《Unhappy Company》
Case 17B332 - The Neglected Housewife (Part 1)
Mrs. Georgina Peius sat quietly in front of the uneaten breakfast her husband had left behind. He had been leaving early for several days, citing the immense stress at work. Work! As if she couldn¡¯t smell the overbearing perfume and see the blonde hair when he returned drunk. She had probed (indirectly, of course) and he had answered. No, of course not. This was nothing at all! It was an office party, all part of the business. And like a fool, she had believed him.
Her face flushed, and tears arose again in her eyes. She forced herself not to cry. The truth hurt, but his callousness hurt more. They had been in the club together, dancing! There were even photos of them entwined in each other¡¯s arms publicized all over those newfangled sites. Susan, the hussy, had shown her, acting sympathetic and caring. She had never missed a chance to rub salt in her wounds. That bitch! By tomorrow, the rumors would be spread all over the town.
Worst of all, when she asked him today, he had simply laughed at her. Laughed! Laughed, and told her she was crazy. Twenty-five years of marriage, and this is what it came down to. Ignored and left behind for a younger woman, because she simply wasn¡¯t good enough. The tears started trickling, and this time, she couldn¡¯t stop it.
She silently cried alone for several minutes. Gradually, her tears gave way to anger. But the hopelessness of the situation wasn¡¯t lost on her. Leave him? It would become the scandal of the whole town. Let him keep doing it? No, she wasn¡¯t that forgiving.
A desperate idea came to her mind.
A few minutes later, she was sitting with a bundle of newspapers, searching for one that had come a few days ago. Had she thrown it away? Then suddenly, there it was. The advertisement.
She read the words on it, again. So simple, and unbelievable. It would most likely be a scam of some sort. She could be careful. And even then, what else could she lose?
She walked over to the phone, and with unsteady hands, dialed the number.
***
CASE 17B332 - THE NEGLECTED HOUSEWIFE
***
A sharply dressed young man walked through the busy streets of New York, turning a few heads as he did so. He wasn¡¯t traditionally handsome but rather had a kind countenance, with a slightly reassuring smile. With his glasses, he looked far older and wiser than his peers, and his perfectly tailored suit meant he was a man of means. Truly, he possessed the qualities of an ideal gentleman.
He entered a high rise building, the gateman greeting him as he did so. ¡°Welcome, Mr. Parker.¡± The young man nodded and returned the gesture. ¡°Nice day, Bernard.¡±
Parker entered the elevator and pressed the button for the topmost floor, his own office. As he waited, he hoped for a client. It h[1] ad been a dry couple of days.
The doors opened and he stepped out. ¡°Good morning, Lisa,¡± he greeted his secretary, who was intensely focused on her computer screen. ¡°Could you stop playing games now, please?¡± He admonished her and moved towards his office.
¡°We had a caller today.¡± She looked up and spoke. Auburn bangs dropped in front of her eyes, which she pushed away. ¡°And Violet said she was legitimate.¡± She held out a file.
¡°That¡¯s good,¡± He took the file and skimmed through the pages. ¡°Middle-aged. Why?¡± He commented. Lisa gave him a peeved look. ¡°What? It seems boring to me, that¡¯s all.¡± He closed it and handed it back. ¡°But we will take it.¡±
She nodded, her blue eyes focused on the computer screen. ¡°Shall I invite her for a meeting?¡±
¡°Set it at the church. That¡¯s better than the usual,¡± Parker replied.
¡°When?¡±
¡°As soon as possible.¡± He said offhandedly. ¡°And don¡¯t get any other ideas, I just want this over with.¡±
¡°Suuuure.¡± She drew out the word. ¡°Meeting with one Georgina Peius, set for the afternoon.¡±
***
Georgina had been to the City, but it was always with Marshall, her husband. Traveling alone, she felt fear, excitement, and anxiousness all at once. It was a novel experience. She clutched a piece of paper in her right hand, upon which the address was written. A church? Were they people of faith? She didn¡¯t know, but surely they would have mentioned it otherwise.
Reaching her destination, she was relieved to see the big gothic doors. People sat in the pews, praying. She suddenly felt foolish. Where-
¡°Mrs. Georgina Peius?¡± A voice asked her. A man in a suit. He was young, but somehow he appeared as a wise, kind saint, here to deliver her from her problems. ¡°Shall we sit and discuss our matter?¡±
They sat down in one of the pews, some distance from each other, and waited. An awkward silence seemed to descend. Oh, what could she say?
