One Fifth Avenue - Candace Bushnell [95]
He went into the bedroom. Lola was lying on her stomach, naked under the covers, as if she were waiting for him. “Oh, hello,” she said, turning her head to greet him. Pulling back the covers, he forgot all about Schiffer Diamond as he surveyed Lola’s body. She opened her legs invitingly. He dropped his towel and, kneeling behind her, lifted her hips and slipped his cock in from behind.
He came quickly and felt the sleepy calm that followed the satiation of pleasure. He closed his eyes. Lola rolled over and began playing with his hair. “Philip?” she asked sweetly. “What are you doing for Thanksgiving? Do you want to come to Atlanta with me?”
“Maybe,” he said before he fell asleep.
11
The drilling had begun again in the Rices’ apartment. Enid Merle got up from her desk in annoyance and went outside. On the terrace above was a pile of copper pipes. So the Rices still hadn’t finished the renovations on their bathrooms. Or maybe the pipes were for the aquarium Paul Rice was rumored to be installing in Mrs. Houghton’s ballroom. Enid hoped the renovation wouldn’t drive her into becoming one of those particular types of old people who, with little in their lives on which to focus, become obsessed with their neighbors. She turned on the History Channel to distract herself. The programs were a reminder of the true nature of human beings—while there were always a few who strived for greatness, most of humankind was engaged in the crude art of staying alive, reproduction, and indulgence in the baser instincts, including murder, paranoia, and war.
Her bell rang. Expecting Philip, she opened the door and found Mindy Gooch standing in the hallway. Mindy’s arms were crossed, and she wore her usual grim expression. “I need to talk to you about something,” she said.
“Come in.” Enid held open the door so Mindy could pass. Mindy’s visit was curious, Enid thought, as they hadn’t spoken since Mrs. Houghton’s funeral.
“I think we have a problem,” Mindy said.
Enid smiled. “I’ve lived in this building my entire life, dear,” she said, thinking that Mindy was referring to their lack of communication. “I was here before you moved in. And I expect to be here after you move out. If we don’t speak for the next five years, it won’t be an issue for me.”
“I’m not talking about you,” Mindy said. “I mean the Rices. Something has to be done about them.”
“Is that so,” Enid said coldly.
“Paul Rice came by my office last week.”
“Trying to be friendly, I suppose.”
“Trying to bribe me to approve his in-the-wall air conditioners.”
“And what did you say?”
“I told him no.”
“Well, then,” Enid said. “What’s the problem?”
“This,” Mindy said. She opened her hand and held up a tiny green plastic toy soldier thrusting a bayonet.
“I don’t understand,” Enid said.
“This morning, when I opened my door to get the newspaper, I found a whole troop of them arranged on the mat.”
“And you think Paul Rice did it,” Enid said skeptically.
“I don’t think he did it. I know he did it,” Mindy said. “He told me if I didn’t approve his air conditioners, it was war. If this isn’t a sign,” she continued, shaking the little green army man in Enid’s face, “I don’t know what is.”
“You must confront him,” Enid said.
“I can’t do it alone,” Mindy said. “I need your help.”
“I don’t see how I can help you,” Enid said calmly. “Dealing with unpleasant residents is your job. After all, you are the president of the board.”
“You were the president of the board for fifteen years,” Mindy said. “There must be something we can do. Some way to get them out.”
Enid smiled. “They’ve only just moved in.”
“Look, Enid,” Mindy said, beginning to lose patience. “We were friendly once.”
“Yes, we were.” Enid nodded. “We were friendly for a long time. We were even friendly after you conspired to have me removed