***
The large entertainment lounge was influenced by the elegant Art Deco Era. The sun-burst-stained-glass windows revealed hundreds of colored lights, which all culminated into a hypnotic and spiritual experience. The music of Tommy Dorsey played by a live band was even more potent than the straight vodka that Melpomeni was consuming. Drinks brought to her table by well-to-do passengers and officers, along with their requests for her to come sit with them, were rejected. Melpomeni had set her eyes and ears on the young female African singer on the small stage. Her low-cut dress revealed firm virgin breasts and large, pointed nipples that protruded through the thin silk fabric, split on the side to show her long and shapely legs, and accentuating her remarkably well-rounded buttocks.
Her movements were so erotic as she sang "I am getting sentimental over you", that Melpomeni had to wave her ivory hand-fan in an attempt to extinguish the internal fire she felt spreading within herself. A tingling sensation ran all over her body. She summoned the waiter over and whispered in his ear. After she signaled Officer Walker with a movement of her hand to leave, she was completely alone. She began to exchange eye contact with the enticing torch singer and both ended up smiling at each other. Before long, the voluptuous performer came over to Melpomeni's table. Her dark skin shone like a French chocolate truffle in a fancy display window.
"Labito is my name," she said as she extended her elegant fingers, as though she expected them to be kissed. Melpomeni took them in her hand, placing her other hand on top, showing off her diamonds.
"Melpo, short for Melpomeni," she replied in a low voice. Mesmerized by the brilliance of the diamonds, Labito sat next to Melpo, their knees touching. The waiter brought a bottle of champagne, the best the bar had to offer. Both drank heartily and exchanged wishes for their newly discovered friendship.
"You are so beautiful. By the way,
Labito, isn't that a Greek name?"
"Yes, my father is Greek, from Crete."
"So much the better my dear."
"What did you say, Melpo?"
"Nothing, my sweetie," she responded, taking the singer's hand again into hers. "Don't you think at least one of these long elegant fingers should have a ring on it?"
Labito did not respond. Melpo continued:
"Oh, I would say something like this," she said as she took off one of her several rings and placed in on Labito's finger, looking straight into her eyes. Purring softly, Labito smiled and drew herself close to Melpo like a small kitten and gave her a sensuous kiss on her lips. Although she was sure the waiters might raise an eyebrow or two over the incident, Melpo did not care. She was encapsulated by her epiphany. For the first time in her life she felt complete as a woman. This is what she had been missing. So what if someone saw them.