The Ludmila Confessions

Ludmila’s business photo

My husband Jack sent me to Monterrey, Mexico to collect the money that the men who bought our music business had neglected to pay us for a long time. Jack’s real business was selling music internationally through his company Music Industries. It was only a couple of thousand dollars; he sent me not only because I speak Spanish but also because of my boldness and charm.

On the plane from L.A. to Chihuahua, there was a layover of five hours before I could fly on to my destination, Monterrey. Sitting next to me was this very elegant, good looking Mexican man with big black eyelashes. He was tall with jet black hair, the real image of an Aztec warrior, “puro Indio” as they say. But he introduced himself gently and politely, apologizing for his poor condition, which I did not see at all. “Senora, please call me Jose”. We had a drink and then he asked me if I had heard of another special drink with a glass of beer and little shot glass full of tequila inside. It has to be drunk slowly, he explained, to mix them together. This way you have the real appreciation of the drink. “No,” I replied. Jose’s next question was, “Have you heard the song “Feelings”? Please tell me what it means, because of my poor English I don’t understand this song!”

Ludmila and one of the Joses

By the time we arrived in Chihuahua he had me wrapped around his finger. He suggested that we refresh ourselves before I continued on my journey, and he went back to his Ranch. We had our drinks and he suggested we rest, but of course not in the way you might think. Soon we were engaged in passionate lovemaking, an unbelievable and fantastic experience!

He was one man that was very hard to forget, but I had to proceed on my journey so flew off to Monterrey, where I arrived, still slightly drunk, in the wee hour of the morning. The music business lawyer was awaiting my arrival at the airport, and he introduced himself as Señor Licenciado Maldonado Rodriguez Penal. But then he said, “Please Señora call me by my first name, Jose.”  Great, another Jose! The memory of the first Jose was still very fresh, so I could not help but give a big smile. Soon we arrived at a very elegant hotel, and since it was very late I said, “Señor Rodriguez, I’ll see you mañana (tomorrow), I’m too tired to discuss business now.” I went up to my large suite singing “Feelings” to myself.

At 9am sharp, the phone rang: “Señora, are you ready to have breakfast and deal with signing the papers, so I can get you your money as soon as possible?” I said, “Yes, I would appreciate that, but Jose, why don’t you just come upstairs and we can work here in my room, instead of that crowded breakfast room.” I went down there to stretch my legs and came right back, because there were so many business men with dark suits and black briefcases. I told him, “It is too crowded and noisy, and I have a slight headache. Is that okay with you?” He agreed, and I told him I would order breakfast for two and maybe some drinks. I dialed room service and said “I’d like a couple of Bloody Marys. Please hurry with the order and bring some Alka Seltzer.”

We ended up drinking more than we ate, and I signed some papers, which took the form of an endorsement of a bad check they had given Jack. Then I could go to the bank that day or the next, and I would not just get $2,000 but $3,500 to cover the interest and charges. This made me very happy, of course, and I proposed that we celebrate by listening to some music that I liked– “Feelings”! He went out and came back with a cassette player and some tapes, and with the music and the drinks, nature took its course. He stayed with me the entire night. He was not as handsome or good looking as the other Jose, he was just there. The next morning we went to the bank and I got my money; before I left, he bought me a gold pendant that said “Love.”

I don’t claim that I was a moral woman by any standard, I basically just did what an animal would do. That is no excuse, it is simply my truth, a fact that I have to confront within myself and in front of God alone.