Addicted To Greed

by Catherine Putsche

  Summoning every little bit of energy he had from his weak body he couldn’t resist the urge to rub it in a little further. “You’re one nasty piece of work Felicity; rest assured you’ll receive your karma very soon. I’m glad I won’t be setting eyes on you again, not in this life and hopefully not the next. As we speak, I’ve arranged for several associates of mine to collect your belongings. Just to let you know I’ve already allowed them access, so I suggest you let them know where to place your personal belongings. As far as I’m aware they have no forwarding address and they have my strict instructions to dispose as they see fit.”

  With this Felicity raced t o the window to check that he wasn’t bluffing her as she honestly believed that he was delusional due to his medication and the whisky he seemed to drown like a rat. But to her sheer disbelief she saw three white vans with a number of rough dressed looking men carelessly loading her possessions into the back of their vans. She noticed her Lois Vutton suitcases, with what looked like the entire contents of her Versace dress collection tossed to one side as if was dead cattle that didn’t count for anything.

  “Oh my god Wilhelm, how could you stoop so low? You’ll pay for this, I´ll sue?”

  With this Felicity fled much to Wilhelm and Nurse Patterson’s relief. Wilhelm had never felt such a wicked sense of gratification as he did now and he knew that would be the last he saw of the woman who ruined his once loved family life.

  “Nurse, please could you get me another whisky? This time can you make it a little stronger and if you wouldn’t mind a touch of lemon that would be great.”

  “No problem sir, would you mind if I joined you in

  celebration?” “Why not, I must apologi se for my wife’s sudden outburst. I should have done this a long time ago. If you’ll pardon my abruptness, it was completely necessary I’m afraid.”

  They both nodded in approval. Before Nurse Patterson returned Wilhelm had passed into a deep peaceful sleep never to wake again.

  Felicity

  Chapter 1

  “ Come here this instance child that’s no way for a young lady to behave. Your mother would turn in her grave if she could see you now.”

  Madame Clemenceau grew more agitated with the child each day, not only was she the child’s soul guardian she was also the child’s dead mothers’ patron.

  “But Madame, I was only trying to behave like Charlie.” “Nonsense child, Charlie is a dog, a dirty homeless scavenger. You’re a lady and there’s a huge difference.”

  The child quickly got up from her hands and knees rubbing the soil from her pretty pink lacy halbiller. “Can’t we keep him, he’s adorable? I promise I won’t let him go in the house, he can live in the barn, there’s ample room for him in there and then he won’t bother to sneak in through the fence every day.”

  “Dam it Felicity, how many times have I told you no. The God dam beast scares the other women here, they simply don’t like him and why should they? He stenches, makes the most grotesque noises, and he’s probably carrying a number of dieses, such as rabies. I forbid you to stay away from him, do you hear me child?”

  Reluctantly the child nodded in approval, not daring to push it any further.

  “Now come it’s time for your elocution . Today you’ll learn some essential pronunciations, grammar and tone. It was your dearest mothers wish child. Now go to your room and make yourself presentable. I’ll meet you in the library in ten minutes sharp.”

  Felicity started to run, then came to an abrupt stop.

  “Conduct yourself child, running is prohibited!”

  When Felicity returned to the library ten minutes later, she was sent back again to scrub her nails as they were not satisfactory for the Madame.

  Clemenceau prided herself on cleanliness at all times. She tossed her perfectly self-manicured nails in front of the child hoping the next time the child came down she would have paid some attention, tapping her foot in anticipation for the child’s return she noticed that her beloved Bihar fine Persian rug had several threads coming away. How could her butler or femme de ménage miss this? She made a mental note to have stern words with the pair later. Right now she wanted to concentrate on the child, since the death of her mother seven months ago, she made a number of vows and promises that she must keep.

  Felicity was growing into a beautiful young woman, just like her mother Adrianna, her most prestigious and high class employee Clemenceau had come across in her time, especially in the late 1940s until Clemenceau was forced to close the “Le Cabana”, her notably famous brothel in Paris which entertained the famous King Edward VII. She remembered a number of successful campaigns to close all establishments of that kind. She was forced to move to the south of France where she could re establish her business indiscreetly, where there was more tolerance.

