A Sorority of Angels (29 page)

“Laura! How is Alise? What’s wrong?”

“Shaba, calm down. She’s fine.”

“I was scared to death. Would you believe I just got your message today? A maid misplaced it.”

“She’s out of the hospital and on her way to Argentina to visit with Pilar.”

“What’s going on? Tell me the whole story.”

Laura related the beating and losing the baby to a horrified Shaba.

“Oh, poor Alise. I’d like to get my hands on the miserable dog. It’s a shame he doesn’t have a weak heart.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Never mind, a private joke. I’ll explain when I see you.”

“Why is Alise going to see Pilar?”

“She needs to get away from New York and Ali.”

“I’m on my way to the Bahamas for a week or so. Now that Alise is all right and on her way, I won’t rush back. If you hear from her, mention I asked for her. Also, explain the late message. I’ll call from Nassau to tell you where I’m staying.”

“Are you still married or what?”

“I’m free as a bird, honey. Free! Wooo-weeeee! I’m telling you, you’ll absolutely shit when I tell you what happened. Go. Kiss Adam for me. Are you still going with him?”

“I will always go with him no matter what.”

“Do yourself a favor and marry the man. Tell him I love him and hug yourself for me. I’ll see you soon.”

In the Bahamas, Shaba lived the life she used to fantasize in grand style in every way. She even won money at the casino. The first night after going to the bank, and after changing ten-thousand dollars into small bills, she spread them all over her bed then slept on them.

Alise spent a week with Pilar. She returned to New York on a Monday. All traces of the beating vanished. On Tuesday morning, she telephoned Ali.

“Ali, I’m back and can come to work tomorrow if you still want me there.”

“When did you return? I’m glad to hear your voice. Where are you?”

“I returned yesterday. I’m at the apartment.”

“How are you?”

“Back to normal. Buenos Aires was a good cure.”

“I’m glad you rested and are well.”

“I’m happy I visited. I met many wonderful people. My friend, Pilar, is a gem. She’ll come here soon. Her husband-to-be will be the new ambassador to the United Nations for Argentina.”

“Then I look forward to meeting him. Have you decided…I mean have you come to any conclusion about us?”

“Yes.”

He waited for her to say more. When he thought the wait extended, he asked, “Are you going to tell me?”

“I think we should continue as friends and see how it goes. Discussing love and marriage is inappropriate. We need more time to pass. Is that acceptable?”

“Yes. More, I’m ecstatic for another chance.”

“Is Kabani here this week?”

“When he returned from Washington the first thing he did was ask for you and where you were. Then he decided to stay the extra week. He keeps asking about you.”

“Did you tell him?”

“Not about Argentina. I didn’t want to risk any accidental discussion I provided official transportation for you. I said you went upstate to your friend’s house in the Catskills and you’ll be back sometime this week.”

“Thank you. Not only did the diplomatic mission there help financially but also I got in and out of the airports quicker, saved a few hours. What’s your schedule with Kabani? Will the week get hectic?”

“Not as bad as the others. Listen, he keeps mentioning you promised to spend a day with him. He made me keep Thursday open, something about visiting a museum. What is that all about?”

“Didn’t he tell you? He told you everything else.”

“No, he wasn’t specific or general.”

“Then don’t worry about it, Ali. Book him for a cruise around Manhattan Island or something. I don’t intend to spend any time with him unless you’re with me.”

“Your thinking is coming back to normal.”

“If you don’t mind my bringing it up again, since he paid for me once…he’s getting the impression he owns me, and available.”

“Could be.”

“We’ll say I have a new strain of incurable gonorrhea.” She laughed. “Don’t worry about Kabani. What’s on for tonight? Maybe I can join you. I can do the touching routine to keep him happy but don’t dare leave me alone with him, even for a second.”

“Tonight’s no good. He’s speaking at a black tie affair at the Hilton then a dinner dance and fund raising with an auction. The event will last until two in the morning. If you want to come, I’ll get an extra ticket.”

“Sounds like a boring night. Tell you what. I can meet you two later for a drink at the lounge by the main entrance. I can arrive at two.”

“Sounds good. I’ll tell him.”

“But I’ll come on one condition. That I have the day off tomorrow…boss.”

“You sound like my old Alise. Instead of meeting in the lounge meet us in the lobby by the Avenue of the Americas entrance, the main entrance, more becoming for a lady.”

“Much better. You’re learning. Call me. Bye.”

