Life after the Lottery Ch. 53

Something interesting happens

Tuesday morning Dawn was up at 6:00 getting ready to go to the University. When she came out of the shower, I was lying there waiting for her.

"You didn't get to talk to the girls this weekend," I said.

"I know."

"Can you do it tonight after dinner?"

"Yes. I will be home by 3:00. I'm not staying all day. I have to see the Dean and meet with some other department heads and schedule a time with my advisor."

I watched Dawn slip on some new sexy white lingerie then go to her closet. She brought out a nice skirt, short, but modest, and a silk top and slipped it on.

"What are you doing today?" Dawn asked.

"Sherri will be here at 9:00. I will spend the day with her and get things started. I have to make some appointments with our lawyers and talk to Linda's business guy."

"James, don't hit on Sherri."

"I won't."

"I know you saw her naked, and you want her, but not right now."

"All work."

"Including Brenda?" Dawn asked.

"She has wanted me to do her for a few years. She will be here Thursday all day."

"Just hold off for a while with her too."

"Maybe."

Dawn put her heels on and headed out of the bedroom. I got up to shower. By the time I got dressed and went downstairs, everyone had gone. They had left me breakfast, so I sat and ate and drank my coffee. A little after 8:00, I called our attorney and told him what I needed to see him about. We made an appointment for Friday morning. About 8:45, I heard the gate buzzer. I went to the intercom.

"Is that you, Sherri?" I said.

"Mr. Smith?"

"Yes. I'll open the gate for you."

I let her in the gate. A few minutes later she was knocking on the door.

"Come on in," I told her as I opened the door. She walked in looking around.

"Your house is fantastic," she said.

"I'll give you the tour."

I walked her around downstairs and showed her everything, then took her upstairs. She walked down the hall looking in the bedrooms.

"James, do other people live with you?"

"You know the two redheads that come to the store with us?"

"Yes."

"They live here. They will both be going to school soon."

"Okay, but what does live here mean?"

"They live here with Dawn and me, all the time, and will be living here for a long time."

"Are you telling me that you all...emm...live together, as in cohabitating?"

"Yes. Samantha and Amy are our lovers for lack of a better word to explain it to you, for now, Sherri."

"And all this is okay with your wife?"

"Sherri, we are very close to the two of them. We all have sex," I told her.

"I see."

"Does that offend you?"

"No! I think if everyone is cool with it, great!"

"I will explain it more another time, Sherri."

"I guess that is why your wife didn't have a fit when she found out you saw me naked."

"She doesn't have a problem with things like that, Sherri. She knows I like looking at beautiful women and appreciate them."

"Look, but not touch?"

"Maybe," I told her.

"Some time you will have to tell me how all this got started."

"I will. I just didn't want any surprises for you," I told her.

"Where are they now?"

"Amy is a nurse at the hospital; Sam is her sister, and she is working with her as an intern before she starts back to school. Sam is working on her BSN degree, and Amy will be starting graduate school in September. So that you know, Dawn will be working on her Ph.D. in nursing. I guess there are a few other things I need to tell you about."

"Does everyone sleep up here?" Sherri asked.

"Yes. Amy and Sam have separate bedrooms. There is one left up here."

Sherri walked back down the hall and went in my bedroom; I followed her. She looked around and walked into the bathroom.

"Damn, this is huge," she said.

"We spend a lot of time in here."

"All of you?"

"Yes, all of us. Sherri, my wife and I sleep with the girls and have sex with them. You need to know that."

"I'm cool with that. I just wanted to understand the relationship all of you have."

Sherri walked back out to the bedroom and looked in Dawn's open closet.

"This is bigger than my bedroom. You two have a huge closet."

"That's Dawn's; mine is over here."

Sherri walked out and looked. "What is the other set of doors then?"

"That is Dawn's too."

Sherri walked to the bed and sat on the edge.

"James, is this bigger than a regular king?" She asked looking at the bed. I was looking at her legs.

"It's bigger. I had it made longer for me and wider."

"Why does the house have so many bedrooms? There are only two of you, or four."

"We have friends over to visit often."

Sherri got up from the bed.

"Let's go back downstairs," I said. I thought it was the best idea because I was about to push her back on the bed and ravish her.

We went back downstairs and stopped in the kitchen.

"My study is over there. We will be using it as our office for now."

