Intimate Deception

The rain was coming down hard, and traffic was bumper to bumper. It was close to midnight, and Penny was on the road for almost two hours. She never liked driving in the rain, and would have premonitions of skidding off the wet road, ending up in a ditch and being all alone for weeks.
When checking the weather earlier, there was no mention or sign of rain. It was as though the sky had just burst into tears without any forewarning. She was on her way home from a dinner date with her now ex-boyfriend, who abruptly ended their two-year relationship. His excuse was that she was moving too fast, and he was not ready to take their relationship to the next level.
His rationale for breaking up was a complete surprise to her, because she never placed any demands on him. If he wanted to see other women, it was fine with her.
It was almost two in the morning when she got to her residence. By then, the rain had stopped. She parked her car into the building’s underground garage, got on the elevator and went straight to her apartment.
Since she was a little girl, Penny wanted to work in the area of medicine. Just about every family member was on some type of medication for health-related problems.
The idea of taking a pill to help alleviate pain, cure or manage a disease fascinated her. She wanted to dispense drugs and offer drug-related information to consumers, and so, she chose to go into pharmacy.
She attended a well-known college in New York State, received her Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy and got a job as a pharmacist assistant at a neighborhood drugstore.
A year later, she took and passed the state exam to become a licensed pharmacist.
Several months later, she was head pharmacist at a major pharmacy chain in New York City.
While reading her mail, Penny fell asleep.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
“Who could that be at this time of night?” she thought to herself.
When she looked at her watch, it was almost 10:00 a.m. When she looked through the peephole, the person on the other end was unfamiliar to her.
She asked, “Who is it?”
“It’s Ebo, your new next door neighbor. I just moved in about a week ago,” answered the man.
When she opened the door, a feeling of delight overtook her body. He was undoubtedly the most handsome man she had ever seen. If she were questioning why her ex had dumped her, it did not matter any more, because Ebo had her full attention, and he was going to be her next main squeeze.
However, it would not be long before her plans to be with him would never come about, and if the neighbors were lacking in friendly gossip, they were about to be hit with the biggest scandal that would rock the city to its core.
Standing at the door, Ebo apologized for disturbing Penny, so early in the morning. He wanted to introduce himself and let her know that he was living in the apartment next to hers, in case she heard noises, and was a businessperson who traveled frequently.
By now, she was extremely impressed and wanted to know more about this good-looking man.
Being a gracious neighbor, she invited him to dine with her the following evening.
With extreme pleasure, he accepted her invitation.

Penny pondered what she was going to serve for dinner. Her cooking would have never garnered any awards. She ate out most of the time or had meals delivered but wanted to make a first-class impression on Ebo.
After all, he was a businessperson and well traveled. Serving him a frozen dinner would be lacking in class and a bad reflection on her, she thought.
She decided to call her best friend Lea who operated a catering service and asked if she would prepare an elegant dinner for two for tomorrow evening. Even though it was short notice, Lea would come up with a special menu.
Lea and Penny met in college and instantly became best friends. Lea majored in Restaurant and International Hospitality and worked at a well-known catering business for several years. After saving enough money, she decided to start her own catering company, which became an overnight success.
Many of her clients included celebrities, politicians, corporate executives and business owners. If one ever wanted to have an elaborate banquet, Lea would be the person to call.
She told Penny to leave everything in her hands and not to worry about a thing.
The evening had arrived. There was a knock at the door; it was Ebo. As he walked into the apartment, he had the tone of a king.
Penny was definitely going to be his queen.
The aroma from the food had permeated the whole apartment. As the two sat down, he complimented her on the table setting. The menu was simple yet elegant and included: Creamed Crab and Spinach Soup, Yam and Pork Supreme, Glazed Carrots, and Strawberry Sorbet topped with Brandy Sauce.
Lea introduced herself to Ebo as Penny’s best friend, and the server for the evening.
He extended his hand and said, “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise,” she said.
Penny informed him that Lea owned a flourishing catering service and had planned and prepared the dinner at the last minute.
As the two started to eat, Ebo began to talk about himself. He was born in Montréal, Canada and studied marketing and retailing.
Ten years ago, he opened his first high-end shop, selling designer handbags and other fine accessories.
He now had shops in Hong Kong, where he lived, Dubai, Ghana, Senegal and France.
Last year, his business grossed over fifteen million dollars in sales.
In a couple of weeks, he was going to California to meet with a real estate agent to look for commercial space on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, a famous shopping area that attracts both shoppers and tourists and offers some of the most exclusive shops in the country.
The two women were dumfounded. To be in the company of an attractive man was sexy, but to be in the presence of a millionaire was mouth-watering.
The odds of meeting a handsome man who was successful and rich were one in a billion.
They would meet dynamic looking men, but they had empty bank accounts.
Moreover, the wealthy men they did meet were either married or too hard on the eyes.
Yet, here you had a man who possessed good looks, class and money.
What more could a woman ask for.
It was getting late, and Ebo decided it was time to turn in. He thanked the women for an exquisite meal and asked Lea for her business card.
With a devilish smile on her face, she handed him a card with her name and private phone number. It took about an hour for Lea to clean up and pack her cooking supplies. Penny thanked her for a job well done and paid her. Lea gave Penny a kiss on the cheek and left.

