Samantha was on her own waiting for Phil to make the first move. “Pink lipstick sweetheart. I love the saying: pretty in pink,” he said and Samantha savoured the warm kiss between the two. “You know darling, I have to ask you a question. Do you feel the need to take the contraceptive pill?”
Samantha blushed and felt a bit shocked. She was silent and dumb. “Sorry darling. It is too early,” she finally spoke.
“Never mind. I’ll wait until our marriage if this pleases you. Now lay on the seat. We are going to Piccadilly where I’ll show you my office. It’s the place where we have to meet Agusta tomorrow. You will be with me, of course,” said Phil.
“It must be wonderful,” answered Samantha for the fear of blundering. The limousine was running at high speed so that the driver caught the reproach from Phil. He amended the situation by parking the luxury car perfectly in front of Phil’s office door.
The police were aware of that habit of Phil. “Come on, darling. I’ll show you the place.
Samantha and Phil arrived at the first-floor landing and they had in front of them a spectacular device for opening the door. A big room with a desk and four chairs in the middle, with shelves for books throughout the wall. A map of the world and an Andy Warhol painting. “This is your realm, Samantha. This is the place where we will sit tomorrow. You know there have been periods in my life when I was lost and I couldn’t find a reason to carry on with my business. But the wish to start a family has given me the strength to arrive so far. Now you are the reason for my life and this office has a lot of stories to tell. I remember when a squirrel entered this room. I felt awkward in the presence of my customers. It came out later on that it was the pet of a lady who was in seventh heaven when they finally found it. Another time, two actors of the premier of the London Film Festival came here looking for their directors. They had been told the address but not the name of the guy. I sent them to the penthouse at the top. Another time Jane was here with a black dress and white apron to make the price of the broker more reasonable. How many stories! But now make my lips pink,” said Phil.
Samantha perceived the pain of jealousy behind Phil’s prophecy. He showed himself in all his fragility. But she was in love and happy with that.
“Sweetheart, are you still thirsty for knowledge about my properties? I mean, I have a suggestion: let’s have a stroll in Piccadilly Square.”
Samantha, as usual obeyed. They faced the stark reality walking hand in hand in the streets of the English capital. “Here is the Steakhouse, best food in town. Do you want to enjoy yourself there for lunch?” said Phil.
“Certainly honey. You never stop amazing me. I am in love,” said Samantha.
They turned the corner of the fountain and they went up to Trafalgar Square. “Rich woman,” some guys shrieked.
“Do not worry, they are my friends. It’s their own way to wish you good luck. I will introduce you to them shortly. Now let us enjoy our stroll,” said Phil.
The place was breathtaking and a wonderful surprise to the naive eyes of Samantha. They walked along until their stomachs were calling for supplying. “So we are already in the limousine, Nelly.”
“Samantha. not Nelly, please.”
“Sure, Samantha. Let me show you something, can you see these slides? Here, look: you and myself at the Steakhouse., hand in hand in Piccadilly in Trafalgar Square where a man behind us urinated in the limousine. And they are coloured. Do you like them?”
“Yes, but who did them?”
“We are followed by eight heavies all the time. They take pictures of us in order that we have evidence in case something bad, like a theft, happens. You can see it as an intrusion of privacy. I know it. But it is necessary for our safety. Oh, I see you are tired. Do you want to sleep? I can leave the car parked here all the time I want.”
“Yes darling. But I have a bit of headache. Have you got some tablets?”
“Yes. This car is a mobile pharmacy. You can get one now.”
“Thank you. I’ll take off my shoes and lay on the seat.”
“How do you feel?”
“Fantastic! I’m ready to sleep.”
“Oh, I didn’t notice the enamel on your toes. They have a different colour to the one your hands.”
“Yes, they are. It’s my own way of being creative. I can change them, if you want.”
“No, I’m not your boss.”
“But it’s not nice…”
“Sweet Samantha. Have a sleep. I will wake you up later on.”
