The Drake Hotel (closed)

[BigDawg69]

OCC: Closed Thread for StarXChylde

ICC:
The hot summer sun bared down on the city, which this day was not living up to its moniker of The Windy City. The stillness baked the air as Jon left the cab and went into his office building. He made is way silently to his office. Choosing to nod at his co-workers instead of speaking. He closed the door to his office as he slumped back into his large leather chair.

He aimlessly flipped though the briefs that cluttered his desk, tossing each to one side or the other. About midway through the stack he found an elegant yet non-descript invitation. His curiosity caught him as he opened it. In a fine script these words were written.

If you are looking,
Wear a shirt of blue,
And a tie of red,
Be seen reading,
The Wall Street Journal at the Drake.

Tuesday at noon.

Jon’s brow furled as he looked over the strange note. He flipped the embossed card over and looked at the back.

I know you’re still reeling from your break-up, but it is time to get out there.

A handwritten note was scrawled across the back of the card. Jon looked over it and studied the invitation and the hand written note. He had just lost his girlfriend. He had been withdrawn. But who, what? His mind flooded with questions.

“Mr. Forsythe” came the phone intercom from his secretary, breaking his moment of confusion.

“Yes Mary?”

“You’re twelve o’clock just cancelled.”

“Thank you.”

Jon looked at his calendar. Tuesday. He got up and wandered into his private bath and stood looking at himself in the mirror. He was wearing a blue shirt. But his tie was not red. He reached over to the closet and hanging there was a bright red tie. He didn’t really like it, and rarely wore, he actually wondered why it was in the office, and he couldn’t remember wearing it or even bringing it in. Jon shook his head and splashes some water on his face.

Without even thinking he pulled his yellow tie off and began to tie the red one. Walking back into his office he picked up the invitation and looked down at it. He couldn’t believe what he was doing. Jon pushed the card into his pocket and left his office before he had time to really think about anything.

The cab ride was short. He tried not to think about much. He over tipped the cabby and paused at the main entrance to the Drake Hotel. He took a deep breath and remembered the Wall Street Journal. He walked quickly through the ornate lobby an into the small gift shop. He purchased a copy of the newspaper and walked back toward the entrance. He stopped near the doors and looked around. He felt lost, and a little silly.

With a sigh, Jon made his way to a chair across from the front desk and sat down. He lifted the paper and glanced over the front page. His attention however, was on the other people moving about the lobby. He had no idea why he was there, or what he should be looking for. But there he was, and he was looking.

 

[StarXChyld]

Allison "Dutchie" Duchoisse

The white Bentley slowly pulled to the curb in front of Charlie Trotter’s and stopped. The driver quickly jumped out of his door and ran around to open the rear door on the opposite side of the car, extending his hand for assistance. Italian leather-clad fingertips reached out and grasped the driver’s hand as a long shapely leg presented itself as well. The driver lowered his head as she stood beside him on the side, sliding her Gucci sunglasses down her nose to peer at him. "Very well, Anthony. That will be all for now. I expect to take dinner until 10. Please pick me up precisely at 10:05." Replacing the sunglasses high on her nose, she proceeded to head up the stairs of the restaurant with a cloud of expensive perfume trailing behind her.

"Darlings!" She kissed the air beside each of their cheeks. Her best friends and old sorority sisters, Midge, Muffy and Bunnie had already arrived and sharing a martini in the lounge. Midge snapped her fingers twice and the bartender flew to attention, "Yes, Mrs. Bulter. . .what can I get you?"

Midge swiped playfully at the bartender’s nose and winked, "Oh my, sweetness! Ask not what you can do for me but what you can do for Mrs. Duchiosse. Her husband’s been on business overseas for months now. . .poor Dutchie!" Midge patted Allison’s cashmere shoulder as she tisk-tsked sympathetically.

Allison flashed Midge a dagger-eyed brow as she tucked her sunglasses safely away in her purse and grabbed her cigarette case. "Honestly, Midge. I’m not a slut like you . . ." she gave the bartender a drool smile, "A Brandy Alexander . . .blended, please."

