The sun was setting, and golden rays of light were streaking into the office. The light danced off the walls. Marilyn turned around and looked out the window. Lately, she has spent more and more time watching the sunsets. When she first moved into the corner office, the shades were always drawn. There was no time for frivolous activities. The sun sank beneath the horizon, and the clouds turned a deep blue with yellow tops and the city lights below shined more brightly.

She was feeling listless. It was getting increasing harder to concentrate because there was something missing in her life, something she had yet to put a name to. The sun disappeared, and the lights from the city made for a breath-taking view. On the city streets below, the people of the night would be coming out. Sometimes, after working very late, she would go walking and would marvel at the metamorphosis of the city. In the day, it was filled with people in business suites and limos on the streets, power brokers and their subordinates with their phones and laptops working on or chasing that next big deal. At night, the street people would come out. All those people who made their living in the night, on the streets, deals consummated in an alley or the door ways. Some of the occupants of the limos were seeking sexual favors for money from the ladies of the evening and young men, who stood on certain street corners.

When she was extremely restless because it would take hours to unwind after a big day, she would go to the east side, finding it by accident when she had gotten off on the wrong subway stop when she first moved to the city. The hookers and pimps fascinated her. The way they talked and the clothes they wore. She would wonder what it would be like to wear the most revealing clothes and yell at cars as they drove by, wonder what it would be like to make a deal for sex. In the daytime, the deals were about money; at night, the deals were about sex.

Walking by the bookstores, she would be intrigued and slightly aroused by the sexual material displayed in the windows always drawn to the magazines with pictures of female domination on the cover and fascinated by the different restraints and whips. She never went in the book stores or the strip clubs or watched any of the sex acts that were advertised on the outside of the clubs but always wondered what it would be like to make your living that way. She was never hassled on these little excursions. Everyone could tell from her appearance, she was an uptown woman. That was her only experience of carnal knowledge.

She thought about going home, but it was such a long train ride. The town house in the suburbs was to satisfy her mother who thought the inner city was too dangerous. The house was an excellent tax deduction but not very practical since the job required twelve or fourteen-hour days and sleeping on the large leather couch, turning the office into a make-shift apartment.

Marilyn turned around and looked at the three computer screens on the desk displaying data on the latest billion-dollar merger. Her ten member staff had been going over the financial records of a large corporation for weeks. She fed on the power and responsibility like a drug. It had kept her high for years and loving the many perks of the job, the six-figure income, the limos, the private planes, the parties, but now she was losing enthusiasm and didn't know why. On the desk, there was a small picture of her sister's family. She never had any interest in marriage sacrificed family and relationships for power and prestige but was proud of what she had accomplished; the top of her class at school and voted one of the ten most influential people in the city. Her recommendation could approve or kill a merger and send a company's stock plummeting had access to the personal data on every company employee from the chairman of the board to the mail clerks. However, lately, the job duties have become routine and simple tasks were boring. In six months, she would be forty and there wasn't any time for a midlife crisis.

Marilyn sighed, went into the private bathroom, ran some cold water, got a washcloth, held it under the water, and then dabbed her face. She looked into the mirror. With the right makeup, she could be somewhat good looking. Now, with the big bags under her eyes, the pale skin, the black, short cut, estranged hair, and the manly features she looked like an old hag. A professional did her hair and makeup every week because the other women in the office did, but she always thought it was a waste of money because it was brains and not looks that propelled her to the top of the profession.

She took off her suit jacket and blouse, wet the washcloth, wiped under her arms, took off the bra, and looked at the breasts. They were tiny, no more than slight bumps on her chest but the nipples were large and dark. She had never thought of herself as attractive sexually and didn't care. At six foot one, she was taller than most of the boys in high school. They used to call her the 'stick'. She removed her panties and then turned so she could look at her backside. It was large for her frame, but it was firm and perfectly shaped. Men would make comments, especially when she wore a tight skirt or a pants suit. She ran her hands down her sides. Her ribs protruded slightly. The stomach was flat still had an athletic body even though she spent most of her time glued to the desk and computer screens.

