Free The Visitor by Brent Ayscough Page B

both of my parents are gone. Mom died of cancer seven years ago, and Dad died a year ago. I’m an only child.”
    “I’m sorry for you that you are left alone with no family.”
    Andrew did not respond, but just stared blankly out into space. It was apparent that he was genuinely lonely without family, and perhaps without direction in life. Now he seemed to have found it.
    To change the subject she said, “I’ve never ridden in a private plane before. If I could ride along, I guess it wouldn’t cost any more. But then there would be the hotel which would be very expensive in a place like London. I must decline.”
    “Not to worry,” he said, nonchalantly. “I’ll get you a room in my hotel of your own as my treat.”
    She was without words, as nothing like this had ever been offered her. From her jilted marriage, after which she fled to an Ashram in India, all operating on a budget like that of a student, here she was offered more than she could imagine.
    But she must not accept such an offer. If accepted, would she have to offer bedding with this man, not her husband, to pay in kind for the favor? Would she be impetuously sacrificing her virtue preserved for her one and true husband, yet to come? As the first husband never consummated the marriage, at least before God, she hoped, she was still available.
    It was the most difficult decision she’d had ever to make. But also one that had to be made in an instant. It would dramatically alter her life, either sending her back to Singapore, or in a direction she knew not where.
    Shanta’s resistance faded to temptation. “Okay,” was all she could muster in the face of such power from wealth. She felt as though she had just been raped, or maybe that she would be. Maybe it was time?

    ***

    Roger drove through the gate of the private jet parking ramp at the Long Beach Airport. The steps to the Gulfstream were down and ready. The steward inside, Sheldon, stuck his head out, keeping a constant vigil for them while trying at the same time to put things in better order for the wealthy young master. He saw them coming and hurried down the steps, well ahead of the arriving car. He wore black pants and vest, white shirt, and a black tie tucked neatly into the vest.
    “It is very good to see you, sir,” Sheldon said as the door opened.
    “Hello, Sheldon. How’ve you been?”
    “Very good, sir. It is so kind of you to ask. And good morning to you, Ms. Laxshimi.”
    Sheldon, advised as to who was coming, tried to find out how to pronounce her name by calling the Indian consulate. When he was put on hold indefinitely, he then phoned an Indian spice store and found out how to say it. He found out the pronunciation and that her name is that of an Indian Goddess, and pronounced lek-shmee.
    Roger got their bags from the rear of the vehicle as the two pilots in the cockpit made the jet ready, one calling in to confirm the flight plan to New York and the other obtaining the latest weather briefing.
    Shanta walked slowly into the Gulfstream, amazed by the luxury. There were only eight seats, four on each side in a club arrangement, with two seats each facing one another with fold down tables in between.
    “Show her around, Sheldon,” Andrew said, then he went forward to talk to the pilots.
    “In the back, there is a bathroom, dressing area, and bedroom,” Sheldon said. “There is a forward bathroom, and my station. We’ll be about five hours to New York and a little longer to London. There is a stock of classic and current DVD movies and a large screen. There is also an active Internet connection. You will not hear the jet noise as the interior has ambient noise cancellation.”
    Andrew returned, held his arms out, and looked around. “So do you like the plane? The company just bought this one. It’s a Gulfstream. The interior is custom.”
    Shanta looked around in amazement. “This is fantastic!”
    “Say,” Andrew then said. “I notice you have never asked me the