Liza

“Hello,” Liza smiled as she extended her hand to greet the handsome, self-made millionaire, whose mesmerizing dark eyes had captured her attention online. “You must be Antoine.”

“Oui-yes.” He returned her smile. “Enchanté, it is my pleasure to meet you.”

“Likewise,” she said softly. Antoine’s suggestion of getting together at Daniel’s—an upscale French restaurant on 65th in New York was delightful and helped to ease her into the role of his date.

Inside the restaurant, the maître d' escorted them to their table. Antione held her chair before sitting across from her. “Une table pour deux—a table for two.”

“Where are you from, Antoine?” Liza placed the cloth napkin from the table in her lap.

“I grew up in a little village, south of Nice, called, Èze. It is on the Riviera.” A smile spread across Antoine’s face as he talked about his childhood home. “There are still pavé—cobblestone—paths, a 12th century church, and château hotels with beautiful views.”

His smile deepened. “I would love to take you there, one day.”

Liza had marveled at the visual pictures he’d painted with words, but she wouldn’t reveal all of her cards just yet. “It sounds lovely.”

“It is. You could tomber en amour—fall in love there.” Antoine reached across the table, took her hand and gave it a gentle kiss. “Tonight, we shall settle for Chef Daniel’s cuisine, which will transport us to the south of France with his Boulud Sur Mer cuisine. I think you will enjoy.”

The maître d' reappeared at the table and poured wine into their goblets. Antoine lifted his to toast. “Pour l’amour et toi—for love and you.”

***

The food had been delicious and exquisitely prepared—more like works of art than nourishment. She made a mental note to come back again as they walked to the curb to wait for Antoine’s driver to pull the car around.

”Antoine?” Even in heels she had to look up to him. “What else do you have planned for us tonight?”

“Ce soir on s'amuse—tonight we have some fun.” Antoine opened the car door and slid in behind Liza. “To the Resort World Casino in Queens.” After informing the driver, Antoine turned his attention to Liza.

“That sounds like such fun.” Liza inched closer to Antoine and slipped her arm through his. The lengths he’d gone to in order to make this evening memorable hadn’t been lost on her. This would be a night not soon forgotten. Antoine made her heart flutter a bit and Liza’s cheeks warmed with anticipation of the evening’s end. When the time came, she would savor every moment of their time together.

“Nous sommes ici—we are here!” Antione’s voice broke into her thoughts, “Come.”

The excitement of the moment whirred throughout her body as they walked into the casino. “Antoine, I want to play the slot machines! Do they take cash?”

“Oui—yes.” Antoine reached into his wallet and pulled out a crisp one hundred dollar bill. “Bonne chance—good luck!” In no time at all, she had lost a thousand of his dollars, but he didn’t seem to care.

“Now, we play my game.” Antoine lead the way to the Roulette tables, and then, to the poker tables. He lost even more money without batting an eye. Antoine then suggested trying their luck at the craps table. “Tu es mon porte-bonheur –you are my good luck charm, Liza.” Antoine had her blow on the dice each time, but he still lost.

“Last game,” Liza said more sternly than intended.

“Once more on the slots and we’ll go, my dear.” Antoine gave her another hundred which she reluctantly slipped into the machine and pulled the lever. As all of the golden symbols lined up, the bell for the machine rang, and then the lights began to flash.

Unable to contain her excitement, she jumped into Antoine’s arms. ““Can you believe it? I won $20,000 dollars!” she squealed. “Thank you!”

Within minutes an attendant showed up with forms to sign, asking her how she would like the money. “In a check, please.” She filled out the tax documents while waiting for the attendant to return with a check.

“This was so much fun, Antoine. I’ve never won money!” Liza stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him.

Antoine wrapped his arms around her and devoured her with his lips.

After a moment of passion, she untangled herself from his embrace. “We may need to finish this at my hotel.” Liza grinned then kissed him, again. “Let’s get the car.”

“Oui.” Antoine’s eyes danced with excitement. “Where is your hotel?” He arched one eyebrow. “Is it nearby?”

“Lotte New York Palace. I’m in the Towers executive suite. We’re not too far.” Liza let a little laugh escape.

“Are you happy tonight?” Antoine beamed.

“I am very happy.” Liza pressed her lips against his, “Very, very happy.”

Once inside the car, Liza looked out the window as the driver keenly navigated the traffic back into Manhattan.

“We’re here.” While Antoine had some idea of how much she had been looking forward to the moment they could be alone, without the eyes of others intruding, he would never guess that it’s all she’d been thinking about most of the evening.

“Let’s go.” She almost ran, dragging Antoine behind her, to the elevators.

He laughed. “You are in a rush, no?”

“You’ve no idea,” Liza whispered in his ear as the elevator doors closed. She stood in front of him and pressed her body close to his. Antoine responded by wrapping his arms around her and holding her tight. A soft moan escaped her lips as he kissed her neck. When the elevator doors opened, Liza led Antoine to her room.

