After my week long session with Gael I returned to work, and Sophia had also returned. Now, it was simply time to wait. Gael’s husband returned the next day, and she left me to be with him, and so that was that.
Now, there was nothing left to do but wait. In two weeks time we would both know if my seed had impregnated her. Yes, we would wait, but we both knew, or at least sensed, that she was indeed now filled with my seed. I was not sure when I would see her again in an intimate way, and when she became pregnant, perhaps never, but of course pregnant sex with Gael would be something that I would find hard to resist. At least that was the case in the past with the other women I had gotten pregnant. They take on a certain sensuality and beauty that is quite unique and alluring.
And so wait I did. Each day seemed like an eternity.
In the midst of all this, a few mornings later I received a phone call. I knew the number, stared at my cell for a few minutes, and swiped the call.
“Hello sir.” I tried to remain as detached as possible.
The voice on the other end was frail, weak and scratchy, but still, even beneath that sound, there remained the steadiness of ultimate authority.
“Hello X, we have not spoken in a good long while.”
“Yes, it has been a while, hasn’t it?”
“I hear you have been having some problems up there. Is everything alright. I hope it is. Then again, I trust you will take care of any and all problems.”
“Oh yes, we had a minor problem. It has been taken care of, I can assure you.”
There was a long pause. I could hear the heavy breathing. “Good. We both know how difficult it can be to dispose of those undesirables who are a threat to the Underground.”
“No worries, sir, I had my best men clean things up.”
Another long pause. “Still, I think it is time we meet again. It has been too long.”
“Certainly, sir. I can be there as soon as you like.”
“Good. Why don’t you come immediately. Don’t leave anything untidy however.”
“No, no General. I will be there in a couple of days.”
“Good. And bring the girl. What is here name again?”
“Sophia.”
I heard a deep breath on the other side. “Ahhh…yes. Sophia. I would like to meet this girl of yours, this, how shall I call her, this assassin?” I heard a faint but still distinct laugh.
“Yes sir, we will be there Wednesday.”
“That is good, X, I look forward to seeing her, and you.”
His voice was faint, yet behind this faintness there was still the hint of a spark, a spark that hearkened back to a man who was once powerful, both physically and mentally.
I called Sophia and told her to drop everything she was doing and pack for our trip. I was not sure how long we would be there. It might be a day, or longer.
On Wednesday morning Sophia arrived at my office, and we took my car to the airport.
“So, I know you do not like questions, but where are we going and why?”
“We are going to meet the General.”
Sophia looked straight out the drivers window.
“So who is this General?”
“He is the most powerful man in the Underground. I met him when I was young and straight out of college. He taught me many things. Helped me to rise in the business. My mentor, really. Even when I met him he was quite old. The story goes he joined the Marines when he was sixteen, lying about his age. He saw action at Normandy, and the Battle of the Bulge. He stayed in the Army after the war. Told me he became quite well acquainted with many former Nazis, who never really abandoned their ideas, although they pretended to. Later, he fought in Korea. Hated the Commies. By the time Vietnam came around he was a General, and after the Vietman war he retired, went into private business in international arms trading. Some shady stuff, but since he hated Communism he was given a pass by the US government. I met him later on. And now here he is, still alive, pushing 100, but still around.”
“And he is still the most powerful man in the Underground?”
“He is all the stands between me and absolute power.”
“I don’t know a whole lot about him. He was in the Marines, fought in Vietnam, stayed in the military and eventually became a General. After his retirement he made his money in the international arms trades. Somehow he managed to become head of the Organization.
“So, where are we going?
“South Florida. He has his little palace down in Boca Roton. He does not want to live in Palm Beach. Says Boca is much nicer, less pretentious.”
At the airport and Sophia and I took my private jet down to Florida. When we arrived we made our way to the General’s house, a large Italian style villa nestled nicely in a small grove along the Atlantic coast. Tall royal palms surrounded the high, yellow stucco wall that itself surrounded the entire complex. We drove up to the massive, elaborate gate. I rolled down my driver’s window and pressed the button next to the gate. A voice with a British accent answered on the other end. “Yes?”
“We are here to see the General. Tell him it is X. He is expecting us.”
“Yes sir, right away.”