She ran one hand through the bush and used a thumb on the nipple. She never touched herself sexually, not because she thought it was wrong or dirty, but because she was never interested but now was wondering why she was standing in the bathroom naked and touching herself. She got the washcloth wet with really cold water and then dabbed her face and was starting to wonder if she had gone off the deep end when the cell phone rang.

"Dam," Marilyn said scrabbling to find the phone in the suit coat.

"Hello."

"What are you doing kid, are you at the office, of course you're at the office. Have you had any supper yet?"

Marilyn picked up her blouse and covered up as if she could be seen through the phone. It was Patricia, her best friend since college and one of the top attorneys in the city.

"I'm not doing anything," Marilyn said defensively. She almost felt like the one time her mother had walked in on her while she was exploring herself. Her mother scolded her saying that good girls don't do that, and she never did again.

"What, are you all right?"

"I'm fine."

"Well, if you haven't eaten, then meet me at Cittais?

"Ok, I will meet you there."

Marilyn touched where her mother said it was bad. It was completely dry couldn't remember the last time it was wet down there or excited. While getting dressed, she remembered that the last time was almost three years ago at a conference for corporate tax accounting. He was at the bar, and she had too much to drink couldn't remember if she enjoyed it or any of the details. It was the pattern that started in high school, get intoxicated first and then just let them do what they wanted, never thinking of her own needs or satisfaction. They were distant memories. There had been only one sexual experience in high school, and he never penetrated her, not knowing what to do with a virgin and one in college and there was Patricia but that didn't count. It couldn't be sex that was missing in her life; she thought. Sex was unnecessary and a waste of time. It slipped from her mind while getting dressed and shutting down the computers.

The waiter escorted her to Patricia's table. A good-looking young man in a white shirt and tie came over and gave her a menu and took the drink order, a double scotch, neat. Patricia checked him out as he left. Marilyn just shook her head.

"When you quit looking, you quit living," Patricia said

"You're incorrigible. You always were," Marilyn responded.

"And you look like hell."

"Thanks."

The waiter brought her drink. "Are we ready to order Madame?"

Marilyn ordered the Ravioli, and Patricia ordered the Alfredo. Patricia raised her eyebrows and pursed her lips as the waiter left.

"Now there is a nice piece of candy."

"You're old enough to be his mother."

Patricia was a year older than Marilyn and had also given up family and relationships for a career. Her blonde hair was short and shaggy, and she didn't wear any makeup. Her job was to put bad guys in jail, to deal with the dregs of society, so she never cared about her appearance but was still good-looking and knew it. She was well endowed and Marilyn always wondered what it was like to carry around those massive things all the time.

"I don't know how you keep it all together?" Marilyn asked after draining most of the drink.

"What do you mean?"

"You always seem so vibrant. You never seem to get run down."

"That's because I make sure to take care of my personal needs on a regular basis."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm talking about that thing between your legs."

Marilyn felt her face become red and felt even more uncomfortable when the waiter returned afraid that he had heard them.

"Would like another drink, Madame?"

"Please," Marilyn said.

"I know you have always been uptight sexually," Patricia responded after the waiter walked away. It was true. Marilyn had always been the bookworm, the class valedictorian; the tall, awkward girl, never asked out on dates, or with the popular girls. She spent her time in high school, and college buried in books.

"If you take care of that regularly, it makes all the difference in the world."

It was late and way past the normal supper hour. There were only a couple of businessmen on the other side of the restaurant but Marilyn still felt uncomfortable talking about such things in a public place.

"Who has time for relationships?" Marilyn responded as the waiter brought another drink.

"I'm not talking about a relationship, who needs all that? Who is going to call who, dealing with parents and relatives, worrying about what to buy for birthdays and holidays? I'm talking about dealing with it on a professional level."

Marilyn just shook her head totally confused.

"You have your clothes professionally done, right?"

"Yes."

"You have your hair and nails done by professionals and so why not have your sexual needs taken care of by professionals."

Marilyn discovered she was famished was busy eating and only half heard what Patricia was saying.

"You mean a gigolo?" Marilyn giggled as the half-finished second drink started to hit her.