The New York Hilton hummed with activity on a weeknight. Taxis lined the protected and crescent shaped driveway waiting and discharging passengers. Alise entered the lobby at two. Kabani and Ali, looking handsome in their tuxedos, sat in the lobby near the lounge. Seeing her, they stood. She wore a sexy blue evening dress as a weapon.

“Good evening, gentlemen.”

Ali nodded – his eyes wide forgetting how beautiful she looked when dressed at her best and pleased the bruises vanished. Kabani was obvious; absorbing, hungry for something he felt was his, overdue him with visions with her later. She had a promise to keep.

“Good evening, Alise. You look beautiful. I have forgotten how beautiful,” said Kabani as he kissed her hand.

“It’s nice to be with both of you again.”

“Alise, Fateh wondered if you’d prefer we go to his hotel suite for a quiet drink as opposed to a public, crowded lounge.”

“If you don’t mind, I prefer the lounge. Fateh, is that satisfactory to you?”

“Whatever you desire.”

Ali winked at her. They sat in the lounge, drank, and had small talk then political talk and Kabani’s trip to Washington. Kabani excused himself for the men’s room.

“Alise, I should go with him but I won’t leave you alone in here.”

“My, you have inherited manners since I last saw you. All right, wait until he returns. I won’t mind being alone with him here.”

The dimly lit lounge was crowded with attendees from the auction gala, which had thinned out at the late hour. Piano music plowed through the din from somewhere in the subdued lighting. Ali admired her.

“You look exquisite.”

“I wanted to look good for you.” Her eyes squinted at him. Then she touched him on the arm. “How are you doing with Kabani?”

“I think it’s going to be all right. We had a long talk. He approves my thinking about defense and the future course of our country. He appreciates my efforts for him and no longer considers you a traitor. He has accepted your thinking as being feminine, naive. So what? Let him think that. He won’t object to our working together, and that’s the goal.”

“What he thinks about me is irrelevant. But I’m happy for you. Your star will rise again.”

“At his behest, I will be going back home in another month to speak around the country to help support his policies. That should be great for me.”

“Can I go with you?”

“Would you travel with me again?”

“Sure. Just like old times. I have forgiven you.”

Kabani came back and sat. Ali excused and left. Kabani held her hand under the table.

“Can we get together on Thursday? For the day?”

Alise sucked in her breath for him to hear the inhale and exhaled the words, “I can’t wait.” She puckered and threw him a kiss. “A deal is a deal and I keep my word.” She shifted closer to be intimate.

Kabani glowed. “Did Ali say anything to you about what I told him at the airport?” he probed.

“He was jealous, but happy I pleased you.”

He squeezed her hand. “Good.”

“Let’s all go to your room later,” Alise said. “Then we’ll think of a way for Ali to leave like last time. I’d like to sleep with you tonight.

Free, for my pleasure, as a prelude to Thursday. You’re a good lover, you know. You excited me last time.” She used that sentence as a standard slogan to repeat clients.

“You’re getting me excited talking about later.”

“Well, fantasize about what I’m going to do to you when we’re alone.” Then she whispered as she rubbed his leg and discreetly rolled her tongue. “Don’t wet your pants.” They laughed like shy lovers. “And I’ll give you a special treat. I’ll perform a private dance for you. A shame I don’t have the veils for you to remove one by one. Think about that for Thursday. I can tell that is affecting you.” She continued to rub his leg. “Something tells me you’d be embarrassed if you stood.”

He grinned at her truth and released her hand when they saw Ali arriving. She slid away from Kabani. At three o’clock, they left the lounge.

The early morning hour was pleasant. Alise persuaded them to go for a walk. They walked south to 45
^th
Street, turned west to Broadway, veered north and then east on 49
^th
Street to Park Avenue. The hour tilted towards four o’clock pleasing Alise. The city was quiet, night air soothing. No one saw them enter the hotel.

The cavernous hotel lobby imitated a ghost town in the early hour. They turned into a corridor to a bank of elevators passing a men’s room and a women’s room. An open and empty automatic elevator waited.

Alise entered first and unseen, adhered something to the elevator’s back wall. Ali and Kabani entered and waited for the doors to close.

“Oh, oh!” exclaimed Alise. “If I don’t go to the ladies room now, I’ll never make it upstairs. We just passed one.”

She started exiting as the doors were closing. Ali grabbed them and they opened. She got out.

“Go on ahead without me. I’ll meet you in the room. I know the number.”

“We’ll wait for you,” Ali said.

“No. Go ahead. No need for you to wait.”

“We’ll see you upstairs,” Kabani said winking. “I’ll have your champagne ready.”