[Chapter 82: Are you swimming, Orlando?]
Orlando started chatting with Hillary around ten o'clock in the evening and they kept it up well past midnight.
As he tuned into her thoughts, Orlando clenched his fists.
'Motherfucker!'
'Wait a little longer. Change the location or shift the vibe. Maybe I can just take her down directly.'
But for now, he needed to build her trust first.
He could only blame this beautiful woman for having such a strong need to be in control.
She was just too rational.
In fact, during their earlier exchange, Orlando had picked up on her self-doubts more than once.
Take exercise, for example.
When ice hockey came up, her first reaction wasn't that they just happened to share a common hobby. Instead, she suspected that Orlando was planted -- a special person someone sent in to get close to her.
But then she thought, 'There probably aren't many people right now willing to invest that much in me.'
After all, Orlando wasn't just easy on the eyes -- he was a talented creator, a gold medal composer, and one of the hottest new stars in American music.
She doubted she was worthy of someone of Orlando's caliber showing up as her coach.
Hillary was skeptical in that moment.
Maybe Orlando really just happened to share a hobby with her.
Or maybe this guy was just trying to get close. Just genuine closeness.
It was likely, though, not someone else's doing -- just Orlando's own wish.
And if that were the case, even if Orlando had some plans, she wouldn't mind.
Whether business or personal, she'd seen so much she wasn't easily rattled.
Within such a short time, emotions had swirled intensely and constantly.
Even someone like Orlando, who could read minds, felt drained from the mental overload...
Because she was too rational, too smart.
That made Orlando hesitate to act outright.
Honestly, if this had been someone else -- even the wife of a major governor or a famous politician -- he would have charged ahead without hesitation.
Usually, wives of the famous or powerful were naive. But people like Hillary, maybe not even one in a hundred was like her.
---
Back in Madonna's room, Orlando, his mind buzzing, entered.
"Whoa! Are you... Catwoman?"
"Do you like it? Master Wayne~"
Madonna, who had been alone for two hours, curled her red lips.
She stood on her toes and twirled, the custom leather jacket hugging her slender figure like a second skin, showing off her amazing curves.
"I like it, but why are you..." Orlando's Adam's apple bobbed as he felt a rush.
Only a pop queen could have this much fun.
"Hey! Who told you to hang out outside with that lady so long? I almost thought you were going to slip into her room!"
"Madonna..."
"Okay, okay. To be clear, this is just for you. Do you like it?"
"Of course I do!"
"See! I knew you guys would love this!"
"Damn it!"
"Come on, I'm not scared of you..."
...
Afterward, Madonna collapsed onto the bed, looking radiant.
Orlando, still playful, peeled off her leather jacket.
"I'm exhausted... oh, you were wild just now!"
"Hey baby, next time let's try a different character. How about Wonder Woman?"
"Hmph, depends on my mood!"
"So how do you feel now?"
"Great, hahahaha!"
"That Wonder Woman..."
"It depends on my mood!"
"It depends on my mood! Damn..."
"No!"
...
---
The next afternoon.
Alan Peterson, senior development director of World Vision International for North America, arrived right on time at a conference room borrowed temporarily at the Warner Bros. Pictures headquarters where Orlando was.
A crowd of media reporters accompanied them.
After greetings, cameras rolled.
Peterson enthusiastically introduced World Vision International:
"Mr. Keller, thank you so much for your foresight and generosity in responding to this humanitarian crisis!"
World Vision International was a global child-centered relief, development, and public education organization. Founded by the Pope in 1950 to aid war orphans, the group operated projects in over 90 countries worldwide, with an annual budget of roughly $800 million.
Sounds a lot like UNICEF, right?
Not exactly -- it was a different organization.
World Vision was an NGO, mostly led by North American executives and officials. Many of them held positions in the National Association for the Protection of Children.
"Our core mission is to serve children and impoverished communities, addressing the root causes of poverty and injustice," Peterson explained.
He then highlighted a project underway in Kuwait: "As for the Kuwait Border Child Protection Center (CFS), this is one of our most urgent needs right now."
He spoke with heartfelt concern, as if the children really weighed on his mind. Before the camera, he laid out their mission: "The refugee crisis is underway, and children are being separated and injured amid the chaos and fear. Establishing a fully functional CFS -- including safe spaces, basic medical care, counseling, temporary education, and child protection staff -- would cost about $500,000 initially and for the first year's operation, two centers, totaling $1 million, could immediately provide safe refuge for 800 to 1,000 children."
Orlando smiled and nodded several times in front of the camera. Then confidently, he said, "No problem. For the kids' sake, I'll find a way to come up with the funds!"
