Double Interest Read online

  4

  “Hello?” Ron picked up the phone nervously. It was ten p.m. and he was stretched out on the sofa staring at some idiotic TV show, trying to drown out the chaos that was going on in his mind.

  “Hi, this is Dana.”

  Ron straightened up a bit. He couldn’t remember knowing anyone called Dana, and he actually had no personal connections with women at all. “I think you have the wrong number.”

  “Is this Ron?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then it’s not the wrong number. I got your phone number from Amir. He said you’d like to talk and maybe, umm…meet up?”

  Amir? thought Ron. Since when is Amir giving out my phone number to girls? He must think I’m desperate.“Ron? Are you there?”

  “Yeah, yes, sorry. I’m just a little tired. Dana, right?”

  “Yes, Ron,” she said in a soft, raspy voice.

  Ron listened to her voice and envisioned her in his mind. He saw a sexy woman walking toward him with a smile on her face. She had the perfect body. Not too tall, slim with perfect legs. He could even see some cleavage with the neckline he imagined.

  “I would love to meet you,” he said, surprised by his own directness.

  Dana giggled. Some of the awkwardness faded.“Isn’t there anything you want to know about me?”

  “Isn’t there anything you want to know about me?”

  “I know a little. From Amir. Your name is Ron and you work for a company you started by yourself, right?”

  “Right. So, you know. And what do you do?” There was a slight pause. He imagined hearing a smile.

  “I work for a publicity and marketing firm that represents foreign companies and corporations. Right now, I’m working with an American corporation. There’s something a bit different each time. You know, to keep things interesting.”

  “Do you get bored easily?”

  “Me? I never get bored.”

  There was something in her voice, or maybe in her attitude, that Ron couldn’t figure out, but the short talk made him sense there was a mysterious element in her personality, something that attracted him to her.

  “I get bored quickly, I admit it. I’m not one for partying and going out.”

  “That’s okay. I’m actually looking for someone quiet to balance me out, and if you’ll let me, I might be able to offer you some balance, too. What do you say?”

  Ron was sweating a bit. He didn’t know what to say in the face of her clearly confident voice and answers. He was worried he’d come off looking stupid. All his intelligence and analytic abilities were gone just like that, and his cold, clear judgment was now overtaken by a nervous, scared personality.

  “Ron? Are you with me?”

  Ron took a deep breath. “Yes, sorry.” His voice was shaking, and he was hoping she didn’t notice.

  “So, what do you say? Are you up for an adventure?”

  His heart was pounding and he felt like a baby. He looked up at the mirror and saw before him a chubby, freckled little boy with glasses. He closed his eyes, trying to make the image of that little boy vanish, and when he opened them he saw his reflection in the mirror, that of a handsome man who looked just his age—thirty years old.The man smiled at him and whispered, “Do everything I wouldn’t dare. We both deserve it!”“Yes, Dana. You just name the time and place, and I’ll be there. What do you say?” He surprised himself once again.Dana laughed. She sensed his insecurity behind the quivering voice. Her laughter made them both feel more at ease.

  ***

  Sophie took one last look in the mirror. She studied her face closely and added one last touch of lipstick. Her purse and keys were waiting on the small table next to the front door. She thought about the substantial amount of money this project was going to earn her, and about the complicated task she was facing. A few days ago, she had received a call from her operator, Yoni, asking her to come in to the office for a talk. It was clear this was about something major. She charged a lot and had extensive experience, which placed her at the top of the team of people Yoni worked with. He wouldn’t have called her unless this was something truly big.

  Yoni told her in great detail about the deal and her part in it. Just her part. Sophie giggled to herself. Once an intelligence man, always an intelligence man. “Handing out a piece of the deck to everyone, but keeping the Joker to himself,” she found herself saying out loud. She looked at the imaginary card Yoni gave her in her mind’s eye. “Queen of Hearts.”

  Yoni never revealed the full picture to his field guys, not even to Sophie, whom he trusted completely and to whom he gave a lot of leeway and freedom to maneuver.She took a deep breath and walked out the door.

