Jared had really wanted to leave then. He truthfully felt that Blake did not have to go through the kind of session that he himself had just come from. It was enough that he was so disturbed by what he had heard. Jared thought that, if Blake was not exposed to the same uncanny atmosphere, it might serve as a means to help him, as Blake's friend, retain hold of his own sanity.
Jared knew that he wanted to leave and should have been assertive enough about them having to leave right away, but then, there was this unsettling hold which this strange woman had on him and he was just not being himself at all.
The pretty Chinese girls were all over him again. Just as they had been two hours ago, before he had left with Carminda. They were once again trying their best to please him. They communicated with their eyes, charming and flirtatiously. He was relieved that he did not see in the eyes of any one of them, the slightest indication of an invitation for anything more. They did not seem to want give anything more than what they were presently offering. All they did was hold his hands gently and caressingly, while feeding him finger treats. They also offered him tiny cups of tea. Fortunately for him it was no exotic kind of tea.
After about twenty minutes of resisting the temptation to relax completely in their company, Jared then suddenly decided that this could be his first and last experience of such exotic charm. So he decided to relax and even allow himself to doze off, since the desire to rest was becoming quite overwhelming after all. He therefore eased himself backwards in his chair and lay there with a slight smile on his lips, as his eyes closed.
Right now he just could not understand his actions. He was sure that if he had not dreamt it all, he could rest in the knowledge that Blake was feeling just as dumbstruck and overwhelmed as he was.
On the third morning, Laura did not have trouble with identifying her surroundings. She knew where she was, before she opened her eyes. Yet she was also sure that today was the day that she would have to go back home.
It was her third day at Rene's house. She was anxious to see Blake and clear the record with him, yet she felt regretful at the thought of having to leave this place. The pampering she had enjoyed since arriving here had served to spoil her with immediate effect.
She was realistic enough though, to realize that the situation could not go on indefinitely, even if she were not married and was thus at liberty to remain. Laura reasoned that no one would be able to sustain all these indulgences over a prolonged period of time. It would be unrealistic to expect that of Rene, she felt.
Josephine came to her door with a breakfast tray complete with croissants, cream and coffee, around nine o'clock. What a rave, Laura thought. She had often resisted Rene's invitations for her to come over to his place for a break and now she realized that she had been stupid.
She resolved to make these visits a matter of priority in the future. She now knew just how much she needed this. Rene was like a brother to her now, so he would not expect any unnecessary commitments from her. She could just as well start seeing herself as family.
***
To Laura's delight later on, she found that Rene had not gone out that morning, for he was there, in the lounge, when she came down the stairs. She was headed for the garden and a quiet period of reflection, before leaving.
Rene looked healthy and sporty in white slacks and a white cap in his hand to match. "Out for a game of golf?" Laura enquired the moment she saw him.
"Yes actually," he replied.
"But firstly, I owe it to myself to check personally and see whether you have been well cared for by my staff. So, are you ready to be discharged from the care of my household? Come, let me take a look at you," he said while reaching out to hold her on the shoulders and at arm's length.
"Oh, that lovely sparkle in the eye has returned. I guess she's ready to go home, what do you say, Tammy?" he suggested to the white Maltese dog which had rather quickly grown fond of Laura.
The dog responded by barking once and jumping off the couch, to go and inspect something out in the hallway.
"Well, I suppose we have our answer?" Rene enquired of Laura.
Then he drew her towards him in a warm, friendly embrace and briefly kissed her on the forehead, before releasing her.
"See you at lunch," Rene said before he sped out of the front door, on his way to the golf course.
Laura wondered, not for the first time, why Rene did not have a steady girlfriend yet. It most certainly did not have anything to do with their past. She knew that what he felt towards her was mere concern and friendship. He was simply a giving type of person. He could not bear the thought that any friend of his was suffering due to financial lack.
Maybe in his position he found it very difficult to trust a woman, Laura reasoned as she walked out the front door, into the warm sunshine and the heady fragrances of the garden.
***
When Jack, Rene's chauffeur, drove her away later that afternoon, Laura looked back, longing for the warmth and security that she had known within the walls of that beautiful big house, with it's lovely gardens; all of which she was leaving behind now. Not that her own little home lacked warmth. She had many joyous moments there when she cooked and spent quality time with Blake and Monique. They often watched exciting movies together on television, over weekends.
It was the sense of financial security which she sadly lacked when she was home, because there was simply no way that she would allow either her, or Blake's parents, to assist her household financially. Blake's parents did help out though, at times when it sounded reasonable enough for her to request their assistance.