LEELA: The Series
A story about a woman who, like many of us, knows how to give love to everyone but herself.
New Episodes every Saturday @10am EST
Start at the Beginning…
Episode 4: Together
At 4:30 a.m., most of Miami is either still sleeping or hasn’t gone to sleep yet.
Leela is already putting in work.
Her face focused and intense.
Her body executing a perfect plank.
The view from her Brickell penthouse is spectacular, but right now, she sees none of it.
Sweat drips down her face and onto the floor.
She barely feels the pain creeping through her core.
Her mind is somewhere else.
***
“Why do I feel like I know nothing about you?” Olivia asks.
Olivia and Leela lie in bed, half-buried in blankets, staring at the ceiling.
“I mean, I know what you look like naked and what you sound like when you’re going over the edge, but…”
Olivia turns onto her side and looks at Leela with those inquisitive eyes.
“Still, I feel like you’re this mystery I can’t solve.”
She tickles Leela, and Leela squirms, laughing.
“Sounds like you know all of the most mysterious parts already…”
Olivia just stares at her like she’s the most captivating thing she’s ever seen.
“I fucking love your accent. I’m going to lock you in this bedroom and make you read beautiful things to me—all day, every day.”
Leela blushes; she is used to attention back home, but something about having Olivia’s attention makes her feel special.
Leela turns onto her side.
“There is a whole world out there for me to read to you in. Why keep me locked up?”
“Because I want you all to myself,” Olivia says with a smile.
Leela’s heart swells, and she flips onto her back.
“Okay, what do you want to know? I’ll tell you anything.”
“You never talk about your parents. What are they like?”
Leela looks at her.
Her eyes communicate that this is a topic she doesn’t speak about.
***
Leela’s body is shaking, but she continues to hold the pose.
***
“Sensitive topic?”
Olivia asks, studying her face.
Liliana doesn’t answer.
“Possibly painful?”
Nothing.
“Okay, fair enough. I’ll lead with something painful, then.”
That gets Liliana’s attention.
“When we first met, you asked me how it is that I speak and move like one of ‘you’…”
She was a natural at this.
“My parents were wealthy…and busy. My mom went from one social event to another. In fact, she was from the South and liked to call herself a ‘debutante.’”
She chuckles as she remembers.
“She was also a pill popper. Always around but never there, you know?”
She looks at Leela, who nods to reassure her that she’s listening.
“Anyway, I was actually raised by my nanny, who was Colombian. She was basically like Penélope Cruz in that Adam Sandler movie… Spanglish!”
Leela smiles, correcting gracefully.
“Actually, it was Paz Vega, but continue.”
Olivia smiles, like she enjoys the correction.
“Well…she taught me to read and speak both languages, and she taught me how to dance, introducing me to all kinds of music.
She was the best: warm, kind, and strict when she needed to be.
She was my everything until I was fourteen.”
Olivia’s voice trails off.
Leela feels a pull in her heart and asks gently.
“What happened when you were fourteen?”
“My dad got caught fucking her…”
***
Leela rotates into a side plank, reaching her arm to the ceiling.
***
“Apparently, they had been fucking for years.
My dad always treated her like royalty. Then, after everything came out, he just cut her off. She disappeared from my life, and I never saw her again.”
Olivia bites her lip at the memory.
“I never forgave him,” Olivia says quietly. “Not for the affair, necessarily, or even for ending it. For how he ended it. Like she was nothing. Like she never mattered. Like all those years…”
Her voice catches.
“…never happened at all.”
Liliana sees the emotion in her eyes.
“And I was alone.”
She thinks about reaching out to comfort her.
Wishing she knew how to make things better.
***
Leela switches sides, reaching with her opposite arm, holding the pose until she can’t anymore and collapses to the mat.
***
Liliana falls back against her pillow.
Staring at the ceiling.
“I was raised by my grandmother.”
Her throat tightens.
“Never knew my father, and my mother was an addict. Heroin.
She died of a drug overdose when I was ten.”
Olivia’s hand finds hers under the blanket.
Liliana doesn’t pull away.
For the first time in her life, she isn’t alone.
Olivia is there, and they are—together.
***
Leela lies on the mat, chest rising and falling.
Sweat pools beneath her.
Her brow furrows. Releases. Furrows again.
Then—
Her eyes widen.
“Together,” she says quietly.
“That’s it.”
***
Tanvi looks up from her screen to see what Addy is pointing to.
