The Fat And The Thin Of It

by Julie Croft

at shoulder-height. “Buenas noches, Señora.” he cooed. He placed the tray on the table by the French window and with a flourish removed the metal domed cover, then he swished out with a nod and a smile.

  Jill got up and placed the tray on the bed, found the remote and settled down to watch some TV and enjoy her sandwich, if she could stop smiling and chew properly.

  However, she resolved not to eat anything other than a salad the following day.

  Jackie crept in the hotel room by the light of her mobile. She didn’t want to turn on the light and wake Jill up at half past three in the morning, so she guided herself to the bathroom by shining her phone onto the floor. Once she’d closed the door, she turned on the light and looked at herself in the mirror.

  Jackie had to admit she looked a tad haggard after the day she’d had, but there was a different glow to her face than there had been that morning. She looked calmer, happier and less tense, which was exactly how she felt as well. Ahmed had fallen out of the sky like a fairy godfather and had lifted her spirits, and he had been the perfect gentleman the whole time without propositioning her in any way. He’d even let her drive his boat for a while and hadn’t moaned about her driving when she’d swayed the boat and nearly hit a buoy. Above all, he’d listened to her story about Bob with an extremely sympathetic ear and had given her loads of encouragement.

  “My dear Jackie,” Ahmed had said to her as they sat on the top deck wrapped in blankets, watching the sun set as they sipped champagne. “You are a strong woman of great emotional recourses, and this you have demonstrated by the way you demanded what is only yours by right. I am positive that your thoughtless husband will concede to your demands, and you will make your life a happier one.”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Jackie had sighed. “It’s not a pleasant situation to be in; alone at fifty-two with very little hope of ever finding someone to get old with.”

  Ahmed had chuckled softly. “Ah, lovely Jackie! My first divorce was at forty-two and here I am after my third at seventy-five!” Jackie had arched her eyebrows in disbelief as he looked incredibly good for his age. “I do not give up the hope of still finding someone to grow old with and you must do the same.”

  “You married pretty late in life for the first time, didn’t you?” Jackie was aware that the question was pretty forthright, but Ahmed didn’t seem to mind.

  “I had been far too busy making money to think about marriage before then, but once I had made my first hundred million, I considered I could take the time to look for a wife.”

  “Your first hundred million?” Jackie continued her forthrightness. “How many more have you made since?”

  Ahmed chuckled again and spread his hands. “I have no idea, mon petite, you’d have to ask Faruk as now he is the one in charge of the finances. I am semi-retired, so to speak, but I oversee the finality of the contracts as I like to see what he is doing with my money.”

  Ahmed had taken Jackie to dine at the most amazing restaurant and she’d allowed him to order for her. She didn’t have a clue what she’d eaten but it had tasted like nothing she had ever eaten before. The four of them then went back to their hotel, where they had the whole top floor, and some friends of Faruk and Chantal came over. The siblings sat on the roof terrace chatting to their friends while she and Ahmed sat on a lower, sprawling terrace. The music from above drifted down to them, but not loud enough to make them have to shout.

  They’d chatted and laughed and had exchanged information about themselves until Jackie couldn’t hold her jaw any longer and she yawned widely. “Oo-o-oh, I’m so sorry, Ahmed.”

  “That’s alright, mon petite,” he smiled affectionately. “You’ve had a very long day, and the sea air has that effect on the hardiest of sailors.” He got up and extended a hand to her. “Come, I took the liberty of having your belongings brought here. You can change, if you still insist…” Jackie nodded firmly and Ahmed sighed and shrugged. “Very well, your belongings are in there, and when you are ready I shall escort you back to your hotel.”

  When the Bentley arrived outside of Jackie’s hotel, the chauffeur jumped out to open the door for her. She climbed tiredly out and made for the entrance, but Ahmed leaned out before the chauffeur could close it again. “Will we see each other tomorrow, mon petite?”

  “Ahmed, I have had the most wonderful time ever,” Jackie said. “But I don’t know what’s happening as far as the Bob thing is concerned.”

  “Well, you have my phone number and I have yours.” Ahmed had answered. “I will call you tomorrow and you can tell me how the Bob thing is progressing.”

