Leuca

By John Sleeper

How could anyone resist when this 6 foot 11⁄2 inch drop dead gorgeous platinum blonde standing in the middle of a swimming pool completely naked beckons you to join her? None could and everyone at the Brentwood party jumped into the Olympic size pool.
Leuca, the world’s most sought after clothing model has her own jet plane, her own house on the Malibu coast, makes more money than any other model and she has a secret that she tells no one. Only her closest family members know her secret and they won’t tell because it is their secret as well.
A private investigator gets curious because of what his girlfriend Marie, Leuca’s housekeeper, tells him in confidence. He tries to find out what the truth is when he stumbles across a story in a tabloid and Leuca decides to quit the modeling business at the same time to go live with her family whom she hasn’t seen since she was two years old.
She suddenly quits the modeling business and goes to live in a small village where she was born and orphaned at the age of two. She finds relatives here that she never knew existed and if anyone had told her about them she would not have believed the stories.
The truth of who Leuca really is and where she comes from is stranger than anything any of her friends could imagine. Even those who would like to pry into her secret must be careful because everyone knows curiosity killed the cat and others as well.
Myths and legends are fascinating things. When investigated they always appear to have roots in fact. Wouldn’t it be fascinating to find that someone you know or maybe even yourself could be related to mythic heroes or gods? Would you know if you were a direct descendent of such people? How would you react if someone pulled you aside and said you were a descendent of what you were always told were mythological gods?
Chances are you wouldn’t believe it but... what if they offered to prove it to you? And if they gave you some small but compelling evidence on the spot? Can you say you would tell them to get lost and walk away? No, you wouldn’t... would you?

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Sleeper
• Release date: Jul 11, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311725608

John Sleeper

Johnny grew up in the foothills north of Los Angeles. He was a very active child, one of those who you never caught sitting still. He and his cousins, 25 at last count, would play outside making use of what they had lying about. They did not know they were poor and if anyone ever told them they were they would not have cared. They enjoyed each other’s company and never was the word bored used by any of them. As he grew he collected memories and experiences like other children collected baseball cards. Through his school years and on into his military service in the US Navy he often thought of his many experiences and like many others he thought of writing a book about them. John progressed through many phases during his life, the carefree childhood, rebellious adolescence, loving husband and father of 5, proud grandfather of 10, healer and finally author. His first book to be published is Taking Control which portrays his idea of how the world should be if we could take control of our lives and be answerable only to our conscience and morals. ‘Do unto others’ and ‘an eye for an eye’ are recurring themes in this first book. He is not an advocate of anarchy but neither is he in favor of big government. The idea that a community founded on good moral grounds will take care of its own was the concept for the book. The idea that he should sit down and write the books he has conceptualized was given to him by his oldest granddaughter, Kayla. She also enjoys writing and it was during a conversation with her about this subject that the seed of authorship began to grow in him. He wants everyone to enjoy his books and come away with a feeling of empowerment and confidence in themselves. He is fond of saying, “If you have a desire to do something that is off the beaten track, don’t be afraid. As long as it doesn’t hurt you or anyone else, go for it. You may never know what pleasure and joy you may find at the end of the path.”

Book preview

Dedication

I thank my wife Sharon for the help she has given

me with the main character Leuca. If not for her

advice on naming the first chapter things might

never have gotten off the ground. I certainly would

never have been able to build a believable female

character without her help.

Thank you Sharon.

This book is for you.

Chapter 1

Leuca

Everyone came to these parties. Most came because they knew if you didn’t there would be whispers about why you weren’t invited or what the problems were in your life that kept you away. The models were always there because they had to keep themselves in the spotlight so they would not be forgotten since the last photo shoot, except for one, Leuca.

The party had been in full swing for over two hours when Leuca arrived. Actors, models, managers and producers were busy making deals over drinks and hors d’oeuvres. As she crossed the foyer into the Brentwood mansion silence spread throughout as though someone had turned the volume down on the sounds to zero.

Her appearance was legend. Most models were five feet eight inches to five feet eleven inches tall. The taller ones ranged to six feet. Leuca stood six feet one and one half inches. Unusual as her height was it was far from being her most striking feature. Her skin was smooth as porcelain and always appeared to have a light tan no matter the time of year. This skin color was striking and when combined with her hair created a mystique that was unrivaled. Her hair was the purest of platinum blondes. It shined in the sunlight so that it took on a metallic sheen. It was always cut to frame her face in a wispy fashion which extended to the long ends that hung in a straight cascade to four inches past shoulder length. Her eyes were a deep violet color and when it was very dark her pupils would expand to the point where no white was visible.

Spending long hours with beauticians as the other models did was unnecessary because of her flawless skin and the peculiar fact that she had no body hair at all except for her long platinum locks.

Leuca was above all the petty rivalries of the other models. She never needed to audition for a photo shoot. The waiting list to have her model was exclusive and long. Even the top names in fashion had to stand in a line that was six months to a year in length.

The first to approach her at the party was her manager, Margaret Shoenburg. Margaret was always happy when she saw Leuca. This was due to the pride she took in representing the world’s top model, currently her only client, and the prestige and power that position afforded her. Of course her commission had a little something to do with it as well.

