On a Silver Platter

Love or problems are always sought or allowed by ourselves. Trust, whether earned or given, is the basis of all problems.

Chapter 1

“May I sit down?” —a young woman of about twenty-five asked kindly. The question pulled Eduardo out of his thoughts. He was very focused on his existential problems.

Without much to say, he nodded, and moved to one side of the bench where he was sitting to make room for the young blonde with evidently dyed hair. When he noticed she had sat down, he focused again on the park scenery.

Many people visited the place, spending time with their families, friends or partners. Eduardo preferred to stay there sitting two or three times a week and immerse himself in his thoughts, so he could plan his next actions and reduce the number of financial problems he currently had. He had more than enough money, but for him it was never enough.

He tried, he tried to do what he always did, he had no intention of relating to anyone, but the young woman, seeing him alone and quiet, sought conversation.

“Hi, nice to meet you, I’m Emily Santos” —she extended her hand with a wide smile that reached her big, expressive brown eyes.

It was inevitable that Eduardo frowned, but it was fleeting, because he immediately extended his hand and with a soft squeeze broke the silence and answered her:

“Hi, nice to meet you, I’m Eduardo Ponce.”

Silence held for a few seconds, but the young woman was very talkative.

“So tell me, how was your day today?”

“Wow, that’s not something a stranger asks; in fact, not even the few friends I have do” —he fell silent at his abrupt honesty and then continued—. “Of course, I say it with the respect you deserve, it’s just that your question was very strange.”

“Let’s say I always have that effect, it’s a good way to start a conversation, don’t you think?” —she tilted her face and gave him a half-smile. The young woman wasn’t wearing much makeup, she looked quite simple, she seemed to only be wearing a pink tone on her lips and everything else was natural. Although he considered that in any case she didn’t need to wear makeup.

“Yes, you’re right… since you ask, today has been a good day, pretty calm” —he looked at his watch and it was five in the afternoon; he remembered he was well dressed, like a true executive—. “In about three hours I have to get to work, I’m just here relaxing, you know, it’s not easy to work.”

“How nice!” —Emily nodded, taking a sip of her bottled water. She was wearing workout clothes; it was clear she was taking a break—. “My day was exhausting. I work in the mornings, and in the afternoons when I get out I come here to exercise; it’s the only way I’ve found to free myself a bit from stress.”

After observing the young woman’s fine eyebrows, abundant eyelashes, delicate nose and chin, he understood he had never seen her in his life.

“What day do you come to this place?” —he wanted to know, curious to understand why he hadn’t seen her before, since he was very detail-oriented.

For some reason he loved people who broke out of their routines, that’s why he was so meticulous and observant; if something was different he had to know why.

“I don’t have a fixed day; when I said ‘I come here to exercise’ I said it in general terms; truth be told, I always look for a park or spacious place to jog and clear my mind of my work problems.”

He wouldn’t tell her he had five favorite parks in the whole city of Caracas and that he visited them randomly, at the same time, but respecting each day’s assignment… he never skipped a park visit or swapped places with dates or times. Everything was meticulously planned.

“Oh, I see” —he focused again on the people he was used to seeing, and so he remained. He didn’t interact much with anyone, mostly for fear of changing his mind or getting attached.

“Hey, are you always this rude?” —the young woman insisted with a stern face, though she looked frigid, her voice had been somewhere between friendly and full of mockery.

“It’s not my intention, I’m just like this, I don’t like relating to anyone… and you know what, I think it’s for the best.”

“Am I to assume you’re very bitter?” —it was a direct taunt and that caught Eduardo’s attention again.

“You may be right, just as I may be a very dangerous guy you shouldn’t have near you; didn’t your mother teach you not to talk to strangers?”

The young woman raised an eyebrow and a few seconds later burst out laughing.

“From what I see you’re not bitter, you’re just insecure about yourself, but come on, I only want to meet you, I don’t see a problem with that; in any case, I’m the one most at risk and look at me, I’m comfortable with this chat” —she stayed silent for a few seconds—. “And answering your question, yes, Mom told me all that, but at the time I was eight years old; now I’m twenty-eight, I think I can take care of myself.”

