The Therapist Pt. 01

I homed in on one woman in particular, Jolene Wilde. She was a journalist and that night she looked like something out of an eighties film. I recognised her face because it was on her byline. She had brown hair just touching her shoulders and a cute face. That night she was wearing a blood red pussybow blouse in satin and a black button through skirt, her stockings were an ivory colour and were actually the same brand as my stockings. She caught my eye because her outfit was similar one worn in that movie I mentioned earlier.

Part of the proceedings for the night involved getting to know the other couples as they arrived, we discussed current events, trends, music, movies or just about any subject that came to mind. I have to admit that part of the night was incredibly entertaining because you were amongst people with very open minds. I wrote down Jolene's name pretty much straight away but when the cards were read out, another two guys had chosen her as well. I remember thinking this is not going to happen but then she looked at me and said she'd take my offer.

Valerie: How did that make you feel, as a matter of interest?

Karen: You could have knocked me over with a feather. I was so sure she would have taken at least one of the guys because he was more her type, sophisticated and he was quite tanned and he must have been working out. I'd actually checked him out as well.

Valerie: So, what would have happened if you couldn't agree on a suitable partner? It seems to me that it could cause problems.

Karen: In the event of a stalemate, the host would make a decision. If neither person could accept it then they withdrew and the party continued. I was at several of those parties and I only ever saw that happen once when one woman had her mind set on another man and just couldn't accept the ruling. You have to realise that the same people went to these parties so if you didn't get your first choice at one party then you'd probably get it at a second or third. At my first party though I kind of set the bar for the kind of partner I wanted, women.

Valerie: So, your first time with a woman was pleasant?

Karen: It was so erotic, I know that's a much abused word these days but nothing compared with it. We retired to a bedroom and my heart was pounding, I actually jumped when she came up behind me and touched me on the shoulder.

"I didn't frighten you?"

"No," I replied, "I've never done it with a woman before."

"Ah," she stroked my arms, "that explains it."

She was caressing my arms and shoulders. The dress had wide straps and was made of satin, I've never forgotten that first encounter with a woman because it seemed almost innocent. There was none of this getting naked and fumbling with each other, she kept her clothes on but didn't stop caressing my body. She explored my back, shoulders, arms and arse, before moving around to the front to do the same thing. We didn't say a word for about ten or fifteen minutes, but by the end we were kissing on the mouth and I felt something I hadn't felt before.

Valerie: What was that?

Karen: Loved. I know it sounds strange considering the fact I was married but although Jonah loved me and I loved him this was so different. We were both fully dressed but feeling each other through each other's clothes and the kissing was like something else. Women know how to kiss just for the sake of kissing, I guess because there's no such thing as premature ejaculation. There's no need to put your penis inside and do the deed. Women can kiss and touch each other for a much longer period of time before the urge becomes an out of control thing. I think it must have taken the better part of twenty minutes before she finally undid my straps and unbuckled the belt. I remember that every part of my body was alive with excitement.

She unzipped the dress and it slid to the floor. I was standing in my bra, panties and stockings. She moved in closer behind me and began sliding her hands over my body with light feathery touches, she had me trembling in a short space of time and then she guided me to the bed and told me to lie down. I did as she asked and she knelt on the bed and began to kiss me all over. It was so soft and so erotic and I felt tears running down my cheeks. My orgasm came not long after and I remember it vividly, the first spasms and then the warmth spreading throughout my body until I was peaking. I wept afterwards because although it was the second orgasm I'd ever experienced, it was the first I'd had with someone else. She laid down beside me and stroked my face and body until I recovered my composure.

Valerie: And afterwards? Did you do the same for Jolene?

Karen: I did, I unbuttoned her blouse and skirt. I remember fumbling with the ties and the buttons but I also recall she was enjoying being undressed because she was smiling and despite the rules it still felt kind of forbidden. I half expected Jonah to burst in on us and I know that sounds weird but this was all new to me. She had a hot body and I could tell she was ready for me because she pulled her panties off and took out a dildo from her handbag.

"It's usually better the first time to use one of these."

I did use the dildo on Jolene and when she had her orgasm I knew that I had done something unthinkable in my experience. I'd gone all the way with a woman and I loved the experience. Jolene was my first but it was not the last time I would have sex with Jolene.

Valerie: So she was at other parties?

Karen: She was but we only had sex once more after that at a party. She was very much in demand and I did do it with other women, she and I became known for girl on girl sex, so while that wasn't an issue at these parties it developed into something else a few months afterwards.

Valerie: What do you mean by that?

Karen: Jonah had quite a thing for Jolene. It wasn't just her body, it was the clothes she used to wear to the parties. She was into the whole costume thing. One night she came dressed in a white trouser suit, complete with white shirt and tie, top hat and shoes. Another night she was dressed as a Spanish horsewoman and another time she came dressed as a policewoman. It caught his eye and he decided that perhaps Jolene and I could have our own private sessions but there was only one problem with that. He wanted to be present. In the end we compromised and invested in a couple of video cameras to film our sessions. He was then free to watch whenever he wanted. I should have said no to the whole thing, but I wanted to keep our marriage and if having sex with a woman I actually liked on camera was the only way to save it then so be it. I felt like I was trapped between a rock and a hard place.