“Welcome to my place.” Liza grabbed both of Antoine’s hands pulling him toward the bedroom. He followed and, once again, wrapped her in an embrace.

“I like this place here, too.” He bent down and kissed her shoulder, leaving a trail of delicious sensations she felt all the way to her toes, as he made his way up her neck. She met his demanding lips and felt her body explode with rapturous desire. Instinctively, her arms encircled his neck and she felt her body reaching into his, extracting a response. Liza wasn’t disappointed, either, as Antione unzipped her dress and let it fall to the floor. A myriad of sensations inundated her; the heat of his breath upon her skin; the intensity of his touch; the smell of his skin; her name on his lips; his taste. Antione picked her up and laid her on the bed, and after undressing, climbed in beside her. He didn’t have to be told what to do; he expertly guided her to the edge of the cliff and caused her to fall, over and over again, until she was completely spent.

Afterward, Antoine lay on his back, with his right arm cradling her body, his fingers softly caressing the small of her back. She pressed her head against his chest and closed her eyes, and listened to his breathing while she imagined what life with him could look like. “Do you have something to drink? I am very thirsty.” His voice snapped her back to reality.

She propped herself up on one elbow and kissed his forehead. “Yes. I do. I’ve got just what you need. I’ll be right back.”

Liza eased out of bed then crossed the room and grabbed the robe from the hook inside the bathroom, then went into the kitchen. Upon her return, Antione sniffed the contents of the glass. “This smells like apples. What is it? Are you trying to kill me with health food?”

Liza chuckled—maybe a little too much, but his choice of words was hilarious. “We will have to see, now won’t we? Try it. I promise you, you’ll love it.”

Antoine downed the juice without mention of the kale she’d added and then set his glass on the bedside table. “Now, please, come and lay beside me.”

Liza slipped back into bed and snuggled up against him. “I have enjoyed our time together.”

“Moi aussi, mon amour —me too, my love.” Antoine drew one of her hands to his lips and kissed it. She sighed as she laid her head on his chest and once again listened to the rhythm of his breathing.

A few minutes later Antoine rose sharply, grabbed his left arm and groaned.

“What’s wrong?” Liza, unable to reel in her concern asked the obvious question. “Should I call a doctor?”

He shook his head then tried to get up from the bed but, crumpled on the floor instead.

Liza leapt from bed and picked up the bedside telephone then dialed 9-1-1. “Send an ambulance, hurry!”

She rushed back to Antoine’s side, sat down on the floor and put his head in her lap. “Don’t worry, they’ll be here soon.” Liza stroked his hair and kissed his face, even though she suspected he would not survive, the least she could do was comfort him.

Once the paramedics arrived she stepped aside. One of the medics, the younger one, began compressions while the older one questioned her on Antoine’s medical history, for which she sheepishly admitted to having no answers.

“One, two, three, four, five…” The younger paramedic counted out loud. He stopped long enough to help load Antoine onto the gurney, and then climbed back on top to continue CPR.

“We’re taking him to Mount Sinai, ma’am.” The older one rolled the gurney toward the elevator.

Liza nodded. “I’m going to get dressed. I’ll meet you there.” She was out the door fifteen minutes later. Thankfully, she remembered to grab Antoine’s wallet on her way out. She searched for his insurance card as she approached the nurse’s station.

“I’m here for Antione Laurent. He was just brought in with a possible heart attack.”

“Are you his wife?” The only nurse at the station looked down at her computer as she began to type. “What’s his medical history?”

“No. Actually, we only just met today. I have his insurance card and driver’s license, if that helps.” Liza handed the cards to the nurse and turned to go. “I’ll be in the waiting room if someone can update me?”

“Sure, honey.” The nurse turned her attention back to the computer and began typing again.

Liza settled in with a cup of stale, hospital coffee. An hour and a half later a man dressed in blue scrubs came out to see her. “I’m Doctor Beaumont. Are you here for Mr. Laurent?”

Liza stood. “Yes, I am. I was with him when he had a heart attack.” She extended her hand to the doctor. “I’m Liza. How is he?”

“I’m sorry.” Dr. Beaumont shook her hand. “We did everything we could, but he didn’t make it.”

Liza’s breath caught as she acknowledged the finality of the doctor’s statement. Granted, she’d only met Antoine tonight, but his warmth and generosity had made an indelible mark on her. Strangely, Liza wondered who would miss her if she died.

“Thank you, Doctor,” she muttered before turning to walk away. Liza left Antione’s wallet at the hospital—maybe they could find something in there to notify his next of kin. She walked down the dimly lit corridor and stepped outside the automatic doors of the ER. As luck would have it, a cab had just pulled up. She climbed inside, closed the door and stared out the front window.

“Where to?” The cabbie turned and looked over his shoulder at Liza.

“JFK International Airport, please,” Liza forced a smile.

“You got it.” the driver pulled away from the curb.

Liza opened her clutch, pushed the check aside, and pulled out a little black book and a pen. She removed the elastic band and flipped through until she came to the last page...

She uncapped the pen and marked through the last name on her list: Antione Laurent.