“I’m going to doubt that last part, but you’re right, and besides, with people around us in a park… What could go wrong?” —Ponce nodded, smiling, narrowing his eyes a bit.

“Ahh! See!? You can be nice, I knew that friendly face couldn’t be as rude as a moment ago.”

Eduardo let out a snort while taking his phone to check his email for some information or work request; not wanting to be arrogant, he didn’t want to keep the pause in their conversation too long, so he continued:

“I think it’s time for me to go, it was a pleasure meeting you.”

The young woman looked visibly resigned at Eduardo’s attitude.

“Do you always come to this place? If you want we can see each other again” —at that moment, Eduardo understood the young woman was flirting with him, and he stood there rooted to the spot, not knowing what to do or say. Emily realized her new acquaintance was amazed by her question, so she decided to tease him and finish breaking the ice— “Whaaat, Eduardo?! I’m not going to eat you, nor am I asking you for something very indecent; do you have a problem with us seeing each other again, you know, I mean, umm, a wife, girlfriend or a very jealous friend? The truth is I’d like to get to know you.”

“You don’t know what you’re saying” —he stammered, very uncomfortable, but at the same time very excited to realize that young woman could like him.

He wasn’t used to people noticing him. Since he was a child he was very solitary, and in his youth he had only two girlfriends, and they ended up leaving him for being controlling and insecure. Although of course, his current job fulfilled him; he didn’t need partners and those problems… since thanks to the amount of money he got he could do whatever he wanted, even get women who would submit to any taste or demand for a few hours a week; that way he could continue his life without affections and without emotional problems that would make his existence complicated and unstable.

“I think it’s very complicated for you to give me an answer right now, better take this” —she took a card from a small bag with her name and phone number on it—. “If some day you want to walk, talk or hang out, just write to me” —she winked at him and got up to walk away without saying anything else.

From there, Eduardo watched carefully as the young woman had wide hips and a voluptuous backside, and that made him smile.

“I suppose that’s how normal people are when they want something for themselves” —he mocked—, “she approached me, talked to me, was approachable, and then left knowing I’d be left like a dumbfounded idiot watching her body walk away… she really is a strategist of a woman, and it seems she hit the mark with me.”

A man passing near him heard Eduardo talking to himself and said to him as he continued jogging along the path:

“Either way, they don’t always choose you; if I were you, I’d go after her like a tiger, hunting her down.”

Eduardo found his comment funny and burst out laughing as he waved him off with one of his hands. He saw that man every time he came to this park; he always looked friendly and happy with his activities.

Either way, that woman is on my to-do list, but first I’ll get to work —he thought while walking toward the road to resume his workday.

Chapter 2

About twelve days passed, and during that time Eduardo had exchanged several messages with Emily.

The young woman was quite talkative, very kind and attentive to Eduardo. She wished him good morning, asked if he had eaten, how work was going, but without being overwhelming. In fact, he’d realized that kind of attention pleased him and made him feel good, and as a result, lately he was always in a good mood.

Things at work were going better than ever for him; now it took him less time to get his material for his daily activities. Apparently, being in a better mood helped him concentrate so he could be more productive in his daily activities.

His phone rang and it was a message from Emily:

“Hi Ponce, can we see each other today?”

He loved that she called him by his last name, and he even smiled when he saw the message, but it was nine at night on a Friday and at that moment he was in the middle of organizing his work materials, as he himself called it.

He had to leave everything ready so that when the suppliers arrived in the morning or part of Saturday afternoon they’d take the merchandise without problems or delays.

Five times Emily had invited him to see each other in person again, but Eduardo had a whole month full of work; it was very difficult for him to see her at night. And during his visits to the parks he frequented, he didn’t want anyone to see him with her.

He wanted to keep up his stance of being solitary, no matter how much she constantly pulled at him or how much he wanted to see her. So much so that he also had days without visiting that park where he’d met her; he wanted to keep control of the situation, and being exposed in front of her was a luxury he wouldn’t allow himself. The next time a meeting between them happened, he’d know everything that was going to be done and how; all the spontaneity in that meeting would be based on that.

After thinking for about ten minutes about what he’d answer her, he took the phone and sat down, putting his feet up on the table in his kitchen.

