Sheila hated these parties.
It wasn’t always this way. When they started, she felt like a princess at a ball. So many people well dressed and well mannered. One would expect the snooty type or the ditsy trophy wife bimbo, but everybody was intelligent, polite, and well mannered. She fit in well and made many friends, and even though these parties were a great place to socialize, she still despised them. They were a reminder of what she was losing.
She gave her husband a sideways glance. They had married young. She never felt they rushed in as the love she felt for him was indescribable. Yet now it was fading. He was and still is very smart, and very handsome, but the focus of them was replaced by the focus of his career. He was a phenomenal provider, and she was never left wanting or needing daily necessities, but their passion was fading, and her emotional needs were screaming for attention.
Material objects were only so good, but she desperately needed more from the man she loved. Too many times, she researched divorce lawyers, but before she ever made the call, he would show up with flowers, sweet words of apology for not paying her more attention, and then he would become the man she had fallen head over heels for. They would be intimate and the world of his work and career disappeared from existence. They were young and completely in love again. It was always only temporary.
She said her hellos to the people she had befriended over the past two years. They were like her. Dressed to impress, and decorated in baubles of beauty. They themselves seemed like decorations, yet the people they were under all the paint, glitz, and glam showed they were all strong and if need be, very independent. they enjoyed the life of luxury, and found a happy medium. Perhaps since their husbands were in a stable place, so were they.
She gave her husband a kiss on the cheek and watched as he walked off towards a group of men dressed in high end suits, holding cigars and laughing loudly through the haze of smoke. She hated seeing him leave her and walk away so easily. She wanted to stay with him, hold his arms and walk through that smoky battlefield of men fighting for every foothold they could get within the company. She could have gone with him, but tonight was important. she had learned that when the men talked their profession, the women had their own social activities. She loved a lot of these women and appreciated them. they helped her through a lot when she started feeling the loss. They had been where she is, and said it would get better. She failed to see how?
She spoke well with her friends of neglect, when a slight ruckus brought her head around to the men. They all looked in the same direction. She made quick eye contact with her husband who looked nervous for the first time in a long time. He looked away in the same direction as everybody else, and her eyes followed.
They were a beautiful couple. He was tall, well tanned, with a head of salt and pepper, and a well groomed beard of the same taste. His suit was of the highest cute made from fabric that flowed around his body without clinging. A broad smile held his face as his wife held his arm. She was a statuesque woman with a look of experience and knowledge held up by an unquestionable beauty. It was all but impossible to guess her age. Her hair of greying streaks told of years of experience but her face and natural untouched beauty showed youth and a spirit that will never slow down. Her sleek black dress hugged her form magically and held up by two small spaghetti straps. Sheila had been called beautiful by many, and she never thought herself unpleasant looking, but this woman made her think of herself of nothing more than a clump of dirt.
Looking at the man, he began shaking hands, and clapping men on shoulders with a loud greeting of familiarity. She glanced to her own husband who paid her no mind at all and nervously rubbed the palms of his hands against his suit. She wanted to go to him. Needed it. Nearly stepped towards him when she heard her name being called from behind her by a dear friend. Time for proper Introductions. She knew what needed doing. She knew she needed this woman’s ear and to talk her husband up. The spouse of the man in charge of it all would be a perfect ally in getting her beloved husband more notice. Extending a hand she began to speak when this force of a woman raised a hand before her mouth and stopped any words from escaping.
“Before you say a word, my dear, my name is Diane, and it is a great pleasure to finally meet you. I already know what you want to say, what you want to talk about, and there is nothing you can put to words that I have not heard before,” Sheila’s teeth clicked shut audibly, and waited. “We all gather here so our men can puff out their chests and pump their fists and gloat about their achievements. let the men do men things. We will relax, share some wine, and enjoy a night of class, pleasant conversation, and who know, maybe share a bit of sass.”
Fits of laughter rolled around the group of women. Honest, genuine laughter. knowing there was so much to do, to say, but there was no denying that Diane would have none of it. Picking up her freshly filled glass, she lifted it for this powerful woman’s toast, and took a sip.
Minutes passed. Glasses emptied and filled. Chatter and laughter was plentiful for all. The final sip of a crystal clear glass and she turned to check on her beloved but found her view blocked by what quickly became a familiar and very beautiful smile. Ample breasts hidden by the low neckline of a perfectly fitted dress. Slow, hesitantly, her eyes traced up a slender neck and around a sharp jaw to thin lips and smile. This woman’s beauty, unmistaken and near unbelievable. Her eyes sharp and green pieced deep and felt as if they could see all secrets.
“Sheila, is it?.” she spoke calm but direct and without waiting for an answer continued, “would you be ever so kind and follow me please”?
Before being able to even move her lips to reply, Diane turned and started away. Glances to the left and right showed women of indifference and no guidance or encouragement, all save one. The single woman looked her in the eye and with a subtle flick of her fingers, directed her to follow. With a quick glance at her recently emptied glass, wishing for one more swallow of wine, she followed Diane out of the room and down corridors not meant for public view. No words were spoken as she followed this force of nature. Even when she appeared as nothing more than a simple silhouette before rounding a corner, she was a woman to be followed. Obeyed even.