  In the elevator ride down to the car that was waiting for her, soft background music was playing, clashing with the adrenaline pumping through her veins. The woman looking back at her in the mirror looked serene, almost aloof. Sophie may have been nervous, but her reflection looked back at her alert, elegant, and beautiful.Sophie slid into the back seat of the Mercedes. She nodded lightly at the driver, exchanging a long and meaningful look through the rearview mirror, and fell into deep thought. She knew these were the last few minutes she had to be at ease, and started to feel the other character taking over her spirit. From the minute the operation started to the moment it ended, Sophie would be gone. Dana would take her place and would need to be on edge, quick and sharp.

  ***

  The car stopped at the outskirts of town, and the woman who came out of it felt like an actress taking center stage. Fully aware of her own beauty, of how all eyes were on her. She wore a tight, black dress that showed off the curves of her petite figure. Her skin was tan, soft, and smooth, her waistline narrow, her stomach flat, and her legs shapely in high-heeled black sandals with silver buckles. Her black hair cascaded softly down to her shoulders and framed her face, complementing her well-defined, powerful, clear features. Her big black eyes popped with only light makeup. Her natural beauty was her real weapon. That was all she needed. Everything else was just that extra touch of meticulous attention to help the weapon stand out even more.She walked into the restaurant full of confidence. Soft music was playing in the background and gentle light stroked her face. Sophie loved going to this restaurant, with its luxurious, warm ambience. For her it was like going to a fancy hotel where the manager at the front desk knows the regular guests, with all their personal stories and whims, yet always maintains a discreet distance. It was like flipping through the pages of a book, trying to figure out the characters and the dramas that motivated them.She took her last few steps toward the bar slowly, observing the man who was waiting for her, making the most of the last few seconds of her anonymity. She had already received ample information about his personality, his occupation, and his social status, but now, as she looked at him, she tried to get a deeper sense of him, almost as if she were sniffing the prey she was about to hunt.

  Ron sat at the bar, reading the Globes business paper, like they had said, so that she’d be able to recognize him. He couldn’t help but smile at the situation he was in. It felt like he was playing a game of spies, which gave him a tingle of excitement and fear.

  He was wearing jeans and a white t-shirt, which he realized too late were much too casual for this sort of place. It had been a long time since he had gone on a date with anyone, let alone someone who sounded like Dana. Suddenly he felt like that scared, shy little boy he used to be. He was more aware than ever of his gangly looks, and suppressed the need to get out of there. He tried to calm down, not to appear too eager, to hide the fact that he had never been in a serious relationship. The second whiskey he had just finished drinking blended into his blood, and he was wrapped in pleasant, relaxing warmth. He was ready.A gentle hand was placed on his shoulder, and he turned around.

  The spectacular woman in front of him introduced herself. “Hi, I’m Dana.”Ron couldn’t believe it. This must be a mistake, he thought. She was the spitting image of the woman in his fantasy.Sophie smiled at hi
m, well aware of how embarrassed he felt and of the electrifying impact her appearance had on him. “Ron, right?” she said, as if not noticing he was dumbfounded.

  Ron made an effort to take a deep breath and felt stupid. He didn’t think she noticed. She kept smiling at him and slid comfortably into the empty seat next to him.“Yes, Ron.” He held out his hand for a shake, praying it wasn’t too sweaty.

  Dana didn’t take his hand. Instead she leaned over and kissed him on both cheeks with complete ease. “How are you? I was so anxious to meet you,” she said, taking notice of the two empty glasses he had before him. He was so tense. This was going to be easier than she’d thought. She signaled the bartender. “I’ll have a martini. And he’ll have another one. Whiskey, right?”

  Ron nodded. Dana gave another one of her winning smiles. He looked at her awkwardly, not knowing what to say. She seemed so at ease. How does she do it? he thought to himself.

  Sophie waited for the drinks quietly and patiently, knowing a third drink would dull his senses even more.