“Let’s meet tomorrow, let me organize everything about my work very well, so we won’t have interruptions; I hope you don’t take it the wrong way and that you agree, otherwise it’ll be for another occasion”

“It’ll be when I say so” —he whispered while pressing the send button.

Apparently, Emily was very happy with that message, since after sending a happy face she kept writing:

“Yes, that sounds good to me, tell me, where can we meet tomorrow?”

Eduardo smiled, pleased, looked around and admitted to himself that inviting her to his house wasn’t an option; he had to find a way to bring her without her noticing, since, if she didn’t feel like it, he didn’t want to have that young woman looking for him at his home during work hours.

“If you agree, we can meet at the park where we met, or at your house, of course, only if it doesn’t bother you.”

Reverse psychology always pays off —he thought, smiling with satisfaction.

“It’s better that we meet at my house, wait a moment, I’ll send you my location”

Eduardo waited for the message, but it didn’t arrive. He assumed maybe she’d fallen asleep, so he didn’t even bother insisting; if she didn’t answer him, at least he’d have an excellent excuse not to go.

Although a part of him remembered her and understood she was very hot and he wanted her for himself, but on the other hand he understood the implications of getting involved, and that was what pulled him back and forced him to keep his distance.

He took two deep breaths and adjusted his hard-on inside his pants. The mere fact of having confirmation that he’d see her alone excited him, since that very manly part of him predominated when he’d gone a long time without getting someone into a bed.

Chapter 3

Saturday passed quietly; he managed to place several orders his job demanded of him and organized them very well so he could deliver them first thing Monday.

When he lay down for a nap at six in the evening, his phone started ringing; he saw the caller ID and it was Emily.

He took a breath, trying to show kindness, since her calling him felt like an assault on his privacy, but by now he was only thinking about fucking her, so he had to hide his anger.

“Hi, Emily, how are you?”

“Ahhh… ahhh” —she stammered; it was the first time they’d talked on the phone; truth be told, they hadn’t spoken again since the time they met—. “Fine, Ponce, sorry, yesterday I had a family mishap and I had to sort it out, and it wasn’t until now that I freed up; I’m calling to tell you I’d like it to be at your house, since for the next month I’ll have family at my home and I won’t be able to receive visitors.”

Damn it all, don’t fuck with me! —He thought, annoyed, jaw clenched, but he stayed silent listening to the young woman.

“I hope you can understand and that it’s not a problem.”

Now the fact of not being able to have her only multiplied his urge to fuck her in every way possible.

“Ponce, are you there?” —the question brought him back to reality at the same time as a pang in his balls reminded him he had a strong need he couldn’t ignore or pass over.

“Yes, yes… yes I’m here, of course, I understand, Emily.”

“So, what do you say? Can we see each other today!?” —the insistent, enthusiastic tone sounded like alluring music to Ponce, so much so that he sat on the bed and took a deep breath.

“I’ll wait for you at eight tonight at the park where we met, I’ll come get you, how does that sound?”

“Isn’t that place dangerous at that hour? Why don’t you just tell me where you live and I’ll come to where you are?” —her tone was kind, although her disagreement showed.

That struck him as imprudent, and he noticed how his whole approachable side closed up; those were things he wasn’t going to negotiate with her.

“Then I’ll pick you up at your house and from there we go somewhere else?” —even feeling displeasure at the situation, he controlled himself; his words were calm and very peaceful, without showing what he really felt.

“Mmm” —she was heard, and then an awkward pause stretched out—. “Fine, I’ll send you the address with the key landmarks so you don’t get lost, since it’s a bit complicated to get there; see you at eight, I’ll be waiting for you” —And before he could say goodbye, Emily hung up the call.

“Oh, so she has a rude side too” —he looked around, and as always everything was in its place, neat and organized.

As soon as he received the address of Emily’s house, he decided to go shower and change right away, because it was thirty minutes away. He wanted to arrive on time and not keep her waiting, or maybe, he no longer wanted to allow himself to wait any longer.

The drive to her house was imperceptible; he barely even noticed he’d driven for almost thirty-five minutes thanks to the traffic toward the Los Olivos neighborhood. His mind wandered through the messages he’d exchanged with the young woman over several days.

