More Or Less

Short story about a woman who has everything she wants ... almost.

Alexandria stepped from her bubble bath and began to dry her freshly tanned skin with a plush burgundy towel. She smiled as she looked back into the sunken tub. It was still hard to believe this was hers. All of it. Every tile, every carpet fiber, every pane of glass. Larson was so good to her.

Running a comb through her long, dark hair, she admired herself in the mirror. Chocolate-colored eyes danced and sparkled in the soft lighting. Her full lips were cherry red, even without benefit of makeup. She was simply gorgeous and she knew it. Beauty had always been her friend and helped her to achieve her every heart's desire.

Slipping into a custom-made silk dressing robe, Alexandria heard a soft knock on the apartment door. Padding across the dark mauve carpet, she squealed gleefully as she saw Larson Thorne, sandy-haired, deep blue eyes, muscular and glorious standing in the doorway.

"I can't stay long," he said. "I have a business dinner tonight and then we're leaving for Aspen in the morning."

"Aspen?" Alexandria scowled.

"Yes, darling," Larson tried to caress his young lover's arm but she jerked back angrily. "I told you that Patricia and the boys are going on a ski vacation with me for two weeks and, please, don't pout like that." His eyes roamed over Alexandria's body, although he already knew every freckle; every curve. "But, it does look quite sexy."

"No, you didn't tell me that, Larson," she hissed. "You told me you were getting divorced. I've been here three months now and I've barely seen you." Hot tears began to fall onto her pretty face.

"Listen, I am a powerful businessman in this town. I need to keep up appearances. How would it look if I was traipsing around with my mistress?" Larson tried to explain his dilemma. "Besides, the boys are too young to understand."

"Too young to understand?" Alexandria's voice became high and shrill. "For God's sake, Larson, they're fifteen and seventeen-years-old. You don't think they would understand that their powerful businessman father is a liar and a cheater?"

Grabbing Alexandria by the wrist, Larson jerked the woman around violently causing her to face the living room.

"I put you up in this place little Missy," he put his free hand on her shoulder and squeezed hard. "Don't forget I can just as easily put you out."

Alexandria closed her eyes and sighed heavily. Her voice lowered to a pathetic whisper. "But I want more."

"What more could you want?" Larson opened his wallet, peeled off several bills and threw them onto a side table. "Now you be a good girl while I'm gone. Go buy us something pretty." He swatted her playfully on the bottom, turned on his heel and slipped out the door.

Alexandria stood silently for a moment, Larson's question ringing in her ears, 'What more could you want? What more could you want?'

Finally, she slogged her way to the bedroom and placed two large suitcases onto the king-sized bed. She ran her manicured fingertips along the royal blue comforter, smoothing out wrinkles.

As she filled the cases with designer clothing, shoes, makeup and toiletries, Alexandria continued to think of Larson's question, 'What more could you want? What more could you want?'

Dressing quickly, she decided to leave her custom-made robe crumpled on the floor; somehow it seemed appropriate. Although the suitcases were terribly heavy, Alexandria's steps back to the front door were light.

'What more could you want? What more could you want?' reverberated off the walls.

"Love," she said sadly as she closed the door behind her.

Author's Note

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