“Oh come on David, you know how to handle one frustrated, rich housewife, don’t you?” Shauna laughs and bids me goodbye.
Great. I'm stuck with a stranger and going to a party that is going to be more boring than a high school recital. I can’t say I understand the concept of a bachelor auction, but I’ve been forced to do it by the management team. They’re eager to associate me to a noble cause in an attempt to clean up the bad boy image carried over from England when I came to play in the American League.
“Shall we head to the party?” I don’t even try faking a smile for the woman.
“It’d be my pleasure,” she grins. As we get in the limo and sit down, I realize I don't even know her name.
“What’s your name?” I say outright, but she just laughs.
“My, my. I heard that you Brits were all about business. Well, you'll have to wine and dine me before I can divulge that information.” She’s trying to play coy, utterly pleased with herself. I can’t muster up any enthusiasm. My face remains unchanged, probably an impatient look pasted on it. The woman gets the hint.
“Okay, fine. I’m Marjorie,” She holds out her hand and I shake it. Politely. Not enthusiastically.
“Well, you know who I am,” I finally say.
“Oh yes. I do. My son has your posters all over the wall. He’s a big fan of soccer,” she grins again.
“That’s nice. And it’s football, not soccer,” It always irritates me that Americans call it soccer. Especially when they call their national game, the one that’s played with hands, football. Ridiculous. “Do you want me to sign something for him?”
“Nah. Never mind that. Tonight is about us,” She slides to the edge of her seat and puts her hand on my knee. I slowly slide it off and cross my legs.
“That bachelor auction was a nice event, hm?” Changing the topic seems a good idea to get her off my back.
“Meh,” she says, shrugging her shoulders. “I go to twenty of these things every month. After a while they all look the same.”
“Pretty wild how that woman fainted though,” I say as a vision of the woman on the table next to us who had inexplicably fainted off of her chair pops into my head. She was pretty cute.
“Everyone was talking about how you saved her from crashing to the floor. That was very gentlemanly…” Her eyes grow big and she once again slides her hand to my knee.
I was stealing glances at that woman during the auction. Before she fainted, she seemed so vulnerable and so helpless. There was a faraway look in her eyes. I’d just turned my head to steal another glance at this woman with a gorgeous face when I realized something was wrong. I rushed out of my seat as I noticed her body crumble and caught her just in time before she hit the floor. Definitely saved her a concussion and a few other injuries there. Good thing I have athlete’s reflexes.
My thoughts veer back to the woman in the car, and I nod at her.
“Do you like the sea? I own a beach house in Malibu that I’d just love to show you,” Marjorie says with a twinkle in her eye. I have no doubt by now that the woman wants to sleep with me. I usually welcome that from the opposite sex, but this woman is extremely irritating. How do I get rid of her?
“That sounds nice, but I've got team training tomorrow.”
“Oh, come on. Training is for little boys. You're a grown man!” Again, that hand slides up my knee and this time, I’m none too subtle thwarting it.
“We’re here, sir,” the chauffeur announces, as the limo comes to a halt.
“Great!” Relieved to be out of the tight confines of the limo, I direct her. “Marjorie, why don’t you head to the hotel bar. I’m going to head up and do a quick change of clothes. I’ll meet you down here in a flash.”
“Or I can come and help you change,” she says, winking lasciviously. “I'm great with clothes, especially when it comes to getting rid of them.”
Be more obvious, why don’t you? I curse my luck that of all the people at the auction, an ultra-aggressive cougar has to bid on me. Ushering her to the bar, I head upstairs to change. Can this night get any worse?
I take my own sweet time to get ready. Part of me is hoping that the woman will grow impatient and leave, but as I head down to the bar in less formal clothes, she’s there, waiting for me.
“I thought you deserted me, but then I knew that a gentleman like you would never leave a damsel behind.”
If only, if only. I sigh audibly.
The sponsor’s event is a relaxed event, with people dressed casually and a party vibe in the air. I understand why Shauna forced a change of clothes on me. I would’ve looked ridiculous here dressed in the tux for the charity affair.
“Now this looks like a fun party!” Marjorie claps her hands in anticipation.
“Yeah, it’s all right.” I look around, a little desperately, for a familiar face. The culture in America still feels very different and even after months, I’m only getting used to the way they do things here. I don't know all that many people in the states, and oftentimes I yearn for my life back in England. However, I can’t go back. Not yet. Not unless I win something and prove that I’m more than just a typical rich, playboy soccer player.