The Coin (Part one)

The Coin



Which way do we go,

to stay out of the flow,

As lives are swept downstream,

We can do more wrong,

If we just go along,

Pretending life is but a dream.

Vanna knew he kept valuable rare coins.  While she cleaned his house she would pass by his study. Through the slightly opened door she could see him carefully studying each coin and comparing it with the newest estimates of values based on comparable auction prices. He also had stacks of bills of unknown denominations but he rarely looked at the paper currency.  Vanna was sure the coins were his most valuable treasures just by the way he put on gloves before he handled them.  They were always treated with tender loving care. When he tired, he would replace each coin in a velvet holder. 

He knew she watched him sometimes but he rarely said anything to her.  When he did speak, it was about something trivial, although his eyes held many questions. He was curious about her for several reasons.  But in general his interest was definitely not about her intelligence or her background.  He was discreetly studying her breasts and legs. He tried to be subtle but she always knew when he was watching.  Yet in her heart she could feel changes and she knew his power over her was growing.

As a precaution she began dressing conservatively but still she felt his eyes tracing her form, caressing her, filling her with an urgency she didn’t quite understand.  When she first started working there she had been prim and proper, a model of decorum.  Now her dreams led her always to his arms, uncontrolled passion, and then tears.  She had no answer for the meaning of the tears but the passion was always there, always stronger in her dreams, and always ready to boil over when she felt his eyes upon her.

Vanna had discovered where the safe was hidden long ago. Usually it was locked and she didn’t pay any attention to it.  Lately, though, her desire for money was becoming prominent in her dreams and now when she went into the study she automatically looked to see if the safe was open.  Vanna wanted to appear unconcerned but twice she had noticed the safe open and each time she said, “Sir, you didn’t lock the safe.”

He smiled slyly and quietly went to the safe and locked it.  “He trusts me,” she thought, but then she felt the doubts begin.  “If he trusts me,” she wondered, “then why does he watch while I’m working?” It was a question she could never answer, and now as she listened to him in his study, she could hear him muttering softly, “It’s a terrible thing you’re asking me to do.  I’m not sure if I want to do this.”

Vanna’s thoughts were being drawn directly to those rare coins.  She couldn’t help it. She dreamed of things that were financially out of her reach.  Thinking of her budget she gave a long sigh. She thought of those coins again. They intrigued her.  How many would she have to have in order for her future to be set?

She didn’t have to be rich, just comfortable.  The coins were old and if she wanted to have them she’d have to be bold.  She asked around on the other side of town, how she could sell such coins.  Few dealers were interested.  One dealer told her privately, “They’re risky because they’re too easy to trace, unless they go out of the country and disappear for a few years.  Only private collectors would be interested.”

There was another way.  He was interested in her and she could use that knowledge to get to his heart.  She didn’t really know him but she did find him fascinating enough to be physically attracted.  “If I flirt with him,” she reasoned, “He won’t be able to resist. Then I’ll own even more than those coins.”

A brilliant plan.  A devious plan.  Vanna couldn’t decide at first whether the plan was brilliant or devious. The idea of seducing him was new and exciting.  Her heart was pounding.  She decided the plan was brilliant rather than devious. Brilliant sounded better to her and would take away some of the sting her conscience was feeling.

She was intrigued also and over the next two weeks tried to test his interest.  She wore shorter skirts, displayed her cleavage, changed hair styles often, and made herself available in case he wanted to talk.