  Jackie stripped and took a look at her body. It still resembled a heap of balloons that had been bunched up badly, but it didn’t revolt her as it had that morning. She’d worn a Valentino that belonged to Ahmed’s ex, and if he’d seen fit to marry a woman who was as fat as her, she couldn’t be that revolting, could she? She brushed her teeth and turned the light out before opening the bathroom door, then used her mobile again to find her bed. She slipped between the sheets gratefully and fell into a deep sleep almost immediately.

  Jill woke with a start.

  She looked at her mobile to check the time; nine fifteen! She grabbed the bedside phone and called room service for breakfast and heard Jackie stir in the adjacent bed.

  How did she get there?

  She ordered two continentals and rolled over to look at her friend.

  “What time did you get in, love?” she asked in a sleepy voice.

  Jackie groaned and stretched before turning to Jill. “Uh... about half past three. What time is it?”

  Jill told her then grilled her about her evening with Ahmed. “What did you do?” she asked.

  Jackie rolled her eyes and answered, “Nothing like what you’re thinking! We had dinner then went to their hotel – with Faruk and Chantal,” she made a point of adding. “We chatted and then I was driven home in a big, fat Bentley.”

  Jill squinted at her. “And that was that?”

  “Yes, you suspicious cow! Did you know he’s seventy-five? I doubt he’s capable of doing much, anyway.”

  “Ah, mon amis,” Jill cooed in an exaggerated French accent. “There is the wonder of Viagra, lovely Jackie!”

  Jackie sneered at her. “You don’t say! But, I say he was the perfect gentleman, and if there’d been any hanky-panky, I would’ve booted him in the balls.”

  “No doubt.” Jill agreed just as her phone rang.

  “Jill, it’s me.” Bob said as soon as she answered. “It’s done; my wage packet and ten grand extra per month, straight up.”

  Jill stayed calm so as to not alert Jackie. “Are you sure?”

  “Of course I’m bloody sure!” he griped. “I’ve got the paperwork to prove it, and when you get back home Richard will confirm it’s all above board.” He sounded tired, as he must have been working on it half the night as well as having to put up with Triple F bitching over his shoulder. “Tell me what hotel you’re at and I’ll send what you need to verify it.”

  Jill didn’t want to tell him what hotel they were at, but she needed to see the paperwork before they left. She thought for a moment before saying, “There’s a boat called La Belle Chantal in the port in San Antonio; send it there.” She hung up quickly.

  Jackie suddenly sat up. “What was that? Who were you talking to? Was it Bob?”

  “Love, could you get in contact with Ahmed and ask him to do you a favour?”

  Ahmed had sent Jackie and Jill off with Chantal in a Bentley for coffee and some sight-seeing. He’d told them that he’d have to look over the paperwork, check everything was in order and if it wasn’t, he and Bob would have to work together to rectify things. It would all be very tedious, he’d said with a gentle smile, and that they’d be much happier going to Eivissa and enjoying the mild weather.

  Ahmed told Hassan and Abel to dress in their black suits, then he retired to his cabin to put on his own attire; white robe, red and white check head-dress and a thick, shaped
leather strap to fix the head-dress onto his head. He grabbed his ebony cane with the head of the Sphinx in silver and finished the ensemble with a pair of black sunglasses. The effect was quite imposing, which was what he wanted.

  When Ahmed emerged on deck, Hassan and Abel were waiting for him. He smiled at them, satisfied that they also looked imposing, and stood at the head of the gangway to wait for Bob with his two bodyguards standing behind.

  At eleven o’clock on the dot, a taxi pulled up on the quay and Bob got out. He stood staring at the three men for a few seconds before slowly walking up to La Belle Chantal, but he hesitated at the foot of the gangway.

  “What am I doing here, Ahmed?” Bob called out.

  Ahmed spread his left hand while the right rested on his cane and smiled broadly. “I know! I am as flabbergasted as you, Mr Walker!” he called down. “It was a curious coincidence that Jill should suggest you came here, don’t you think?”

  “No, I don’t think!” Bob called back. “Where’s Jackie?”

  “I sent the two lovely ladies to Eivissa with my daughter.” Ahmed replied.

  Bob smiled sarcastically. “Which one?”

  “The one the two ladies know as my daughter, Mr Walker.” Ahmed’s smile had disappeared. “Come aboard, if you please.”

  “I don’t please, but I don’t have a choice, do I?” Bob didn’t expect an answer, so he sauntered up the gangway and onto La Belle Chantal.

  Ahmed and