“Don’t ask me. I hate those things. Back in the day, we used to do things the old-fashioned way: two interviews and a background check. Now it’s like running a reality show: treasure hunt, inquiry, psychological assessment, background check, risk assessment, medical panels...”
An idea hits her.
“She hasn’t added audition tapes yet, but I’m sure that’s on the way. We spend more time on this shit than on the actual experiences themselves.”
Addy looks at her, intrigued.
“I think it’s fascinating! The psychological assessments are my favorite part. They are absolutely fantastic. Where did we get them? I never saw this format when I was in college, and I majored in applied psych all four years.”
Tanvi looks over her glasses.
“She wrote it.”
Addy stops fidgeting.
“You’re kidding.”
A smile creeps up one side of Tanvi’s face.
“Nope.”
“All one hundred and seventy multiple-choice questions, the framework, the scoring, the seven types of childhood trauma, desire and attachment style, dominance matrix…”
“All of it.”
The Princess rarely swore.
“Shut the fuck up.”
“There are a lot of levels to our girl that you don’t know yet. She’s much more than a pretty face, I’ll tell you that.”
Addy goes back to reviewing assessments with renewed vigor.
Tanvi continues watching her with affection. A chime from her laptop pulls her back to her screen.
“A new inquiry!”
She opens the message, the screen reflecting in her glasses. She speaks under her breath, mostly to herself.
“Hello, Steven Wexler…”
Addy peeks over Tanvi’s shoulder at the screen.
Tanvi continues, “Welcome to the oh-so-exclusive selection process for seven days in heaven…”
They both look at each other and smile.
***
Heidi looks at Leela, her eyes shining.
“I don’t know what you’re doing with him, but I’ve never seen him so light and open…”
Heidi takes a sip of her green smoothie.
“It’s like you de-aged him twenty-five years…”
Leela can tell she’s nervous and holds space.
“I mean, I’m paying fifty grand for him to have sex with you, and somehow…we are having sex together more than we have in the last five years.”
Heidi and Leela break into laughter.
“That’s what I’m talking about!” Leela says, reaching across the table for a high-five.
Heidi is gorgeous; she has a glow.
She is wearing a killer two-tone jade velvet dress, eight-hundred-dollar Jimmy Choo heels, and an Armani handbag that Hailey Bieber would envy.
She came ready to shop.
“So what’s the plan, Madame?”
Leela jumps right into it, her silk burnt-copper dress animated with enthusiasm.
“Today, we’re going to do a little lingerie shopping, set the stage with some casual mind-fucking, and then tonight—together—we’re going to give Barry a birthday he’ll never forget.
Or should I say, we’re going to give you a night that you’ll never forget.”
Leela gives Heidi a playful nudge, then asks, “Have you ever been with a woman before?”
Heidi groans out loud. “Honey, no, but God knows it’s not from lack of interest…”
Leela doesn’t miss a beat, all business.
“Okay, that’s no good. We’re gonna have to fix that.”
She bites her lip, thinking.
“Tonight is not a ‘work out the jitters’ sort of event.”
***
Barry is lying face down on the massage table.
Waiting.
His phone vibrates.
Heidi: Doing some birthday shopping…
(A picture of a pink box with a black lace bow and the words Agent Provocateur on top.)
He smiles.
Barry: Looks expensive, lol.
Heidi: You have no idea! But I’m getting my money’s worth.
(A picture of Leela in black stockings, a garter belt, matching panties, and a corset.)
“Jesus,” Barry says out loud.
His phone vibrates in his hand.
Leela: Do you like what you see? 😏
Barry doesn’t know how to respond, and as he’s trying to figure it out, his phone vibrates again.
Heidi: How about now?
(A picture of Heidi in a matching set. One strap has slipped off her shoulder, her breast exposed. Leela is next to her, her hand between Heidi’s legs.)
All the blood in Barry’s body rushes to one spot.
He stares at the screen as if it’s displaying the meaning of life.
Leela: Had to get her warmed up for tonight 😈
Audio Message
Barry looks around and presses play.
Heidi’s moans drift through the speakers, filling the quiet room.
The door opens.
His first reaction is to silence the volume, but he’s so startled the phone flies from his hand.
It skitters across the floor, sound still terrifyingly on.
“Everything okay in here?” a feminine voice asks.
Barry panics, afraid to get up because he’s only covered by a towel.
His eyes dart toward the masseuse, then toward his phone in the corner of the room.
They make eye contact as the sounds of Heidi’s pleasure stand out in stark contrast to the soft eastern music playing through the speakers.