Perhaps sensing her discomfort, he spoke first, ¡°Well, my name is Parker. And you?¡± He asked. ¡°I am Georgina, Georgina Peius.¡± They shook hands.
¡°And as you have answered our advertisement, it stands to reason that you are not happy.¡± He said in a calming voice. ¡°Yes.¡± She answered. Somehow, hearing the truth from someone else suddenly made it real. ¡°Well, Mrs. Georgina,[2] [3] ¡± He continued in a soothing manner, ¡°you might be surprised to know that you are not alone in that feeling. In fact, very few people in the world will say they are happy.¡±The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
¡°Is that so?¡± She asked. It didn¡¯t matter at all whether other people were unhappy or not.
¡°Yes, it is. Not interesting to you, but let me explain. Unhappiness exists alongside happiness. Bad days will be followed by good days or vice versa. Some people are born lucky. Some are suffering due to the actions of previous lives. This is due to fate, destiny, and whatever magic that governs our lives. People believe a lot of things to justify the pain. To justify unhappiness.¡± He paused. ¡°It¡¯s barbaric. Uncivilized. And has no place in this modern world. Mankind has vanquished so many impossible foes. Why not unhappiness?¡± He looked into her eyes.
¡°You want to...¡± Her voice was disbelieving. ¡°remove unhappiness?¡±
¡°Well, yes. And once set upon the path, I quickly understood.¡± He smiled, and it dazzled her.
¡°Unhappiness is simply a disease, and I am the doctor. There are symptoms, and the doctor diagnoses. Once diagnosed, I prescribe treatment. There are cases where no treatment can work anymore. If that happens, I say that frankly. But let me I assure you, if I take on a case, the cure is practically guaranteed.¡±
¡°Well then, Mrs. Georgina?¡± He clasped his hands together. ¡°Will you tell me about what¡¯s troubling you?¡±
Could it be true? Or was it all nonsense? An elaborate scam? She still wasn¡¯t sure. Parker simply watched her. Something about his demeanor, the way he seemed unconcerned about it all, calmed her down. ¡°Alright.¡± She replied.
¡°Excellent.¡± He leaned forward. ¡°Correct if I am wrong. The trouble concerns your husband. You two have been married for a long time.¡±
¡°Twenty-five years.,¡± she clarified.
¡°Your husband¡¯s an office worker and has prospered over the years. There has been stable routine, I think, in your lives. Nothing excitable, but not boring either. You are content to be the housewife. The two of you might have had a few arguments, but they were all resolved.¡±
¡°Yes.¡± She answered, unsettled by accurate it was.
¡°A single child, I presume, who has an own family now, and isn¡¯t around anymore?¡±
¡°Richard, yes, but he visits regularly.¡± She explained. ¡°How do you know all this?¡±
¡°Informed guesswork, madam.¡± He blandly replied. ¡°Now for the crux of the problem. Who is the other woman?¡±
¡°His secretary,¡± She spat out. ¡°A nasty, no good girl, all lipstick, and makeup, barely covering herself, acting all flirty and stupid.¡± The words rushed out of her, a torrent of pent up emotions.
¡°But there¡¯s no harm in it, your husband¡¯s words, perhaps.¡± He further continued. ¡°Something about how it is the office business, and everyone does it?¡±
¡°Yes!¡± She replied vehemently. ¡°The liar! He has time to go dancing with her, and that¡¯s business? He even took her to a movie-- I am fond of going to the movies myself, but no, he¡¯s always too tired! Tired? And he¡¯s been rushing early every day and...¡± The tears started to fall, ¡°and they are taking pictures together, and now, everyone would-¡± She choked up, unable to speak anymore.
¡°It¡¯s going to be alright, madam.¡± He handed her his kerchief. ¡°It will be alright.¡± He reassured her. ¡°I understand your case perfectly now.¡±
She blew her nose once and waited until her eyes cleared and the tears dried up. ¡°And...can you do anything?¡± She asked, afraid to hear the answer.
