The Memoirs of Cordelia Chan

Jena's present turned out to be a dress, and I guessed by its lines an expensive one at that. She suggested I go try it on whist she started on dinner. It was a beautiful dress and fitted perfectly. I went into the kitchen and asked her how it looked. "You look lovely but lose the pants, they spoil the line. Wear a thong or nothing at all. "
I took them off. " Better? "
"Yes. Much. Dinner will be ready shortly. You can then take the dress for a spin and I don't want to see you till the morning."
"Can't do. Training tonight."
"Can't you skip training?"
I looked at her. "Okay. Guess you can't, but you need a night on the town."
The apartment buzzer went and I went to let Brent in. " Very nice. Need any help getting out of it? "
"No. You behave or you'll be sleeping on the sidewalk. Jena's in the kitchen."

The rest of the night passed normally, other than I had Brent and Jena sleeping on my living room floor. They didn't appreciate it when I woke them at 6 however. Brent I needed to move the motorcycles, and Jena I wanted to introduce to Mitch; I had a feeling there was a profitable relationship there. Once we were ready to shoot, I sent them to open the lot on the grounds that that was what I was paying them to do.
Whilst we over ran on the shoot, Mitch was pleased with progress. I'd never worked so hard in my life and until then hadn't realized the number of times you needed to repeat a scene or action to get a few seconds of usable footage. Brent took the bikes back to the lot, and I followed Mitch and Jena back to the apartment.
The following day was much the same, except I wanted Jena on the shoot today. When she asked why, I explained about Mitch, his wandering lens, hands, and personality. She smiled and said "I'd suspected as much. I think I can give him something else to think about.". When they disappeared at lunchtime resulting in a short delay in restarting I knew she'd done just that. We finished the shoot about mid afternoon, and Mitch said he'd have the first cut ready by the end of the following week.
I phoned Brent and got him to come and pick the bikes up. I suggested Mitch take Jena and show her the studio, and I'd see her at the apartment later. When he arrived he told me another of the factory bikes had gone and then asked where Jena was. He wasn't overly happy when I told him. We loaded the bikes and I followed him back to the lot. As I hadn't changed after the shoot I attracted more than a little attention on the way back, and arrived at the lot with a four bike escort.
When I took my helmet and jacket off I got a round of applause and wolf whistles. As I walked over to them a CHP motorcycle cop pulled up." Sorry boys we're closed. If you want to come back in the morning we'll see what we can do for you."
I turned round and walked towards the door. The cop had got off his bike and walked across the lot. "Miss. Can I see your license please?"
"Sure. Why don't you come in and I'll get it for you. Brent can you manage okay?"
"Yeh. You go ahead."
I unlocked the door and went inside. Take a seat officer, I won't be a sec. I went through to the back, took the bra off which was now irritating me, and put a t-shirt on. I took the license out of the jacket pocket and went through to the front. "Here you are. Would you like a coffee?"
"Yeh. Black with sugar. I'll be back in a minute. "
He went out to his bike. I knew he was going to run a PNC check, so I went through to the office. I was removing the suspender belt when he came back." Won't be a sec." but he walked through into the office. " That seems to "
I looked up and pulled down my skirt. " Is there a problem?"
"No. Miss Chan you check out okay."
"Your coffee's over there."
"You own this place?"
"Sort of. Long story. Don't ask."
"And the purpose of your attire earlier?"
"I was making a TV commercial to advertise this place."
He looked at me. " When's it air? "
"Not sure. Why?"
"You need to ask after your ride this afternoon."
I looked at him blankly. " Just let me know when it goes out. You're going to need a couple of cops down here or you'll start a riot. Thanks for the coffee."
"Any time. You doing anything tonight?"
"Won't you're boyfriend out front object?"
I laughed. " He just works for me."
"Thanks for the offer but my girlfriend might object if she found out. I'll see you around."
Brent came in a couple of minutes after he left. "He didn't take long then."
"I don't know what you mean."
"You did fuck him."
"Wu Kuan-Yin! You don't ask that sort of question and no I didn't."
"Sorry Cordie. Forgive me. "
"Yeh. You all done?"
"Yep. All locked away."
"Good lets go. "

