After a while Jane arrived looking like a ghost. “Help me my boss. A guy has followed me since I went out of the house and threatened me to rape me. Aliens don’t look good to me. I saw him as a sort of alien who wanted to act as a spiteful enemy of us all.”
“I apologize Jane. I forgot to send the bodyguards after you. I will call them now. By the way: did you find the cash I left for you in the kitchen?”
“No, sir.”
“Go and take it. It’s for you. Enjoy yourself.”
“Thanks a lot.”
Jane left the house again, this time under the protection of those muscular guys. “Samantha.”
“Yes, Phil.”
“I have in mind a joke for Jill and Araon. I will organize a fake citizen’s arrest in a restaurant and our bodyguards will come to assist us. I know it seems nasty but they will enjoy themselves at the end. They will laugh, I’m sure. I know that something similar happened to Tony Blair. He was eating in a restaurant in London and the waiter organized a citizen’s arrest in a sign of protest against the former prime minister’s war in Iraq. On that occasion, Tony Blair’s heavies had to intervene to help him. I don’t know if it’s kind from me to involve you in political discussion. We have David Cameron now and London mayor, Boris Johnson. They both come to grips with a sonorous ocean of protest from the British. There will be a referendum to decide whether the UK will stay or not in the European Union. Cameron is in favour of a remain, while Johnson is in favour of a brexit even if in the recent past he has claimed that immigrants are a resource for the country. There are by far too many he thinks now. To me xenophobia is more the result of ignorance than selfishness. Sure enough, there are two million British citizens scattered through Europe and one million and a half of foreigners from all Europe live in Great Britain. We will see what happens next. Escargots. Now I am thinking of escargots. Do you know why?”
“I have no idea, Phil.”
“Well, I’m thinking of escargots because of a wager I did a couple of years ago. I pledged to eat escargots for two years if the euro sceptics would win in England. Now I can say I am free to eat them. I am sincere: I don’t want to annoy you with my worries. I see politics doesn’t bother you too much.”
“No, Phil. I like to relax and listen to you. I would like to go to the sitting room. Here the sun has made me as red as a lobster.”
“I’ll do what you like Samantha. I would like to show to you the closed room to the sitting room. It is the cinema. There is a huge screen with the installation for 3d movie images. I do not want you to have even a minute of boredom. You will choose the movie you want to see and we will snack popcorn. One thing: there is not the air condition as in the rest of the house. Do you still like my idea?”
“Yes, Phil. This is what I want. I am so curious to see this room.”
“OK. You are my queen. We will stop in the sitting room to have a vent of air condition and the movie won’t let us wait long.”
The couple left the swimming pool room to enjoy better fresh air inside the house. The sitting room had the most respectful item, the sofa. While she dwindled her anxiety on the sofa, Phil was playing with his wristwatch He was probably contacting the bodyguards. Samantha was already used to them. She pushed Phil ahead with her feet and waited for him to say that there was nothing better than those gentle moments of love.
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
The grass over the other fence is not always greener. But Jill and Araon were trembling with jubilation with the pass for the private jet flight in their hands. The personnel of the plane. were so gentle. It seemed they had seen a squirrel who was grappling with his first prey. The jet was meant to run short and long distances. Jill had a bewildering sensation in front of the majestic four engines. A beautiful hostess welcomed them with a maternal smile: “You can sit wherever you want,” she said. “Here is the sitting room, the bedroom and the toilet. Lunch is served at twelve o’ clock. Enjoy your travel.”
The plane parted from the ground immediately and they found themselves soon above the clouds. Jill was reading her book on Adolph Hitler. “What boredom. If it was not for my wish to conceal my ignorance of historic subjects in front of Phil and Samantha, I would throw this book away.”
“Dear Jill, you have to read only for the sake of your enjoyment. And, to be sincere with you, you are not so ignorant on the subject. Have a look at these leaflets. You can read about the entertainment in London. Sorry honey, I feel sick.”
He went to the toilet and came back overwhelmed. “What’s the matter Araon? Are you frightened of flying?”
“No, I think it’s the food.”
“What food? We have not eaten yet. Anyway keep calm. We will be in London shortly,” Jill said.
“Door to landing,” announced the hostess.
“You see: we are landing. Araon, Araon.”
“I was looking forward to it Jill.”
The hostess accompanied them to the exit and wished a good stay in London to them. They took the small suitcase and started their way to the arrival zone of the airport. A man with a piece of paper where you could read the names of Jill and Araon was waiting for them. he was the driver of the limousine. “Dear sir and madam, you can accommodate now. The way to Holland Park is not a very long one.”
Jill felt instantly at ease. She put on some slippers and sipped champagne. Araon followed suit. Out of the blue, a billboard with the face of Phil appeared on the front seats.
“Write this, write that,” he said. And then some coriander scattered all over the car. It was one of those jokes from Phil, of course.
“Are you OK, darling?” said Jill.
“Sure. I was just looking out the window. The wonders of London are displayed divinely. But, I’m afraid, now we are in Holland Park. We have to abandon this jewel.”