Penny was thinking about Ebo and falling hard for him. As she was getting ready to go to bed, the doorbell rang.
It was Ebo in his robe.
“I am sorry to trouble you, but I could not get over that succulent meal your friend prepared. She is an excellent chef, and dessert was just scrumptious. How did you know strawberries were my favorite fruit?”
Penny just stood there in amazement and jokingly answered, “I am a mind reader.”
They laughed.
He then asked, “Can you read my mind now and tell me why I am really here?”
She answered “No.”
He said, “It is because I have strong feelings for you, and I did not want to be alone.”
Before she could respond, he got closer, started to kiss her and removed her nightgown. Their bodies interlocked like two horny mosquitoes going down for the thrill. She was in such a state of excitement that if an earthquake had occurred, she would have thought it was the ultimate climax.
He was no doubt the best lover she had ever encountered and wondered how he was able to maintain such staying power when it came to his performance in bed. The lovemaking lasted for almost six hours, a record-breaking task for any individual.
It was near noon when Ebo woke up. He kissed Penny, thanked her for a tremendous night and went back to his place.
She immediately called Lea and gave her all the magnificence details about her sexual escapades with Ebo.
Lea listened carefully and asked, “Are you falling in love with this man?”
“You bet,” she answered.
There was some pseudo unease in Lea’s voice when she said, “You know nothing about this man; for all you know, he probably has a wife and child, and is just using you. You know men who travel a lot, always have a woman in every port.”
“If he were married, I would know,” snapped Penny, who quickly ended the conversation, thanked Lea again for the lovely dinner and would talk to her soon.
For the next several days, Penny and Ebo were visiting each other and engaging in non-stop heavy lovemaking. She was always in a state of eroticism and heated joy; her moaning permeated throughout the apartment, and he was like a coyote howling over his peak acts.
Soon, neighbors started to complain about the racket that was going on all hours of the night.
Eventually, management sent a notice informing the two that their loud noises were disturbing the tenants and asking them to lower their decibels when they were together. Embarrassed by their piercing carnal sounds, they decided to cool it.
In a couple of weeks, they would both be out of town; she was planning to attend a management seminar in Minnesota, and he was going to California to check on a location for his shop.

Meanwhile, Lea was making strategic plans to be with Ebo. She was attracted to him and was determined to be his lover. Moreover, she would stop at nothing to get him. It was warfare, and she was not going to let her friendship with Penny stand in the way.
Her desire for him must have been telepathic. As she was getting ready to leave her home, the phone rang. When she answered, the voice on the other end said, “Hello, may I speak to Lea? This is Ebo calling.”
While listening to him, she became hot; to cool off, she opened the windows.
“Hi Ebo; it’s so nice hearing from you; I was just thinking about you. How are you doing?” she asked.
He told her that he was going out of town in two weeks and wanted to see her before he left. He was thinking of having a grand opening party for his new store in California and wanted her to cater the affair.
She said that would be great, and if he could come to her place, they could discuss and plan the event. She gave him her address and said, “I can meet with you this evening.”
He agreed and could not wait to see her.
The evening could not have come fast enough for Lea. She prepared a nice feast and remembered Penny saying that Ebo loved strawberries. The old adage, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, was going to play out beautifully and have him eating right out of her hands.
There was a knock at the door; it was Ebo, looking beautiful as ever. He brought along a dozen roses and kissed her on the cheek. She took the flowers and placed them in a vase. Wearing a black see-through lace gown and nothing underneath, she invited him to sit next to her on the sofa.
He smelled the food but was too engrossed with her beauty. He was attracted to her and confessed: “I am not planning to have a catered affair but wanted to see you, because I could not stop thinking about you.”
She said, “I have those same feelings about you.”
Before saying another word, he removed her nightgown; she undressed him, and they went at it like two gymnastic players in an extreme competition. She was in paradise erotica, and he was in his grandeur. They could scream and moan at the top of their voices, because she lived in a soundproof home. There were no meddlesome neighbors to rain on their parade.
They took a reprieve and ate dinner. After dessert, they resumed their lovemaking into the wee hours of the night.
It was around eleven in the morning when Lea and Ebo woke up. She was definitely falling in love and wanted to be with him forever. As she was preparing breakfast, he began talking about his planned trip to California.
She interrupted him and said, “Perhaps I could go with you. Many of my clients live there, and I could introduce you to them; they can be potential customers of yours. The rich and famous are forever searching for the next big ticket item.”
He sat there in amazement and thought, “What a good business partner she would make. With all of her connections, I could probably open up several shops.”
He took her up on her suggestion. They went back to bed and went at it like two hyenas in lust. He now had her under his control, and in two weeks, he would put his Machiavellian tactics into play.

