“What are you doing?” Kim asked, half-closing her eyes. IN reality, her gaze roamed his perfectly chiselled chest.

“It’s my turn...” Gerald answered curtly.

“What do you mean ‘my turn?” Kim asked incredulously.

“Come on, I massaged you...” Gerald said. “You should return the favour, you know...”

Gerald climbed up the massage table. He laid himself face down like Kim did. Kim was frozen in her place.

“Are you still...shy, Kim?” Gerald . “Are you afraid of touching me?”

Kim didn’t answer back. Truth was...she really was afraid of laying a hand on him. She was afraid how she was going to react. She was afraid that once she took a chance, she might not be able to hold herself back and she was going to smother him. She was afraid he might freak out!

Seeing how confused she was, Gerald more.

“Would you rather let those two other ladies massage me instead?” said Gerald naughtily. “Come on, Kim. I promise I won’t squeal...”

Kim smiled coyly. The thought alone that some random ladies will be caressing his body parts was enough to send her almost running towards his direction. She moved to the side of the massage table in a sigh.

“What kind of massage would you like, sir?” Kim said playfully.

“Cariño brutal (brutal care)... if you may...” Gerald mumbled, closing his eyes, anticipating Kim’s warm touch.

At first, Kim jokingly tried to choke him or playfully tickled him on the sides. But the longer it went, the more intimate it became. She let her fingers run wildly on the lush hairs on his legs and arms. She slowly felt every sinew of his very taut back. Kim sighed inwardly looking at how his narrow waist made way to his curvaceous behind.

She was still G-rated at the moment...but she was getting seemingly close to being adulterated considering how steamy things are getting. Her mind raced with the possibilities.

Gerald was right. This was definitely the most intimate she had been with a man. She had had kisses and caresses from Matthew before but those even seemed too impersonal compared to the way her fingers memorized each ripple of his back muscles. This whole massage session was something of a revelation to Kim. This allowed her to explore her inner sensuality she never thought she had.

“Ahhh...Kim, your hands are amazing!” Gerald remarked as Kim’s hands traced little circles on his back. “What style of massage is that?!”

“It’s Chinese pinpoint massage...” Kim lied. She just made up the name. Her concentration could not be broken. She focused herself to the job at hand. She just found it tantalizing to trace her fingers where his certain back muscles bulged. She sighed at the feel of him quiver lightly at her bidding.

Kim suddenly heard Gerald let out a guttural groan.

“Kim, you’re killing me...” said Gerald.

“I think... I should better go...” Kim said, biting her lower lip, a sense of urgency dawned upon her.

“Yeah...I think you should...” Gerald agreed, not moving an inch.

Kim immediately rushed out of the room.

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By evening time, Kim had fully recovered from the very emotionally charged moment she and Gerald had at the massage room.

While Kim was having a full body mud pack done, Gerald disappeared momentarily and came back down freshly showered. This time, he insisted that Kim get her hair and make-up fixed.

“Why do I need to have my hair and make-up done?” Kim asked. “Are we going somewhere?”

“Just follow what I say...” Gerald replied. “It’s a surprise...”

With that, Kim didn’t anymore argue. She wanted him to fulfill every bit of fantasy he had in him. She was starting to see that fleeting sunny temperament of his starting to surface more often, especially when he was planning some activity for them. She can very well see it in his eyes that he enjoys the job. It was best for them to let him be...

“Oh by the way, since the kids are done, I’ll take them to the local shoe store...they need some shoes..” Gerald announced, his head peering at the door.

“Why do they need shoes?!” Kim asked in disdain.

“Trust me...they need it!” Gerald said cryptically.

Kim just shrugged her shoulders. She was content in letting him do his thing. THe last few days he had proven that his plans end up being super fun. Case in point, last night's date had been terrific.

KIm had been surprisingly happy considering that a few days ago she was as lethargic as a dried up spring onion. It was like she woke up from the dead...and Gerald was her saviour. In the last few days, Kim, not even once thought of the other guy. HE was totally replaced by Gerald in her mind.

Since they’re both having fun at the moment. Why should she change things now and start meddling with his plans? She’ll just somehow allow him to run over her, till she finally gives in...