¡°Certainly. Your unhappiness is treatable.¡± He smiled beatifically at her. ¡°I have the cure.¡±
¡°What is it?¡± She asked, expectantly, suddenly hopeful. ¡°What should I do?¡±
¡°Now, Mrs. Georgina,¡± He smiled leisurely. ¡°You pay our fee, and follow my instructions, and your happiness is guaranteed.¡±
¡°Fee?¡± She had caught the single word.
¡°Our services aren¡¯t free, madam.¡± He explained. ¡°And your total is fifteen hundred dollars.¡± He pulled a few papers from his long coat. ¡°I¡¯ll even give you a discount. One thousand.¡± He handed her a pen. ¡°And you need to sign these. Tiring, I know, but necessary. You can never be too careful with legal matters.¡±[4] [5]
¡°Can¡¯t I pay afterward?¡± She asked, the pen poised on the document.
¡°I am afraid not, madam,¡± His smile hardened slightly, ¡°Contracts have been reneged too many times in these cases.¡±
¡°Well, then.¡± She rose from the seat and handed him back the papers. ¡°I can¡¯t possibly-¡±
¡°Trust a man who offers you happiness in exchange for money?¡± He interrupted her. ¡°I get that a lot. But please, is it really the money that bothers you? How much did you pay for your house? Your car? And are you willing to walk away from something even more important than that for a thousand dollars?¡± he asked her. She looked away.
¡°People have operations that cost more. And in my opinion, the soul is even more important than that.¡± He stopped. ¡°I am sorry for bothering you.¡± He finished abruptly and held out his hand. They shook again. ¡°I will be here for a while, praying for you, Mrs. Georgina.¡± He said sincerely. ¡°And I wish you all the best with your endeavors.¡±
She left. He waited for a while before walking over to the phone and dialing the office.
¡°We have a new client.¡± He remarked. ¡°She agreed?¡± Lisa¡¯s voice came from the other side.
¡°Not yet. After she gets on the bus, she will visit the husband¡¯s office, stand outside for a while, and return with her courage renewed.¡± He replied drily.
¡°I give her an hour, at the maximum.¡± He checked his watch. ¡°Create a file, will you?¡±
¡°Alright. Schedule A. Who do we assign?¡±
¡°The new guy, Daniel.¡± He considered for a while. ¡°Yes, he should do. Let him prep a French accent, nothing too exotic. Hairdresser. The rest can be done later.¡±
¡°Okay, what else?¡± He could hear her typing.
¡°Get research too. Her husband, and the wife.¡±
¡°The son?¡± She asked.
¡°Irrelevant.¡± He answered. ¡°Anything else happen when I was gone?¡±
¡°Nothing at all.¡±
¡°In that case, can you fill the forms for the-¡±
¡°What¡¯s that? I can¡¯t hear you anymore!? Bye!¡± She hung up on him.
He went back and kept watch. Georgina returned fifty minutes later, checkbook in hand, and a resolute expression on her face. She signed the papers, and the deal was struck.
***
Marshall Peius returned home late, trying to avoid making noise in case Georgina was asleep (she never was), and failing miserably. He had stayed too late today, and his slightly drunk mind braced for the inevitable screeching that was coming. She argued a lot, and found mistakes in everything he did nowadays. Alice was right, Georgina had become too jealous. She had become one those petty, nagging housewives she herself always complained about. He deftly avoided the lamp and bumped right into the table. Huh.
She wasn¡¯t waiting today. There was food on the table, along with a note. A small mercy.
As he ate his dinner, he considered what gift he could give to Alice. Her birthday was coming up, and she hadn¡¯t decided on a present yet. A coat, perhaps? She had complained of the cold. Which one, though? He mused and ate in silence, unaware of his wife and her undertaking.
***
Case 17B332 - The Neglected Housewife (Part 2)
Mrs. Georgina received her desired mail the next day. After her husband had left, she eagerly read through the contents. One was the letter from Parker and the extraordinary words he had written.
Enclosed here are two appointments, to a dress shop, and a saloon. Avail their services, and do not be hesitant. After that, please join me at the Rizon Restaurant, 4 p.m. for lunch and further instructions.
She visited the dressmaker, first, as it was closer. The ladies there took measurements, gossiped, and gossiped about latest trends in colors and fashion. When she left, she was armed with a plethora of bags and great insight on which what she was missing out.
The next stop was the hairdresser, and that too was unexpectedly pleasant. A Mr. Claude Jean James, the owner of the establishment himself, (and strikingly handsome), led her by the hand to her seat for the full course, what she had signed up for.
