I didn't see Jonathan nearly as much. There was another new prep cook who did the chopping and cutting. My services were in demand, and the top drawer of my nightstand was getting full of the hundred dollar bills that came my way.

I needed to open a bank account. I'd never had any money, and I never had a bank account, but I had plenty of money now, and while I didn't think someone was going to come to my room to rob me, thousands of dollars should not be left lying around.

I met Randolph Thomas Martin on a Friday. He was in town for the weekend. Andrew called me to come to the lobby, where he told me I'd meet a client in the dining room for an eight o'clock dinner.

I'd been taken to dinner in the dining room and I could recommend dishes I thought a client might like. I'd had most things Jonathan prepared by that time.

I'd seen Marty standing next to one of the columns in the lobby, after Andrew called for me. He was making certain I was what he wanted. I was, and Marty was a perfect gentlemen. After dinner he took me for a ride around Los Angeles, as he made stops he needed to make, and he hated going anywhere alone.

Marty was charming, funny, and he seemed to enjoy life. I had a great time and I asked for ginger ale when we stopped to have a nightcap at a bar he liked.

Once we went back to the hotel, Marty dropped me at the front door. He had more business to do but he made a date for me to meet him at noon tomorrow. We'd be going out on his yacht tomorrow.

Actually we didn't go anywhere. He was preparing for a trip to Honolulu on business. We sat on the rear deck as the hundred and fifty foot yacht moved easily with the tide.

It was a perfect day and Marty continued to be a perfect gentlemen. He hadn't touched me, and no money changed hands. I didn't mind. My drawer was full of hundred dollar bills, but it could buy the good time I had with him. He was good company for me.

The morning after I sat on Marty's yacht with him, Andrew asked me to come to his office. It was early, and Marty hadn't made a date to meet. I wanted to sleep in, but Andrew wasn't someone to put off.

A man in a brown uniform stood off to one side with one of Santa Clause's sacks in his hand.

"He's here for you," Andrew said. "Couldn't convince him to give whatever he has to me. He must put it in your hands only."

"Are you Joshua?" the appointed delivery man asked.

"That's me. In the flesh."

He reached into Santa's sack removing two dozen roses he handed over.

"Oh, my god," I yelped before he reached back into his sack to retrieve a two pound box of Godiva chocolates. "What?"

But he wasn't done yet, and he reached back into his sack for a velvet colored jewelry box, handing it over, after I put down the roses and the chocolates.

"I think he is waiting for you to open it," Andrew said.

Oh," I said. "I was admiring the box."

I flipped the lid up and stared at a golden watch.

"Oh, my god," I said, "It's a watch. It's gold."

"There are no notes?" Andrew asked. "Who sent all this?"

"Joshua, Mr Randolph Thomas Martin requests the pleasure of your company at dinner tonight, eight o'clock. I'm to wait for your answer?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" I said, not believing Marty sent all this to me.

"I shall deliver your message to him," the deliverer said, turning to leave.

"I think Mr Martin likes you," Andrew said, popping the top off the chocolates. "You mind if I have a piece?"

"No. I can't eat all that chocolate."

"I believe this is several hundred dollars of Godiva's best. Wear your tan suit. You are stunning in it. Wear the brown shirt, top two buttons open on the shirt. By all means, wear this watch."

"Has he asked for any more of your time?"

"No. I went to his yacht yesterday. Have you seen it? It's huge."

"He invited me to a party there one Sunday afternoon. Yes, it's quite lovely. He's a lovely man but he's never before been smitten by a Biltmore Boy. I can only come to the conclusion, he likes you, Josh."

Andrew put my roses in a vase and told me to keep it. There would no doubt be more flowers, probably more chocolates, but he doubted there would be any more watches.

I carried the roses, Andrew carried the box of chocolates, picking out a piece now and then as we went up to my room. He went to my closet to pull out the tan suit and brown shirt.

I remembered when I went with Stanley to get a suit for one of his daughter's weddings. It came off the rack and almost fit. He let me pick out a tie, but he had to tie it for me. That was the only suit I ever wore, and I only wore it as his daughters got married one by one.

"I'll have these steamed and put your shoes outside the door. We'll want to have those shined. You'll want to look your best in case he proposes to you tonight," Andrew said.

"He's married," I said.

"Mr Martin is married?" Andrew asked.

"Two boys and a girl. He hardly sees his wife, but she isn't about to give up the lifestyle she's accustomed to. That's what he told me."

"It's more than he told me," Andrew said. "I'll drop these things and make sure they'll be ready for you by seven. I'll them send up."

Marty stood when I walked in. He held my chair for me, and he sat across from me.

"My word, you are stunning, Joshua. I think you get better looking each day," he said.

"Marty, thank you for such lovely gifts, but you shouldn't spend all your money on me," I said, worrying about how much he spent.

"The thing in life I worry about least, is money, Dear Joshua. You deserve those things and more, and anything I can give you, I shall. I have a question for you."

I remember what Andrew said about marriage.

"Hawaii. I took you to see the yacht. I decided to wait until tonight to ask you to go to Hawaii with me. It's business, and I'll be on the island much of the time, but I'd love you to go with me. We'll have evenings to see the island. You can swim, sunbathe, while I'm busy during the day."

"I don't know what to say, Marty."

"Yes, works for me. I like your company, Josh. I like you. You're like a breath of fresh air. I've never met anyone like you. Yes, I know, I'm fifty. You're twenty, but what does age have to do with anything?"

"Your age isn't an issue with me, Marty."

"Yes, and you haven't asked for a thing. So, I am left to guess at what you might like. I would like to show my appreciation for how much better my life is with you in it."

I didn't know what to say. I was flattered by the attention Marty paid to me, since we first went out. He was not old. At fifty, he probably had slowed down by a step or two, but that meant I could keep up with him, no matter what we did.

I liked him. The money wasn't an issue, because I had more money than I'd ever had. I was having fun with Marty, and thinking he should be paying me never entered my mind. We hadn't done anything to warrant me being paid. Now, we were going to Hawaii together. I'd never been to Hawaii. I'd never been anywhere.


Send Rick an email at quillswritersrealm@yahoo.com

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"Biltmore Boy"

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