"My roommate freaked out when she found out about you hiring me and the new car."

"I'll have to meet her sometime."

We went to my study and spent the morning talking and making notes. About noon, I told her we would go into town for lunch. We went out to the Escalade and left.

"When we get back, I will set up your code for the gate and the electronic locks on the door."

"Okay."

She had worn a pretty white top and a short skirt like she usually wore at the store. I liked looking at her long tanned legs as we drove.

"Sherri, until things change, or if we will be meeting with someone, you can dress more casually if you would be more comfortable," I told her.

"It doesn't make any difference to me. Do you want me to dress more casual?"

"You look fine. Dress the way you are comfortable."

"I'm comfortable if you like what I wear," she said smiling at me. I was fine.

I drove to a restaurant near Sam's store. We went in and had a good working lunch. When we finished, I drove to his store, and we went in and walked back to his office.

"Hey, the computers are ready," Sam said.

"Sam, this is Sherri. One of the computers is for her."

"Let's go get them."

We followed Sam, and he brought out two new portables.

"These are top of the line and have all the software on them," he said setting them down.

"I will need nice carrying cases for them, Sam."

"I have them," he walked off.

"Sherri, do you have a cell phone?" I asked.

"Yes, but it has a limited plan on it."

"That will be our next stop."

Sam came back with two nice leather cases.

"I need you to do something for me, Sam. I need something set up for another email address for our business."

"I can set that up. You will need to get a domain name."

"Okay, that needs to be done ASAP. I will set her up on my server for now."

"Just let me know, I will set it up from here once you get the domain name."

After about 30 minutes, Sam had everything ready and had Sherri setup on one of the portables. Sherri told me her printer was old, so I got her a new color laser printer. We left, and I stopped at the phone store and had two new smartphones added to my plan for her and Brenda. We were heading back to the house.

"Thanks for the computer and phone."

"Those are for work and your personal use. You will be using them plenty. Bring them with you when you come. That will be your business phone number."

"I have a lot of research and bookmarks on my computer at home where I have been watching fashion for years," Sherri told me.

"Do you know how to transfer it all over?"

"Yes, I do."

"Great. When you travel, take your computer. Brenda, the other lady, will also be taking hers."

"James, most of the swimwear designers have people in the states. Most of the different designers from around the world all have brokers."

"Are they on the internet?"

"Most of them are."

"Show me when we get back, but I also want you to find nice things from Europe, they will be the pricier items," I said.

"There are some lesser-known designers in France that make some very sexy suits. They are exclusives and can get expensive."

"What kind of prices?"

"Most of the nice suits from the better designers are going to be $300 and up. The things from the exclusive designers can be $500 and up easy."

"That will be your area. We need to consider the wholesale cost and how much we can mark them up. Make the necessary contacts in France or where ever you need. When you go to France, you will be ready to deal with them."

"I can't wait to go to France; I don't get to use my French much."

"You speak French?"

"Yes, my parents and grandparents are French-Canadian. I was born here."

"Linda speaks French. That is going to help a lot. Sometime this week, we will call the lingerie store owner we met in Paris and get things started with her."

"Do you have her email address?" Sherri asked.

"Yes, she gave me a card. I told her I would be getting back with her."

"Get me the information; I will send her and introductory letter when we get back. We will have to call her early one morning when you are ready."

"Okay, email her and set it up. We can do it when Brenda is here."

"James, I didn't ask, but do employees get to use the pool, and the gym at the house?" Sherri asked me with a big smile.

"Of course."

"I will bring the bikinis you bought me. I can work on my tan at lunch."

"Sherri, listen. I know I have flirted with you, and I have seen you naked, but it is all business now. I don't want to offend you or think I want anything from you as part of your job."

"James, don't worry about that. I didn't mind you looking at me while I was naked...or flirting with me. You're fine."

"I have to worry. I will probably have to have you sign something since you will be working in a bathing suit."

"Whatever you need, Dr. Smith. It won't be a problem."

*****

When we got back, Sherri sent an email to the lady in Paris; then she sat at my computer, and we looked over swimwear the rest of the afternoon. I bookmarked all the places we found so I could get back to them. Sherri showed me the designer swimwear that ranged in prices from $175 to $500 or more. We talked about what the markup had been at the store she worked in. She was convincing me we should carry some less expensive, but nicer swimwear. Then she showed me some very nice suits from a French designer. I was finding out she knew quite a bit about all of this.