Barry lifts his eyebrows, apologizing and resigning himself to judgement at the same time.
She marches over to the phone, picks it up, and hands it to him, shaking her head like she’s seen it all.
“I’m so sorry,” he says. “My wife is trying to make my birthday special.”
He finally cuts the sound.
She looks at him with a smile that carries just a hint of skepticism.
“Well, it sounds like she’s doing a great job.”
***
The gang is all together at HQ.
Leela, Addy, Tatum, and Tanvi.
The room features a prominent conference table.
No one is sitting at it.
Well, to be fair, Leela is sitting on it.
The rest of the crew is divided between the sofa and love seat that have organically become their meeting/gossip spot.
Leela holds a bottled beer as she tells a story, awkwardly performing a basic salsa step.
“Maya was so nervous her face was all kinds of red…it was so cute!”
Even Tatum laughs.
“I know it’s early, toca madera…”
Leela knocks on the wooden table, then looks at Addy proudly.
“…but I’m happy for you guys.”
She puts her hands up.
“No pressure. Whatever happens. Even if all you get out of it is a moment like that, well…”
Leela catches herself.
“Okay, I’ll just speak for myself and say that I’ll always remember it.”
She smiles wistfully.
“Easy there, Yente,” Tanvi jumps in. “You’re practically officiating their wedding ceremony, and we don’t even know if she likes the girl!”
All eyes turn to Addy.
Addy blushes, smiling, her eyes darting from side to side.
Leela, Tanvi, and Tatum all lean forward.
She nods enthusiastically, and they all cheer.
Leela raises her voice, restoring order.
“All right, all right. Big night tonight, team. We’re going to wrap up with the Goldsteins.
Tatum, whip out your finest suit. You’re going to be joining me as my date tonight…”
Addy and Tanvi start hooting at him, and he grins.
“This one should be relatively low risk. Standard green. If all goes well, Barry and Heidi will have had the night of their lives, and we’ll all be in bed by one a.m.”
She raises her drink, and they all join her.
She looks directly at Addy, teasingly.
“Maybe some of us will even have time to salvage the rest of the night.”
She winks before calling out, “¡Salud!”
“¡Salud!” they all say together.
The group disperses.
Leela pulls Tanvi aside.
“Any new leads?”
Tanvi answers routinely.
“Just one—something Wexler.”
That takes Leela by surprise.
“Already? Really?”
She smiles slightly, clearly impressed.
Tanvi studies her before performing a British accent.
“Yes, Professor, another gifted one for you to save.”
Leela flinches at the reference and walks away.
Tanvi calls out, “What!?!?”
“It’s an X-Men reference.”
Leela throws her hands up.
“I know what it is, Tanvi. Let’s get back to work.”
Tanvi turns to no one.
“She doesn’t know what it is.”
***
The garden behind Heidi and Barry’s North Bay Road estate felt enchanted.
String lights stretched between palm trees. Tables were spread across the lawn, dressed to the nines. A clear nod to ’30s and ’40s Hollywood: elegant, deliberate, expensive.
Guests drifted through the space in tuxedos and evening gowns. The deck doubled as a stage and dance floor, a small jazz band playing softly into the warm Miami night.
Nelson Riddle in the air, merging with the scent of real jasmine, expensive perfume, and Cuban cigars.
And there was Leela, off to the side.
In an elegant daffodil gown. Slit up the thigh. Just enough skin to raise the temperature, not quite enough to steal the show.
She knew who the night belonged to and was careful not to upstage the woman of honor.
It was rare that Leela wasn’t aware of herself; in this case, she somehow thought no one would notice her watching Tatum and Sophie, as she peeked through the bushes like a spinster.
Barry’s voice startles her.
“I think your date is trying to steal my assistant away from me.”
Leela laughs, then goes back to watching.
“Oh, stop, he’s my employee! And I’m trying to play interoffice matchmaker!”
Barry laughs loud enough for a few people to look in his direction.
Leela puts her hand on her hip and gives him a scolding look.
He looks at her, taking her in, and then smiles.
“Well, if I had come as your date, I wouldn’t have left your side—not for one minute.”
Leela is charmed and softens into a smile.
“You don’t look so bad yourself, birthday boy,” she says, brushing invisible dust off the shoulders of his buttercream dinner jacket.
She turns back to the youngsters.
Tatum is escorting Sophie to the bar to grab a drink.
She puts her hands together.