He’d reached the conclusion that she was a good young woman; she seemed to have principles, and at least there was genuine interest, since she wasn’t easy either; all those characteristics were charming to him in these times.

Maybe he’d consider her for something serious; of course, it would all depend on how good she could be at pleasing him in bed, although he understood that with time everything was learned; it was also important that she agree to his tastes and demands, and of course, if it didn’t work out, he could consider her for his work; at first glance she looked competent and above all very healthy.

He smiled to himself when he parked in front of the young woman’s house, because he spotted her right away looking out her window. Seconds later she came out to meet him.

She was wearing a casual pink dress that marked her beautiful hips, and matching sandals. Her loose blonde hair framed her face, where makeup was almost nonexistent. Before his eyes, the young woman’s simplicity and beauty seemed very striking, appetizing; really, she could have any man she wanted, so much so that just seeing her sway her hips, even a blind man would turn to look at her.

He got out of his black Toyota Tundra, the one he only used for social occasions, and showed a wide smile.

“Good evening, Emily Santos, a pleasure to see you again.”

She took a while to react; she looked a bit distracted. Ponce knew that kind of behavior, so he approached and extended his hand to give her a bit of confidence or break the ice between them.

The effect was positive; she smiled and took his hand, squeezing it confidently.

“It’s good to see you, Eduardo Ponce, until you finally show your face again.”

“You have to make yourself missed” —at the funny comment they both let out a small laugh, while he urged her to get into the truck.

Once they were both inside the vehicle, she asked:

“Can we go have a drink and then go dancing?” —the words sounded like Japanese in Ponce’s ears.

No, of course not —he thought, answering that out-of-place question ironically— as if they were both fifteen years old.

“How strange that you change your first suggestion so abruptly” —he started the engine to resume the drive to his house.

“I don’t know what you mean” —Emily frowned, fixing her gaze on the road.

“I thought you wanted calm, and with all due respect, I also imagined you wanted privacy when you offered to go to your house; that’s why I got the idea of eating and watching a movie at my house, of course, if you agree.”

“Ahh… that, yes, yes, you’re right to analyze it that way, but you know, I’m a woman and with all these problems I’ve had at home, what I want is to clear my mind; I hope you understand.”

Oh, of course, and that’ll cost you a few painful positions in bed —he said to himself, although to her he only nodded with a wide smile and his eyes fixed on the road.

“Let’s go to the nightclub called ‘La Grieta’; I have VIP tickets since I go there a lot.”

“Excellent, I’ve only been able to go there once and I loved it, it’s a very luxurious place” —Emily took a compact out of her bag and checked her lipstick, looking at herself in the mirror.

“Yes, not just anyone can visit it all the time, because it’s a very expensive place; I’m glad I can at least dazzle you with something” —they were about fifteen minutes from the place, but in Eduardo’s hands they’d arrive in less time. He was driving way over the speed limit; that way he felt he eased his frustration at not losing control with his companion a bit; the fact didn’t seem to bother Emily, nor that he drove like a madman, much less his last comment, because she ended up telling him:

“No, don’t say that, your way of driving impresses me too, let’s say thaaat… I like danger.”

Those words excited Eduardo completely, but he did nothing but grab the steering wheel with both hands and squeeze harder than necessary.

“I need a few glasses of liquor” —he blurted out without thinking, and Emily smiled to herself.

“Does something bother you?” —that half-smile, added to the forced tone that made her seem like an innocent girl, showed Eduardo he had gone from being the hunter to being the prey.

“No, no, and after hearing that sentence come out of your mouth I can assure you nothing bothers me.”

“Ohhh, so you’re one of the smart men.”

“I suppose not, although if you listen carefully, you might read between the lines… from what I see, you’re one of those women who always get what they want.”

She didn’t even bother answering him, she just nodded with a wide smile, looking to her right, reading the nightclub’s sign.

“I think we’ve arrived” —she looked at him with a certain mischief.

The young woman had been dragging him toward her all those days. First acting politely, then being attentive, to finally show she was completely a tease; and if it hadn’t been clear to him before, hours later she’d confirmed it, because she knew every trick in the book and then some, because she was a full-fledged temptress.