Her face was molded and kneaded and steamed. Mud was applied to it, along with the cream. As were cucumber slices, and various fruity essences. He then massaged her gently, whispering in her ear. Such neglect, but why, mademoiselle? This shouldn''t have happened at all. It is lucky that you arrived now, it isn''t too late yet. The beauty can still be preserved. Her hair was soaked, washed, brushed, and braided by his soft hands. The layers were removed and washed away. Her eyebrows were plucked, and then the makeup was applied. Even then it was not over. The finishing touches took another half-an-hour.
Then they handed her the mirror. It was a completely different woman who stared back. She couldn''t believe her eyes, and her tears nearly ruined it all again. She looked ten, no, at least twenty years younger, and even more beautiful than possible. She thanked the man profusely, but Mr. Claude demurely smiled and said, "Madame, believe me, the pleasure was all mine." She left the store blushing, thinking of how forward he behaved with her...
Checking her watch, she found it to be a quarter past three. She would make it comfortably in time. What was Parker going to ask of her next?
"Mademoiselle!" Someone called out behind her. "Please wait!" She turned and saw Claude dashing down the street. "You forgot this." He stopped in front of her and handed her a bag. "Oh, thank you." She blushed. What was wrong with her?
"Madam, you are too kind." He smiled gracefully, creases appearing around his black eyes. "It is our civic responsibility, is it not?"
"Yes, but even so," She tried to find the right words. "I should have been more careful."
"Please madam, you are only human," He paused. "Even if I mistake you for an angel." She blushed at his compliment. "May I enquire if madam is off to meet her beau?"
"Well, no, but, the thing is, " She was flustered by the sudden implication. "I''m married." She lamely finished.
"Indeed, madame, that is evident by your ring," He replied. "But if you are meeting with a stranger, please let me accompany you. The city is safe, but even then, safety is paramount."
She considered his offer. Parker seemed truthful and good natured enough, but who really knew? And besides, she had told no one else back in town. How could she? So if something really happened to her, none would be wiser. "Alright, but only this meeting." She warned him.
On the way, she vaguely briefed him on what had happened. A sympathetic stranger, she found, was more genuine with her than all her so called friends. He empathized with her plight, was suitably skeptic when she mentioned Parker, and on the whole was generally supportive of her decision.
"It''s good to be cautious, though." He murmured. "There are scammers everywhere these days."
When she reached the restaurant, she found Parker seated at one of the tables, waiting for her. "Ah, you brought a companion. That''s good." He signaled the waiter to add another chair. "Let''s talk business after lunch, shall we?"
The food was delicious and the company pleasant. The conversation was lively, with Parker and Claude engaging in heart conversation about the fishes of New York and Paris. She joined in too and then listened attentively.
After the dessert remains were taken away, Parker clasped his hands again. "Well, Mrs. Georgina, you must be wondering what today what was all about?"
"Well, yes, slightly."
"Let me put it frankly, then, madam. Your unhappiness stems from the staleness in your marriage. Your drab routine and non-assuming persona have made your husband take you for granted, madam, and that can''t be allowed to continue. He must be made to sit up, you understand, and notice you. Only then will the scales fall from his eyes and he will realize the truth. Only then will you get the happiness you deserve."Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
"So what should I do now?" She asked.
"Simple. You are competing with a young woman, therefore, you need to do everything she does. Your husband must be made to feel jealous, and see the hypocrisy of his actions." He stated.
"Everything she does?" She questioned. "But what will the others think?"
"That are you a modern couple, free of the traditional roles." He countered. "The best way to dispel the rumors and your own supposed personal lack, madam, is to confront it directly."
"But," Doubts still remained in her mind. "Isn''t it wrong?"
"Your husband complains about jealous women, and how they are wrong," he said calmly. "Should we not put him to a small test, and see how he fares?"
She nearly replied that jealously didn''t matter, but wisely refrained. "Wait," She could see the reasoning behind his idea, and it made sense to her. But some part of her was still reluctant. "I don''t know anything about what young people do, and if I go out there, I would simply make a fool of myself." She explained.
"Take your companion, madame." Parker clasped the shoulders of Claude as he rose. "I am sure he will be happy to help."
She was taken by surprise, and so was Claude. But he was the one to recover first. "If you''ll accept me, madam," He slightly bowed his head and continued. "I will be highly delighted." The dark eyes looked pleadingly at her. She didn''t have any single male friends, and going with other women would be embarrassing. She acquiesced with a nod of her head.
"Then it''s settled." Parker jovially remarked. "I will leave it to you two to set the details, but if you have any problems, Mrs. Georgina, you can call me." He looked over them once, and nodding satisfactorily, walked away.
She and Claude talked for a while, awkwardly in the beginning, but it soon changed. He inquired what drinks she preferred. She replied that she had never had a cocktail or anything of the sort. They decided to head to a smaller establishment at first, the "Greater Good" to wet her feet in the so called night life. They exchanged numbers, although she was careful not to give her address. After exchanging pleasantries, they left in their respective ways, she a great deal happier than when the day had begun.
Reaching home, Georgina anticipated Marshall''s reaction to her new look and worried over how to break the news of the sudden appointment. He came in late, as usual, and spoke the few words he usually did, before unceremoniously heading for the bed. She didn''t say a word, but simply hardened her resolve.
She didn''t find the way to tell him up until Friday morning when he remarked that he would stay overnight in the city. The situation resolved itself, and the night proved to be a great success. She quickly learned the new steps, and Claude proved to be a great dancer. He complimented her new dress, (she had purchased it just today). When the time came to leave, he kissed her hand and bid her adieu in the most charming manner. It was one of the most memorable nights she''d had in years.
The next fortnight was exhilarating and bewildering at the same time. She spent an inordinately large amount of time with Claude, to the point of surprising even herself. There were dinners, lunches, and even more dates. She heard the tale of Claude''s father, and how he had lost him to gambling. She listened to the story of tragic romance, and how embittered he felt towards women. She knew of his dreams to paint and write stories back home in France, and how he was tired of being stuck in New York. After the fortnight, she knew him better than she ever thought she could.
The people noticed, yet, as Parker had said, they didn''t have anything actual to talk about. Oh, Susan tried, but the whole group took her side. Some were even interested in joining her. On the whole, it was satisfying to watch as it happened. She couldn''t even believe she was afraid of their opinion at one time.
The days passed blissfully, and she didn''t want them to end. But they ended anyway. Finally, she was ready. Parker informed her about the whereabouts of her husband and coached her on how to act. Marshall had been frequenting the ''Red Rising'', along with that woman. Claude seemed hesitant but agreed when she insisted.
She would never forget his face when he saw her. "Hello, Marshall," she said playfully. His eyes went wide, and face turned various shades of red. There was a surprise, anger, astonishment, and in the end, guilt. She introduced herself to the girl as well, who seemed perplexed as well.
The four of them spent the night together. Poor Marshall, who seemed to grow more uncomfortable as the night passed. And the girl too, she realized, was simply pretending. She was bored out of her mind, and Marshall didn''t realize. She pitied her husband in that moment. How desperately he wanted to be young, and how awkward he was.
Her own situation was more enviable. Claude was the epitome of a gentleman, and he never jarred at all, unlike Marshall. He understood her perfectly. She looked at him, their eyes met. He smiled; his dark, soulful, melancholy, romantic, eyes looked tenderly into hers. "Will madame honor me with another dance?" he said, and lead her to the floor.
Marshall must be apoplectic by now. Wasn''t the idea was to make him jealous? It seemed so long away now. As they twirled around the floor, slowly, everything else faded, and seemed so inconsequential. She was in heaven. And it was all perfect.
"And everything is proceeding according to plan?" Parker asked.
"Yes." Daniel, or rather Claude as Georgina knew him, replied. "She even told me she loved me last night."
"That''s good," Parker noted. "The date isn''t far away, so you better prepare the ring."
"But isn''t that -" Daniel protested, "going a little too far? I mean, I can understand,-"
"You are an employee, Daniel, and I the boss," Parker smiled, but his eyes were cold, "Please don''t question me. Do as I say." He said softly, but his words were sharp.
"Okay."
"Don''t go soft now, Daniel," Parker said kindly, his expression changing in an instant. "You might actually like her, but trust me, this is for the best." He patted Dan''s shoulder. "She will be happy. We will be happy. Everything will work out."
"If you say so." Daniel tried to hide his disbelief.
"I do say so." Parker must have heard. "Now, here''s your pay for the excellent performance so far. You will get the rest when it''s over."
He walked out, and alone in his office, Daniel pondered on his orders.
Case 17B332 - The Neglected Housewife (Part 3)
Marshall couldn''t put up a rational argument that night, the next day, or even the day after. He didn''t shout, but she could see he wanted to. For a few days, he stormed the house, asking all the stupid questions she had once asked. She loved how perplexed and ashamed he was when she returned his answers right back at him. He didn''t have anything to say after that.
Even when she told him of her expenses, instead of his passive aggressive snide remarks he usually made, he simply sighed and muttered under his breath. It seemed that seeing her with Claude had proven to be a bigger detriment than she had thought. That worried her a little, but Parker assured her he was simply sulking. A few more dates with Claude and he would be finally ready to come around.
Claude. She blushed whenever she thought of him. She had apologized for her drunken words, and he had accepted, but things were different between them now. She had almost canceled it all to avoid meeting with him again. There could be nothing, she had emphasized, and he had agreed. Ah, if only perhaps¡
No. Her heart might be yearning, but she was no teenage girl. She wouldn''t falter, not now. Tears tried to overrun her eyes, but she dabbed them away. She would go on a few dates, make Marshall jealous, and then be¡
Happy?
"Where are you going?" Marshall asked her.
"Dancing, of course." She kissed him on the cheek. "You don''t mind, do you?"
"No, but," He shifted guiltily in his seat. "With that guy again?" He asked.
"His name his Claude." she said as he put on her new jacket. "And you have met him."
"Where did you two meet?" He suddenly asked.
"Oh, someone introduced us," She replied carelessly. "Perhaps it was Susan, I can''t remember exactly. Why " She asked mockingly, "are you jealous?"
"Jealous?!" He spluttered. "No, I am simply asking you to be careful. There are lot''s of dangerous people out these days."
"You think Claude is dangerous?" She adjusted her earring. "He can''t even stand the sight of blood! And if he was after me," She turned to face him. "Don''t you think he would have done something by now?"
"I don''t mean it that way, Georgina," Marshall coughed, and looked away, suddenly shameful. "Have you given him gifts or something like that? And has he, you know, asked for them?"
"Oh! Oh." When she realized what she meant, she was suddenly furious. "Why, no, not at all." But she controlled herself. There was a date to attend, and it wouldn''t do to have an argument with him right now. "Never at all."
"Okay," He sounded relieved. "Just so you know, there are a lot of victims out there, middle-aged women," He looked away, "and men, falling prey to these sort of crimes. Even the best of us can be fooled."
"Claude isn''t like that." That was the final reply, and the end of the discussion.
Doubt is a seed that grows very well in the fertile imagination of the mind. And Mrs. Georgina spent a lot of the time thinking these days. The words of her husband, so easily denied in the night, haunted her in the light of the day. She knew what he had insinuated. Claude was a gigolo. But they had met by coincidence.
But as she thought, was it truly a coincidence? Parker had arranged for her to visit there. And Claude had pursued her, from that very beginning. Why? It wasn''t like she was overtly beautiful, or anything. They had barely talked when he decided to accompany her. Was it possible? Were Parker and Claude in it together? Was he laughing at her right now, about old, fat Georgina and her wild fantasies? But wait, perhaps she was overthinking things. She suddenly felt sick and had to sit down.
Could she test him? As she massaged her head, the insidious thought came to her mind.
She thought for awhile and called him to meet at Claridge. Then she went over to Asprey''s and bought a golden tie pin. She examined it closely, and satisfied with her choice, went over to lunch. As they ate dessert, she produced it from her bag. "A gift," She explained and handed him the box. He looked up and frowned. "For me?" "Yes. I, I hope you like it." His hands closed over it and slid it violently across the table. "Why?" His dark eyes flashed. "Take it back! Take it back, I say!" His voice shook with anger.
"I am sorry." She apologized. They tried to bring the conversation back to harmonious matters, but the air was constrained between them.
She went back home more confused than ever.
The next day, he called her for the first time. "Can we meet?" He asked her. There was a sense of urgency in his voice. She agreed immediately.
When she arrived at the saloon, she found him pacing around the place, tense and wound up. His face was scrunched up like he was deeply thinking. They greeted each other. The air was still tense.
"I know why you gave me that gift yesterday." He spoke. "You think I''m, I''m a gigolo, don''t you? A creature that lives on women? Preys on their money?" His face was deathly pale.
"No, no" She protested. "Not at all."
"Well," He seemed torn, "I am come to tell you it''s true. I am a gigolo, I prey on women, the lowest of the low, and the most despicable person on Earth." He deflated, and then picked up again. "It was Parker. I had my orders to take you out, to dance with you, to amuse you, to make love to you, to make you forget your husband, to make you happy." Tears fell from his eyes, and from her own as well.
"Why, " Her voice quavered. "Why are you telling me all this?" She found it difficult to control herself.
"Because I have come to love you." He kneeled and took her hands in his. "You may think it''s another lie, another trick, but I swear, Georgina, I do love you." He kissed her hand. "And you have changed me, Georgina. I am done with all this. I am going away, to make myself a man worthy of Georgina - and not the despicable creature that I am right now. And this is all because of you." He took her in his hands. His lips closed hers. A short moment, but it was an eternity. Then he released her.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
"We won''t meet again." he said. "And I am sorry for causing so much trouble." He whispered, "You once told me that you loved camellias, and how you cried when you didn''t get them for your birthday." She remembered the words. Marshall didn''t get the right flowers. Camellias. "But as long as I live, I will send them." He stepped back. "This is my promise."
"And here," He pressed something in her hand. "This was my mother''s. I would like it on your fingers, but still," He looked into her eyes, and kissed her again, "I want to you have it." They both stared at each other, etching each other in their memory for eternity.
"Good day." He suddenly said and left.
Marshall was tired. The girl was flirting with several men in the office, and there were a lot of shouting when the boss had found out. Who tipped them off? He didn''t know, but somehow his luck had held out. There was the talk of demotions and salary cut, but he had escaped unscathed. He was lucky, in a sense. The girl had been simply using him for money, and like a fool, he had been taken in. Georgina would never let him hear the end of it if she found out.
Georgina. He realized how stupid he had been of course. She had warned him in the beginning, but he hadn''t listened. She deserved an apology. Perhaps even dinner, at one of the fancier restaurants.
When he reached home, he found her sitting on the sofa, a faraway look on her face. She spoke kindly and forgave him, but somehow she seemed a little absent-minded. They talked and drank tea, and chatted. Usual routine, but it was pleasant after a long time. This was the comfort he wanted. Why had he gone after the woman anyway? No, he was too old. Should stay at home and rest in leisure.
"Listen, Georgina," He began, "we haven''t gone anywhere for a long time, have we? Why don''t we take a break, visit Richard¡" He trailed off, unsure. "Or anywhere you want?"
"That would be lovely, dear," She smiled at him. Poor old Marshall. He was still the same. There were no secrets in his life, no faraway love. She grasped his hand and held it tenderly. "But don''t worry about me." She smiled. "I am perfectly happy."
"So the total profit comes to four thousand, five hundred and thirty-two," Parker noted. "A respectable amount."
Lisa nodded dutifully. The office door opened, and Claude (or rather, Daniel) stepped in moodily. "Morning, Daniel." Parker greeted him. "That was commendable, your performance at the end."
"I suppose so," Daniel replied moodily.
"When''s her birthday?" Parker asked.
"November 3rd."
Parker wrote it down. "Camellias, a whole bouquet. Twenty five years, subject to renewal. How much would that be?"
"A hundred and eighty eight." Lisa calculated. "I''ll add it to the registry."
"Good. By the way, what name did you put on the ring?" Parker asked.
"Martha." Daniel''s voice was still gloomy. "1957."
"A surprisingly popular choice for mothers these days," Parker chuckled. "Well, not that Georgina would know. Thank you, Lisa," He handed the file back to her. "You can leave now."
Lisa nodded and walked out. Daniel fished out a cigarette. Parker looked over to him, surprised.
"A little puff never hurt anybody." Daniel explained as he fiddled with the lighter and took a deep drag. "Helps to calm the nerves too."
"I recommend tea." Parker walked over to the far edge and looked outside the glass walls. Then he looked back. "Doesn''t kill your lungs." They waited, each expecting the other to speak.
After a while, Daniel began conversationally. "I almost told her the truth, you know."
"Instead, you did the right thing." Parker replied.
"The right thing?" He laughed hollowly. "Lying to her, that was the right thing?"
"It was." Parker replied curtly. There was silence again.
"Look here-" Daniel began suddenly. "I don''t understand it at all. Why - Why did you make me do all this, if I was to leave her in the first place?"
"Because it was required." Parker patiently enunciated the words, as he returned back to his desk. "Everything you did was necessary, trust me. "
"All these lies? The gigolo act?" Daniel spat out the words. "Making her fall in love and breaking her heart, this was necessary? Hurting her was necessary? And -"
"Yes." Parker cut him off, his voice stern as he sat down.
"Well in that case, I quit." Daniel slammed his hand down on the desk. "I won''t do this anymore."
"Quit? Hardly, Daniel." Parker calmly looked at the hand on the desk, disdain evident on his features. " You know it yourself, don''t you?" He leaned back and looked directly at his face. "This is what you excel at. What else would you do if you quit?"
"And besides, I don''t understand." he said, "This work didn''t trouble you during your affairs with the Viscount of Albaross, or the Duchess of Carthy, and the numerous other women you actually swindled." Daniel''s face looked guilty at his words, and Parker pressed on his advantage.
"In fact, I particularly liked your performance with the Oil Baroness. That was masterful. It was where we first met, didn''t we?" His voice took on a sudden cheerful tone. "Unfortunate, though, that they still are looking for you there."
Daniel glowered for a while. "Are you threatening me?"
"Only making sure you remember our original conversation." Parker reply was immediate. "And the agreement."
"Funny, cause I seem to remember a few things that you have forgotten." Daniel''s voice was harsh. "Didn''t I tell you that maybe the reason I joined you that day was to stop all that? To stop being a swindler, a cheat or a gigolo?" He grew angrier. "That I wanted to live a straight life from then on?"
"No, you simply said you wanted a new job, which I gave you." Parker pretended to be surprised. He stood up and matched Daniel''s gaze. "The other statements were your wishes about what it should be. One that unfortunately couldn''t get fulfilled."
"Unfortunately?" Daniel balled his hands into fists. "You just wanted to use me for your own crimes."
"No, Daniel." Parker empathetically stated, raising up open palms. "I wanted you to use your powers for good. To help others, as you requested." He smiled. "And you did."
"Help?" He disbelievingly questioned. "How did I help Georgina?"
"You don''t understand, do you?" Parker let out a long suffering sigh. "Very well. But just this once."
"Your actions were necessary. You gave Georgina exactly what she needed - a romance." He held up a finger, smiling as a school teacher who explained his favorite topic. "The finest romance that a middle aged woman could conjure for herself. A romance based fully on love, not lust. An impossible task to pull off, but you performed it adroitly."
"You gave her a pure romance that she will treasure and look through the rose tinted glasses for the years to come. The flowers will only reinforce your love in her mind. She remember you fondly, time and camellias making the days spent with you seem more beautiful as it passes."
He continued on, speaking slower than before. "She will remember your words, your promises, and the dreams you passionately spoke of. Then she will start to remember her own. She will grow much more accepting of herself, because you had accepted her. She will love herself, because you had loved her. And one day, she will be free."
"Free to be happy." He clasped his hands together. "Which is exactly what we promised." His eyes twinkled. "We have done our work very satisfactorily, and this is all thanks to you."
There was silence in the room again.
"I don''t believe it." Daniel finally said. "It doesn''t work that way. It doesn''t. Love doesn''t-" He fiddled with his lighter again, his brow furrowed as he thought how to continue his argument.
"Thank you for your opinion." Parker didn''t allow it to continue. "But you best remember as long as I head this company, you''ll do as I say. That was the agreement." His sudden business-like tone caught Daniel off guard. ""If the day comes you run this Company, you can show me your methodology." The severe tone brooked no argument.
Parker reached into the drawer and pulled out a envelope. "Till then, here''s your pay. You will it quite generous. I even included a bonus." Daniel took it from him, eyeing it warily.
"And now, if there isn''t anything else, you can leave." Parker curtly finished. They stared at each other again, until Daniel finally gave up and walked out.
Parker watched him go, his eyes softening as he left. After a few minutes, he pulled a file from one his drawers and started to write.
Hardened lizard shows vestiges of a conscience. Interesting. Study further developments.
CASE 17B332 - The End