  After some short small talk, which felt like an eternity to Ron, the waiter, who knew Sophie from her previous visits to the place, signaled to let them know their table was ready. Ron sighed in relief. He had to move around a bit, to stretch out his tense muscles. He kept analyzing every word he uttered and, in his own mind, sounded like a complete fool. He expected Dana to say this wasn’t for her any minute now, or to make up some excuse about an urgent meeting she had to get to. But she didn’t say anything. She took his hand effortlessly and walked beside him, behind the waiter, who led them to a dimly lit, intimate little nook. Sophie knew the place well. She loved how discreet it was and how it made whoever happened to be with her feel. The drinks, her magnetic looks, and the shielding darkness all made the person sitting across the table willingly volunteer information, get closer to her, and pour out their hearts.Dana let Ron order for her. That was something he knew how to do very well. Years of meticulous upbringing in a home that was nothing if not luxury and fine taste had left their mark. He knew well which dishes to choose and which wines to pair them with, and it also looked like he knew how to take Dana’s preferences into account, even though she didn’t say anything. He picked out light, delicate dishes that he thought were just right for her.

  Dana leaned back into the stylish but comfortable leather armchair and took out from her purse a small, artfully decorated leather pouch. “Mind if I smoke?” she asked.Ron looked at her. He didn’t smoke, and would normally refuse such requests.

  “You can do whatever you want. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable.”

  “I’m very comfortable,” she answered with a smile and took out a long, thin cigarette, fully aware of Ron devouring her with his eyes. She leaned further back, her mind set on enjoying the gorgeous surroundings, exquisite wine, and excellent food they were about to be served. She had always known she’d picked the right line of work.For a brief moment, Sophie let herself remember the days when she had worked as a hostess in a nightclub. She would see the couples hidden away in the dark corners, half hearing stories that were better left unspoken. Guests loved her for her discretion and for the sense of security and empathy she gave them in the secret-filled club.

  The night went exactly as she had planned, and the food Ron picked out was indeed all excellent. Sophie enjoyed a dish of sea bream fillet with white wine, accompanied by a superb Chardonnay, and Ron had a foie gras with sour cherry sauce and a rich, flavorful Merlot.The dim light, delicious food, and ample alcohol let loose Ron’s tongue and quieted his insecurity. He felt great, and the words flowed out of his mouth as Dana listened with interest and asked about his life, his parents, his friends, and his work. The few women he had gone out with were mostly interested in his paycheck, not in the work he did. Dana truly cared, and he was sorry he couldn’t tell her more about it, due to the confidentiality required, but he still felt he shared a lot of his dilemmas with her.Sophie looked at Ron. His face was flushed and he was smiling with enjoyment. She stored away in her mind all the information she heard, filing each topic in a different “cabinet”: work, information that could be used in case of an emergency, people who could be followed, and sensitive spots, which with a little bit of pressure could open doors to even more sensitive information.

  “So, what kind of a childhood did you have?” asked Dana as she leaned forward, her lips and teeth digging sensuously into a chocolate truffle. Ron watched her slowly moving lips and imagined their sweetness mixed with that of the chocolate.“What was that?” He came to his senses.

  “Your childhood…”

  “Not much to tell. Dad’s a judge, a tough, cold character. Mom’s always busy volunteering with drug addicts and throwing fancy parties. Plenty of money. And me stuck in a room, on my computer all the time. That was pretty much how I grew up.” Ron gave a quick summary of his childhood and became quiet, refusing to spoil the good feeling that filled him. “Trust me, you don’t want to know.”

  “But I do, very much. Unless you don’t want to talk about it.”

  “I just don’t want to bore you.”

  “Nothing you say bores me. Hasn’t anyone ever told you how nice it is to talk to you?”

  It was true. Sophie wasn’t used to talking to a gentleman like Ron. Almost two and a half hours had passed since they’d met, and he still hadn’t dropped any sexual hints at her. She admired him for that, and realized how insecure he was.

  “Okay. Picture me.”

  “I am. You’re right here in front of me.”