Jena wasn't at the apartment, and she hadn't returned by the time we'd finished dinner. Brent was beginning to sulk. " You got anything decent to wear?"
"Yeh. Why?"
"We're going out. You need a distraction. Now go take a shower."
He looked at me. "No. Just get a move on."
I pushed him in the direction of the bathroom. Once I heard the shower start I stripped off and followed him in. He was a little surprised. "Just keep your hands and that to yourself. We haven't got all night and I want a drink."
He did as he was told. When I came out the bedroom in the dress Jena had given me he gave me that look again. "I said no. You ready?"
"Where we going?"
"Just wait and see."
Getting a cab was not a problem, although keeping the driver's eyes on the road was. When we got to the Purple Dragon, Brent gave me another look. The club was busy and there was a queue outside. I grabbed his arm and steered him towards the doors. I was about to dig out my membership card when one of the bouncers recognized me, "Good evening Miss Chan. I see you're not alone tonight."
"Oh. He's just a friend."
We went inside. I dug the card out and flashed it at the girl at the booth and bouncers inside. They waved us through. As we approached the members area the assistant manager approached me "I trust you're not going to upset any our waitresses tonight Miss Chan."
"Not as long as they mind their mouths."
"Well. Have a good evening. If you need anything come to the office."
I picked a table and we sat down. We ordered drinks and I started studying the dance floor, Brent was doing the same. After about half an hour he got up. "See you later, Cordie." I watched as he moved in on a couple of girls. Good one problem solved. Now all I needed to find was a dish of my own. I ordered another drink, then went down on to the dance floor. I'm not the best of dancers, but my martial arts training has given me great suppleness, agility, and gymnastic ability, which I can put to effective use, especially when not wearing any underwear.
In an attempt to reduce the chorus of wolf whistles and shouts of "More" and "Again with more pussy" I retreated to my table. I'd been sitting for a few minutes when a voice said "Nice display. Can I buy you a drink?"
He wasn't bad looking and I guessed in his late 20's. "I'll have a Rum and Coke." I gestured for him to sit down. His conversational abilities and chat lines were really poor. By the time I was half way through my drink I was bored. "Shall we go?"
"Oh. Yes. Your place or mine."
"Yours. And I hope you're prepared."
He looked at me. Wait here. I went to the ladies and returned a few minutes later. "Come on then." I was beginning to suspect I was going to be disappointed. It turned out his place was the Hilton. He collected his key and we went up to his room. I went into the ensuite, took a leak, took off the dress, and put on one of the bath robes.
He'd put the TV on, tuned it to the house porno movie, and was now sitting naked on the bed. There was a pile of notes on the bedside table. I sat down and started to count them. "Its enough isn't it."
There was $350 in the pile. "Yes." I turned round and undid the robe.

I woke about 5, slipped out of bed, and into the shower. He was still asleep as I retrieved the cash and let myself out. I'd almost left it but after his non-performance I felt I deserved it.
It took a while before the doorman managed to hail me a cab. When I got back to the apartment, Jena and Brent were asleep, although I guessed from their relative positions they had returned separately. I changed into a jogging suit and went out again. When I returned and hour later they were both awake and indulging in what seemed to be their favorite past time. There was also a video playing, it took me a while to work out it was Jena and Mitch, doing pretty much what she was doing now. I ignored them, went and got some juice from the refrigerator, and then took a shower. By the time I'd finished so had they. Jena had made coffee and waffles, and they were busy eating. " Any chance you two being out all day tomorrow?"
"Yeh Sure. We can't get the apartment till next week."
"Look I've got class this morning, then I'm going shopping for a change. Can you handle the lot? "
"That's why you're paying us isn't it?"
"Okay. I'll see you both later"

I was up early again Sunday morning. I was about half way round my circuit when I realized that the campus was busy for a Sunday. As I ran on I went back over the summer. As I counted the weeks I realized that next week was Freshman week and that I'd be starting classes again the week after.
This rest of the day passed as it usually did, until Jena and Brent came back around 9. We sat and talked for a while, and then I went to bed.
I went running again the following morning, only this time I was distracted by lost Freshman. I managed to catch my tutor for next year, who was also out, and arranged to see her the following afternoon. Brent and Jena had left for the lot by the time I got back to the apartment. I showered, grabbed something to eat, and then went in myself. With the two of them handling the workshop and counter I was finally able to catch-up on most of the paper work, which also reminded me I needed to catch up on the Hu situation. After confirming everything was on schedule for delivering the jackets and helmets, I made a phone call and went out.