The gate slowly opened and we drove through it and up short driveway made of pink limestone. The large complex stood before, rich in beauty and adornments. On either side of the driveway were Renaissance like statues in faux marble of various figures from classical mythology.
Sophia and I got out of the car and walked up to the large front door. The sun was high and hot in the bright blue sky. A bit of tropical moisture filled the air, but not so much as to be overly uncomfortable.
The butler opened the door and let us in. He was a tall man, stiff as wood with white hair and glasses.
“Hello X, good to see you.”
“Thank you.”
“The general is this way. Please follow me.”
I turned to Sophia. “Why don’t you wait here.”
Sophia was pleasantly submissive.
I walked through a large corridor adorned with various paintings, large and framed in gold. Some pieces were bought in the most upscale art galleries, others were rare items sold at auctions. They ranged medieval to late nineteenth century. We then reached the high, oak doors, and the butler knocked while slightly opening one. “Your guest is here, sir.”
“Ah yes, let him in.”
He opened the door, stood aside and I walked through. On the far end of the large room was a frail old man sitting in a wheelchair, a blue blanket draped over his thighs. He was in front of a window, looking out at the sun.
“Hello, sir. It is good to see you again.”
He turned his wheelchair towards me. “Ah, X, good to see you, my boy.”
He liked calling me that, and he had been doing that for decades now.
I stood before the General. He was old, frail but still possessed a bit of vigor. A thin string of white hair covered his nearly bald scalp which was dotted with brown and black aging marks. He smiled when he saw me. His teeth were yellow. He reached out to shake my hand, and I took his, which was shaking slightly, and squeezed. There was still some life left in those once powerful hands.
“Sit my boy. Please. Let’s have one of our old talks.”
I sat on the large, blue velvet couch.
“James, bring X a whiskey. I know how much he enjoys whiskey.” James walked to the corner of the room, and with his back turned to me, poured me a drink from a crystalline vase. He walked slowly across the room and handed me the drink.
He looked at the General. “Nothing for you sir?” I took a sip.
“No, X, I gave up drinking some time ago. Age is such a bitch.” He laughed.
“So, I am glad you have taken care of this situation. I trust your judgement. But now, this girl, Sophia, you must tell me more about her. I think she may have potential. We could use her in all sorts of different situations. Sort of like Livia.”
“Yes, Livia.” I took a slow sip of the whiskey.
“Unfortunately, Livia was a bit too careless. But she paid the price.” A sad but subtle smile came over his face. “Yes, we run many risks in our profession, X.”
“Unfortunately.”
“But this new girl, Sophia, yes, I think she has those things we look for. Of course, I need to interview her, in my own way.” His smile grew as did the yellowing of his teeth.
“Yes, of course. I brough her with me today. I thought you might want to meet her.”
“Oh yes. We still understand each other, don’t we. I hear she is quite beautiful. Our interest in beautiful women never changes, you know, X.” His blue eyes showed a bit of flicker of new life. “So, let me meet this new creature of yours. And enjoy her.” He turned towards the butler. “James, summon the girl. It is time now.”
“Yes sir.” James stiffly left the room to gather Sophia. The General looked at me.
“Yes, X, even a man my age still has some of those same old appetites.” The General fumbled around with the blanket covering his legs. “These may not work as well as before, but some things work quite well, X.” He laughed. “Ah, the curse of old age. It is best to take advantage of what we still possess while we still possess them. You never know when your ticket may be called, X.”
The Butler and Sophia returned a few moments later.
When he saw Sophia he smiled, and looked her up and down. She stood before him. The slight smile across his face now grew into a full blown grin. His eyes became a bit brighter.
She was wearing a white skirt, and her black panties were slightly visible beneath the fabric.
“Ahhh…yes, you are quite lovely, aren’t you?”
Sophia feigned demureness. “Thank you, sir. It is an honor to meet you.”
He reached out a hand to her. “Come, let us spend some time together.” Sophia smiled, took his hand, and walked towards him.
The butler stood by the door, staring at me, and I knew it was time for me to leave. I got up from the couch and left the room. The butler closed the door. I made sure I still had my drink in my hand. I knew what the General was capable of, and I felt myself starting to get sick to my stomach.