She suffered through dinner as Muffy and Bunnie lauded their children’s achievements. She white-knuckled it as Midge droned on and on about how difficult it was to find good domestic help. Her only relief from the mundane was when Charlie Trotter himself approached their table to ask about their meals. She was thrilled when the clock chimed 10 and she could escape to the solitude of her mansion on Lake Shore Drive.

Muffy and Bunnie had already departed and she was stuck at the valet with Midge as they awaited their chauffeurs. Midge grabbed her wrist and pulled her close, "You know, Dutchie. . .you really do seem a smidge tense these days, sweetness. You should head over to the Drake tomorrow and find one of those fine young men to give you a "once-over". . .or in my case. . .an "over and over and over again"!" Midge’s giggle sounded like a donkey’s whiney.

Allison pulled her wrist free just as Midge’s Rolls rolled up to the curb. "What are you talking about?!" It was more of a rhetorical question but Midge was only too happy to oblige.

"Go to the Drake. Tomorrow between noon and two. Look for the gentlemen in the lobby reading the Wall Street Journal. . .oh, only approach the ones in blue oxford shirts with red ties. . ." Midge waved at her driver and started down the stairs but not before she nudged Allison gently, adding, "Sweetness, you need to get laid and those boys at the Drake are only too happy to make a little extra cash!"

Before Allison could pull her slackened jaw closed, Midge was gone. She saw her Bentley turn the corner and she made her way to the curb.

Midge’s words rang in her ears as she stared out the darkened rear windows of her car. She had been tense lately since Roger’s departure. Roger wasn’t working overseas, he had left her but she wasn’t ready to reveal that to her girlfriends, let alone the world. After 20 plus years of marriage, Roger had found his trophy wife and informed Allison that her services would no longer be needed. The details of the divorce still needed to be worked out and with so much at stake, the lawyers were taking their sweet time working out the settlement. She knew financially she would be well taken care of but sexually she was completely freaked out. Roger had been her first and only lover.

At 42, she wasn’t sure how to "get laid".

Tuesday afternoon found her standing outside the Drake about to learn.

 

[BigDawg69]

Jon sat looking through the lobby and not so much at his paper for a few minutes. He noticed a couple of other men wearing the same blue shirt and red tie come in and take seats around the large lobby. His curiosity was now piqued. Yet nothing seemed to happen for a while.

Looking down at his watch and then feeling the grumblings in his stomach, Jon really began to question his reasons for being here. Finally he folded the paper under his arm and got up. Lunch was calling him and he did not feel like waiting for the unknown to come and smack him in the face.

He walked purposefully toward the door and opened it to leave. Jon almost knocked over the very beautiful woman coming from the other direction. His hand shot out and grabbed her by the arm to keep her from falling.

"Oh excuse me. I am terribly sorry, are you OK?" Jon spoke clearly without the hint of an accent.

She shook her head slightly, then nodded, getting her bearings back. Jon took the moment to notice that all though he was quite successful this woman travelled in social circles far above his income level. She was impeccable almost perfect. She looked up at him and smiled.

"Thank you." She blushed as her eyes took in his attire. "Is that a Wall Street Journal?"

Jon's head turned slightly as he looked at her with a question written on his face. "Yes it is actually. Do you read the Journal?" He smiled politely at her.

She chuckled at him and placed a delicate hand on his broad shoulder. "No dear, but perhaps I should."

A moment passed as they stood there, neither knowing what to do next.

"I was just going out for some lunch, would you care to join me?" Jon asked, wondering to himself just what he had done.

"Lunch would be nice." She smiled.

 

[StarXChyld]

Allison snuffed out her cigarette with the toe of her high heel and peered up at the perfectly blue October sky through the shadows of the skyscrapers. She had lived her whole life in Chicago and yet there were so many secrets about the city that she was only vaguely becoming aware of as she ventured out on her own for the first time in her life.

