HIS DOUBLE LIFE, HER SECRET

CHAPTER 2: VEGAS HAS IT ALL

MATEO

I haven’t lectured a class in a long time so when I left California for Vegas, I was quite nervous which is why on my first day of meeting my students, I only introduced the course to them. Now that I once again have a feel of standing in front of students and talking, the feel of doing the work instead of ordering people to do it for me, I'm reacquainted. I drive off the university premises as soon as the students begin to knock off and go to my apartment. When I walk into the elevator, a blond woman rushes in and gives me a seductive once over. “Hey neighbor!” she says extending her hand for a handshake as soon as the elevator doors close. I look at her in confusion and she says, “Mirriam…Mirriam is my name. I saw you opposite my apartment earlier today so I assumed you recently moved in.” The doors open and I smile at her, “I’ll see you around, Mirriam.” I say walking away from her and towards my apartment.

In the apartment, I quickly help myself to a bowl of cereal, shower and sit in front of my TV screen to watch the news. I try to force myself to sleep like I always do but my attempts fail, including the sleeping pills I took some thirty minutes ago so I walk out of my apartment to Miriam’s door. I knock twice and she opens the door gesturing for me to get in. “What brought you here…uhhhhmm…?”

“Mateo,” I say, walking in. “I’m Mateo Romero. Do you want to make out or something?” She locks the door and covers the space between us kissing me with so much thirst. I kiss her back and minutes later we’re both naked on her couch. “That was lovely,” she says and I get up to clothe myself. “you’re leaving?” she asks and I notice the sadness in her voice as well as the change in her age now that the makeup she had on her face earlier today when I met her is off her face. She’s definitely older than me. “Yes, I have some business to take care of.” I tell her and leave her apartment. Insomnia really gets one to do the craziest of things. Back at my apartment, I try to summon sleep once again but the s*x with Mirriam mustn't have been wild enough to drain my energy and force me to sleep.

When I was diagnosed with insomnia, s*x helped me sleep until it too, like sleeping pills, lost it's efficiency. I grab my car key and drive to Las Montez to pass time. Maybe I can tour around on my own before my meeting with my partners tomorrow. I arrive at the club and walk straight to the bar. Men and a few women are drinking, chatting and others watching a stripper on stage. I take a stool at the bar and chat with the bar tender while watching the activities of this club. It’s only my second day in Vegas and I can already feel the money I'll be in once I establish myself here-I can feel the success.

A petite woman in a red dress walks over to me and caresses my shoulder as she heads towards the door and out. I know this game so I follow behind her and lead her to my car. I open the door to the backseat and she hops in, me after her. Without saying a word, I strip her naked and have her right in the backseat of my car- an art I’ve mastered. When I’m done, I move to the front seat and write her a check after which she walks back to the club. Indeed, Vegas has it all.

I drive back to my apartment and run through the activities I’ll have to do while here and after that, I sit down to plan a lesson for the lecture I’ll be delivering to my students today. By the time I’m finishing, the sun is already out and I begin getting myself ready for the day.

Despite noticing my presence, the students don’t stop talking. “Good morning guys,” I informally greet after clearing my throat, “sophomores, right?” I ask and they reply with whoops and hollers I can’t quite make out. “Alright! What is Michelangelo famous for?” I ask over the noise, forcing the students to keep quiet but the silence is replaced with laughter when someone says, “teenage mutant ninja turtles,” I laugh at that too. I open my mouth to speak but pause when a student walks in, the hood of her jumper concealing her face. “What is Michelangelo famous for?” I repeat the question except this time, it is directed to her. She stops before taking her seat and drags the hood off her head revealing her face and the dark circles under her eyes take me by surprise but I fight off the urge to cringe. “Art,” she says, “Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni is famous for his art.” She slowly settles her bag on the table in front of her and slides into her seat. “Can you tell me more about him?” I ask and she nods, rising from her seat. “He was a 16th century Italian artist known for sculpture, painting, architecture and poetry. Among his famous works are the sculpture of David, the biblical figure, in Italy and the pieta which was the only piece he ever signed,” She says calmly before sitting back down. I’m a little marveled by how much she already knows, seeing that this is the first art lecture for the sophomores at this university. “May I know your name?” I ask “Roseline Delva!” a guy in a front row seat replies on her behalf and I nod, continuing with the lecture. I project Bacchus from my laptop screen and the students burst in laughter when a girl says, “oh my! p***s man,”

“He’s called Bacchus, Sophie,” Roseline chuckles and the girl playfully rolls her eyes. “She’s right, that is the sculpture of Bacchus the Greek god of wine and vegetation…”