Lea’s catering business was grossing over two million dollars a year. Her home was her headquarters. All business and food preparations took place respectively from her office and spacious kitchen. For large banquets, she would use a commercial kitchen.
When it came to running the business, and planning, preparing and cooking elaborate cuisine, she was an ace.
She had bookings almost two years in advance, but soon her business logic would lapse and cause her downfall.
She started to wonder if going into business with Ebo would be the epitome of her accomplishments. She could connect him with the movers and the shakers. It would be a business and love match made in heaven. She concluded that marriage was the next step on her agenda.
As husband and wife, they would be a force in the business world.
While these ideas were racing through her head, the phone rang. It was Ebo. He had a brilliant plan and wanted to come over and brainstorm with her this evening. She was eager to see him again.

In the meantime, Penny was making plans to go to her seminar. She was leaving the next morning on an eight o’clock flight to Minneapolis. Before departing, she wanted to spend the night with Ebo, but he came up with an excuse: “I’ll be tied up this evening with a client and won’t be home until after midnight.”
She had no idea he was going to be with Lea.
He told Penny how much he loved her and had a couple of hours to spare. The two ended up in bed and went at it like a tiger and tigress participating in wild sensual acts. It would be her last ultimate and physical enjoyment with him. Before she left, he reminded her that he would be out of town for the next three weeks on business.
She said, “I will be back before you. Have a safe trip my darling Ebo.”
In an underhanded pitch, he said, “And you as well, my love.”
When she left his apartment, he called Lea and said, “I’ll be at your place in one hour.”
He started to pack his bags and would leave New York the following night.

Around six in the evening, Ebo had arrived at Lea’s place; she was like a rattlesnake, ready to engulf him and never let him go. She played right into his hands. Being so elated, she had no idea what was coming. He brought along a bottle of wine and poured them both a drink; they stood up and toasted each other. As they sat back down, he started to talk about an investment idea, but she passed out.
When Lea woke up the next day, she was in a daze and heard Ebo saying, “Good morning my dear. Did you sleep well? After the long talk about our business partnership last night, you fell asleep. We do not have much time to waste. I must get the money before I leave for California. My flight leaves tonight at nine. As we discussed last night, you will wire one million dollars into my account; the transaction will take about four weeks to finalize. My real estate agent assures me that in six months, the new shop will be up and running. You and I will get married, set up residence in California but live in Hong Kong for most of the year.”
When she heard those words coming from Ebo’s mouth, a feeling of exhilaration overtook her. Since she had an on-line bank account, it would be faster and more convenient to do the transaction. He gave her his account number, and she merrily logged on and had one million dollars wired into his account.
The two were so overjoyed that they went back to bed.
If she thought there was going to be extreme lovemaking, it would never take place. After consuming more wine, she was sleeping like a baby. It would take weeks before she came out of her state of confusion.
Two weeks had gone by, and Penny was due back from her seminar. She missed Ebo so much that concentrating during the workshops became unbearable, but she managed to get through the classes and in-group discussions.
Sharing what she learned from the meetings with management was not going to be easy. When she got back to work, longing for him became her preoccupation, so much so, she made several errors when filling prescriptions. Lucky for her, one of the pharmacists caught the blunders.
She decided to take some personal days before she found herself on the unemployment line or worse, a defendant in a negligence suit.
She called Lea, but kept getting her voice mail.
“Lea’s a busy bee,” she sensed.
It was near the holidays and the busiest time of the year; so, it was understandable why Lea did not return her calls.
She decided to turn on the TV.
All of a sudden, she heard a noise coming from Ebo’s apartment.
“He is home early from his trip,” she thought.
She rushed over to his place and knocked on the door.
A woman answered.
At first, she thought the woman was the housekeeper, who said, “Hello, may I help you?”
Penny replied, “I thought Ebo was back from his trip.”
The woman looking perplexed said, “Mr. Ebo left two weeks ago. He signed a one-year rental agreement but ran out on the lease and left the owner hanging.”
If Penny was confused, she was about to become more puzzled and asked, “Where did he go?”
The woman could not give her any more information. Her job was to come in and set up the place for the next tenant.
Penny did ask if she could get in touch with the owner of the apartment. The woman gave her a number to call. She thanked the woman, went back to her apartment, and made that call.
The owner informed her that Mr. Ebo was to live in the apartment for one year but unexpectedly left, provided no reason, and no thirty-day notice.
When she inquired about his former address, the owner refused to divulge that information. She thanked the man, hung up and started to cry.
By now, Lea was slowly coming out of her mesmerizing state. For a split second, she started to call out to Ebo, but remembered he was in California and attending to business.
Somehow, she was having short-term memory gaps as to what had taken place during the previous two weeks. All she remembered was sipping wine with him.
When she went to the phone, there were over one hundred messages. As she listened, several were from Penny, and the remaining calls were from clients and vendors, requesting confirmations and down payments for upcoming events.
To say she was in a state of disorder was an understatement. She assured each caller that arrangements and preparations for upcoming events were moving forward and started writing checks to the various vendors.