  Adrianna had been her greatest beauty she had wanted to keep and take with her, at the tender age of eighteen Adrianna followed Madame Clemenceau, and in return Clemenceau welcomed Adrianna into her lavish lifestyle, keeping her under her wing, teaching her all she had once learnt, grooming her into the perfect high class escort, she had once been.

  The child approached her holding her hands out, Clemenceau nodded in approval.

  “Come child, lets commence, we can’t keep Monsieur Bernard waiting any longer. I can see you must also learn punctuality.” The child obediently followed. Clemenceau sat in for ten minutes to ensure the child was behaving in the appropriate manner, once satisfied she excused herself. Tomorrow she would take the child clothes shopping, it was time for the child to dress as a young woman as she would be sixteen in several days time, the perfect age for her to start learning her mother’s profession.

  When Felicity became sixteen her world started to change, no longer was she referred to as child, she was Madame Felicity, and she was rather proud of this new title and embraced it with pleasure, smiling whenever anyone called her name. She missed her mother dearly and putting up with the Madame day in day out was proving to be awkward and difficult, however she couldn’t summon up the courage to express this as she felt indebted to the lady.

  Felicity thought that the Madame’s beauty clearly hadn’t diminished with old age, as she was still very beautiful and always impeccably presented. However her beauty alone wasn’t enough as she sensed the Madame was losing patience with her on a daily basis as she would raise her voice and quite often lose her temper with anyone who got in her way. Felicity tried her best to avoid her as much as possible pretending to hide away in her books. Today she wasn’t given the opportunity as soon as she entered the vast library, Madame Clemenceau and Monsieur Bernard stopped their conversation and stared at her curiously.

  “Monsieur Bernard informs me that you are doing incredibly well in each of your academic lessons and that he believes you’re perhaps ready for finishing school. Monsieur Bernard and I are particularly impressed with the SIRVA Mont-Fleur in Switzerland, where you shall reside for two years. I have arranged for you to travel on Wednesday this week, providing you keep up your good work with Monsieur Bernard in the meantime.”

  Felicity could hardly believe her luck and replied excitedly, “Really a finishing school in Switzerland? I can only express sincere gratitude for your recommendation Monsieur Bernard.”

  Before Monsieur Bernard could reply Madame Clemenceau insisted Felicity go shopping with her for the appropriate clothing for the new school.

  “Come Felicity we have much work to do. You shall resume your studies at 4 O clock this afternoon.”

  Felicity asked breathlessly unable to hide her excitement. “Clothes shopping really, this is all so thrilling, I can’t wait. Will I be required to wear a school uniform?”

  “Yes you are that’s all been taken care of. You’re school uniforms will be waiting for you to pick up on your arrival.” “So why are we going clothes shopping now Madame?” “Som etimes it is in your best interests to be not so inquisitive Felicity. You must be aware you’ll need more than uniform over the next few y
ears, as you’ll also need evening wear, warm clothes as I believe it’s particularly cold at this time of the year, and you will also need skiing wear and ski equipment. The List is endless Felicity.”

  “Oh my goodness Madame skiing I can’t believe it! I’m so excited. Will I have to share a room with the other girls?” “No you’ll have your own private quarters, quite modest I may add, a generously sized bathroom with Jacuzzi and a huge walk in closet for all your clothes. I have also agreed on the sum of five thousand Euros per month for your clothing allowance, if you exceed this there will be a penalty. A further twenty thousand will be credited to your new Swiss bank account, every six months, for any additional costs.”

  “This is just divine, I can’t believe it. How could I possibly exceed all that money?”

  “The money is there for you to learn how to manage it, I trust you will. All this will be a new experience for you, one in which in time you will learn to appreciate. You’re dear mother spoke of this opportunity for you on many occasions and it gives me great pleasure to honour your mother’s wishes.”

