out in the arrivals hall we were met by a couple of drivers and all whisked through chaotic traffic to our apartment. The company leased a number of large apartments and ours was on the twentieth floor. In fact it occupied three floors, and had four bedroom, lounge and dining area as well as kitchen. With the bedrooms allocated we agreed to head out for dinner. One of the local senior managers met us and we enjoyed a great meal and learned a little more about the accident. The more we heard, the more I got the feeling that there were pieces missing, and we might have to work a lot harder to get to the bottom of the issue.
Without going into the details of the work we were sent to do, we worked long and hard for weeks. We worked very well as a team and also got to know each other much better than if we were back home. The days flew by, and after five weeks, Paul, Wally, Jim and Bella all flew home for a week to spend time with family. I in turn flew to Hong Kong and caught up with a cousin who lived and worked there. It was a great week away and a chance to reminisce and to de-stress. The week too went fast and I was soon back in Beijing and at the apartment. It was late when the others arrived and we spent only a short time catching up. Paul and Jim went to bed, Wally went out for something to eat again, and so Bella and I shared a drink and chatted.
Bella’s mood and her demeanour was different, but I was not sure as to its cause. She had changed into track pants and tee shirt, and sat down on the couch next to me. She downed her drink in one large gulp and refilled it and took another gulp.
“Are you OK? How was home?” I asked. My concern was that as our work drew towards a conclusion, I needed to ensure that all were on the same page and engaged, and that this was out of character.
“Yeah, just tired I guess.” Bella responded, although it was not convincing. “Just a few things at home I’m trying to sort out, but I’m OK.”
We talked a little more but skirted around the issues t home as I was not about to become a shrink, so I finished my drink said goodnight and turned in for the night. The following morning was the same as they had been for the last five weeks, and Bella and the guys were right on track. We pushed on with the investigation and closed in on the outcome, one we feared, but hoped was not correct. It was a devastating result for our local partner, but was now up to senior executives on both sides to review and resolve. Our job was done. We had been here for nine weeks, and the outcome left us feeling hollow. Our company had provided us with two weeks of additional leave and so Jim and Paul left the following morning for home while Wally went to Hong Kong, meeting his family for a well-earned break. I planned to use my break time to do a bit of sight-seeing in China. Bella too headed off home, but she didn’t seem as pleased as the others.
I spent a couple of days tidying up the final pieces and closing out our job, and was spending one last night in Beijing before one of the local managers would drive me north, on his way home to his family. It was about 10:00pm when there was a knock on the door. I answered it and was very surprised to see Bella with all her bags.
She walked in and sat down, struggling to retain composure. “Pete has left me” she sobbed softly. “I got home and found he had cleared out all of his stuff.”
“Bella, I am so sorry” and hugged her as she continued to cry.
“He’s gone interstate and moved in with an old girlfriend who he started seeing while I was here. We were together four years, and all I have is an empty flat.”
“I know you are sight-seeing, but hoped that you wouldn’t mind if I tagged along. I didn’t want to be at home alone.”
“You are welcome to join me I was planning to walk along the Great Wall for a week. Bo Li is driving me north on his way home.” I responded. I hadn’t thought of a travelling partner, but it is better to be with friends than alone.
“Thanks so much, I know this was not your plan either.” She said with almost a smile on her face. “I almost don’t remember getting on a plane to come back here.” She was still pretty shaken up although seemed happy to be here.
I gave her a hug again and reminded her that we were leaving at 7:00am. I did not sleep well, thinking about the trip with Bella. I was not unhappy about the change, but very mindful of her state and situation. We had breakfast and waited for Bo Li to arrive. Bella once again was well dressed, even in casual holiday clothing, but she would make a potato sack look good.
The drive north took us to the Old Dragon’s Head where we said our good-bye’s to Bo Li and checked into the hotel I had booked. My planning included small hotels and single rooms, a fact I had overlooked during the past 24 hrs. We got into our room and arranged our gear; I took the couch and Bella grabbed the bed. Dinner was in a small restaurant and she explained more of what had happened during the last trip home.
“I think I knew something was wrong, but didn’t want to believe what was happening. Even though he knew I was coming home for a week, Pete planned a weekend with friends.” It was clearly not easy to discuss, but she pushed on.
“I thought we were OK, we did talk and share our thoughts and feelings. It all seems so superficial now.”
“Bella, you do not have to tell me anything more than you want, but I will listen if you want to talk” I tried to reassure her. “A week here might help you clear your head.”
We walked back through the local streets, and as we got close to the hotel, she grabbed my arm, kissed my cheek and said thank you. She held my arm for the short walk to the hotel and tried to shield herself from the cool breeze. At the hotel, I took a shower and then prepared for sleep, while Bella took over the bathroom. I was nearly asleep when she gently shook my arm. In the dim light I could see she was in a singlet top and shorts. I sat up and she sat next to me.