Hu turned out to be far less of an upright citizen than I had even suspected. Whilst he had a wife and two kids, he had a mistress, and had had affairs with more than one of the secretaries at his office. He'd been working from home alot recently and would visit the Fremont Bank at the beginning and end of each day. He had a safety deposit box there under the name Yang Li Ho. This both complicated matters and made things easier.

The only problem with hiring PI's, especially good ones is they require paying. Despite my recent windfall this left me rather short and every time I started thinking about it the Purple Dragon would surface. I saw my tutor the next afternoon as scheduled, and sorted out my timetable for the year. I also checked the computer labs to see if either Griz or Majax were back yet. They weren't so I left a message on the bulletin board that I was looking for them. When Jena got back that evening, I managed to prize her away from Brent for 5 minutes, " Can I have a copy of your tape.?"
"I didn't think that sort of thing interested you."
"It doesn't, but it's the right sort of currency in certain circles. "
"Can you edit it so I'm not recognizable?"
"Yes, if that's what you want me to do. But if you get involved through Mitch people are going to find out who you are sooner or later."

I went to Mitch's studio the next day. He ran me through the first edit of the ad. It was pretty good, a little rough in places but passable. We discussed a few things and he told me he'd need me Friday to cut the voice over. I then asked him for the master of Jena's tape. He pleaded ignorance, until I supplied sufficient threats, at which point it miraculously appeared. I thanked him for his time. I spent the following day in the computer lab editing the tape and pixalating out Jena's face. I also pixalated out certain scenes on a second version of the tape. Griz had also left me a message. I responded and told them to meet me outside the Purple Dragon on Friday at 10. They were also to wear suits or they'd not get in.
I spent Friday at the lot doing paper work, which ensured I got buyer number three's details recorded. I left early and went home for a shower, getting the dress out again. I found a shawl to go with it this time. I picked up the envelope containing the second tape and details of what I needed done, and left. Catching a cab was just as easy as it had been the week before.

I'd only met Majax once before, and Griz a few times, but they were easily recognisable. It was obvious it had been hard for them to find suits let alone clean themselves up to wear them. When they finally recognized me I had to put their eyes back in their sockets and pick their tongues up. Their reactions when we got inside and I led them up to the upper level were even more predictable, and I had to forcibly calm them down to avoid them getting thrown out. I ordered drinks and started explaining what I wanted doing. It was slow going as their attention kept wandering. I was halfway through my drink, although the other two had finished theirs, when another round arrived. " We didn't order these."
"No madam. The gentleman over there did. With his complements."
She put the drinks down. Griz and Majax grabbed theirs and raised them in saulte, " Hey Thanks Dude." " Yeh. Great man. "
I smiled. It was the same guy who'd tried to buy me a drink before. He was well dressed and groomed, in what I guessed were his late 40's or early 50's. He projected an aura of confidence, control, and money.
"Why don't you two run along and play. Just make sure you get done what I need. When I've got conformation I'll give you the other tape."
"Yeh. Right Guilong. No problem. We'll do it tomorrow."
The pair of them scuttled off, leaving me to my thoughts. After a couple of minutes I started looking for a suitable target. If I could do it once, I could do it again.
I'd been watching the dance floor for several minutes, when I heard someone approach the table. I looked up. The mysterious gentleman had approached, "If I could be so bold as to introduce myself I'm Marcus Trent. Would you do me the honour of joining me at my table?"
As soon as he started to speak I knew he was not American. By his dress and manners I guessed he was British and probably a product of their class system. I stood up and he offered me his arm. I went to pick up my drink but he said to leave it, the waitress would get me another if I wanted one. He walked me across to his table and held out a chair for me. I sat. He resumed his seat in the alcove. " Now I've introduced myself, perhaps you'd do me the honour of acquainting me with the name of the vision I'm conversing with."
"You can call me Cordelia."
"Well, Cordelia, what would you like to drink, Champagne or Rum and Coke?"
"Neither. I'll have a sparkling mineral water." He waved the waitress over."A bottle of Champagne, two glasses, and a sparkling mineral water please."
"So, Cordelia, are you intending to dance tonight?"
"No. I'm sitting here waiting to find out what it is you want from me."
"I want nothing more than your company and conversation. Working girls I can have anytime I want. Intelligent conversation with rare beauties is hard to find."
For some reason I believed him. The waitress arrived, and he opened the champagne and poured two glasses, passing on to me. "To friendship " he said.