The halls slowly became bleak, and the rooms dark and dirty. The further they walked the more desolate and decrepit everything became. Walking into a large open room the musky old smell of dirt and dust filled her nose. Scattered throughout the rooms and halls were spotlights creating large pools of light here and there. Shiny metal sheets were leaned against walls what seemed randomly, but it didn’t take long to realize they were there to reflex light into other areas to save from needing more spotlights.
She wanted to sneeze, and cough whatever was in her mouth and nose. She wiped her face with the back of her hand and looked around to see nothing more than the appearance of rot and slow destruction of time. The building was crumbling and filled with the absence of people and care. A quick look to her right showed Diane walking around another corner into darkness. Following as she had before, she wondered why they were in such a desolate place, and where she would end up next.
Rounding the corner, brought her looking directly at a smiling Diane, who stood at the other end of the room with hand on hip in a nonchalant manner. It took a few moments for her to figure out where she was. Dirty and cracked sinks lined the wall to her right, while stalls were on the back left wall to Diane’s right. It was when she saw the crumbling urinals to her left that she realized where she was. Of all places to lead her why a disgusting, broken men’s lavatory?
Hesitantly Sheila stepped deeper into the disintegrating room. Her heels echoed loudly, louder than she remembered them being during this entire venture. At her third step Diane started walking towards her, hand still on hip, but she began to scan the room and motion with her free hand at the dirty walls and broken fixtures.
“I bet you are wondering why I’ve brought you to this place.” Her voice carried around the room even though she spoke softly.
Sheila took a slow breath wondering what to say, but before a thought could form, Diane continued, “My husband is a wonderful man, and a very good businessman. However, he gets a bit carried away with work, a bit to focused on the job, and he can become distracted from things that are really truly important.”
These words felt as if Sheila herself was talking about her own husband, yet Diane continued. “He forgets that people are what makes everything move in his world, and he should show appreciation for these people. He is one of the countries most noted philanthropists for all the good he does for, charities, outreach programs, and for just people in general.”
Diane slowly walked around the room sometimes brushing her fingers across a dirty sink, or moving a piece of broken porcelain with the toe of her strapped pump.
Sheila said nothing knowing full well Diane was not done. “the truth is, all those things are not my husbands doing. They are mine.”
Sheila swallowed and cleared her throat trying to listen and trying to figure out what the whole point of this was. Diane heard this and stopped focusing on the room and laid her gaze on Sheila. Her voice became less formal and softened. A beautiful smile spreading across her face.
“I love helping people, and making things new and beautiful again,” there was a sense of our joy as she spoke, “He has the resources, and I have the passion and together we have changed lives. This room, this building is my next project, and the whole reason for this party.”
Diane made her way towards Sheila , their eyes locked on each others, “I live to take things that have been broken, damaged, forgotten, and neglected, and bring new life to it, make it beautiful and show that it isn’t alone, it isn’t over, and their can be love and joy still brought to it.”
Sheila would have had to have been the biggest fool to think Diane was talking about the building, or at least not just the building. Her whole speech was an echo of what Sheila wanted. Happiness and a joy for life.
“I know first hand what you’re going through right now, and I’ve seen it with nearly every woman you’ve befriended over the years, and I want you to know that it wont be like this forever. You will have tough days ahead, and it will be quite a while before those days become a bad memory, but I can see you love your husband.” Diane stopped right in front of Sheila. They were close, so close Sheila could nearly feel Diane’s breath. “These lonely days are the days we wives rely on each other.”
Silence filled the dirty men’s room and Sheila realized Diane awaited a response. “Y-yes, of course. I completely agree, and all of them have helped me with everything.”
Diane smiled at her, the scattered reflected light on her eyes made them seem to sparkle like gemstones. She leaned in a little more and whispered, “Not everything.”
They stared at each other for a brief moment and when Diane saw realization expressed on her face, Diane turned an walked away slowly. Still with that smile.
“Diane. Um, I mean Mrs. R…” Sheila began to say when she was gently interrupted.
“Shush please,” She began, “once again I can tell you, there is nothing here that you can say that hasn’t already been in my ear. I know the exact words you’re going to say, but let me say this. You followed me here of your own free will, hoping possibly expecting to get something out of me. If you were to turn and leave here, I promise you nothing bad will happen with you or your husband. No repercussions at all. However, I see what being associated with this company, as you are, is doing to you, your mental health and happiness. You came here looking for something. I’m just offering something I feel you absolutely need, and I believe you know you need it, but are afraid of it.”
Sheila stood mouth hanging open in shock as she watched the other woman smoothly stride to a spot and turn to face her. Her eyes grew bigger as Diane reached up and slid one, and then the other thin strap off her shoulders. The dress that hugged her body perfectly slid down the length of her and fell to the floor. Diane then resumed her initial pose of hand on hip, completely exposed. It was obvious she wore no bra, but the lack of panties was a shock.
*To Be Continued