About 3:15, I heard Dawn come in; she came to the study.

"Hi, Mrs. Smith," Sherri said.

"Hello, Sherri, and call me Dawn, please. Have you two been working hard all day?"

"We have. I think I found a diamond in the rough," I told Dawn.

Dawn came in and sat down on the sofa.

"We have made some good progress today, and guess what, Sherri speaks French."

"Oh, that will help," Dawn said. "James, have you talked to Sherri about the things here?"

"Some."

"I'm going to get out of these clothes," Dawn said as she stood.

"All of them?" I asked teasing her. She turned and smiled at me then left the study.

"Would you tell me about the photos on the walls," Sherri said looking at a big black and white print of Dawn in my study.

"I took all of them."

"Does she mind other people seeing her like this?"

"No."

"Do you mind?"

"Sherri, my wife is a beautiful woman and she is okay with other people seeing her naked. You have seen her at the store."

"Yes, I have. She is very pretty."

I talked to Sherri for about an hour about how we came by the money and other things. A little after 4:30, Dawn came back in.

"Sherri, are you staying for dinner?" She asked.

"Oh, I don't guess so."

"Why don't you stay and get to know everyone," Dawn said.

"Oh...okay."

The two of us went back over our notes until a little after 5:00. Sherri went back to her new computer. We stopped for the day later and went to talk to Dawn. She was sitting on the sofa sipping a glass of wine.

"Sherri, would you like some wine?" I asked.

"I'm not a big drinker."

"How about a soda?" I asked.

"That would be fine."

"We will make a wine drinker out of you," Dawn said.

I walked her to the kitchen and told her she had access to anything she wanted. We went back and sat with Dawn. She was in her sports bra and some short shorts.

"Sherri, are you ready for all of this?" Dawn asked.

"Oh, yes! This is my dream job."

"Good. Don't let him work you too hard."

"I'm a hard worker. He can work me as hard as he wants too."

I heard the girls coming in the front door.

"Who's sports car?" Amy asked. "Oh, hi Sherri."

"That is Sherri's signing bonus," I said.

"Where's my signing bonus?" Sam asked as she walked to the den carrying the mail.

"You two come here," I said.

They walked over and sat down in their scrubs.

"Sherri is going to have dinner with us so she can get to know everyone," I told them.

"Great," Sam said. "Dawn, you have another package in the mail. I think it is from Peru. Last week you got one from someplace in Africa. What are they?"

"Just some things I ordered," Dawn told her.

"Let's go get out of these scrubs," Amy said. She and Sam got up.

"And..." I said.

"We got it," Amy said walking up the stairs.

"The two of them are so pretty," Sherri said.

While they were gone, we talked to Dawn about everything we had discovered and the plans we were making. Sam and Amy came back down a few minutes later. They were wearing shorts and T-shirts, no bras. They each got a glass of wine and sat with us, and we talked for a while until Dawn took Amy to help get dinner started.

"Sam, may I ask how old you are?" Sherri asked.

"I'm 18, 19 soon."

"I love your hair. Yours too, Amy."

"Thank you. James does too." Sam said winking at me.

The three of them talked while I went to check on Dawn.

"How did your meetings go today?" I asked.

"Fine. I talked to the Dean and the other department heads."

"What about some help?"

"I will be getting a couple of grad students when school starts."

"Good."

Once dinner was ready, we all sat down to eat and talk. By the end of dinner, Sherri and the girls were all laughing about different things. About 7:45, Sherri left to go home.

"She is really cute," Sam said.

"And off limits," Dawn told both of them.

"Ahh!" Came from Sam.

"Did you two fool around today?" Amy asked.

"No. Can I see you in my study?" I asked her.

I got up, and she followed me. I closed the door, and we sat down.

"I need to talk to you about something, sweetie."

"What?"

"Why won't you go ahead and turn in your notice at work, honey?"

"I can keep working until school starts."

"I know you can, but I would like to see you take a break for several weeks. You and Sam."

"I don't need to."

"Why not?"

"I just need to keep working."

"Why?"

"James..."

"Amy, tell me the truth. Why do you need to keep working? We are covering school and all of your expenses."