  “I wish my m other was her now. I miss her so much.” “We both do dear; however we cannot be ruled by grief.”

  With this Felicity gave the Madame’s hand a small squeeze to show her appreciation. She hoped one day that the Madame would confide in her about her mother and her sudden death.

  When her mother died seven months ago, Felicity was inconsolable. Her mother was all she had in this world, with no other known family members; she was sent to stay with the Madame in whom she had only met on a number of occasions throughout her childhood.

  Her father was absent during all her childhood, her mother wouldn’t give away his identity at no cost; the more she nagged at her mother the more her mother would remain tight lipped.

  Felicity recalled having a relatively happy childhood living in a spacious Parisian apartment with a splendid view over Notre Dame. She would often pretend that she was Esmeralda, the young gypsy woman who had magical powers who helped the hunchback of Notre Dame and in return saved her from burning in hell by the evil men of Frollo’s guard. She longed to have lived in those times as she adored living in Paris with the Eiffel Tower and its heroic pieces of iron architecture. She would spend hours with her mother walking the streets, visiting the old palaces and museums her favorite been the Mussee du Louvre with a huge art gallery housed in an old Parisian palace. The gallery had a famous collection of the Mona Lisa and Venus De Milo that she would spend hours admiring. She remembered dreaming of travelling to all the cities in Europe, her favorite city was Germany as she admired the architecture through various books. The Charlotte Burg Palace was her most treasured as she would become mesmerised by the seventeen and eighteen century buildings.

  Her mother had a keen interest in architecture and had volumes of books on the subject. She cherished her mother’s tastes, as she could lose herself in the books for days on end. Another one of her dreams was to become a famous lady architect as she new women’s architecture was often over looked, however all her hopes and dreams all vanished when her mother died suddenly all those months ago. She was unable to envisage a future without her through the deep grief she felt.

  Now seven months after her mother’s death, she realised her life must go on without her and the only thing that bothered her the most is that she had no one to share it with, except the Madame. Although the Madame had taken her in to her lavish home, showered her with all a girl could ever dream of at the age of fifteen, clothes, books, money, and a private education with the opportunity of expanding her languages, and the possibility of travelling to other countries to finish her education. There was still no evidence of the love and the strong bond and closeness that she shared with her mother. She felt she had been abandoned to some degree and craved some affection that her mother had so often bestowed on her.

  In the seven months she had lived with the Madame she never once witnesses the old lady show the least bit of affection towards her. She could feel the Madame’s stiffness whenever she tried to hold her hand. She wondered if the old lady was made of stone. It was also the same with the other ladies that permanently resided at the Madame’s elaborate villa. Whenever she tried to make conversation with any of them, they would deliberately ignore her and pretend they couldn’t hear her voice. She was desperate to form a friendship with just one of them as there was only a few years difference between their ages. She didn’t know why she wasn’t liked as she tried her best to be polite, courteous and charming. The only person that would engage in conversation with her was the hired help, the grossly overweight Bessie and it was only often about her dietary requirements, in which she hadn’t any, but she was relieved to hear the familiar voice of someone.

  She considered Monsieur Bernard to be the opposite as he would always talk to her but only about what he was trying to teach her. She considered him to be dull and boring.

  On the way home from her luxurious shopping spree in the Madame’s chauffeured driven limousine, overwhelmed with her new items of clothing and sports equipment she wondered how on earth would she be able to take it all with her.

  “How do I fit all this clothing and equipment onto the plane?” “Oh Felicity, when will you learn to stop asking tedi ous questions of this nature. I’ve arranged with Monsieur Fredrik, my chauffeur to take care of all this on your behalf. You don’t need to be bothering yourself with such tasks. Focus on the presentation of yourself more dear, trust me it will benefit you more in the long run!”

  Felicity felt immediate relief knowing she wouldn’t have to lug all this clothing and equipment on board a plane. However she could sense the Madame’s temper returning as she began tapping her delicate fingers on the door handle of the limousine. She had so many questions about her new school but she didn’t dare to push the old ladies temper any further and decided to stay quiet.

