Driving with the stranger

They both knew that something further was about to ensue soon, but they felt rooted to the very spot in which they were sitting. 

Before they could recover their composure she was there again. 

This time her shoulders were covered by a white, fur stole. 

She fixed them each with a mesmerizing gaze and smiled. The two young men held their breaths, dumbstruck while she coolly started to go through Jared's pockets with long, very elegant fingers. Then she deftly pulled out his car keys. 

The lady then started walking away, while beckoning them with a forefinger. 

The two astonished young men only briefly glanced at one another, before following her with eager curiosity. Outside in the parking lot she walked straight towards Jared's Mercedes sedan. She unlocked the front door on the driver's side, before opening one of the rear doors for them. With an elegant wave of one hand, she gestured for them to get in.

Jared and Blake slid onto the back seat and shut the door while she got into the driver's seat. 

The lady fastened her seatbelt and then sorted amongst the collection of music CD's in the CD case. She selected one and inserted it into the player, before starting the engine. 

She then resumed to drive off with her two bewildered, yet enchanted passengers on the back seat.

About thirty minutes later, she pulled up into the driveway of a mansion in Bryanston. 

Blake and Jared stared in amazement at the elegance and splendor of the house. 

No sound came from the back seat as the electronic gates at the end of the driveway opened. The woman had just spoken into an intercom on the wall, next to the gate. 

She drove through and the gates shut again behind them. 

The strange lady had still not uttered a single word and her passengers were more consumed by curiosity than concern about their safety.

Jared wondered why he was not saying or doing anything himself. It was not as if he had never seen a gorgeous woman before. 

He was conscious of his usual sense of adventure which kicked in whenever he found himself embarking on an unfamiliar mission. 

However, mingled with his excitement and curiosity, was an even greater measure of fear, which was really unusual for him. "Well, once these gates had closed behind us we can surely not expect to leave here on our own?" Jared asked himself on the inside. 

"Where is Blake's usually overworked sense of responsibility? It usually keeps us out of trouble at crucial times, though mostly it just plain spoilt our fun." 

The woman opened the car door on Jared's side with a dazzling smile, revealing pearly teeth. 

After they both got out she directed them towards the front entrance of the house.

They were formally greeted at the door and invited in by a butler who half-bowed towards them. 

He was dressed complete in maroon uniform with shining brass buttons. 

Still, no one had said anything. 

The woman then led them from the imposing entrance hall, to a large art gallery. 

There were impressive paintings hanging on the walls of the gallery. 

At the opposite end of the gallery there was a staircase which led to the upper regions of the house and on the right was a huge lounge. It was the size of a ballroom. The two men gasped in amazement. Their hostess led them there and they followed in awe of the splendor surrounding them. 

The walls of the lounge were turquoise. 

Gold and crystal ornaments and statues seemed to be everywhere. The chairs were Victorian styled, with cushions set in a royal blue velvet fabric. 

There was a beautiful Persian carpet on the floor, in the center of the lounge. Two huge crystal chandeliers hung from the ornate, high ceiling. 

Inside this lounge there were various alcoves leading to other secluded, smaller lounges. Each appeared to have its own cultural theme. African draperies and rugs in one, Asian in another, Arab in a third and Turkish in a fourth. 

Their hostess showed them around proudly and happily. 

She led them into the one which featured Chinese cultural décor and handcrafts. 

It was a charming pink room, where the emerald-green lounge suite seats were placed at a sunken level of the floor, so that, from a distance, they appeared to be sitting on the floor in a traditional Chinese fashion. 

As Blake and Jared sat there with their hostess, they felt completely secluded and it brought about a strange sense of familiarity amongst them, because of the soft lighting. Both Blake and Jared were experiencing this unfamiliar sense of contentment. 

The mysterious woman sat on the couch opposite them, with her legs crossed elegantly and she still had not spoken. 

In the soft light she looked even more beautiful.

They had hardly sat down though, when the butler arrived and their hostess spoke at last in a deep husky voice: "Chandre my man, will you please organize some drinks for the two gentlemen and myself? 

What would you each like, my dears?" she enquired in a gentle, husky tone.

Blake and Jared each ordered a Martini and when the butler returned with their drinks, the woman who had in the meanwhile introduced herself as Carminda, asked him to tell the cook to prepare some Chinese snacks.

Jared and Blake looked inquiringly at each other, but neither one of them said anything.