“OK.”
It didn’t take long for Samantha to fall asleep. Phil was free to give way to his most bizarre thoughts while admiring his little sleeping beauty. He was lost behind that beautiful face without make-up. He thought of the way she could get rid of her past when her friend Lucia introduced her to a circle of fishy women who received jewels from a man to whom they were love slaves. Yes, he was giving them his wife’s jewels in exchange for amusing sexy things. Samantha had never had sex with him. She simply had a plunge in the swimming pool topless. Now they had escaped with the jewels and changed identity. That man was now a ruined one. The lover of his wife was seeking revenge and he couldn’t devise anything better than defacing the wall of a pub in Amsterdam with the acrostic L. A. U. R. A. Give me back your jewels. Well Amsterdam, the city of Van der Baast welcomed the challenge by creating a needle as a string towards the disclosing of the truth behind that weird and unspoiled gesture. Nevertheless, the man would be never exposed. Most of those girls would start again with a clean slate. Samantha was the only one who had not lost her virginity. She had otherwise to clean her passport. Nelly became Samantha in a twinkle of time. She was Samantha for everybody even if Phil had pushed her to restore the true data on her passport. Unsurprisingly she was happy again.
Her long sleep increased her need to get a cup of coffee with some croissants while she was watching people passing by. She was attracted by a couple who entered the Empire Cinema. Yes, they were Mr. And Mrs Morris, the ones who had purchased a penthouse from Phil. They seemed to be willing to approach their car. They surely recognized it as Phil’s by reading its plate. They had observed carefully not just the plate but also the wheels, the car doors and whatever. They had a camera with them but, hopefully, they didn’t use it. Phil perceived the whole thing as a form of harassment. But customers were customers. Now he was only preparing himself mentally for the affair of the following day. He had all the spare parts of helicopters for Agusta. Rotors, windows and whatever. And he was sure that Samantha would get the chance to work in a dreamlike state of bliss. The couple disappeared but there was another funny thing that astounded Samantha. A woman was going to fall down because of her high heels in front of an indifferent partner. She chose the option of walking bare foot.
Piccadilly was an amazing place. And Samantha had slept like an angel. She had dreamt, dreamt and dreamt. Phil’s eyes were wide open. He saw her in the delivery room where he cut the umbilical cord of their first child. He had to wait a bit before this dream could turn into reality. “Good afternoon sweetheart. You have slept more than enough and I saw you with the blink of an eye. You were admiring Piccadilly visions this day, weren’t you?” he said.
“What time is it?” were the only words that Samantha was able to utter.
“It is half past four. We are still parked in front of my office door as you see it. I suggest you that we should move to Harrods. I wish to buy a brand-new bed for our rooms. I will show you also all the other departments. Tell me if it is OK for you.”
“I have no objections. Now you know me very well,” said Samantha with submissive and docile manners. “Just go ahead,” she finished.
Phil asked the driver to start the engine and to go to Knightsbridge. Samantha adored watching through the windows. All the beauty of London was revealed to her in those ways. And she appreciated even more the departments of the well acclaimed megastore. The first floor was the site of cosmetics and a room of grocery was nearby. The two went by
escalator to the fourth floor where they could find any item of furniture.
“Samantha choose the one you like,” said Phil.
“I have already seen one. The black one with displayers, radio and TV linked to it. It’s amazing. I absolutely adore it,” she said.
“Here things go quick. I have just to point it to the assistant and to pay for it to have it delivered by tomorrow afternoon.”
“Thank you, darling. I love you.”
“Everything is OK. I have already paid. We have just to be patient and wait for tomorrow to come. Would you mind a stroll in the park before we go back home?” said Phil.
“Yes, of course. It’s too early to go back home now.”