So the driver accompanied the two of them to a four story house where Phil and Samantha were waiting for them. Samantha was wearing a wraparound skirt and Phil was wearing some trunks and a shirt. From the sky they could admire one balloon which read: I love you. Phil never took himself for granted, so he decided to welcome the newly acquired friends using his patterns.
“Hi Jill, hi Araon. I see you arrived earlier than anticipated. Samantha and I were in the swimming pool room. We can spend some time over there if you want. First let me show you the house. As you can see, the sitting room is linked to the kitchen. Here is the door to the tennis court and this is the billiard room. In the other storeys you can see some guest rooms and a huge library and stuff like that. If you don’t mind you can go to the guest room and have a wash. Samantha and me will wait for you in the swimming pool room. I’ll show you the way.
Araon and Jill’s room was on the third floor. It was all comfort and moderation. Jill was struck by the address and phone number of a GP just on the front table. Jill tried out the hydro massage and Araon lived a so much waited experience with an enchanting shower. They were delighted to wear, him trunks and she a bathing costume so that they could reach Samantha and Phil in the swimming pool room.
Phil was so anxious and grinning to see them well equipped. “We can have a bathe in the swimming pool now, if you pleased,” he said without hiding the best grimace he had in his life.
“It’s a good idea,” answered Araon They both plunged themselves from the diving board and started crawling. Samantha and Jill were more cautious. They simply let themselves be caressed by the water. Phil looked to be a swimming champion as focused as he was in his whirling up across the sweet water. Araon was ashamed not to do the same but the two women admired them in disbelief sitting in a comfortable deckchair under the blistering hot sun. It was time for Phil and Araon to stop their circus-like performance and reach their ladies. Jill was laughing like a child while listening to Araon’s account. But Samantha was embellished by a certain nonchalance as used as she was to seeing Phil so humorous. “We must swallow ice if we want to survive these high temperatures,” said Phil to make his friends feel at ease. �
��Don’t worry about the sun rays: they are not detrimental as on the roof there is a device to let just the good rays touch us.
“Jill.”
“Yes Samantha?”
“I feel you and Araon need some intimacy. Let us four meet each other at six pm, dinner time.”
“Definitely, Samantha.”
“By the way, tell us about your favourite menu.”
“The vegetarian one would fit,” answered Jill quickly before Araon could start talking.
So they departed to their appropriate rooms. Araon was so joyful to see Jill breaking the ice with dexterity. But his mood was reflected by his imagination. He sort of dreamt of a policeman chasing him with a baton and Phil intervened to stop the policeman harassing him. Phil’s power had been underestimated so far. He stopped arguing with himself later on. “Jill?”
“Yes, honey.”
“It’s six p.m. Don’t forget the appointment with Phil and Samantha.”
“Sure, Araon. We must be ready straight away.”
Jill and Araon’s punctuality impressed Phil and Samantha. Those were the small things that would keep the fire of people relationships alive. Araon grabbed a potato while the salad was served with cheese, the favourite one of the hosts.
“I’m really happy you are here,” said Phil.
“We have forgotten to give you something,” said Jill with a golden frame in her hand.
“You needn’t do this. It’s wonderful.!” said Samantha
“Just to say we love you,” answered Jill.
“We love you too. I hope you are enjoying the meal. My waitress is terrific,” said Phil. At the end of the dinner they had been served an ice cream cone. They never lost the thread of the speech. They were chatting, chatting and chatting. Even their stomachs seemed empty at the speed of their words. Phil was definitely an excellent interlocutor. Time passed slowly with the four remembering of their childhood adventures. There was no time for Araon and Jill to decide if they were blessed more by the jet set or by the wonder of bearing an innocent child.
Anyway, Araon made his part. He didn’t want to be rude but he signalled to the couple of friends it was time for him and Jill to go to their Mayfair flat. Samantha and Phil called the limousine that arrived as fast as a thunder. “We will see each other tomorrow,” said Samantha.
Jill and Araon were so exhausted when they arrived at their own flat. The place was terrific. There was the air conditioning at full blast. It adapted to the body temperature of the people present in the house. They wandered around and expressed lively admiration for the furniture and the objects. The bedroom had a king size bed. The room was linked to two bathrooms, one for men and one for women and, as it was a fad, or necessarily a less ephemeral fashion there was the bidet for washing the lower region. This appliance was present only in rich people’s flats. Jill found in that flat everything from Versace or Armani dresses to Lancôme or Estee Lauder creams. Leaflets with London’s most famous views were a must and the breakfast was ready in the fridge. Newspapers were delivered daily under the door. But the most amazing thing of all was the alarm clock on the bedside table. They set it to the current time as a try and Phil’s sardonic laugh announced to them a good day. It was another of those jokes by Phil. So they definitely set up the alarm clock at seven am to be ready to meet Phil and Samantha at nine am. The following day.
“Do you agree, Jill? We must be at Holland Park on time tomorrow.”
“Listen love. Can you see stars in the sky tonight? It’s the end of a wonderful day.”
“Yes Jill. Goodnight.”
