Michael Carver breezed into my office with a big bear hug, big smile, a briefcase full of tentative contracts, and a loud announcement that this is our lucky day, the start of a new phase of becoming affluent and famous.

He was steady and well organized, paid his bills on time, was married to an older eccentric lady, and I knew that he was also a lady's man; a charmer.

He told me about a new construction company that has its headquarters in San Francisco. They were finishing a new high rise on lower Mission Street. It was formed and led by big business people and retired military officers from all the services with the best connections from Washington to all over the world.

They were building new, as well as renovating older American embassies and consulates all over the world. They were also building new structures for big business practically all over the globe.

Mike was contacted to bid on some of the furnishings and wanted me to come in and do my share. Together, we would surely succeed.

First they wanted him to bid on making (to their specifications) several hundred chairs for their headquarters.

I became interested, as I had just hired some extra workers, and this looked easy.

But first I was required to meet the people that were in charge of all that activity. I  quickly saw that this was an enormous undertaking. It all ran with military precision.  Everything was in sections, and everyone was personally responsible for his own assignment.

I heard about work in far off places, strange countries that I never knew existed, but besides Europe and Africa, their tentacles reached deep into the Muslim countries; Saudi Arabia, Persia (Iran) under the Shah, and Iraq; in fact, all over the Arab Peninsula. There were many, many difficulties. Lumber that was good in one part of the world could never survive in other parts, and the adhesives (the glues) that we used; normally, hot animal glue, could not last long in the tropical countries. The same was true about plyboard. So there were many problems. I was reluctant to take on too many projects, but I took on the job of the hundreds of the local office chairs.

The one that was in charge of overseeing the work that Mike and I took on, the one we had to deal with directly, the one that signed the contract, and made the progressive, punctual payments, our sole contact, was Lori, a pretty, well groomed lady in about her middle thirties. She had her own office and staff. She dressed conservatively and gave the impression of being well informed. You could never put anything over on her as she monitored everything.

Not only did she inspect the work in progress, she also checked on the smallest details; the corner blocks had to be screwed down, not nailed, the screws had to be of a certain length and thickness, phillip head, not slotted head, and so on.

Mike, Lori and I had many conferences together, all kinds of meetings and arguments.  Occasionally we had to break for lunch. Lori always selected the restaurant and insisted that her firm pay for the lunch.

I soon found out that this lady was married, had a teenage daughter, had a home in Berkeley, and that her husband was a professor in one of the East Bay colleges. An elderly relative lived with them and took care of her daughter and husband when she was away at work.

On rare occasions, at the end of the day, the three of us, before going home, stopped in a friendly bar to have an appetiff.

I also noticed a soft spot in Lori's behavior away from her duties. She liked small compliments. Mike also knew that, and he would comment on the color of her blouses, or on some of the jewelry that she wore.

Sometimes Lori's sister joined us - this younger sister was the opposite of her sibling. She was not as pretty or reserved; she was an electrical engineer, working a block away.

A few times the younger sister invited us for a short visit to her apartment on Telegraph Hill. It was a small place, cramped with books and art works. She was married to a teacher who also joined us for drinks and friendly conversation. It was all very polite and civilized

On the way home, I asked Mike how long has this intimacy been going on. "First time," he admitted, "but it will not stop here. Lori and I will meet for full sex tomorrow in a hotel."

Nothing was said or changed, but I knew that Mike and Lori were meeting often, very often for intimacy, and what I felt was fulfillment. And of course, the younger sister knew. She was the cover, and many times the two lovers met in her apartment on Telegraph Hill.

After a few weeks, or months of this, Mike told me that Lori's sister had a very private talk with him. She thanked him for being so nice, so careful, so considerate, so good to Lori - but one thing is missing, Lori is longing for one act, something that she desires, but he, Mike never does it for her.

Mike was stunned - he thought that their lovemaking was perfect and varied. What was it that he was not doing? "Tell me," he pleaded, "and I surely will do it." 

"It's too embarrassing to tell." She lowered her eyes. 

By this time, both sisters knew that Mike was theirs to share - and they shared.

There was no jealousy - as this was not the usual love story and personal possessiveness. It was good, and safe, and pleasant, to satisfy and explore and enjoy.

Everyone was happy.

I did not take more work with Mike, as Bassya and I first planned, and then took, a long trip to Japan, Taiwan, Hong-Kong and Bangkok.

I also became busy with the San Francisco Opera, creating new furnishings for La-Traviata and "The Trojans" for which I helped construct a huge horse to hold many stage soldiers. This construction was built with a passageway through one of the legs to the stage basement where more soldiers could enter, and then emerge from the horse.

At one performance of the opera, I spotted Mike with a notorious young lady who was a television announcer. When I asked him privately about the sisters, he became serious. "It is a sad story," he ventured. He had been spotted with a new young lady; petting in a dark corner. Next day he received a formal note from the firm, 

"Dear Mr. Michael Carver, since business with the firm and the association with me and my sister is not sufficient for you, we are severing all connections. Please don't try to reach us. Your association with the organization is terminated as of now. You are being easily replaced."

So, the good easy times ended. "But one must live and love."  He winked as he took the arm of this TV personality and escorted her to her seat.