The park was not very distant from the shop. The two of them were very delighted to soothe themselves with their feet on the lawn. The park was the one that Samantha spied while crossing the city in the limousine. It was a dreamlike situation that bewitched her and made her attracted by Phil more and more. They were so happy in that green corner of the city. London was a mixture of bricks and grass. It was famously the most beautiful metropolis in the world. The evening could wait. Now they were attached to that sort of paradise like children who were able to see the world in the most amazing way.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
“Ravina.”
“Yes Albert?” Ravina answered with a worried tone.
“Don’t be rude honey. Don’t forget today is my last day off. I have to be at the shop tomorrow morning. We belong to one another and today we must spend our time focused on ourselves. Cuddles: what a nice word, isn’t it? Have you ever heard of them? Just joking, forget it. You know you sound like a spinster with your tone of voice. Why don’t you try to calm down? Thank God I have something that may soothe your mood. I am going to the sitting room and I’ll be back here soon. Here you are: open it,” said Albert.
“What is it?” said Ravina relieved.
“Open it.”
Ravina opened the small box and she found a golden ring with diamonds inside. “What is the meaning of it,” Albert?” she asked.
“You have guessed it. I want to marry you by the end of the month. It’s your nuptial ring, the one you have so much coveted lately.”
Ravina was entranced by the gift. She didn’t ask herself when and where Albert bought it. She just wore it, thrilled and joyful. “So you want to marry me? I cannot believe it.”
“Yes, darling I love you so much. I don’t want to waste too much time with this living together thing,” she said.
“The ceremony will be in a church, a Catholic one, like tradition wants. Do you agree?”
“Yes, of course. We have the time to organize everything, the bride and bridesmaid’s dresses, the guests, the restaurant, the flowers on the altar and the honeymoon. Albert, I adore you. What is the best place for our honeymoon? I would like to go to New York.”
“I’ll buy the tickets for the flight and book the hotel this afternoon.”
“Please, don’t rush. We have to talk to the priest first.”
“It’s not that big an issue. We can go and have a chat with him two weeks before the event. Of course, I’ll do my best to have everything ready on time. I’m happy to see you radiant and shining again,” he said.
“You have made me the happiest person under the sun. Now let us be busy with our household chore and then go out to breath fresh air. Come on. Hurry up,” said Ravina.
Albert stopped her. “You have not to deal with anything. I have mopped the floor, started the washing machine, dusted the furniture everywhere when you were still in bed,” he said.
“Oh, yes. I was busy with my crosswords that I didn’t realize what was happening around me. I want to puzzle myself a bit just to take a mental holiday from my teaching. Of course you won’t expect me to leave the job, will you?” she said.
“Of course I won’t. Now get dressed and we’ll go out for a walk. Just a moment, take this.”
“Five hundred euros?”
“Yes, just to buy some new clothes.”
“Thank you, a lot. Now let’s go.”
They went out of the flat and in the street, they bumped into Sylvanus. “Sylvanus, what’s the matter?” Albert exclaimed.
“I was just nostalgic. I’m not used to living on my own so I thought to come here to feel your presence. I didn’t want to trouble you because of me.”
“Tomorrow we will start working again. Do you remember?”
“Yes, Albert.”
“I washed my apron in the washing machine and I trust you have done the same. We will see each other tomorrow morning at the shop at eight am. That’s it.”
“I’ll obey you.”
” Let me advise you,” interrupted Ravina, “Why don’t you look for a girlfriend? Amsterdam is full of beautiful women looking for you.”
“You don’t know my past life, Ravina. I’m full of scars. I mean, I have been the victim of love disillusionment that now I have decided to stop with girlfriends. If loves arrives, that’s fine. If not, it will be the same,” answered Sylvanus.
“Sorry, I didn’t want to mess you up. Consider what I said a little piece of advice.”
“Now dear Ravina and dear Albert I’ll go. I see you are very busy. We’ll see each other soon.”
“Of course,” said Ravina with nervousness.
Sylvanus went on his way. He turned back for a while and shouted: “Ravina, your minestrone was wonderful.”