  “Now subtract fifty centimeters. Add twenty kilos, sprinkle brown freckles all over my face and put some thick, round glasses on me, like the bottoms of two beer bottles. Now take a few steps back and look at me. Do you see what kind of kid I was?”

  Dana smiled at him sympathetically. “But you’re just telling me about how you looked. Not about who you were.”

  “Who I was is how I looked.”

  “Well then, just so you know, I happen to like freckles. I think they’re sexy.”

  Ron breathed a little heavily and dared to take her hand in his. “I had an older brother who was always good at everything. He was good-looking and smart and he had loads of friends, and I was shy little Ron, who hardly anyone noticed.”

  “I’m sure that changed. No one could help but notice you now.”

  Ron smiled and laughed. It pained him to know things were still the same. His brother had died when he was young, yet he was still living in his shadow, being “just” Ron. He was glad Dana didn’t ask any more about it and respected his silence.

  With the emotional release he was experiencing and the flow of talking about himself, Ron didn’t even notice Dana saying so little about herself. Sophie knew that tomorrow, when Ron was sober, he would realize he had no idea who the woman he’d shared his time with really was, and that would only make him more eager to meet again.

  Dana took a peek at her watch. It was almost midnight. Ron noticed her glance and, although he wanted the date to go on forever, quickly signaled for the waiter to bring the check. They were both quiet, immersed in their own thoughts. Ron looked at Dana, caressing her body with his eyes as if he were trying to treasure the moment. To her surprise, she found that pleasant.“Here you go, sir.” The waiter broke the moment.

  Ron paid the bill and they left the restaurant. Dana stood before him, smiling, and the space between them was filled with awkwardness.

  ***

  Sophie lingered by the entrance to her house, trying to make the time stretch, to strengthen the division between Sophie and Dana. She often felt the return to her original character was unbearable.

  She could hear the TV on inside. She turned her key and opened the door. Garry was napping on the leather sofa in front of the flickering screen. His head tilted forward, his steady breathing audible all the way to the door. Sophie kissed his forehead, hoping not to wake him up, wishing for enough time to take a shower, wash Dana away, and get into bed.


  She tiptoed past her son Matan’s room and went on to the bedroom. On the way, she turned on the water and started to run a bath, as she peeled her work clothes off her body. The scent of bath salts filled the room, and the steam was like an invitation to sink into a world of twilight, a world where things seemed misty, blurry, and inconclusive.Sophie sank into the water, letting its warmth cover her with peace and tranquility. She closed her eyes, stripping away all her weapons, her covers, her struggles and compromises, her fears and challenges, totally giving in to the moment. Seconds later, her breath was calm and steady.

  Garry wasn’t asleep. He had heard every sound and waited for the right moment when she would want to wake him, hold him. For twelve years, he’d been waiting for her, loving her, anticipating her return, knowing that Sophie came and went as she pleased, accepting what she did, and all that it meant. He breathed heavily, waiting for her to come out of the bath clean, so that he could take her in his arms. But Sophie lingered. Garry sighed to himself. He wanted her to find her true character within herself already, the one she could live in peace with. He knew that was the only way he’d be able to live with her without waiting anymore. Without hurting any time she took off to become another person.

  He rose up from the sofa slowly and went to take a peek at Sophie. She looked so serene in the bath, as if she had never needed him and never would. Then he picked up his coat and left, locking the door behind him.

  5

  Eight months after finishing his PhD in the genetics of plants, Edo was on a plane heading to South America. After so many years of studies, he felt he deserved to take some time off before deciding what he wanted to do with his career.

  After his military service, when all his friends had gone backpacking through South America, he had chosen to go straight on to university. The exciting stories he heard from his friends after they’d returned sparked his imagination and he’d promised himself that before he settled down, he had to go on the “big trip.”Equipped with every possible bit of information, and with his little savings, he began his journey. His first stop was Colombia. From there, he was planning to head down to Brazil and travel the continent to his heart’s content. He wanted to get to know the locals and their culture and what made things tick. Maybe it was because of his age or because he spoke fluent Spanish, but he felt confident he’d be able to spot any trouble and keep out of harm’s way.