There was a big ceremonial dinner coming up in one week. Lea had ordered the supplies and food and hired extra staff to help with the catering. Everything was going efficiently.
Then, the unthinkable happened.
Merchants were calling and complaining that checks were coming back stamped insufficient funds. She knew that was impossible, because there was over one million dollars in her business account. The bank must have made an error.
She immediately went on-line and discovered there was only one hundred dollars in her business account and nothing in her savings or checking accounts. She ran to the bank, became hysterical, and accused the bank of stealing her money; she threatened to call law enforcement.
She was so loud, a crowd started to gather.
After calming Lea down, the bank manager pulled up her records, which showed that she had wired over one million dollars to an offshore bank account about two weeks ago.
She insisted no such transaction took place and wanted to know where this account was located.
The manager checked and said, “As soon as the money was received, the account was closed by a Mr. Ebo.”
Lea hollered, “Ebo! How could you do this to me? Why did you deceive me in such a despicable manner? I trusted and loved you with all my heart.”
The manager then said, “It sounds like you were swindled by this man. My advice to you would be to file charges against this person, but it will be difficult to track this individual. These crooks disappear once they get the money. Most often, they are using fake identities, and if they are operating in a foreign country, you may not have any recourse for getting your money back. The law has no jurisdiction in another country. I am truly sorry for your loss.”
Lea left the bank in a distraught state. After arriving home, she sat on the couch in a fetal position, and wailed uncontrollably.

Most of the neighbors in Penny’s apartment building knew Lea, whose reputation as a top-notch caterer preceded her. They were also aware that she and Penny were best friends. Thus, it did not take long for the news to get back to Penny about Lea’s misfortunes.
A group of neighbors stopped her as she was coming into the building and told her about Lea going berserk in the bank. Their take on the situation was that she was fooling around with a man name Ebo, and he conned her out of one million dollars.
When Penny heard this, she could not believe that her best friend would betray her in such a manner.
Many of the neighbors had no idea that the man in the apartment next to Penny’s was Ebo. They knew she and the tenant were doing each other. After all, they were the ones complaining about the ruckus that was coming out of their apartments.
Some neighbors never really knew who was living in that apartment and rarely saw anyone going in or out of the place, until he arrived. When they saw Ebo, people assumed he was the new occupant. Neighbors had a tendency to keep to themselves and tend to their own business, but that all changed when the scandal erupted; all of a sudden, residents were chitchatting like old bosom friends.
Rumors started to surface that Lea was doing her best friend’s boyfriend and bad karma descended on her. The talks became more vicious and vile.
Many of her clients accused her of thievery.
Her competitors rushed in to take her customers away and started to distribute flyers, offering discounted banquets to those left without a caterer for their future affairs.
Cancellations were coming in fast and furious.
There was even an article in a community newspaper accusing Lea of putting out false statements that Ebo took her money. Instead, the writer suggested, “She hid that money to dodge Uncle Sam.”
The finger pointing just added more fuel to the fire.

By now, Lea had fallen on hard times. Her bills were escalating, and she was falling behind in her mortgage payments. She was too embarrassed to face Penny who was avoiding her like the plague.
Civil suits were popping up faster than locusts swarming over crops. The problems were so overwhelming that Lea had disappeared. Many wondered where she went; for all purposes, she was broke and on the streets.
After months of anguish, Penny got over Ebo’s dishonesty and Lea’s deceitfulness, but she could have been the one financially ruined. Fate was on her side.
Because Lea had more money, Ebo went for the one who had the most. In the end, neither woman won. Penny ended up with a short-lived broken-heart, and Lea was gone.?