She’d had him suffering all night with his crotch fully erect from all the rubbing and touching she’d done while they danced.

After what seemed to Eduardo like endless hours of sexual torture dancing, it was clear they’d drunk more than intended and that the great outcome he’d been expecting was served… well, part of the outcome, though at least he’d have her on a silver platter.

Chapter 4

Emily opened her eyes and didn’t remember having arrived where she was, but she felt good and euphoric, and she did remember the man between her legs, it was Eduardo… he thrust into her over and over and drew moans of pleasure from her that echoed through the whole room.

Her hands were tied, and she tried to move her legs, but she noticed they were immobilized too.

“Le-let… le-let me go” —she mumbled as best she could while Eduardo fucked her over and over with more insistence, desire overflowing him completely. He didn’t hear her; he was absorbed in his movements, but Emily was beginning to feel pain; she was no longer enjoying the situation. She kept asking him to stop. —”Ponce, please, le-let me go, it-it hurts” —from afar, Eduardo heard her complaints, and that caused him terrible annoyance.

The young man gritted his teeth and got out of bed and, with the greatest annoyance in the world, took a syringe full of sedative he had on his nightstand, before the terrified, incredulous gaze of his companion. She’d realized many things: yes, she wanted to have sex with him, but not like this; now she understood he had drugged her.

“Let me go! What the fuck are you doing?” —For some reason she looked toward the window and for the first time noticed it was daytime —”How long have you had me here!? How did I get here!? Let me go!” —Eduardo had just confirmed the drug’s effect had worn off, because Emily had regained her senses, so he’d stop the act and start the real party.

He opened the drawer of his nightstand and took out a recorder, cleared his throat, and ignoring Emily’s recent questions, he began saying:

“May second, two thousand seventeen. After three days of pleasure, I decide to send Emily to my silver table” —At his words, the girl, desperate at the situation, tried to free herself, but the strong silk straps were tied very tightly to her wrists.

“Let me go, please” —the young woman’s tears began to flow uncontrollably.

“I’m sorry, you were almost perfect for a relationship with me, but after your behavior a few days ago, I understood you’re only perfect for my work… for my great silver platter.”

In an effort to understand what he was telling her, Emily insisted, without stopping crying and with her heart beating so hard it was beginning to hurt her chest.

“Wh-wh-what are you talking about? No-no, I don’t understand” —something told her he’d prostitute her, sell her to the women’s market or rent her out to be raped over and over; that he’d keep her locked up and no one would ever find her.

Worst of all, for the moment no one would report her missing; her sister had just left the country to join their parents, who had been in exile for four years because of the situation in the country. It was a bit common for her to lose contact with her family for weeks or months, because that’s how they’d raised her, completely independent; besides, she was very asocial.

She’d decided to spend a few days with Eduardo and forget that for the first time she was alone without choosing it; it was a selfish and contradictory act, but that was the truth of her situation; she never in a thousand years imagined ending up like this; that was why she’d deceived her admirer and hadn’t invited him to her house, so he wouldn’t realize the reality was different.

“You’re a bitch, you disappointed me, and that’s why I changed my plans for you” —Emily didn’t understand; she was well educated and had gone out with few young men; she was only trying to send the right signals so he’d realize she did like him for more than friendship; now she understood Eduardo had taken her behavior the wrong way… And also that he was a damn lunatic.

“Let me go, please!” —she begged while her lower lip trembled uncontrollably; suddenly she began to feel very cold, the room temperature dropped abruptly.

“That’s not going to happen.” —He answered authoritatively and raised the small recorder to his mouth again, saying—. “I am about to move the young Emily Santos to my silver table, under number seventy-nine; I’ll give her a bath and then I’ll get to work.”

“What do you actually work at?” —she asked, distressed, sure she wasn’t prepared to receive the answer.

“Sweetheart, I’m an organ trafficker and you’re my next victim” —Emily felt the room spin, but everything happened very fast; Eduardo emptied the whole syringe of sedative into the young woman’s jugular… she couldn’t defend herself against it, couldn’t react; seconds later she was plunged into complete darkness.

The End

For those loves that make us grit our teeth and carry on; or better yet, for those romances that dissected our lives into pieces.