Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 15

After a pause she came back and said "OK Lew I might consider your proposal of a non-date, but don't you start getting any crazy ideas!"

"Astrid, you know me, I wouldn't dream of getting ideas, although you do realize we both being single, the village will buzz with rumors when they see us together?"

"LEW! How could you even consider I would be having an affair with a man like yourself?"

"Astrid I'm only joking. I will be on my best behavior; I will even dress up for the occasion, and I can guarantee that you will not regret hearing my proposal and having dinner with me."

The Deerhunter is the most posh restaurant in the area, the chef even sports one Michelin star.

It was the waterhole of the rich and famous of the village, so there was a big chance that we would be seen and be discussed for the next couple of weeks. This was not on account of my presence so much as that Astrid, being one of the few single eligible women in the village, always provoked interest. Another one in the same position was Bethany from the perfumery and beauty salon.

Of course I am the available bachelor to be roped in, especially as everyone in the village thinks I am very well to do, having bought the photoshop and built the large extension at the back.

I can't complain, but I am absolutely not in the same league money wise as the people living in the big villas, especially not after I spent a big chunk of my money on the studio.

Around six, I started to prepare for dinner with Astrid, taking a shower, shaving, yes also down under, you never know what can happen, and applying some moisturizing cream to my old face and some cologne so I would smell OK.

I had laid out, aside from my classic boxer shorts, a nice shirt and tie and a light grey summer suit.

While dressing, my mind started to reflect on a rumor going round the village: I wanted to find out if it there was any truth in it.

There was, apparently, a small select and secret BDSM club with its headquarters in one of the huge villas, and it was whispered that Astrid was a member. I had no idea if it was true or in what capacity Astrid might be involved, but it wouldn't surprise me, as she was always liked to be in charge, and knew everything better, as well as giving the impression of being superior to other people.

So I had a double agenda, firstly to get Astrid to agree for Linda to work for her as a photo and fashion model at her shindigs, and secondly to figure out any involvement in the kinky club.

At ten to seven I got in the car and drove over to Astrid's boutique to pick her up.

I rang the doorbell; Astrid opened the door after a few seconds, and believe it or not she took my breath away.

"Wow Astrid, I have never seen you so dressed up, is that especially for me?"

Completely in her Mrs. Bouquet style she replied, "No, you silly man, I always dress up when I go to dinner and since this is the first time you ever invited me it's only normal that you have never seen me dressed like this before."

Astrid could easily pass for a twenty-six year old rather than her thirty-six years, she had a very toned body with just the right size chest area.

The dress she was wearing was a melodramatic red color with a golden sheen, really figure hugging, showing an ample cleavage, small straps over the shoulder, leaving her toned, lightly sun-kissed arms completely bare.

Ending about twenty-five centimeters (10") above the knee the dress exposed a pair of lightly tanned and well-formed legs -- areal feast for the eyes.

Her feet were encased in open sandals with10 cm (4") "fuck me" heels.

They looked comfortable and I had a glimpse of a red sole, giving away the brand.

Immediately pulling the carpet from under my feet, Astrid said:

"So you are taking me on this non-date to one of the finest restaurants in the area; I wonder what brought that on, you must need a big favor from me!"

"Astrid, Astrid, let's not get ahead of ourselves, I will tell you all about it when we are comfortably seated at our table."

Not much was said during the 10 minute drive to the restaurant. As I had never done this before, I guess she was curious as to why I had invited her, even if she was a customer of mine for the pictures of her fashion shows.

I was really wondering how I was going to broach the subject of the secret little BDSM group though; if there was absolutely no connection between Astrid and the secret society, I ran the risk of antagonizing her, and maybe even screwing up the chances of Linda becoming a fashion model. I'd better tread very careful on how I broached it.

Selling Linda as a fashion model wouldn't be too hard, as Astrid was always looking for fresh faces that didn't cost an arm and a leg.

I had done far more difficult negotiations during my working life, so I was quite confident I would be able to convince her.

After parking the car at The Deerhunter, I was the perfect gentlemen, jumping out of the car, circling it and opening the door for Astrid, extending my hand to support her getting out in the narrow dress she was wearing without showing all her female goodies to me and whoever else was in the parking.

"Well Lew, I must say I am pleasantly surprised by your gentlemanly manners, I never expected you to be this considerate after what I heard on the grapevine about you."

"Oh dear! Astrid, I had no idea that I was known as an inconsiderate person."

"Well not particularly inconsiderate, but the rumor goes you are a bit rough around the edges."

"I hope I scored good points then Astrid, which I would like to cash in after you have heard my proposal."

I let her go in first, holding the door of the restaurant open for her. We were met by the hostess who guided us to a nice table for two in a quiet corner of the restaurant.

Although I am not a real regular at The Deerhunter I had dined there before and requested this particular table making sure we would not be too noticeable.

I pointed out to Astrid, when she looked at me a bit quizzically about the table, that here we would be less observed by any neighbors wandering in who might draw the wrong conclusions and then start rumors about us dining there together.

Astrid had also been looking at the folder I was carrying under my arm with a suspicious eye.

"Shall we start with a glass of champagne to quench the first thirst after our dry ride here?"

"That would be excellent," Astrid replied.

I could feel her getting a bit nervous about the whole thing, so I did not want to keep her on tenterhooks any longer than necessary, so I launched into my sales pitch about Linda.

"So Astrid, the reason I invited you is to bring you a proposal which will help a young person I met recently in my photo studio."

I opened up the folder and took out a portrait photo of Linda's face and showed it to Astrid.

"You see this young lady, Linda, wants to start a career as fashion model. I had one photo session with her and saw immediately that she had serious potential."

Taking out and presenting further photos of Linda showing off her summer dress during our photoshoot, I continued my marketing.

"Linda has, as you can see a very nice figure, euro size 36/38, which as far as my knowledge of fashion models goes is the ideal."

"She is young, only nineteen, I know maybe already a bit old for an international career, but more locally, I think she has the potential to become someone sought after in this business."

"She doesn't have much experience, so she could be molded to your own personal standards. The photoshoot I had with her was just as she came off the street, so no special make-up, no special effects and believe it or not, none of the shots are Photoshopped. She has perfect skin and she is physically extremely flexible."

"By extremely flexible I mean she is almost a contortionist. I have some pictures of her doing the splits, like a ballerina on the floor and even standing up, but those I can't show you as Linda wanted them kept private. Eventually when you get to know her personally she might show them to you."

"Wow Lew, that is serious sales pitch, I need to get some air."

"OK Astrid, maybe to give you some time, let's look at the menu and order our food, because after all that is what we are here for, to sample the chef's excellent cuisine!"

Astrid ordered a small salad as an appetizer and continued with the catch of the day.

I always found that a strange expression in a restaurant, 'the catch of the day' as if the chef himself went fishing in the local river or pond and prepares what he caught.

I have no idea what he would serve if he didn't catch anything that day.

I didn't order one of my favorites, escargots, because of the garlic; I didn't want to breathe garlic over Astrid the rest of the time we were to spend together.

So, sensibly, I also ordered a small salad but then I went for slow cooked pork cheeks with vegetables and basil puree.

For dessert, I decided to wait and see how we progressed - I still had my second mission to accomplish.