Leuca had on her business smile as she entered but this changed to a genuine room brightening brilliance when she saw Margaret.

Margaret basked in this greeting that she knew any of the others in the room would give anything to be on the receiving end of. The two hugged warmly as they came together and went arm-in-arm out to the pool area. As they walked everyone smiled at them and said hello as they passed. Leuca politely smiled back and said hello but did not invite conversation. She wanted to talk to Margaret about the coming sportswear shoot scheduled for Big Bear in two weeks.

Margaret and Leuca walked to a table with two chairs a little way from the pool and sat down. A waitress stepped up and asked if they would like something to drink.

Margaret said, I’d like a Slushy Rum Punch.

Leuca was eye to eye with the girl holding the drink tray even though she was sitting down. She said, I would like a glass of distilled water with a squeeze of lime and a cherry please, and smiled with her eyes open and her right eyebrow slightly raised. She looked as if the girl and she had been friends for a long time even though this was the first time they had met.

Leuca’s bright smile, sing-song voice and friendly demeanor set the young girl’s entire body glowing. The girl made a slight bow and said, I will be right back with your drinks. She turned and retreated toward the house looking as though she was floating.

Margaret looked at Leuca and shook her head a little from side to side and said, The effect you have on people is the most amazing thing I have ever seen. How do you do it?

Leuca looked at Margaret with her left eyebrow rising little by little as she pursed her lips looking very pensive. After a few seconds she brightened and said in a voice that tinkled like a crystal wind chime, I don’t think about doing anything special. I just want to be perceived as pleasant and affable. I think everyone needs to see a friendly face every day, don’t you?

I do, said Margaret, and especially if that face is yours. I can’t put my finger on it but there is something about you that always brings out kindness and respect in everyone you meet.

The young waitress returned at that moment still beaming and placed the drinks on the table. She took half a step back, looked at Margaret then at Leuca and said, Can I get you anything else?

First Margaret then Leuca smiled and said, No thank you.

The girl moved away looking over her shoulder at Leuca with a dreamy smile on her face as she disappeared into the crowd.

Leuca turned her focus to Margaret and said, I am a little apprehensive about two of the items I am scheduled to wear at the shoot in two weeks.

Oh, Margaret said as her voice went up a quarter octave, what two items is that?

There is a crop top and a pair of capris that have some fringe on them. I was going over some old pictures of similar items and noticed that they looked childish and out of date on me. I would rather they cut them from my wardrobe if you could arrange that on this short notice. And please extend my apologies for doing this at such a late date.

Margaret broke into a huge toothy smile and said, That should not be any problem at all. Now that I think about it I should have caught that one myself. I will talk to them this afternoon. She produced an electronic tablet from her purse and made note of this. She then looked at Leuca and said, I have to be leaving soon. I have an appointment I must be at in two hours across town. Are you going to stay here for a while?

Leuca said, Yes, I will be staying for a bit. I wanted to talk to Marcus and Felicia.

After they finished their drinks Margaret said good bye and left stopping momentarily here and there to have a few short conversations with some of the people she passed as she made her way to the house.

Leuca sat for a few minutes looking around then decided to go for a swim in the almost Olympic size pool that Marcus and Felicia had built three years ago. She stood and reached the zipper at the back of the long straight pale green dress she was wearing and unzipped it to the waist. All eyes were focused on her as she stepped out of the dress wearing a matching string bikini. She carefully folded the dress and placed it over the back of the chair she had been sitting on. She removed her shoes and placed them on the seat then turned and walked toward the pool.

The entire party went dead silent with the exception of the music which was playing. Being used to such attention she lowered her head just a little and looking at no one and everyone with the most haunting smile imaginable she made her way slow and poised to the pool. In one smooth effortless flowing motion she dove into the water making no splash at all. Her body undulated in a Dolphin kick motion which made her look like a torpedo moving through the water. She arrived at the far end of the pool in what had to be record time if she were being clocked. She instantly flipped backward into lazy backstrokes which appeared effortless belying the speed at which she was moving. Upon reaching the end of the pool she stood arching her back and neck so that her hair flowed into a single ribbon down the center of her back.

Everyone stood motionless mouths agape as she stood skin glowing and glistening as the water ran down her body in the bright sunlight. She gave them all a welcoming grin as she waved her hands motioning for them all to join her in the pool.

It was as if someone turned on a switch as everyone started laughing and talking at once. Those who were already wearing swimsuits walked or jumped into the pool and many of the rest retired to change. No one could resist the invitation to join her.

As everyone hurried to join her in the swimming pool she noticed that there were a few who stood at the edge of the pool fully dressed. Leuca smiled at these and said, Why don’t you join us?

The group of a dozen or so smiled and one of them said, We have no swimsuits to wear.

Leuca laughed making it sound like tiny silver bells ringing and said, Swimwear is not required. You can come in fully dressed if you are shy or wear nothing but what you were born with if you wish.

The group started looking at each other somewhat red-faced and giggling.