“Ohhhh! They’re hitting it off. I lit a candle today, hoping for just that!”
“Lit a candle?” Barry looks puzzled.
Leela rolls her eyes. “Gringos…c’mon, Heidi’s about to make a toast.”
She grabs his arm and leads him toward the dining room, shaking her head.
***
Heidi stood next to a grand piano in the center of the room, wearing a gorgeous floral Oscar de la Renta gown.
“Where is Barry?” she asked, looking through the crowd with a glass of champagne in her hand.
“Here he is…” someone from the crowd yelled.
A path opens to make way for his approach.
Her eyes shine as she looks at him, then she addresses the crowd.
“Now, most of you know me as Barry’s ornery, sometimes bitchy…
but always sexy wife.”
Leela catcalls from the back.
“You know that’s right!”
Everyone laughs.
Heidi looks at Barry.
“And I know it seems like I’m mostly coldness, sass, complaints, and demands…”
He looks at her with love in his eyes, shaking his head.
She turns back to the crowd.
“I’ll blame it on menopause.”
They all laugh.
Then she gets serious.
“This last week, I’ve learned something that, maybe deep down, I always knew. But to me, Barry, you’ve always been larger than life, and I never figured what I thought or said mattered much to someone like you…”
She stops and looks at Leela for a moment.
Leela nods, offering just that extra bit of encouragement.
“Maybe deep down, even though you’re my husband and I know you love me…I had a hard time really believing that you needed me, let alone my approval.”
Heidi starts to tear up.
“This week, I feel like I learned that you do care what I think. That what I say and how I see you matters.”
Barry is stunned in the best way.
“So let me give voice to what I really think.
Look around you.
All this is for you, Mr. Goldstein.
To celebrate you and everything you’ve done for all of us.
You mean so much to so many people.”
Whoops and hollers come from different places around the room.
“But of all the people here, you mean the most to me.
I am so proud of you.
I am so in awe of you.
And being your wife through it all has been a tremendous honor.
Sixty years, and you are just getting better and better.”
Barry’s eyes are filled with tears, and he can’t help it anymore.
He rushes her, wrapping her in his arms and kissing her into a dip.
She lifts her leg like a dancer, and the crowd cheers.
When Heidi finally surfaces for air, she raises her glass and shouts,
“To Barry!”
Everyone answers in unison.
Leela scans the crowd.
Sophie is laughing next to Tatum, innocent enjoyment in her eyes.
Countless strangers are whispering to each other, and more than a few are dabbing their eyes.
Barry grabs Heidi’s hand and leads her out of the room with a peculiar bounce in his step.
Leela puts her hand on her chest and whispers:
“Together.”
***
Tanvi is in the surveillance van alone.
Dry heaving dramatically.
“Fuck me! This night is unbearable. Can we get to the spicy part already?”
***
Leela gives the happy couple time, then follows them out of the room.
Into a quiet area of the house and up the stairs.
As she gets closer to the bedroom door, she hears frantic breaths and moans.
She slowly opens the door and sees Heidi’s gorgeous gown discarded on the floor, along with Barry’s shirt and jacket.
Apparently, they wasted no time.
Leela peeks in and sees them in a chair next to the bed, completely wrapped up in each other, Heidi riding him like a woman half her age.
Barry’s face is buried in her chest, his hand gripping her ass.
It all feels sacred, and instantly, Leela knows: this one isn’t for her.
Smiling, she closes the door and walks down the long hall to the stairs.
She takes out her phone and pulls up the group chat.
Leela: Mission accomplished. Goodnight, Team.
As she walks out of the house and into the night, she looks at her watch.
10:27 p.m.
She deactivates her tracker and disappears into the night.
***
Inside the van, Tanvi’s phone vibrates.
She checks it.
“Are you kidding me?” she says in disbelief.
From outside the van, you can hear her even louder as the van shakes.
“Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME!?!?”
“I need a new job.”
(The End)
***
If you’re enjoying Leela, please like, subscribe, share, or show your support by becoming a paid subscriber or investing in the project via Kofi. New episodes drop every Saturday at 10 AM EST.
Leela follows a brilliant high-end escort in Miami who treats intimacy like art, therapy, and a little bit of trouble. It’s erotic, funny, emotional, dangerous, and not the story you think it is.
Just keeps getting better and better 🤭
So beautiful… there are no words. I think I’m seeing now what exactly she is doing and Addy was right - it’s not about escort only) thank you for making them all so complex, I can’t wait for more!