"I...just..."

"Is it the money?" I asked her.

"James!"

"Okay, let's talk."

"I still have a car payment and other things."

"Okay. Honey, I know you have always been shy about letting us spend money on you and Sam. In a month, you will not be working; Sam will not be working, where do you think your money is going to come from?"

Amy was quiet for a minute.

"You know it is hard for me to accept money from you two. We talked about this."

"I know we did; that is why we are talking right now. When you start school, when you need money, you just ask, okay?"

"I have some saved."

"Amy, that is your money. We don't expect you to spend it. Now...you and your sister are our family. Dawn and I don't mind giving either of you anything you need. You are going to have to get used to that. We will take care of your car payment and insurance and other expenses. Do you understand?"

"I guess."

"I know you are very independent, but you have to accept this from us, please."

"Okay."

"Then I want you to turn in your notice tomorrow, please. I could use your help before you start school. Just consider yourself working for me for now."

"Okay, but if Sherri is going to be here all the time, she will have to get used to some things."

"Just ease into it slowly, please, because Brenda will be working here also in a few weeks."

"Brenda won't care," Amy said.

"I know." She laughed. "Tomorrow then?"

"Okay," Amy replied.

She got up, and I kissed her. We went back to the den, Sam and Dawn were laughing about something. Amy sat next to them.

"Sis, I will be turning in my notice tomorrow," Amy said.

"Thank god!!" Sam exclaimed. Dawn and I laughed.

"I guess it will be two weeks; then I can burn up the rest of my vacation time."

"Good, I want you to have some time before school," Dawn said.

"I can help you at school now," Amy told her.

"Not all the time. You and your sister are going to be working for me too," I reminded Amy.

"Sam, have you decided when you want to go home and get your things?" Dawn asked.

"Not yet."

"Make it soon, before school starts, please," I said.

"Okay. I'm going to work on your notes," Sam said and got up and went upstairs.

"Amy?"

"Give her some time," Amy said. "I will talk to her."

"James, what are your plans for the rest of the week?" Dawn asked.

"I have to call Linda's business people and talk to them so I can get the corporation set up and the bank accounts. Sherri is going to set up a call to the lady that owns the lingerie shop in Paris tomorrow so we can talk to her. Thursday, Brenda will be here, and we will put our heads together and create a starting point. Then I have to meet with our lawyers Friday morning."

"Linda is coming Friday afternoon, don't forget."

"What are your plans?" I asked Dawn.

"To get organized."

"Did you set up a time with your advisor?" I asked.

"Thursday. I found out the Dean of the nursing school will be on my committee."

"That should be beneficial."

"What committee?" Amy asked.

Dawn and I explained the process of earning a Ph.D. to her and all the advisors and dissertation committees you had to work with.

"That is too much work," Amy said,

"Oh, you will find out about thesis committees soon enough," Dawn told her.

Dawn and Amy started talking about grad school. I went upstairs to check on Sam. She was sitting on her bed hard at work on my notes.

"Making any progress?" I asked.

"Yes. Look at this."

I sat on the edge of the bed; she handed me a spreadsheet printout.

"I added up all the money that was promised. The total is around $1,000,000. "Where do these people get that kind of money?"

"Most of them have been saving money for years to buy their own limo. One can be $80,000 or more. And that doesn't include the money Sam and Olivia want to invest."

"How much is it going to cost to buy all the limos?"

"Between 1 and 2 million dollars."

"Damn!"

"Honey, starting a business like this is not cheap. We will be spending another 2 or 3 million on the store."

"Do you have that much money?" Sam asked looking at me.

"That is something you have never asked us about, why?"

"It is none of my business. I know you have millions," Sam said.

"Sam, in cash and investments, we have around 200 million dollars."

"Fuck!"

I laughed at Sam.

"That is why we don't want you or your sister to worry about asking us for money when you need it."

"Can I ask what it cost to build this house?"

"You can ask anything. The house and the land were over 6 million."

"Fuck!"

I laughed again.

"I'm happy to see they are willing to invest that much. I won't have to put so much money in and dilute their shares." I told her.

"How much will each of them own?"

"That is your next project. Take the number each of them has committed and figure out what percentage that will be of 2 and 3 million for each of them and make me a nice spreadsheet. Add $500,000 for Sam and Olivia."