"Oh, you're so generous and kind!" Alan spoke again with raw emotion, seeming close to tears. "On behalf of the children there, I sincerely thank you!"
---
Once the shoot wrapped and reporters left,
"Is everything okay?" Orlando asked with a grin when only the two of them remained.
"It's perfect. Thank you so much for your cooperation," Alan replied quickly.
Orlando nodded.
Today's event wasn't pre-planned exactly... well, you could say it was partially planned. But it wasn't organized in advance by Frank or Warner.
Last night, Orlando had promised Diane -- also known as Ms. Hillary, or Mrs. Clinton.
Besides being the governor of Arkansas's wife -- though that wasn't a public office -- her bigger role was president of the National Association for the Protection of Children.
This time, with the US about to start a war, it wasn't proper to use the National Association's name to manage child aid overseas.
After all, their work was US-focused, not global.
So they had to use World Vision International or another international group's name instead.
Peterson also held a part-time senior post at the National Association for the Protection of Children.
Previously a congressman from Arkansas who lost his seat two years ago, Hillary helped get him involved with World Vision and the National Association.
Put simply, the guy was Hillary's henchman.
Orlando was now cooperating with her, to boost publicity and handle related work for the association. He'd need to donate about $1.5 million in six months.
That was almost like a direct political donation to the Arkansas couple.
Besides working on their relationship, Orlando had to show more tangible and beneficial results.
Besides fame, giving money was the best approach.
And of course, it helped Orlando's own reputation.
He could gain good standing for charity work.
He could even use the chance to host an international gala or become an honorary officer of the National Association for the Protection of Children.
These honorary titles might not mean much practically, but politically and for publicity, they were priceless in the entertainment world.
---
After Alan left, another conference call was underway to discuss the upcoming mini-album release.
Once everything wrapped, Orlando returned to Madonna's Beverly Hills mansion.
But neither Hillary nor Madonna was there.
Madonna had left at noon. She had a commercial gig in Miami that night. The Miami Dolphins -- one of the NFL's traditional powerhouses -- were hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers at Dolphin Stadium.
It was a huge NFL event.
To boost buzz, the organizers invited Madonna to be the opening guest. Her gig fee alone was $2 million (which was modest by Super Bowl standards).
Two million was a lot, alongside the Super Bowl itself, one of the biggest NFL games.
Given the offer and Madonna's personality, she couldn't say no.
As for Hillary, the kind of rest Orlando saw last night -- doing nothing -- was not her normal life.
Her typical day was packed: endless cocktail parties, political events, private dinners.
So naturally, Orlando was the only one left in the villa now.
...
Even with the servants, security, and gardeners Madonna had left behind, plus the two security guards and an assistant Orlando had brought to live in the house, the huge estate still had twenty or thirty people around, including members of Hillary's team. But once the two women left, and after he returned and ate, Orlando found himself with no one to talk to.
He started making calls.
His last call was to Frank, just to chat.
"Hey Orlando, I'm over at MJ's Beverly Hills place right now. It's about half a mile from Madonna's."
"You said you had personal stuff tonight -- so you're going to MJ's party? And you didn't even tell me?"
"Yeah... he's throwing a party for Brooke Shields. Guess I didn't think you needed to know about MJ and his ex's hangout."
"Well, you got a point."
"What's wrong? You called me suddenly?"
"Nothing, I am just bored. I wanted to talk to you. Didn't expect you to be at a party. Have fun."
Then he hung up.
He wanted to sleep, but it was too early.
Thought about calling other women--
Before calling Frank, he'd already talked on the phone with Daisy, Shania, even Jennifer, who had just wrapped filming and returned to New York.
He had nothing else to do, and it was still early.
---
Los Angeles was very hot in July, even at night when there was no wind.
Orlando stripped down and jumped into the outdoor pool at Madonna's mansion, wearing only his underwear.
After he swam two laps, wet cotton underwear stuck uncomfortably.
So he took them off and swam like a merman -- or, well, a male mermaid.
He did a few laps more.
Just as he was about to get out and head upstairs, he saw a group approaching the landing between the second-floor hallway and the outdoor stairs.
Leading them was Hillary, just back, with bodyguards and assistants behind her.
As they drew near, Orlando floated to the edge of the pool.
Looking down, Hillary caught sight of his shadow beneath the water.
"Wow..." she said,
"Are you swimming, Orlando darling?"
'Wow.' She thought to herself, 'It looks really... big!'
*****
https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.
https://discord.gg/eKByGBSw.