Leuca said, You need not be embarrassed, as she quickly removed her bikini and threw it towards the group saying, one of you may wear this if you wish.

The last of them removed their clothes and jumped into the pool laughing and splashing like children. Within an hour most of the party had removed their swimsuits as well and were having a wonderful time.

An hour later Leuca slipped unnoticed from the pool. She dried herself, slipped her dress on and picked up her shoes. She made her way through the house and out to her waiting limousine. As she got in she smiled at her driver and whispered, Please take me home now.

Chapter 2

The Pitch

It was now early spring. Margaret came to Leuca’s house in Malibu, California on business. The sportswear shoot at Big Bear had gone well and it had been no problem getting the producer to eliminate the two fringed items. Today however, what Margaret had to talk to Leuca about was likely to be much harder to sell.

Leuca refused to take jobs on short notice and insisted that everyone take their place in line for her time. Margaret had thought long and hard about approaching her on this gig since it was to take place in just six weeks and it would bump one of Leuca’s favorite designers out by six weeks not to mention the rest of the designers on the list. She had to do it because the money offered by the two manufacturers producing the shoot was spectacular even by Margaret’s standards. She had spent the last two days and nights preparing the pitch that she hoped Leuca would go for.

Standing at the door poised to ring the doorbell Margaret was shaking so bad she missed the button the first try. She took a long slow deep breath then slowly exhaled trying to relax as she had been taught in her yoga class. She pressed the button and held her breath.

Leuca’s housekeeper opened the door and said, Good morning Miss Shoenburg. Please come in.

Leuca was standing in the foyer and smiled as she saw Margaret. In her crystalline sing-song voice she said, Margaret, it is good to see you. Come sit with me by the pool and have some of this new tea I have just discovered. She nodded at Marie the housekeeper letting her know to bring the tea out.

Margaret smiled back and relaxed as she said, I would love to. Thank you.

The two walked out to the pool and sat at one of the umbrella shaded bistro tables.

Leuca looked into Margaret’s eyes and said, What brings you out today, as she twisted her head a little to the right and raised her left eyebrow the barest amount.

I have received a new proposal for your services, her voice quivering just enough to betray her nerves. It is an opportunity we have not had before and I think you will like it.

The nervousness in her voice did not get past Leuca’s notice. Leuca smiled a small tight smile as her head bowed down and her brows furrowed she said, And what is this wonderful opportunity that you are afraid I will not like? You know me well so what’s the catch?

Margaret swallowed visibly and said, The money we are being offered for this gig is well above any we have had before. It will be 5 to 6 weeks in length and…

What’s the catch? Leuca interrupted.

Uh, it is to start in six weeks, the 10th of June and everything else will have to be pushed out.

You know I hate short notice gigs. And the rest of the schedule will be up in arms about being put on hold. Money notwithstanding why do you think I would accept such a proposal. I am rich enough as it is, replied Leuca, the smile now gone.

Margaret swallowed hard again then said, The money is good to be sure. However, the part I thought you might be willing to accept the gig for is the location. It will start with semi-casual wear in Tuscany. It would progress to evening wear in Rome which will take about two weeks. Then we would be doing swimwear in southern Greece starting on the Athenian coast and ending on the southern coast of the Mani Peninsula which is just north of the island of Crete.

At the mention of Greece her face lightened and a small smile returned to her lips. I have always wanted to do a shoot in Greece; it’s where I was born you know. She seemed to be looking off into the distance as she said, "I hardly remember my birth parents and my adoptive parents couldn’t tell me much about them other than they were killed in a very violent storm when I was only two years old. My adoptive parents were also Greek but from the northern part of the country. I was born in the town of Sougia on the island of Crete. I have never been back there but I have often dreamed of going for a visit. My schedule has always stood in the way. Perhaps this is an omen that it is time for me to go.

Go ahead and book it. Allow some extra time for me to do some sightseeing while we are there."

How much extra time would you like, asked Margaret.

I don’t know. You had better make it four weeks to be on the safe side.

Margaret smiled, dimples showing and eyes squinting as she said, Done!

Leuca looked at her with her left eyebrow rising and said, But, don’t make a habit of this short notice proposal thing.

Margaret nodded as Marie set the tea service on the table.

Chapter 3

Tuscany

Leuca’s private jet landed at Pisa International at 10:00 AM on June 8th to give her time to acclimatize for two days before beginning work. This was Leuca’s 5th visit to Italy and the second to the Tuscany region which she found enchanting. The quaint houses and flowing landscape made her feel relaxed and free from the anxiety that living in the big city creates.

She and Margaret spent the morning and early afternoon wandering around the town starting with a light lunch at a little bistro and ending at the Bed & Breakfast where they would be staying overlooking the Arno River.

It had been difficult to sleep on the plane ride and they retired early after a short walk along the river to work out the kinks in their legs.

Breakfast the next morning found them in the small dining room with the other guests of the B & B. Whenever Leuca caught someone looking at her she smiled and nodded but did not invite conversation. They were served hot coffee and cream and chose to have cornetto and yogurt. A small glass