  “With regards to the flight, you’ll be flying by private jet. One of dearest friends has offered to escort you to the SIRVA as he also has a daughter there of the same age, who he will be visiting at the same time.”

  Felicity nodded in acknowledgement. She made her way to her extravagant bedroom chambers dismissed by Madame Clemenceau.

  “Remember your studies resume at 4 ´O clock prompt, there will be no excuse for lateness. This gives you just enough time to start packing. Monsieur Bernard shall be there at your disposable.”

  Felicity immediately began to pack, she couldn’t wait to go, it was all she could think about, adhering to the strictest regime the Madame had put in place, she knew she would do her up most to satisfy it knowing in less than twenty four hours she would be out of there in another country with girls her own age, embarking on a new adventure and a new chapter of her life. ♣

  As the plane landed Felicity became mesmerised with vast amounts of white covered mountains, it was like someone had sprinkled icing sugar over them, so perfect and picturesque, she couldn’t believe their beauty. She could just make out the tiny silhouettes of skiers all gathering into a line awaiting the cable cars to go even higher, her heart jumped in excitement, how she longed to ski.

  She felt in debited to the Madame; although she considered her to be an ice queen with frozen emotions she couldn’t help but admire all the Madame was doing for her with her generosity and abundance of wealth. She decided that she would embrace the Madame’s fortune and use it to her advantage. Why not? It wasn’t like there was anyone in her life that would disapprove. As far as she was aware the Madame informed her on many occasions that this is what her mother wanted for her and she wasn’t going to let her mother down. Sometimes she would sense the presence of her mother watching over her, stroking her hair when she was unable to sleep. She hoped one day that she would posses her mother’s beauty, intelligence and grace. Although she possessed some of her mother’s good genes, naturally wavy blonde hair, great big oval blue eyes, high cheekbones with her asymmetrical perfect face and plumped full lips she didn’t have a clue as
to why she didn’t have her mother’s tall slender figure. She was short, curvy and had a heavy set of breasts, often trying to conceal them under layers of clothes. She wondered if this part of her body had been her father’s genes. Or was it because she still was only sixteen and there was still time for her to grow, she hoped the latter as she was rather embarrassed of her body image. She hoped the girls at SIRVA MontFleur wouldn’t tease her about this.

  As the car drove into the SIRVA butterflies began to form in the pit of her stomach. The first thing she noticed was the old architecture of the building; it was beautiful, there were multiple gargoyles on the roof of the building with rainwater flowing through their open mouths. Although some people found these creatures to be grotesque she thought the opposite. As the car came to a halt, Monsieur Fredrik opened the door to escort the Madame’s friend who she only knew by the name of Monsieur Jefferson.

  “Welcome to your new school Madame Felicity, I do hope you’ll join my daughter and me for dinner tomorrow evening.” “Thank you Monsieur. I’d be delighted to join you both.” “I’ll have the governess inform you of the time. Now if you’ll excuse me I must go and find my daughter before she goes off skiing for the day.”

  The faithful Monsieur Fredrik escorted her to the main entrance with some of her luggage. “Please sit here Madame Felicity while I go and fetch your remaining luggage. I’ve been informed you must wait here for the schools governess to come and welcome you.”

  Inhaling in the fresh scent of lemon scented wood polish she did as she was instructed while looking around at her new surroundings. The place was enormous, there was several stair cases leading off to different levels, potted plants, fresh flowers, and grossly oversized paintings hung from the walls. Persian rugs were placed over the highly polished mahogany wood flooring resembling the Madame’s. She could hear footsteps approaching but couldn’t make out where they were coming from above, below or even down the long narrow corridor. She tried to squint her eyes towards what looked like the end of the corridor as she could just make out a small figure of a person walking towards her direction. As soon as the figure became closer she realised it was a thin tall lady dressed in black. Was this the Governess? She automatically changed her posture, sitting up straight.