We sat and talked, and drank champagne. After a while he said "I'm not going to stop you dancing if that's what you want to do. "
That had been what I wanted to do. I was more relaxed this week and took pleasure in dancing with several of the better looking guys on the floor. I didn't even object when the last one slid his hand between my legs, although he didn't get to leave it there long. I went back to the table where I had left Marcus "Shall we go?"
"I thought you weren't for sale."
"I'm not. Are we going or not."
He got up and offered me his arm. As we went outside one of the bouncers hailed us a cab. We rode up town to his apartment block. The doorman opened the cab door and greeted him by name, opening the door to the foyer for us and calling the lift. Marcus hit the button for the penthouse.
To say that the penthouse took my breath away would be an understatement. Marcus asked me if I wanted another drink, which I declined. "You'll find a robe in the bedroom through there, and the bathroom is through there. Join me on the balcony when you're ready. "
He poured himself a drink, and I went into the bedroom. Like the rest of the penthouse it was spacious and well appointed. I estimated I could get half my apartment in the one room, and the closet turned out to be the size of my kitchen. There were over a dozen robes and I picked a Japanese silk one. Slipping out of the dress and into the robe, I went in search of Marcus.
The balcony was nearly as big as the rest of the penthouse, except nearly a third was occupied by a pool, and another portion was taken up by the hot tub in which Marcus was relaxing. I walked across to the tub, slipped off the robe and climbed in. Marcus made no move toward me and said nothing.
"Don't you want me?"
"You're very beautiful Cordelia, and yes I do, but I'm not the one making the decisions here"
I hadn't expected this. Whatever decision I made would have repercussions, the only problem was I didn't know how. I began to cry. I felt the water move and I was in Marcus's arms. I didn't resist when he kissed me.
When we'd finished in the tub, he picked me up and carried me to the bedroom. As before he took his time and didn't rush. When he started caressing me for the third time I wondered who would tire first him or me, luckily it was him.
When I awoke I could smell coffee. I wrapped the sheet about me and followed my nose. I was surprised to find another man in the kitchen. He looked round as I entered. "Mr Trent is on the balcony madam. Breakfast will be served shortly."
I turned and walked in the indicated direction. Marcus was sitting at the table reading the New York Times. He put the paper down as I sat down. " Good Morning Cordelia, I trust you slept well. "
"Yes thank you."
"I've arranged a car for you at 8:30. It'll take you to the Dojo. I took the liberty of sending Langdon to get some of your things. You'll find them in the bathroom. "
Langdon took that as a key to arrive with breakfast. " I've brought madam a robe, in case she wishes to wear something more comfortable."
He put the breakfast tray on the table, and then walked around behind me. "If madam would care to stand "
He held the robe out, and I slipped into it, letting the sheet fall. He picked it up and departed, as I did the robe up.
"How did you know about the Dojo or where I live, I never mentioned them and I don't talk in my sleep."
"I know a great many things about you Chan Li Feng. In my business it pays to know who you're dealing with. You have nothing to fear from me. I want nothing from you that you are not prepared to give freely. Now why don't we eat before it gets cold?"
He had a method of disarming anything I was about to say, so I sat down and ate. When I finished I got up. "I'm going to take a shower"
"Will I see you again?"
"I don't know."
"Auevoire then Cordelia.
"Goodbye Marcus."