Chapter 24
Carlos didn’t say anything further until we were in the car and he was driving me to the hotel. “I suggest you get ready for a wild night, the boss loves good food, drinks, and women.”
I was surprised and said, “I thought he was married with children?”
Carlos shrugged his shoulders. “As I said, this is not Germany, but I am sure you will have a nice evening. By the way, you don’t have to dress in a suit tonight, it’s too hot.”
I was buttoning my shirt when there was a call from the reception to inform me that Carlos was waiting in the lobby. I checked the time; it was ten to nine so he was a bit early. After making sure I had my wallet and key card, I took the elevator down.
In the mirror, I checked myself once more: light blue short-sleeved shirt, khaki-colored pants, and brown loafers. I adjusted the collar and was pleased with the result.
When Carlos opened the rear door for me, I saw Jorge Jimenez sitting inside.
“Hi, Mr. Jimenez,” I said as I got in.
“Call me Jorge. Cigar?” he said and held one out to me.
“No thank you, I don’t smoke,” I said, wondering if he had problems with his memory.
“Carlos will take us to a very nice restaurant. I suggest you try the Ceviche for entree and then the Corvina for the main course.”
“Sounds, great, what is it?”
“You will see.”
During the drive, he pointed out several banks that he worked with, a few casinos, and the church where he had been married. When Carlos stopped in front of a large villa nestled behind a high wall with a lot of flowers in different colors growing on it, Jorge said, “Carlos, we will be about two hours. I will call you when we are ready.”
“Okay, Mr. Jimenez.”
The restaurant was half full and I immediately noticed that the customers were of the influential type: expensive suits and dresses and the flash of gold watches and diamonds.
We were seated in a booth in a corner and Jorge went ahead and ordered for us. The first item to arrive on the table was a bottle of white wine in a cooler. The waiter poured an inch in Jorge’s glass and he tried it.
“Very good,” he said with a nod.
I tried it and it was the most amazing wine I had ever tasted. Usually, I stick to beer but once in a while, I will have a glass of wine. Back home, I always drank German wine because it was cheap. I picked up the bottle and saw it was from Chile.
“I had no idea they made wine in Chile,” I said.
“They do, and in Argentina. We drink a lot of wine from our neighbors down south,” said Jorge.
The waiter returned with a large plate that he placed in the center of the table. Then he placed two smaller ones in front of us.
“That’s Ceviche. You have fish, shrimp, or octopus,” said Jorge and pointed at each little bowl on the plate with his fork.
“How is it made?”
“It’s raw fish that is placed in lime and lemon juice with onion and a few other things, the acid cooks it. Try some.”
I looked suspiciously at the bowls. When I saw the suckers on one tiny octopus arm I swallowed hard and chose the shrimp. I was surprised by how good it was and tried some of the fish which was also nice. We talked about the latest shipment we had sent to Panama and the delays Jorge had had with customs. While we spoke, we finished the entree and the waiter replaced it with the main course.
On the plate in front of me lay a whole fish about twelve inches long. It had been fried and sprinkled with fresh garlic.
“Cut along the spine and the meat will come off the bones,” said Jorge.
I did what he said and took a bite. A big smile grew on my face as the fish melted in my mouth. “Wow, this is fantastic. I have never tried a fish that tastes this good. Back home all we eat is herring or cod.”
“I am glad you like it. Here, have some more wine.”
Jorge was a fast drinker. Before I’d finished my second glass, he was drinking from his fourth and ordered another bottle.
He asked me about Hamburg and where I had grown up and sounded sincere in his questions. I warmed to the man, which normally is hard for me since I am shy around new people.
When he had finished, he pushed his plate away and wiped his mouth with the serviette. “Are you married or do you have a girlfriend?” he asked.
“Neither, I am single.”
“Why? A man should have a woman in his life, or two,” he added with a grin.
“I guess I am shy around women and I find it hard to talk to them.”
Jorge smiled. “I heard that you took a liking to Leila.”
I looked down at the empty plate and nodded. “She is very beautiful.”
“Yes, she is. I have tried to get into her panties ever since she began working for me a year ago, but she always says no to my invites.”
I was very surprised at his honesty. No one back home would admit that he was trying to get laid with a girl at the office, and even less so if he was married.
“Maybe she likes guys her age?” I said.
Jorge nodded and lit a cigar. “Maybe, but a young hot thing like her needs a real man, you know. One who can treat her right and fuck her the way she needs to be fucked.”
The waiter appeared before I had a chance to answer, not that I was sure how to respond to a statement like that. He took our plates and asked if we wanted dessert.
“No, we will be having dessert somewhere else,” said Jorge with a smile.
While we waited for the check, Jorge called Carlos and, when we walked out of the restaurant, he was waiting. “Where to, Mr. Jimenez?” he asked.
“You know where I want to go.”
The car slid into the traffic and we drove to another large villa. This one had no wall but it was shielded by high bushes and trees.
“Welcome to Angel’s,” said Jorge when we stood on the sidewalk.
“What is it?”
He put his arms around my shoulder and said, “The best strip club in Panama.”Content © provided by NôvelDrama.Org.
I had never been to one, even though Hamburg had its famous Red Light District. The thought of watching women take off their clothes for money didn’t interest me one bit, so I wasn’t sure I should go inside.
“Would it be okay if Carlos drove me home instead?”
Jorge stared at me like I was an alien. “Are you gay?”
“No, I just don’t think I will enjoy being inside.”
“Horse shit! Of course, you will.”
He almost dragged me up the three flights of stairs to where a big black man stood by the doors. The security man nodded at Jorge and then opened the door.
The first thing I saw was a raised platform where a stunning dark-skinned girl danced around a pole. While Jorge talked to the woman behind a desk, I looked around. The room was spacious with several smaller platforms where other women danced. To one side was a long bar where men sat together with scantily dressed girls. On the opposite wall, I saw several doors and above them, there was a sign that said ‘Private’. Some had a green light above them and others a red light.
“Those are the private rooms. Inside you are allowed to touch the girls if you want,” said Jorge and led me forward.
A girl in a white bikini met us and led us to a round table with overstuffed chairs close to the main platform. When I sat down, the girl on the platform danced up to me and turned around, then she wiggled her ass in front of my face and my cock woke up.