The story about the men of the Drake was intriguing but frightening at the same time. She half prayed that Midge’s story was just a raunchy rumor while the other half of her prayed it was true. She’d love to be able to actually pick and choose the man that would make love to her next. No strings. No obligations. Just pure heavenly sex. . .she wanted that so badly. She pirouetted on her heel and sauntered towards the doors of the hotel.

He was coming out just as she was coming in and they almost collided. He grabbed her elbow to help steady her and she shot him a nasty look that disappeared as soon as her eyes reached his. Allison always felt she could read a lot about a person just from their eyes. What she saw in this dark stranger’s eyes was warmth, intelligence, a great sense of humor and something else. . .a smoldering sexuality bubbling just beneath the surface of his smooth façade. Her eyes quickly took him all in. Custom made suit, blue shirt, red tie, Ferragamo loafers, recent manicure and haircut, clutching a Wall Street Journal . . .

Wait a minute! A Wall Street Journal?! She glanced back up at his shirt and tie. Could he be.. . .? Nooooooo. "Is that a Wall Street Journal?"

He glanced down at his paper and gave her an open friendly smile. "Yes, it is actually. Do you read it?"

She silently cursed at herself, if she’d only called Midge this morning and asked a few more questions about this Drake thing! Was this a trick question, a code? Was she supposed to answer a certain way? She decided to bluff. Give him a yes/no answer. Keep him on his toes.

Picking an imaginary piece of lint from his suit coat with her long fingernails, she smiled up at him brightly and winked, "No dear, but perhaps I should."

Their eyes locked as they stood in the doorway silently questioning each other. Was he? Was she? How do be discrete yet sure. Allison hoped he was. She would gladly pay him to pleasure her. Hell! He could name his price if he agreed to stay the whole night! She could feel her cheeks burning at the very thought.

Finally, it was he who saved them from the awkward silence, "I was just headed to lunch. Would you care to join me?"

Ah HA! He wasn’t one of them. Thank god she hadn’t said anything! He was just a guest at the hotel and was headed out for lunch. Being the social butterfly she was, how could she possibly turn down his invitation and a chance to find out more about him? "Lunch would be divine."


Linking her arm through his, she led him back out to the street and hailed a cab. No need for her snoopy chauffeur to see her chatting up another man. Both the Bentley and the driver still belonged to Roger and she didn’t intend to lose either.

As the cab pulled away from the curb, Allison settled back in the seat and smoothed her silk skirt. She noticed that his eyes were on her hands and she decided to tease him just a bit. She lifted the side slit of her skirt a little higher than necessary, revealing the black lace of her garter before patting the slit closed once again. A naughty little smile flitted across her full lips as she announced to the cabbie, "Marina 300, please."

Turning back to face her lunch date, she extended her hand, "Where are my manners? I’m Dutchie. And you would be?" She arched a high brow, watching every move he made.

 

[BigDawg69]

Jon was almost lost as he watched her reveal most of her luscious upper thigh in the cab. It had all happened so fast, he hadn't really taken the time to really think about what was happening. He looked at her eyes, and saw there a sense of loneliness and fear that she tried to hide behind a glorious smile.

"Where are my manners? I’m Dutchie. And you would be?" She said extending her hand.

Jon took her soft hand in his and shook it lightly. "Jon." He said simply. He wanted to say more, but somehow felt that if he opened now he would go to far.

She giggled at his name, as if irony had stuck her. Jon released her hand and settled his eyes on her form as she sat uncomfortable in the cab.

"Not used to cabs, are you?" Jon asked.

She turned and smiled at him. She searched for an answer, but nothing came to her just yet.

"Bentley must be in the shop? Or perhaps it wouldn't be good to let the chauffeur in on our little tryst?" Jon felt his confidence gain as he spoke.

Dutchie shifted in the seat a bit. Her skirt rose even higher, and she quickly pushed the seam together and back down.

"Perhaps. Is this a tryst?" She said coyly looking out the window.

"Perhaps indeed." Jon said. "Marina? I've never eaten down there."

"I hope you'll find it to your liking." She smiled at him.

Jon winked at Dutchie, "I'm sure I will."

