The Dressing Room – 2017

Sophia dries herself in the bathroom of her Sydney penthouse apartment. Her cheeks are flushed from the hot shower and her long auburn hair shines in the overhead light. It’s tied up in a knot on top of her head where tendrils of damp hair escape, falling to her shoulders as she leans forward to dry her legs. She flicks on the extractor fan and walks briskly into the adjoining master bedroom.

She carefully selects each piece of evening wear with Willem’s preferences in mind. First a French lace and silk pair of knickers, with a matching bra clutching her young breasts to the best advantage. Sophia catches her reflection in the full-length, mirror elegantly positioned beside the 16th-century dresser with its beautifully turned legs. The smooth curves of the antique, has matching pearl handles. Handcrafted before the industrial revolution when mass production swamped the world, this magnificent dresser has small imperfections which only an expert would notice. Like Sophia, none of its flaws are immediately evident. The exquisite design with everything perfectly aligned across the six highly polished drawers reinforces her sense of order and organisation, which she relies on to ensure the perfect functioning of her private and professional life.

She smiles at herself, knowing Willem will find her irresistible. Sophia walks through a connecting archway into her dressing room where racks of designer clothes and imported shoes, hand-made from the finest calf leather, crocodile and snakeskin, await their next outing. But first, she cautiously pulls a silk slip over her head before selecting an indigo dress from the second set of mirrored wardrobes.

Each cupboard is fitted with handcrafted teak compartments, stacked with personally inscribed books, expensive gifts, artefacts and souvenirs from her travels around the world. Some drawers contain jewellery and silver-framed photographs in careful order, positioned above a series of glass-fronted drawers which hold specific pieces of imported lingerie, a wide selection of designer sunglasses and memorable items from shared holidays. The other side of the double wardrobe contains a collection of imported garments tailored to Sophia’s exacting requirements.

Mirrors line the walls on two sides of the dressing room, allowing her to make specific refinements to her attire. She turns, critically assessing her reflection before leaving her private enclave. The hem of her organza cocktail dress hangs demurely, softly hugging Sophia’s knees.
Opening an ornate jewellery box, she retrieves a diamond bracelet. Draping it over her wrist, she turns her hand as the light plays on the exotic setting. She clips the clasp, hooking the small security chain to its opposite link and lets her arm fall at her side. Glancing down, the sleeves of her dress linger at her wrist, partially obscuring the sparkle on her arm.

She casts her mind back to Willem Van Howan and the evening when he presented her with the gift over dinner. The box was wrapped in black velvet with two black tulips from the Netherlands, intertwined with a satin ribbon securing the offering. It was unexpected, and more so, when Willem let slip its extravagant value, and insisted on covering the insurance cost. Not bad for a gift and, so far, it beat all others.
Smiling at the memory, glimpsing the shimmering diamonds on her wrist, Sophia looks forward to seeing him again. She runs her fingers across the gold bracelet. Each fingernail finely coated in three layers of soft peach, matching her expensive lipstick and strappy heels.

Sophia at 29-years old swivels herself one last time, pleased with her appearance. She knows Willem, with his Dutch conservative upbringing, can easily be provoked into a jealous outburst. Unacceptable as it is, in a fully-grown man, she’s reassured he is unlikely to ever stray. She easily manages him with calm compliance, enjoying his conversation and charm.

An hour later, Sophia has almost completed her subtle make-up. She dusts a powder blush to her cheeks and the arches of her outer eyelids, completing the demure look she wishes to convey. Her long dark eyelashes and full lips maintain an understated pout, enhancing her arresting almond-shaped eyes. She knows, from experience, her flawless, angelic appearance will be near impossible for any man to resist. She deliberately cultivates an innocent look, her guileless eyes wide with non-comprehension. In public, most men stare at her fixated by lust only to be crushed seconds later as she smiles and walks on by. She is meticulous in her choice of lovers.

Reaching towards the wardrobe shelf, Sophia selects an imported perfume before squeezing a fine spray into the room and walking into the fresh flower-scented mist which settles over her body. Again, she smiles at herself in the full-length mirrors and concentrates on her personal rating system. Running through her list of professional objectives, Sophia allocates herself a resounding nine.

With her head held high, she grabs a small leather handbag and walks through the Carrera tiled entryway. Sophia grabs the Audi’s key-fob from the hallstand and sashays to the elevator. She presses the lift-button taking her down to the basement parking area. The driver’s door of her imported German two-seater R8 sports car automatically opens as she draws near. She slips into the driver’s seat, resting one hand on the soft leather steering wheel before pushing her index finger onto the starter button. The turbocharged Lamborghini V10 engine roars into life.

Sophia glances down at her wristwatch, a beautiful piece of swiss-made jewellery, only outmatched by Willem’s bracelet on her opposite wrist. With a rippling shockwave, she hears her dead mother’s unbidden voice ringing in her head. ‘Better get a wriggle on.’ Sophia’s momentarily disturbed by her deceased mother’s influence over her conscious thoughts, particularly after being secured in her grave for more than five years. She presses her foot to the accelerator and races out into the tree-lined street, past the Point Piper Yacht Club and heads towards Sydney Airport.

Dutch language had been one of Sophia’s core subjects at university 12 years earlier, along with German, French and Japanese. Like a chameleon, her ability to seamlessly adapt and compromise, tailoring her behaviour and attitude, enables her to become whoever her lover wants her to be. To Sophia, it’s not merely a job. It isn’t work. Her career path is driven by her passion for pleasure, indulgence and, of course, money. She executes her professional approach to the level of an art form. It’s a gift, a skill unknown to many and Sophia plies her natural talent to perfection.

Even though Willem seems possessive at times, in a strange way, she likes the fact that he’s in control and often takes charge, ordering her food and wine in restaurants without any consideration for what she may prefer. As she speeds towards the airport, she tries to analyse what it is about him that she finds attractive. He’s an alpha male, confident, in control and can also be loving and gentle. Other times he’s demanding, questioning what she wears or where she’s been.
She thinks about how outwardly self-possessed and assertive Willem is and yet if she scratches the surface, he’s a young boy, desperately clinging to her apron strings, craving attention. But aren’t most people like that? Is it a mother thing? Surely not. Not Willem, he’s way too secure and confident.

Sophia is happy to handle him again. How long has it been? Close to four weeks. Willem always makes love to her with enthusiasm, sometimes taunting her, teasing her to climax. He’s the playful cat to her cute furry mouse. She laughs out loud. In bed his nick-name Wim comes easily to her lips. Willem. Always engaging and intellectually challenging. Sophia loves that about him. All these qualities make it easier for her to appear devoted to him during the moments they share together.
She knows Willem imagines he’s the only one. Sophia’s lover is none the wiser, utterly oblivious. She believes some men hold a willing suspension of disbelief, desperate to convince themselves Sophia loves only them. She explicitly cultivates everything her lover needs or wants, reinforcing each man’s belief in her absolute devotion. Each man with no inkling of anything other than what he believes is plainly visible. A gorgeous, intelligent young woman with eyes and thoughts solely for him – the ultimate flattery.