Ravina was speechless. She had to think things over for a while before she could talk. “Do you know Albert, I don’t like Sylvanus. He is so self-focused, so stubborn, so fishy. There is something wrong about him.”
“But Ravina he is my best friend.”
“Sorry darling. I didn’t want to hurt you.”
“Never mind. Now let’s go to the department store. You have to buy a couple of new dresses.”
Ravina nodded and she entered the shop without enthusiasm. “How can I help you?” said the shop assistant.
“I am looking for two dresses of a medium size.”
“So you have to come here to have a look.”
“Honey, what do you think of the yellow and red one?” she addressed Albert.
“I think that both match perfectly the colour of your hair. Try them,” said Albert.
Ravina entered and went out of the changing room like a thunderbolt. “They are perfect, darling. I can pay and leave.”
They walked out of the shop hand in hand. They wanted to make a trip on the ferry across the canal but in the end, they decided to walk peacefully along the streets. “My pupils will find me funny with these clothes. What do you think?”
“I don’t understand you frankly. This is the most beautiful day in your life and you don’t stop complaining. To be honest with you I am a bit fed up.”
“Sorry Albert. I am the one who doesn’t work. Forget what I have said.” And they kissed each other tenderly when the horn of a car stopped them.
“They have the fingers attached to the horn,” said Ravina.
“Yes, but we are in the middle of the street,” said Albert.
“Just let’s do something. We have to admire Kitzcrchraf and it is already time to go home. You can have a rest while I’ll consume lunch.”
“Don’t forget the word whim, Albert.”
And they ended their adventure right then.
Mark was in his flat with Rose with a fax in his hand. It was apparently a message from the two felons. It said: ‘We will help you in exchange for our freedom. Please, rescue us’.
“Help them to do what?” Mark exclaimed in front of his fiancée.
“I don’t know darling. I just hope it’s not a fake move to have the liberty to commit worse crimes. It’s up to you how to react. You are the owner of the horses,” said Rose.
“But you are one with me. What hurts me hurts you as well. Now I’m waiting for the police to contact me. I called them this morning and they told me that they would phone me at dinner tim
e. Sorry if I don’t take you out this evening.”
“Duty comes first. After all we go out every day. To stay at home waiting for something won’t spoil our mood,” she said.
Finally, the cell rung: “Mark? Is this Mark speaking? It’s the police.”
“Yes, it’s me. Did you get my message?”
“Yes, we did and we have to inform you that there are development in our story. We will deal with this with you shortly. We are coming to pick you up at your flat. It won’t take long. Be ready to go out.”
“Sure,” said Mark anxiously. “Rose, the police are coming. They have to pick us up to go somewhere to sort things out. They will explain it to me later. Be ready to go out,” said Mark.
“But the flat is all a mess. How can we welcome the police?”
“They will see only the hall. They are in a rush.”
“I hope so,” said Rose.
“Trust me,” replied Mark. “Oh! Here they are. They have arrived very quickly.
The door bell rung. “Good evening from the police.”
“Good evening. We were waiting for you.” Mark answered kindly. “This is my bride-to-be. She will come with us.”
“That’s fine. Hurry up, please.”
They took the couple to the car without saying a single word and they rushed towards a mysterious destination. Mark and Rose weren’t able to recognize the Amsterdam borough they were in. “Officer.”
“Yes Mark?”
“I have to show you something. And he gave the fax to the policeman. “What do you think of it?” he said quietly.
“It’s a fax from what I see. It’s clearly a voice of warning from our two small criminals. We are going to catch them in a dilapidated station. They have been seen by two witnesses this morning and they have not abandoned the place yet. I hope you know this part of Amsterdam. You have not to be scared by the young couple who spend some time here in their cars next to the park. It’s a routine habit from what we know. We are dealing with other matters. I am not interested in people’s obscenity. Be ready to get out. We have just arrived.”
The Red Box Page 55