Ideal Existence

By
Duncan L. Dieterly

Smugly she thought to herself, it had been five years since she had successfully molded

the events of her life with emerging technologies to her advantage so that she could live alone,

absolutely without any human interference. Who would have guessed that she could achieve this

with so little real effort? The outside world was a cheap tawdry place. She now lived in her own

world, by her own rules and at her own pace.

Sitting quietly wrapped in her thick cotton robe over her black silk sleeping dress she

wistfully looked out into the dark night. Well below her thirtieth-floor penthouse apartment was

the glittering city. Her modern building was located in the city’s finest area and not only did she

oversee the city but the Twin Rivers that encircled the downtown area. It was her idea of living,

being above and beyond the common crowd, encased in her technology controlled luxury

apartment with no need to venture out. She had not descended to the street level since she

arrived.

Squiggling her toes several times, she watched the night from her massive darkened

living room. The large antique grandfather clock struck eleven. She had about finished her wine,

a striking 1990 German Riesling that she simply adored. Soon it would be time to retire.

Sleeping until seven, she would awaken to start another glorious day.

She was especially pleased with herself today. She had made a major killing in the

commodities market, dined on an excellent Dover sole and watched an exciting film, Cogan’s

Bluff featuring a very striking and young Clint Eastwood. She stretched her slim arms and

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wondered how it could get much better. As she closed her eyes draining the crystal wine glass,

she allowed her mind to conjecture on how she had accomplished it. First, the untimely death of

her parents in a Madrid plane crash forced into her hands an astonishing amount of money.

Secondly, because she had been the major heir her entire remaining family was alienated. When

they unsuccessfully tried to break the will, they vowed never to speak to her again. Finally, her

uncanny ability to apply sophisticated computer trading methodologies increased her wealth

beyond her wildest dreams.

The funds, the technology and the practiced skill; it was hers and she leveraged them to

create her dream life overlooking the city. It further tickled her fancy, to recall over and over

again the startled look on the faces of the dour partners of Farwood and Sons Investments on the

day she waltzed into the board meeting in a demure suit as expected. However, when called

upon to deliver her monthly report, she stood purposefully, slowly removing her jacket to reveal

a tight fitting midnight blue blouse that actuated her perfect ample breasts.

The startled board members looked away in shock and fear for their own lustful desires.

After succinctly delivering her report she announced, “Oh, by the way BOYS, I am resigning

effective this moment and she grabbed her jacket, leaving her files, slinking slowly out of the

office without looking back. She heard the gasps, groans and clucking of the gaggle of board

members as the door closed behind her.

That was her crowning moment. From then on, it was simple to use her increasing

wealth to feather her penthouse nest. She now spent her mornings researching and making

decisions, her early afternoon working out in her gym and her afternoons reading. Her servant

arrived promptly at five to prepare the evening meal that she had ordered and did the cleaning

while she ate with quiet jazz background music.

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Then she would select a movie to view and enjoy it with a glass of fine wine and light

snack before bed. It was gloriously isolated and uncomplicated. She no longer worried about

men, nor woman, she worked, relaxed and enjoyed her movies and books. All her needs were

met by federal express, home delvery and credit cards. She paid her bills promptly by computer

and had absolutely no desire for anything more.

Rising up slowly she put the wine glass down and languidly flowed toward her bedroom.

She didn’t bother with a light, allowing her robe drop to the floor she admired her sensual figure

in the dark shadows of the wall window that faced onto the surging rivers far below.

She was a proud woman with a wonderful figure. However, she disliked men and their

awkward attempts at seduction. She had graduated from college in 2005 with degree in

Financial Analysis and a potentially outstanding law student as her fiancé. Unfortunately, he

succumbed to the wiles of a slut, thus ending her romantic period. She had worked diligently at

the firm enduring the ‘old boy network’ suppression, while concealing her womanly attributes to

avoid the silly dating dance that was so wasteful. Now she had a drawer full of dildoes and

sensitizing creams to satisfy her carnal needs and wasted no time in the presence of fumbling,

sweating, incompetent males.

It was warm so she lay on her mammoth bed, stretching out both her arms and legs to

relax. Eyes closed, she felt like tomorrow would bring another wonderful day. She had built her

perfect world and was now going to enjoy it; no one could take that away from her.

Almost asleep, she didn’t hear the massive explosion below but felt its shake as it

shivered up the walls from the fifth floor gently swaying the building. Mr. Clive Garner, a

drunken, depressed international gold dealer had attempted to kill himself by sticking his head

into his large gas oven. He had been resting there ten minutes on the verge of passing out when

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the gas reached the pilot light of his water heater, detonating and demolishing the entire

apartment floor.

Sitting up abruptly she wondered what it was, “An earth quake I suppose.” And laid back

down. The explosion had destroyed the west wall allowing the building to shudder into a total

sickening, twisting collapse. Her world spun upside down! Tumbling erratically! Screaming

savagely! Plummeting into the chaos of black oblivion!

The End

Copyright © 2010 by Duncan L. Dieterly

[This short story first appeared in Fresh Ink Vol. XII, No. VIII, August 2010]

1049 words
August 5, 2010