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At about 7 p.m. , Kim was fully made-up and her hair was perfectly coiffed. She ran up the upper rooms to look for the Gerald and the kids. She knocked on Gerald’s room but there was no answer. She ran down the kitchen but the maids had no idea where they went.

Kim finally decided to go to her room. In there she found a piece of sandwich on the plate by the bed. There is a note on it too...

“Kim, eat the sandwich if you’re hungry. The kids have already eaten. Don’t go out of the room till I call you on your cell phone, understood? - G”

Kim smiled. HE was so unpredictable.

She happily munched on the treat. Only then had she realized how hungry she really was. She wanted to get out of the room to grab a bottled water to drink but she remembered Gerald’s note. Suddenly, her cell phone vibrated. He received a text from Gerald. It said...

“Enjoyed dinner? See the note on the closet. Come down when you’re done...”

Kim immediately ran to the closet. What was inside, almost made her faint! Hanging by the closet is the most gorgeous red dress she had ever seen. IT had a note on it saying, “WEAR ME!”

Kim hastily took it out into the light. It was an elegantly tailored, off-shoulder, bright red gown made of expensive velvet. It wasn’t terribly low cut on the front, for Kim, the cut was just perfect. It just went right across in a simple straight line in the back, which pleased her more. Together with it, was a pair of long, white gloves.

Kim put on the stunning dress in record time. The touch of the gown on her skin made Kim tremble. It was as if her skin wasn’t used to the expensive material this dress was surely made of. She hastily checked herself on the mirror. It was perfect! The dress hugged every bit of her naturally slender body. But it wasn’t too revealing, neither too tacky. In fact, it was elegant and classy. IT had a pair of red velvet shoes to go along with it too. She slipped her dainty feet on them. Kim was surprised even with how the shoes fit perfectly. She had really small feet and oftentimes she ends up getting shoes in the kids department. But this simple red velvet shoes, they fit her feet like a glove.

Even her hair do, seemed to go with the mature theme of the day. Her hair was perfect as little curly tendrils fall gently on the sides of her face. She looked more like a woman now than her usual youthful appearance. It was as if in the last few days she had grown up a ton. There is a wiser look in her eyes she never had before. This whole experience certainly had been such a journey of the senses for her. And what she got from that was more than a heaping of self worth and self confidence.

Kim sighed once more. If there was such thing as a killer dress, this was it. She remembered Tom Cruise saying to Renee Zellwegger in the movie Jerry Mcguire..."that's more than a dress, it's an Audrey Hepburn movie!" Kim felt similarly confident in the gown. This will make Gerald's eye pop out once she sees her on it. Kim was so beautiful in this dress...it was as if no man can ever resist her...and none are more willing a victim than the young man Gerald.

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Kim breathed out a heavy sigh as she slowly made her way down the stairs. She held her breath with each careful step. With a lovely dress like that, and with Gerald perhaps waiting for her at the bottom, she would like to arrive there in one piece. How embarrassing it would be if she had a spill. The high heels themselves didn’t make it easy for her. Kim held on to the railings as if her life depended on them. At the landing, she saw the trio waiting for her. Looking at them, made her gasp.

Lilly was so stunning in her little pink and lilac gown. She looked especially charming with her matching beaded head band. Thomas was so adorable in his little black tuxedo. His hair was gelled perfectly in place. He was slick and suave as any boy could be. HE put out a shiny shoe, so did Lilly. Kim knew those shoes were what Gerald bought for them. Kim nodded and smiled back at them. Her glance then traveled on to Gerald.

My God! HE was so stunning in his black tuxedo too. He was more handsome than Kim could ever remember. His hair was gelled back as well, making him look more mature than his age. He had a dark, brooding look about him now that Kim didn’t know she liked. He looked so menacing yet charming. He looked like a prince.

Kim shyly made her way down the stairs successfully. Gerald’s mouth was all the while agape at the vision that slowly walked towards him. His heart skipped several beats at the sight of her.

“Wow!” That was all Gerald could muster to say.

“It’s the dress...” Kim said modestly. “... not me!”

“NO...it’s you...in that dress!” Gerald said. “They said, only Julia Roberts can pull off a dress like that! But wow! You’re like a classical painting!”

Kim blushed. “Really now, I beat Julia Roberts?”

“In my book...hell, yeah!” Gerald said like a naughty teenager.

Kim laughed bashfully. Thomas came up to her side and gave her a single red rose.

“Mommy, you look really pretty!” said Thomas.

“Thanks, sweetie...” Kim replied. “You’re not looking bad yourself!” She bent down lightly to give him a kiss on the head.

“Ate Kim, do you like my dress?!” said Lilly sweetly.

“Yeah, honey!” Kim responded, giving her a peck on the cheek. “You’re very, very pretty....much, much prettier than Ate!”

Lilly gave a little twirl to show off her dress.

Gerald suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Kim didn’t realize that he had walked off. Now that he was back, he had a flat, square jewellery case on his hand. Kim held her breath. When he opened it in front of her, her eyes reflected the sparkle of the gems inside it.

Inside of the case, is a dazzling ruby necklace with tiny diamonds around each of the heart-shaped cut piece. It was so visually stunning that Kim couldn’t help but reach out to it, her hands trembling as she skimmed her hands over each stunning facet.

As she touched the necklace, Gerald playfully shuts the cover, catching her fingers. Kim got startled, then she laughed.

“I think I’ve seen this scene before,” Kim noted of how everything was unfolding like it was in the film Pretty Woman. “I love the movie...”

“But, like I said, to me, you’re more lovelier than Julia Roberts ever could be...” Gerald said as he gracefully placed the necklace on Kim’s neck. “Don’t worry it’s not that expensive...it’s way cheaper compared to the real one in the movie...plus my friend the jeweller just lent it to me for this night...”

“Thank God...” Kim said, tactlessly. “Or else my skin would blotch from how expensive it is! Just out of curiosity, how much does this necklace really cost?”

“Five hundred thousand pesos...”Gerald said, without stammering.

Kim suddenly felt the heavy necklace choking her. With that kind of money, she could pay up their 10-year mortgage. She marvelled at how he considered five hundred grand cheap.

“Okay...now that we’re set...let’s go...”Gerald announced.

“Where to?” Kim asked. “Are we going to ride your private jet out of the country to watch opera...just like in the movie?!”

“Close...” Gerald answered. “Remember I said yesterday that today was our Music Night...So, tonight we’ll be going to the opera...but this time, just in the comforts of our basement...”

“You mean to say we dressed up like this, just to watch a movie in the basement?” Kim said incredulously.

“Just pretend we are in an expensive, really snooty theatre...” Gerald said.

“Anyway, we come dressed for the part...” Kim said, playing on. “might as well, take it for a ride...”

“There you go, that’s the spirit!” Gerald said. “So, shall we?”

Kim lovingly placed her hand on his elbow and they slowly moved towards the basement. Downstairs, Kim noticed that the sofa was replaced by four velvet theatre chairs...just like in the opera. And on the side, there was a real pop corn and soda machine for the kids.

“Wow! Did you do all these?” the astounded Kim said.

“Yep, while you guys were busy with your beauty stuff...my staff and I were busy putting this up...”

“Wow! This looks amazing...”

“Like you said...effort...”Gerald gave Kim a knowing look.

Kim responded with a smile. The kids excitedly sat on the chairs. They were actually restless for the movie to start. Gerald meanwhile arranged for the theatre system to start churning.

“Kids, I warned you...the songs you’re going to hear...you may not understand..,” Gerald warned them. “But, like I said, you should keep quiet so your Ate Kim could concentrate on it, okay?”

“What are we watching?” said Kim.

“Something close to my heart...” Gerald said. “It’s a film... a live staging of an opera.”

The wide-screen TV started to flicker. The surround sound started to hiss.

“IT’s Puccini’s Madamme Butterfly....” said Gerald. “My wife and I caught a show of it once in New York and we loved it ever since...”

Kim’s spirit started to spiral downwards. It was his wife’s favourite. Kim felt an odd sense of jealousy towards her. Even in her death, she still commanded some attention from Gerald.

“Is it in English?” asked Kim.

“No, it’s in Italian...” answered Gerald.

“How the hell will I be able to understand it?” remarked Kim.

“The music is powerful enough to guide you through...” Gerald said. “Just watch it...you will not be sorry, I promise...”

As the movie progressed, Kim started to relax and concentrate on the film. IT was a simple story to follow even with the Italian libretto.