Araon was soon fast asleep. While Jill was continuously obsessed by less than serene thought. She was overwhelmed by the image of somebody screaming. She didn’t understand the meaning of it. Maybe it meant danger or something related to the old mad lady who came to their house with a witchcraft desire. That lady was superstitious and ignorant. but this was not a sign that she could hold a dangerous secret. She didn’t want to sleep. She went to the mirror and admired herself. She saw a gorgeous thirty-four-year-old woman from Amsterdam. I guess, she thought I am a sort of Lady Macbeth to use Araon’s own words. I’m pushing him to become Phil’s business associate and this involves something dangerous hidden somewhere. What an idiot!. Her favourite pastime was now not over. She went to pick a book from the shelf. It was a philosophic dissertation from Nietche. “It will help me to sleep.” And her prophecy became reality soon. She turned over herself a few minutes before she could find the right position on the side of the pillow and she fell immediately asleep.
At the same time Samantha and Phil finished watching a movie in the cinema room. “It was boring. Wasn’t it?” Phil said.
“It was mediocre, meddlesome. But it was an overwhelming 3d experience after all,” answered Samantha.
“Yes but we must put a remedy to that boredom. Tomorrow we will have a luxurious tour of the city with our two guests and we need to be prepared for it. We have not a definite time as an appointment. The only thing I know is that our minds should be fresh to make Jill and Araon have the very best from their London experience. By the way, have you enjoyed yourself so far?”
“I think that Jill and Araon are the best friends we could meet in our life. All that candour, that excellence in speaking, the polite manners. You have made an excellent gift to me by inviting them to London for a week. I hope time won’t pass quickly,” said Samantha.
“We will have other occasions to see them. Do you know what I’m thinking about? To ask Araon to become my business associate. He is cleverer than most, fast thinking and highly motivated. You can enjoy yourself by watching a woman of wit as Jill is.”
“You always read my mind, sweetheart. I think you should discuss this with Araon as soon as possible. He is the independent boss of a yard but he can hold both businesses, if he wants. He doesn’t like adrenalin as our experience with him has taught us. I observed him eating. He seems he doesn’t want to annoy people with his beautiful taste experience and this is an attitude that turns to his advantage when dealing with our business matters.”
“This is true. But do you think it’s starting to be a bit too late?”
“Yes, darling. Another word: I noticed Jill and Araon appreciated a lot what Jane does for us. Thy should be aware that she will stay here even if she marries, whatever the position in the world of her husband. She doesn’t want to stop working for us and she is a very loyal and honest woman. Now I have for you the sweetest of all words: good night. Tomorrow is another day.”
“OK, let’s go to our bedrooms.”
“Hey.”
“What?”
“You forgot the most important thing :you owe me a kiss.”
“Sure Phil. I was just waiting for you to ask me for it.
The following day was prearranged for Jill and Araon. The alarm clock rang with Phil’s sardonic laugh and the couple was ready out of bed at seven am. “How was your first night in London Jill?”
“I was so excited. And the best thing has not arrived yet. Samantha and Phil are firmly present in my mind. Sometimes I believe we are a sort of nuisance for them, but these are immediately beaten thoughts. I’ll plunge myself in the foaming hydro massage waters, while you’ll enjoy a nasty shower. Any single microbe on your skin will be turned into ashes as long as you use properly the flux of water.”
“I adore you Jill, you are simple and romantic at the same time. But I’m afraid there is something missing today: we forgot to order the breakfast and the newspaper as well. That’s why I got a copy of The Independent, of The Times, of The Guardian and so on. I received all of them because I haven’t expressed any preference. I will do it for tomorrow. I’ll keep The Independent.”
“Sure, my love. Now I suggest you that you should welcome your shower. I am so at ease in the bubbles of t soap and water. I simply don’t know what cream to use.”
So she went to the wardrobe to choose a dress and Araon followed suit. “If I could do it, I would go out in
trunks only. Hopefully here there are a lot of jeans and cotton shirts. Do you think it’s time to call Phil and Samantha?”
“Sure, Araon. I guess they are going to do it the same now.”
“Jill, don’t you remember that they have arranged to pick us up with a limousine at nine am.? It will be a very interesting day for you, my beautiful woman. The clock reads eight am. and in a while we will be in the most flamboyant shops in London. To do shopping is the first thing that Phil and me have pledged to do. But now let me call him”.
“Hi Phil, are you OK? We will be on time in the limousine in an hour. I hope I have not to wash dirty hands. By this I mean I have not touched wrong money notes. Forget about it, Phil. I am so excited that I’m easily doomed to make attempts of integrity in the most awkward way.”
“Don’t worry, Araon. Samantha is here with me. She is looking forward to wearing the pearl necklace I will purchase for her in Selfridge’s. I don’t know about you and Jill,” said Phil.
“Of course, our trip to London shops will be a roller-coaster one. See you in an hour.”
“Sure, Araon.”
To Jill, the limousine was a reminder of somebody who worked as a general factotum. She was prey of her imagination: she saw a big car with a hole in its tyre that fell down the gully on the right side of the street. No dead people could be seen, no wounded either.” Jill, are you listening to me?” said Araon with bold manners.
The Red Box Page 62