 

[StarXChyld]

Marina 300

"Perhaps. Is this a tryst?"

Now she was confused. Was he a “Drake” Boy or not? She couldn’t be sure yet.

"Perhaps indeed." Dutchie could almost see the sarcasm dripping from his statement, quickly he changed the subject. "Marina? I've never eaten down there."

"I hope you'll find it to your liking." She was relieved to be moving on to another train of thought.

"I'm sure I will." His eyes flickered mischievously and Dutchie shifted nervously. Was he the prey or was she? Somehow she wasn’t sure anymore.

The cab came to a stop and Jon stepped out, holding the door open for her as he reached for his wallet to pay the man. She waited patiently on the curb until the cab had pulled away and Jon was by her side, leading her down the steps to the restaurant.

The interior of Marina 300 was like stepping back into Vegas in the 60’s when the “Rat Pack” ruled the strip. Lots of red velvet booths discretely nestled against mirrored walls. Back in it’s heyday, this was the place to been seen but now, just like smoky nightclubs of Vegas, it’s day had come and gone. The place was deserted except for a few servers left over from the light lunch crowd. Dutchie still loved the place. It had a unique view of the Chicago river, with a dock below filled with the yachts of those lucky enough to afford the fees of Marina Towers. Dutchie was one of those lucky few. “LadyLoves 1” was floating lazily just below the window of table 63, her favorite perch. She felt at home here and all the staff knew her.

Whisking past the hostess stand, where a slight little college-age girl stood, Dutchie wiggled a few fingers in her direction while tucking her sunglasses into her purse. “Good afternoon, Tina. Would you please tell Angeloni that I’ll be taking a late lunch?”

“Of course, Mrs. Duc. . .”, The hostess’ voice trailed off as she ran off to summon her father, the chef/owner of the restaurant.

Jon strained to catch the rest of the name but it escaped him behind the doors of the kitchen. He followed Dutchie to the table, admiring her round bottom as it swayed easily to and fro under the fine fabric of her skirt. He was starting to enjoy himself. He stood politely as Dutchie took her seat and then sat himself across from her. “This place is great. I didn’t even know it was here.” His hand made it’s way across the hand and slipped lightly over hers.

She pulled her hand away quickly and then immediately regretted it. What was she doing? Was she seducing him or not? Slowly, she returned her hand to the table, resting it next to his. His hand remained idle. She stared at it wistfully and then carefully moved her fingertip over the back of his hand, caressing it softly. Lifting her eyes to meet his, she smiled apologetically, “Sorry. . .it’s. . .been a while.”

“A while. . .since when?” She searched his face for the sarcasm in his question but there was none to be found. His handsome face was open and genuine.

Dutchie felt herself relax a bit as her fingers brazenly entwined with his. “A while since . ..this.” She smiled at him demurely as she squeezed his fingers between hers.

“DUTCHIE! It is soooooooooo good to see you, my dear!” Jon winced slightly as Angeloni’s 300 pound frame waddled towards the table and Dutchie’s hand vanished from his.

 

[BigDawg69]

"You have been gone too long my little angel!" Announced the very large proprietor of the restaurant as he approached the table.

He was a rotund older Italian man that clearly enjoyed eating his food almost as much as cooking it. He had a very jolly nature to him. Dutchie stood from the booth, and reached over to hug him.

"Angeloni, this is my firend Jon. Jon, Angeloni owns this place." Dutchie introduced us.

Jon stood and shook the mans hand, he had a very big smile on his face and could not take his eyes from Dutchie. Jon could not blame him for that.

"You will have the usual and today the wine is on me! A special bottle for you and your friend. Sit, eat. We will not bother you further!" Angelino hugged her once more and escorted his daughter back to the kitchen.

Jon sat across from Dutchie chuckling to himself slightly.

"What do you find so Funny?" She asked or more accused.

"I would not have pictured you in a place such as this. But I like it." Jon paused as his eyes met hers, "I like it very much."

Without breaking the gaze, Dutchie smiled broadly.