America 1982-Chapter 218 - 77: Tommy Returns Home
New York, Midtown Manhattan, Spine Avenue, Waldorf Hotel Apartment.
"Huff~~" Jim exhaled a puff of smoke with the cigar between his teeth, glanced at the letter in his hand, and then tossed the job invitation along with the torn envelope into the trash can next to him.
The massage girl who had brought him the envelope paused at this action. She was setting up the massage bed on the balcony but couldn’t help asking Jim, "Jim, did I bring you the wrong letter?"
"No, Julia, you didn’t bring the wrong one. It’s the invitation that was sent to the wrong place. Someone from Lexington wants me to run a treatment center for alcohol and drug addiction, and the person in charge actually fantasizes about taking this business public soon. Just from hearing that, you know he’s an idiot, right? And I don’t feel like working with idiot bosses lately." Jim turned and walked to the tiny balcony of his New York Manhattan apartment, deliberately unveiling his bath towel to the massage girl:
"So, it’s been a while, do you think it has... hit a second puberty?"
The massage girl, who appeared to be in her forties, smiled nonchalantly and began to organize her essential oils and other items, "As adorable as it was seven years ago." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
"Every time I come back to New York, I only contact you for a home massage session. Can’t you just lie to comfort me? You really know how to humiliate a man, Julia. Using the word ’adorable’ is just perfect. I suspect I might be your only male client." Jim held back his urge to swear hearing her response, wrapped the towel around himself lacklusterly, and laid down on the massage bed:
"Seven years... Back then I made some commission at McKinsey, bought this tiny apartment, thinking I was already among New York’s elite, just as prominent as my own penis. Seven years have gone by, and I’ve come to realize I’m as ’adorable’ as it."
Julia applied essential oil on Jim’s back with soft motions and, hearing his reflection, responded with a laugh, "Sounds like you’re not in a great mood."
"Yeah, my dear Julia, downright awful. I used to nail everything. At National Review and McKinsey, I could handle troubles for politicians and solve tricky business problems for some clients, but then I met two idiots," Jim said self-deprecatingly with his eyes closed, savoring the feeling of his back muscles relaxing under her gentle massage.
As Julia massaged, she looked out at the bustling New York from the balcony, "It was just one rejection, Jim. Didn’t you once tell me that life is about growing through constant rejections? Without your encouragement, I would never be able to offer expensive home massage services in Manhattan; I’d probably still be juggling unrelated part-time jobs in Brooklyn, because that’s where people want to see pretty, young women at their service, not someone my age."
"Right, I’m actually pretty awesome, aren’t I?" Jim didn’t wait for Julia to finish with his back. Hearing this, he flipped over, lying on his front, and looked up at Julia.
Julia nodded, "The first home massage appointment I had in Manhattan was thanks to you. You gave me confidence, told me not to care about age and looks but rather to dress more professionally and improve my massage skills. I did just what you suggested, and now I can confidently enter the homes of the rich and famous to give the ladies essential oil massages, teaching them how to take care of themselves, and I’ve continued to do so. All Manhattan’s elite think I’m the most professional in the home massage business."
"It’s your massage skills that are indeed excellent. And I, I just gave some minor advice. Speaking of which, among those high-class ladies you’ve massaged, are there any with great figures and faces who are also single? Tell me her likes, maybe if I cater to her tastes and strike up a conversation a few times, I could end up as the son-in-law of some Wall Street big shot?" Jim didn’t take credit for her success, switching instead to another joke.
"Let’s put it this way, you’re currently my customer with the lowest ranking in both home environment and physique among all my Manhattan outcalls," Julia said with a gentle gaze at the somewhat chubby man, teasing him.
Jim frowned, "You might not get a tip from me today, Julia. That adorable descriptor you used earlier has already broken my heart, and now you mock me as a pauper in Manhattan."
"But you must know, even the elites in Manhattan today, if they don’t book with me in advance, they’ll miss out on my personal services. I’ll just send over other staff from the company, but you’re an exception," Julia said as she playfully flicked Jim’s nose with her oil-covered finger:
"So, don’t be so quick to write yourself off. You might still be that genius who can do anything in the eyes of others."
"This is getting a bit sentimental, I really appreciate your comfort, Julia. How about this, if you’re willing to cover your face with a sexy magazine picture, I’m prepared to sacrifice myself and, with a grateful heart, get intimate with you," Jim gazed into Julia’s eyes, first with deep affection, then suddenly burst into an exaggerated laugh, before he finished speaking:
