“I’ll pay for you. The age of chivalry is not dead yet.” A familiar voice woke her up.
“Araon! Ashamed, or the opposite! What are you doing here?”
“You know Jill I’m a wizard. I was looking for you and I thought the best place to find you is here. Let me pay and we go.”
“It was supposed to be a gift from me.”
“Do not worry. You’ll make me a surprise another time.”
The couple left the shop and went home on foot. “How was your day?” Araon interrupted the silence.” It was terrific even if I missed you a lot. You made me very happy when I found at home the flight tickets for Miami and the booking at a luxury hotel. As you see I have all necessary things for the summer: a swimsuit, a pair of flip flop and a pareu.”
“They are lovely! I’m also looking forward to the time we will be under the sun in that wondrous city. Now we must be content to go back home for our intimacy.”
Sylvanus arrived at St Luciensteeg Street with his cabriolet early in the afternoon when he saw Araon and Jill arriving. He picked them up. “Come on. It’s an emergency,” he shouted. And the couple got on the car.
“Why are you so much in a hurry and, above all, what is your destination?” said Araon in bewilderment.
“Something wrong happened. I had to shut the shop and write on the shutter: day off. We’ll open tomorrow. The truth is that Albert and Ravina had an argument and they disappeared with Ravina’s car. Apparently Ravina’s parents are not willing to live in Amsterdam all their life and they are pushing Ravina to break with Albert. Neither of the two is happy about that. Albert shrieked that he is not a toy and that he wants a serious involvement in that love story. Ravina started crying and she swore that she would never abandon him to go back to Poland. They probably went to our countryside house. I would like to be with them. Albert is so vulnerable and you never know how he will react in such circumstances.”
“But why do you want to involve us as well. Don’t you think we are just far too many?” said Araon.
“Not really. They will be happy to see you. Just get in the car.”
Sylvanus’ car was going like a bomb. They witnessed an accident. A car bumped into the back of another car but nobody had been hurt. There were policemen all around. Luckily, they didn’t stop Sylvanus asking for his documents. Another mile and they saw a car with a flat tyre. They didn’t feel they had to intervene for help. In a quarter of a hour they finally arrived at the house. Sylvanus was shivering. Araon and Jill didn’t understand him. An argument was something intimate and they believed they had just to mind their own businesses. Sylvanus was too fast moving not to convince them.
They overcame their initial shock and they entered the mansion. Sylvanus was right: Albert and Ravina had been there. They found the gate of the shed open. Sylvanus entered with the embarrassed guests to place the car under the canopy.
“Here we are, my friends,” he said smartly. “I think I was right: Albert and Ravina were here. They must have gone for a walk in the country and they will be back shortly. Now come inside the house.”
The dining room was a bit untidy with a pack of biscuits on the table and the boiler of the tea was still hot. Sylvanus went instinctively to see the bedroom and, surprisingly, he found the room neat and tidy. Jill was sweating and she needed to have a shower. Sylvanus politely drove her into the bathroom and they found a disgusting sight: cigarette stubs in the shower and some hair and a razor on the floor. Jill tried to be indifferent and had the shower anyway. Sylvanus and Araon were chatting aloud in the dining room so much that Jill could hear them even when she was drying her hair with the dryer. “Jill.”
“Tell me Sylvanus.”
“You can go and pick some eggs from the hens. They are fresh and a gift to the liver, on the contrary to what some can imagine.”
“Thank you. It’s frightfully kind of you.” She was enthusiastic to have some eggs as an afternoon treat and she was astounded to see Araon and Sylvanus sipping tea in the dining room instead.
“So you are going to Miami the fourteenth of this month?” asked Sylvanus.
“Oh, yes. It’s a gift from Araon.”
“I also would like to plan a holiday somewhere. I was thinking to go to Kenya but I have been discomforted by the killing of 148 people in a dreadful attack. I was also considering the United Kingdom. I would love to go to the Isle of Man where the cats without tails live. I will see. We won’t close the shop until the end of July.”
Finally, the roaring of a car could be heard. It was Albert and Ravina.
“Araon, Jill: what on earth have you been doing all this time? I’m really happy to see you now,” said Albert shocked by the presence of Sylvanus and the two friends. “I am with Ravina. She is coming in now.”
“Lovely day,” answered Jill overawed.
“Hi everybody,” said Ravina entering the room. “We had a nice trip outside. We didn’t expect to see you here. It’s really wonderful.”
No sooner had she finished speaking than a painting fell to the floor. It was an imitation of Caravaggio’s basket of fruits. It was a gift from Albert’s uncle.
“I’ll pick it up,” said Sylvanus who didn’t notice the smallest scratch in that precious work of art.
“I see there is interesting news,” said Araon trying to divert everybody’s attention somewhere else.
“What do you mean?” said Albert.
“I was just joking. I was just proud of uttering nonsense.”
“Well, I’m thinking of going to live on my own. I earn enough money from my Polish lessons and I deserve some freedom. After all Albert and myself are planning to live together soon,” said Ravina.
“It’s fantastic,” said Jill who felt to have said something stupid in a way she didn’t want to.
“I think you are enthusiastic about your pregnancy and the arrival of little Rokin,” said Ravina who was looking forward to seeing little Rokin. Is this the name?”
“Yes, it’s nothing original.”
“And…” Albert was suddenly attracted by something which happened outside. He went to have a look and saw some crows on the roof. It was something unusual which made him spend a large amount of time far from the other three guests. After all, time passed quickly and Jill expressed her will to go back home. She was under strain because of her pregnancy. She was also fed up with gossip. Sylvanus played the gentleman and let Jill and Araon get into his cabriolet. Sylvanus had a problem with his brake but he sorted the thing out quickly. He dropped Araon and Jill in St Luciensteeg in half an hour.
“Bye and see you soon my friends,” he said.
“Bye and thank God Albert and Ravina seemed very happy together,” Araon said touching Jill’s belly. It was a harsh time. They had a happy afternoon anyway.
In New Bond Street the phone was ringing uninterruptedly. “Max, Max? It’s your boss: Versace. I know you are already on site, answer me soon.” the loudspeaker said. “Sorry madam. I am overwhelmed by my emotions. I’m very sorry for what has happened but I swear it won’t happen any more,” he said.”
“Good for you. Hopefully the newspapers haven’t announced the scandal since it wasn’t me but you who hasn’t paid the rent. For the moment I condone you. Another false move and you will be sacked. And try to be silent about the whole thing.”
“Easy to say, easy to do. Pardon me madam: I will always be your servant.”
Meanwhile Samantha was in her flat waiting for work time to arrive. Actually, she was also waiting for Phil. Usually he paid a visit to her in that time in the morning but today he was not there. She was studying a tactic to make him feel jealous. A picture of her with her former boyfriend was exposed in the dining room and a pearl necklace was in the table: it was a gift from her ex. A quick glance to the wristwatch, a brief shower, some pampering and dressing up and she flew to the shop just on time to start working. She was sporting her most beautiful dress, dizzy heels and step by step she was in the shop just opposite her fla
t.
“Max, you are already here?” She heard from inside. The window was half open and Max should be already in.
“Hi Samantha, you look gorgeous. Sorry about yesterday. There were some problems to be sorted out but today we came back to normality. I should have told you in advance not to come to work but I had virtually no time. Oh, I notice you are fragrant. You are a delight to whoever senses, that’s why you are here. Don’t be shy, come in. Today we will revolutionize the whole system. My boss contacted me from Italy to say me that she is launching the new summer collection in Paris. Then she will come here. From now on the protagonist won’t be the woman. Come downstairs with me, I will show you something”
They reached the room downstairs where clothes for children and for men were nicely displayed. An aquarium with red fishes was in the middle of the room. “Don’t worry about the aquarium,” Max said. “My boss has a fixed idea about aquariums have to feed the fishes and clean the water regularly. But now let’s go to the subject of the day. From today we will dress children and men as well. Let me explain it better: we have to find the right tactics to sell all these pieces of fashion very quickly. I let you stay here to dig an idea about the just confessed matter. Meanwhile I’ll go upstairs to open the shutters completely.” When Max was upstairs Samantha started rummaging where she found a diary. She opened it and she read the name Nelly deleted next to the name Samantha. No notes were attached.
Do they know something about me? She thought. At the end of the day I think this is just a coincidence. She carried out. She put the diary in the proper place and went upstairs.
“Well done, grace. Carry on calling me Max as you like. I am only ten years older than you. We have to win any false competition today.” In fact, a limousine parked by the shop. Five stunning women got off. They were the models of Donatella Versace. They entered the shop with a certain nonchalance and started to wear the dresses they liked most. Some of them were laughing, other were singing. They were tantalized.
“Simply clever,” They explained to Samantha who didn’t get the message. They bought five clothes each and left the shop half empty. Max was thrilled by the success and Samantha didn’t understand yet. She went downstairs and picked the dresses for children and for men to display them in the window.
“It’s not a harsh job, is it?” Max sneered.
“I’m so confused. I wonder if this is the right job for me,” she said. “You are crazy. You are terrific. Do you know why we sold all these clothes? Because of you. Now you need a rest. Go out for lunch break. You will start again with more confidence.” Max was disappointed by Samantha state of mind. Samantha went to the usual bar for a sandwich and a cup of coffee. Sometimes Phil appeared on the scene there at lunch break but today there wasn’t even the shadow. She was the more and more nervous. I’m starting to fall in love, she thought. Things shouldn’t be like that: I made a promise to Lucia. After a brief snack she went back to the shop forlorn. She was busy all day and she looked pale at the time of closure. She crossed the street to go back home and at that point a horn caught her attention.. It was Phillip. She felt relieved.