"No, not exactly, here I am going to do you a favor." Patricia unzipped her portfolio and took out her day planner, went through the business card holder and pulled out a card. She wrote her name on the back of the card and then handed it to Marilyn. She was really starting to feel the drinks and almost dropped it on the plate. On the card was AVALON: Personal Services. There was a phone number underneath the gold lettering but no address.

"What's this?"

"Just give them a call and set up an appointment. It's very exclusive. You have to be recommended by someone. It will change your life."

Marilyn slid it into her day planner and forgot about it just as quickly.

By the time they walked out of the restaurant, Patricia was half carrying Marilyn. The lit skyscrapers loomed around them. Patricia waved for a cab. It moved over one lane and then when it got close to them the driver turned on the off-duty light.

"Damn cabbies, Patricia said, adding, "What, you don't want to deal with a couple of drunk, white women?" As the cab went by, they both laughed hysterically.

Marilyn was wobbling on the high heels.

"How many drinks, did you have anyway? I had better get you home and into bed."

"No, I have a ton of work to do. I need to go back to the office."

Patricia waved at another cab, and this one stopped; they both fell into the back seat.

"Grayson office plaza," Patricia said and the cabby grunted something.

Marilyn's skirt had bunched up when she got into the cab revealing a good part of her thigh. Patricia put her hand on it and then worked her hand up and massaged the sensitive, tender flesh there. Marilyn was wondering why she hadn't put back on the panty hose. Patricia put her hand between her legs and on the flesh protruding through the panties.

"I can help you down there if you want me to?"

Marilyn put her head on Patricia's shoulder and thought about that time in college. They were roommates for almost a year. Marilyn had gotten accustomed to seeing Patricia run around half dressed. They were the odd couple. Marilyn was thin, sexless, and always covered herself from head to toe with sweat pants and sweat shirts even when she slept. Patricia was full figured and spent a lot of time running around in just a bra and panties or in a nightgown that hid almost nothing. She had a reputation for being one of the campus sluts, but she didn't care. One day, Marilyn was taking a shower, and Patricia just pulled back the shower curtain and stepped in, and she just stood there, frozen; didn't know what to say. Patricia took the soap from Marilyn and slowly started to run the soap over her body, ran the soap over the top of her chest, down each arm, and over the stomach. Then she ran the soap over her own chest and over the protruding nipples. Marilyn just stared at her chest and thinking how beautiful it was, large, firm, the small, pink nipples sticking straight up. Patricia stepped into Marilyn and ran the soap down her back. Marilyn grew tense. She wasn't used to feeling another person's hand on her body. Patricia lathered her back and then ran the soap over her bottom, massaging it.

"You turn me on."

Patricia tried to get her hands between her legs, but Marilyn kept them tightly together. She ran the soap over her stomach and then put the soap into her hand. She guided her hand between the legs.

"Wash me."

Marilyn ran the soap all over the bush and then between her legs. Patricia titled her head back and closed her eyes as Marilyn washed the slightly, flabby thighs. Patricia pulled her in close raked her fingernails gently over her back. Marilyn felt herself melt into her, and she continued to run her hand over the bush and between her legs but never touching the most sensitive spot. Patricia adjusted the spray so it rinsed them off and then adjusted the spray so it ran between her breasts. She pushed her breasts together, and the water ran between them like a river. Marilyn just stared at the water cascading down between the breasts. Patricia lifted them, offering them to her.

"I know you want them."

Marilyn kissed the top of it, kissed down until she came to the nipple and then sucked it in couldn't believe how stiff it was. Her own nipples had never been like that. She liked the way it moved and tasted. When it slipped from her mouth, she looked up at Patricia and felt embarrassed. She covered up her own little breasts with her arms and got out of the shower. Patricia followed her out and even though Marilyn was much taller, she grabbed her and pushed her hand between her legs. Marilyn had never liked talking about her sex life so Patricia had no idea about her lack of experience.

"I can't," Marilyn said as she tensed up.

"Why, because I'm a woman?"

"I don't know how."

"I will show you."