The opera itself was set in Japan. IT was a story of a Japanese geisha who fell in love with an American diplomat. They had a brief love affair while he was visiting. He left her with a child when he moved back to the US. While he was there, he married someone else, an American girl. He then came back years later, with his new wife, to Japan. Upon seeing him happy, the Japanese geisha Cho-cho-san decided to leave her son to the care of her former husband and his present bride. At the end of it all, the heroine committed suicide just when her former lover was about to confess his undying love for her.

By the end of the film, the kids were asleep. Kim, meanwhile, was crying heavily after the last soulful aria. Gerald was pleasantly pleased to see her respond to it the way he had expected her to react.

“I told you, you will like it...” Gerald said, wiping off the tears from her face.

“It’s odd...I don’t understand the words yet the emotions they portrayed...it’s so real!”

“Music is a universal language, is it not?” Gerald said.

“It’s such a sad tale...” Kim observed. “You have an odd taste for sad tales...no wonder you are depressed! It’s so depressing...”

“But, you see...I wanted you to see it because it will give you an insight to how my ex-wife shared some affinity to the lead character....”

Having said all her childish nonsense made Kim feel how stupid she really was. It was his way of expressing his feelings, and here she was making him feel bad about it.

“You see...” Gerald went on. “My wife had this connection with Cho-cho-san. She was like her in most ways. Like her, she gave up her own child, sacrificing her own happiness so he can live a better life. As painful as it was for her to leave Tommy to me, she said I would be a better parent than she ever could. She also felt I replaced her with someone else too. Just like the geisha did. She felt that I didn’t love her like I did my imaginary fling. That is why she left. That is why she got depressed and committed suicide...”

Kim held her head down. She was afraid he would see how superficial her thoughts of him were.

“My wife is a very artistic soul. She loved music, painting, dancing...Sometimes, I really didn’t understand her. But we share the love of the opera! And I wanted to show this to you tonight, not to force you to like it like she did, but to gain insight on the only connection we ever made...” Gerald said placidly.

Kim looked up to him with all the longing in the world. She wanted to hug him and say sorry.

“I understand...” Kim said holding his hand. “Thank you...for allowing me to see you at your most vulnerable...”

Gerald smiled wryly. Tears of guilt felt from her eyes.

“So, enough of that crying...” Gerald pushed away some of the tears from Kim’s eyes. “Did you enjoy this date as well?”

“Is this phase two?”

“Yup, phase two is over and done with!” said Gerald. “So, what’s my grade?!”

“I’ll give you an A this time...” said Kim. “The whole day was amazing...the facial, the make up...the dress, the movie...everything was like a dream! Like a fairytale...”

“I can only promise you that it can only get better!” Gerald beamed.

“You mean to say, this is not yet the best of it?”

“I don’t know, only you can be the judge of that in the end...” Gerald answered. “What I know is that tomorrow is another day to look forward to...”

“I agree...” Kim answered from the heart. “I look forward to my mornings now. IT’s the best part of my day when I’m anticipating what you have planned for me...”

“Yeah...” Gerald added. “It’s my best part of day too...knowing that I have made you happy...”

“So, what do we do now?” Kim said. “I’m in this wonderful dress...and you’re in that fabulous tux...”

“DO you want to get out of it and continue our massage session?” Gerald said naughtily.

Kim gave him a disgusted look.

“No, silly...I’m thinking along the lines of dancing...” Kim suggested.

“I don’t dance...” Gerald said. “I’m afraid it’s not one of my many talents...”

“Can you sway?” Kim asked.

“I think I can do that...” Gerald with a warm smile. “May I?”

Gerald extended a hand to Kim. Kim readily took. He pulled her close to him. Kim face lay gently on his chest. From there she could hear his heart beat. It was alive and throbbing. She smiled warmly. It was as if a sense of contentment suddenly fell upon Kim. She knew from the way he hugged her, his heart beats for only for her...

They just swayed and swayed...not minding the time...not minding anything...right now, the world just exists for the two of them...

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There! How did you guys like Day 2? I call this the Pretty Woman Chapter. Anyways, I hope I did not offend too many of you by the rather 'y' turn of the story. It's just that I wanted their days together to be a whole journey of the senses. What could be more sensual than the human touch? But that's as far as it goes...promise! Thanks for reading...hope this isn't too rough! I may have rushed it a little.

will edit later...please forgive the minor errors.