“Samantha, my grace, finally I see you. I was busy so far that’s why I can get you just now. Come on: we’ll go for a trip to the centre of the city.” He said.
“Just let me change my clothes. I’ll be back in ten minutes.” When Samantha arrived at her flat, she put on a black suit and wore the pearl necklace of the jealousy issue. When she was downstairs, she noticed that Phil had already changed car.
“Give us a kiss, love.” He embarrassed her. “What a wonderful necklace. I didn’t know you like jewels.” He said.
“Actually, this is the only one I have. It’s a gift from my former boyfriend.”
“Well, this is not what I expected to hear. I am too jealous. I will buy you a necklace with diamonds to forgive you.” He said. Samantha was thrilled. Her tactic worked. “But now just go to enjoy ourselves.” The car of the two of them slowly disappeared into the traffic jam.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Philip was a great entertainer and he showed this talent to the full by wandering through the whirling streets of Soho. He parked the car opposite a magnificent flat which had the flow of letting everything be heard from outside. “Another time. Dig the pit with the bucket and make the water sprinkle around. One, two, three times. Yes, it’s OK. You are doing very well. Repeat it…”
“But what’s going on?” asked Samantha.
“You know the tenants of this flat are customers of mine. They are using a 3d game which simulates the situation in a farmhouse. Usually they do it to release the level of adrenalin in their bodies. But this is not an option included in my package. They have to pay extra rent if they want to use it. I don’t want to appear meaner than due but this is reality and agreements are agreements. Now let’s go somewhere else. These tenants have parties until late in the night. They can be fined and ruin my reputation. I must be very, very careful. Now we are close to the other flat. From what I see everything is closed. They must have been party animals during the night. But I do not want to burden you with my problems. Where do you want me to drive you? Do you want to stop somewhere to eat?”
“Oh, no. I have a lot of things to eat at home before I go to bed. By the way: I wish to be back home by midnight,” she said.
“Are you still worried about your job? I told you I can offer you something better and to work under my protection. It will be very easy for you to leave the Versace shop job. You do not have to abide by the contract any more after what happened. Max hadn’t paid the rent for three months in order to spend the saved money on drugs. His boss, Donatella Versace, is totally unaware of this. She simply believes that Max has been absent-minded because he is too much under strain. If she knew the truth, she would have sacked him immediately. I do not want to be nasty. I will send to the shop an officer during your working time and you will discuss about the scandal of the not paid rent. and taxes. Actually, you will scream: scandal! And Max will be silent. He won’t chase you because he should pay you a lot of money if you leave the job. You see, it’s very easy. You won’t be obliged to use dizzy heels, heavy make-up, entertain guests at the shop any more. And, above all, you will be under my surveillance: a perfect VIP hostess.”
“I will thing over it in perfect calm. At the end I think I’ll choose to work with you.”
“Good. I see you are very rational. A reasoning pair: this is what we are. Another small point: why don’t you keep your pearl necklace in your safe? I will buy you another one with diamonds. I’m very jealous and I don’t want you having memories of your former boyfriend.”
“You are not asking me too much. Do not worry: I am not in touch with him any more. It’s a long time since I’ve heard from him. I imagine him married with children. I don’t know anything else.” Samantha started shivering. She was breaking the promise she had made to Lucia. She was falling in love and there was nothing she could do about it.
“My Samantha what are you thinking of?”
“Nothing special. I am just trying to figure out what the job will be. Are you sure I am the right person to do it?”
“You are too pessimistic. Of course you are the right person for that job. I think there is another secret you are hiding from me.”
“What? The Elton John dinner?”
“I see you read my mind. You bought a not very cheap ticket. You are on the list in a booked table. You are next to me. I paid you back the money for your ticket. You will find it in your bank account. You should have no secret from me. I am a powerful man and I know a lot of things about whoever. But now I stop to be silly. I’m driving without a specific direction. Is there any place you like particularly?”
“Yes. I like Piccadilly Circus. It should be terrific by night.”
“We are near it. I’ll park the car in the nearby street and we will go for a walk. You know Piccadilly is a young place. It’s been here since one hundred years ago. There are slea
zy places in the surrounding area but, as a whole, it is a safe place. Oh, here is a place to park. Perfect.”
They watched each other in their eyes before they got out of the car. They coveted a kiss but they felt it was not the right place. Philip held Samantha’s hand as a flamboyant man. They walked in the plaza hand in hand like any couple in love. “Here dear Samantha we can see a wonderful place to have a dinner another time. The Steakhouse. We will eat very cheaply and tastefully. On the other side you can see The Empire Cinema where they hold gala parties for The London Film Festival. We can mingle with the celebrities over there. Now we are close to Leicester Square. We can sit at a bar and have something to drink.”
“That’s fine. I’ll take a slice of toast and an orange juice.”
“So, take a seat. If you don’t mind, I’ll have a pint of ale.”
“No, go ahead.”
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