Valerie: How did Jolene and her partner feel about the whole thing?

Karen: Jolene was okay with it but her partner was already beginning to look around for other women. They were living together so there were no property issues to settle. About two months after our little agreement, they parted company and she began making excuses not to turn up. I did try three or four times in a row but eventually I conceded that it wasn't going to work and called the whole thing off. It became quite messy really, there were those tapes and because of her public image she was naturally reticent about leaving them with us. In the end we had to wipe the tapes because she threatened to bring legal action. Something was sorted out between her lawyer and Jonah's lawyer. Personally I wanted nothing to do with the whole matter because by then I'd seen that this was going to a place I didn't want to go.

Valerie: How many tapes were made as a matter of interest?

Karen: Over a three and a half month period, we made twelve tapes. Each tape was ninety minutes so we're talking about eighteen hours of footage, so her anxiety was justified. Jonah was angry about the whole thing but he was more upset with her than me.

Valerie: So, these parties? Did you keep going to them?

Karen: No, we started turning down invitations for that three and a half months and by the time the fuss died down over the tapes I'd lost interest and Helen told Jonah that perhaps he should rethink his commitment to the group. Apparently Jolene got the same message.

Valerie: Have you seen Jolene since?

Karen: Now and then we bump into each other in the city. She and I have made up. We agreed that things went too far. She blames herself for agreeing to it and I blame Jonah for pushing for it. We haven't had sex with each other since, which is a shame. I really liked Jolene. In bed she was a lot of fun, if I hadn't been with Jonah then maybe she and I could have become a couple.

Valerie finished reading the notes she'd transcribed from the recording. Karen had been very calm throughout the session, her responses measured and detailed. She seemed very much in control although she sensed that beneath the calm exterior there was a world of confusion and hurt. What was it she'd said at the door when Valerie saw her out?

"I just wish Jonah would agree to come along, he's the one who started this but it's like he's washed his hands of the whole thing and as usual I'm the one to pick up the pieces."

The door clicked open as she brought up a Facebook page for Karen Anderson and she glanced up as her husband stepped into the office.

"Working late?" Robbie loosened his tie and undid his top button.

"Yeah," her eyes shifted to the Photos link and she clicked it, "sorry, I was just transcribing my notes from this morning."

"So you'll be a while," he undid a cuff and moved to the window.

"No, not long at all, I work backwards. She was the first client."

"Karen Anderson?" Robbie undid the other cuff.

"You're not supposed to be looking," she chided him.

"Sorry," he started rolling up his sleeves, "my mistake."

She reduced the window and turned to look at him. Robbie was five years older than her with a tanned complexion and neatly trimmed beard and moustache. He was a lawyer and a frown nudged her brow as she framed the question.

"Have you ever met a Jonah Anderson?"

"The last name rings a bell," he looked past her, "but I can't place the face. Why? Do you want me to ask around?"

"Probably not a good idea," she replied, "I'll do my own investigating."

"Whatever," he looked at the door, "so, who's cooking tonight?"

"I'll do it," she turned back to the computer, "just give me fifteen minutes to tidy up."

After he'd left the office she returned to the computer and typed the name into Google. The search turned up over twelve thousand hits. The first one caught her eye immediately.

Top Sydney Barrister Stands Accused of Expenses Rort.

She clicked on the link, which took her through to the article. The name of the journalist caused her to draw in her breath. Jolene Nicholson-Wilde. She opened her byline in a second tab and scanned it. Jolene Nicholson-Wilde was a respected journalist who had covered the city's crime beat before moving onto finance. She was divorced and had two children, she now lived with her partner in Sydney. She described herself as curious but conservative, a consummate seeker after truth. Her politics were described as centrist but with leftist leanings.

Valerie returned to the article and read it. Jolene was covering a tax discrepancy involving a prominent legal firm. According to the article, $50 million had been paid for work that was outsourced to a smaller company with far less resources. The company had failed to prevent a local community group from stopping a planned expansion into public land and as a result the client, a wealthy developer had taken the company to court. He'd poured $50 million into a black hole and wanted answers. There was little doubt that the aforementioned company had hand balled a difficult case to an inexperienced law firm, but in this case they'd screwed the wrong client. John Darcy was well connected and had a reputation for ruthlessness in a town known for its tough reputation. He also had connections with the tax office and that was where the whole shady deal went pear-shaped.

It seemed that the company's tax receipts were short. Further investigations by Jolene had revealed the existence of a luxury North Shore house supposedly owned by a former employee. She'd been on income support after a workplace injury, she had sued the company and they'd settled out of court but there were doubts. How did a woman with a back injury manage to take part in salsa competitions? The tax department had brought charges of tax fraud against the company and had applied to seize the house as part payment, the case was on appeal to the Supreme Court. To further muddy the waters, the woman in question had just been found guilty of fraud and ordered to repay the benefits she'd claimed but had appealed the decision.

Valerie saved that article and several others relating to the case, as well as Jolene's byline. A quick search revealed that Jolene's partner on Facebook was Helen, but was it the same Helen as the woman who'd hosted those parties?

A child's cry roused her from reverie and with a sigh she rose to attend to Damien. This could wait for another day but as she left the office she had the feeling she'd stumbled onto something much darker than a troubled marriage.