CHAPTER 217: FREE AT LAST (2)

"How can they make a decision so quickly?" asked the guard. "They haven’t even talked to me"

"I suspect it’s a combination of two things," said Jack. "One, they assume you didn’t lie to me about your language or Krav Maga proficiency. Both are easily verified. And two, they ran a background check on you and didn’t find anything suspicious."

"Right. That makes sense."

The guard put his hands on the arms of his chair, started to stand, paused, then sighed and dropped back into his chair.

"I guess I should wait until the new job’s official official, before I give notice here. Much as I want to just walk out."

They returned to talking about life as a prison guard, but less than an hour later the door to the room opened and Jack heard a familiar voice.

"Jack!"

Madison, dressed in her baggy jeans and dress-sized hoodie, crashed into him and hugged him fiercely.

"I hate it here so much! Can we leave now? Please?!"

Jack waved at Marvin the guard, then turned and headed for the exit, Madison clinging to him so tightly it was difficult to walk.

But halfway to the door, Madison grabbed his hand and dashed ahead, dragging him along with her.

When they got outside, she stopped, not sure what to do next. He took the lead and pulled her towards his Land cruiser.

Once they were inside his Land cruiser, he looked at Madison and asked, "So what do you want to do? Besides drive away from this place."

"I really want to get out of these clothes and take a long hot shower, but first, I want a big juicy burger."

He started the car and headed towards the parking lot exit.

"Do you have a particular burger joint in mind?"

"At this point, I’d settle for a fast-food burger. Anything will be better than prison food. It was just so bland! It would have actually been better if it tasted nasty. At least then it would have had flavor!"

He reached over and gave her thigh a squeeze.

"Well, no more bland food for you. There’s a Big Burger on the way to the hotel. We can stop there if you want."

"That sounds wonderful."

They drove in silence for a while, before she said, "Um, I thought about asking you to find a private spot somewhere so we can do it right now, but I really want to..." she waved her hand near her crotch.

"Landscape?"

She grimaced.

"Ladyscape?"

She frowned.

"Trim the hedges?"

She tried to maintain her frown, but he could see a smile trying to break free.

"Mow the front yard?"

She smacked his leg. "Stop it," she said, embarrassed.

"Do you want me to ask Miranda to schedule an appointment for you with the hotel spa? They have people who specialize in secret-garden maintenance. Maybe add in a relaxing massage?"

"That...Yes, please. That sounds lovely."

He contacted Miranda via his soul space, and after a few minutes she confirmed that Madison had an appointment for later that day.

"All set," he said. "Your appointment is for one p.m. So we have plenty of time for you to eat. And, I’m assuming you want to take that shower before you head to the spa."

She nodded. "Thanks, Jack. For everything."

"No problem."

When they got to Big Burger, Madison initially wanted to order four burgers, but he managed to talk her down to one, arguing that if she still had room after that, they could just order another.

When her food arrived, she snatched up the burger, opened her mouth wide, and chomped down.

As soon as her teeth sank into the burger, she closed her eyes and groaned, like she was about to have an orgasm.

She closed her mouth and chewed slowly, then before even swallowing she said, "Thish ’ish show goog!"

After swallowing, she took another bite, moaning again.

When she was about halfway through her burger, he reached out and took one of her fries and popped it into his mouth.

She glared at him like an angry kitten guarding its food bowl.

"What?" he said. "You steal my fries all the time, so don’t give me that look."

Usually it was the girl who said, "Oh, I’m not very hungry, you order and I’ll just have a glass of water," only then to proceed and eat half of the man’s food. So, he saw stealing a few of her fries as karmic justice.

She’d finished her burger and fries and was halfway through her milkshake when she slowed down and looked over at the order window, then down at her shake, then sighed.

"I want to order another one, but...I have that spa appointment later."

"Probably a wise choice."

After she finished, they left and continued on to the hotel.

As he led her out of the parking garage elevator and through the lobby towards the hotel elevator, she gaped around at the decor and quietly whistled.

"Damn, this is fancy."

"It’s a five-star hotel, the best in the state from what I hear."

Once they got to his suite, he showed her around, then said, "Give me your ID. I’ll go down and get you registered and get an extra room key for you while you shower."

"Oh good. I really didn’t want you to see me until after the spa treatment."

She pulled her ID out of her pocket and handed it to him, gave him a hug and kiss, then entered the ensuite and closed the door.

He went downstairs and got Madison added to his account. He also made sure to register her as authorized to access his GR Supra, which he had moved to the hotel garage, and his Land cruiser.

He was headed back up to his room when he got a text message from Miranda informing him that she had had scheduled him and Madison for a couples manicure, pedicure, and massage.

Madison’s "landscaping" appointment started at one, and their joint spa treatment started at two pm.

He had never had a manicure, pedicure, or massage, and to the best of his knowledge, neither had Madison. He wasn’t sure he liked the idea of getting a manicure or pedicure, but had no real reason to complain. He was rich now, and this was apparently a rich people thing to do.