The most important deadline of my working career rapidly approached. All the synonyms associated with it rang through my mind, crunch time; get 'er done, tempus fugit, no time like the present, and the whole litany. Getting this done was top priority for me because it was worth a huge bonus of over two million dollars. I worked around the clock. In the end, the money was in the bank and I had a six-month sabbatical handed to me as well.
"Get the fuck out of here, you earned," my boss ordered.
That was one order I intended to obey to the letter. I was conflicted with whom I wanted to share the reward. Being something of a workaholic, I didn't have a wife or girlfriend. I didn't have a really close friend either. The closest person to me was my little sister, Mary. I would invite her to share my reward.
Mary is my little sister by five years. She is 31 and unattached. To me she is beautiful although the rest of the world may not think so. She has had several restorative surgeries to her face after an ex decided to scar her after a breakup. He is in prison, and, as word has it, he was shanked in revenge for her. Funny how shit happens.
The scars are real but plastic surgeons worked magic giving her face a lift that hid the worst of them. Mary is a scant five feet two inches tall and about 118 pounds. She has a nice figure, not full, more petite. She is more athletic than me, therefore, much firmer.
I am 36 with the height genes of the family. I am six feet three inches tall and just over 200 pounds. I exercise but do carry a few extra pounds around the waistline.
Mary listened to my proposal, although she didn't think I was serious. "Who is more important to me than you, Mary. Whom else do I spend my free time with?"
Her answer didn't come for a couple days; she was always one to weigh alternatives. When her decision was made, we began making plans.
"Name an exotic place you always wanted to visit." I was sure of her answer before I asked; however, I wanted her to say it.
She brightened as her answer left her lips, "Monaco, the Mediterranean coast of France." She was always infatuated with the thought of nude beaches and warm sunny stretches of sand.
Soon as she said it, she went deep red with embarrassment realizing she would be with me, her brother. "I mean, that's my dream trip, but..." She didn't finish.
"Afraid of how your older brother might react to seeing all of you? I think it would be a vision worth every," I spelled, "C E N T or S C E N T. Besides, Mary, I'll be wearing as much as you. Could you deal with that?"
"But, Jeff, it's so taboo." The embarrassment lingered on Mary's face although her eyes began to twinkle.
