Addicted To Greed

by Catherine Putsche

Felicity thought better not to mention her new chosen career yet, knowing Monika would either faint or become queasy at the very thought of her best friend entertaining paying gentlemen.

  “I still can’t make my mind up on what to do next although I’m very tempted to travel through Europe and maybe sometime in the future study architecture.”

  “I’m sure whatever you decide you’ll be successful. I envy you to some degree being carefree and single; if I hadn’t of met Richard all those years ago I daresay I’d be accompanying you on your travels. Now daddy has me enrolling into Harvard in the hope I’ll follow in his footsteps and join his law firm when I graduate. I’m beginning to have second thoughts as Richard now wants to open his own law firm right here in Manhattan.”

  “Choices and so many of them , I think it’s perhaps the most confusing time of my life. I remember times been simpler at the Mont-Fleur and sometimes long to be back there, they were some of the happiest times of my life!”

  “Me too if daddy hadn’t insisted I go I’d have never met such a good friend as you.”

  They hugged one another again it was good to be with Monika she was so funny and light hearted.

  “Hey I can’t wait to meet this lucky guy of yours, have you set the wedding date yet?” “He will be joining us for dinner later, he can’t wait to meet you either, I told him so much about you. We haven’t set the wedding date yet, but I imagine it will be sometime after I graduate. Now come with me my parents are really excited at the prospect of meeting you they’re waiting in the drawing room.”

  They walked arm in arm to the drawing room where Felicity was introduced to Mr and Mrs Dawson, they all exchanged pleasantries and talked about their time together at school. Monika’s parents were much older than she envisaged in their mid to late sixties. Mrs Dawson was tall, slim and remarkably beautiful, while Mr Dawson was quite tall delicately hansom with masses of curly salt and pepper colored hair. They welcomed Felicity with open arms and insisted she stay with them and cancel her room at the Hilton, there was ample place here, and Monsieur Fredrik was welcome to stay in the staff quarters. It was an offer she felt she couldn’t refuse and looked forward to her stay even more with several weeks in this beautiful house.

  Felicity and Monika filled their days with clothes shopping; light lunches a couple of hours of swimming and tennis in the afternoon followed by a family evening dinner each night.

  Richard was the perfect gentleman and was so pleased that her friend was accompanying Monika. Felicity couldn’t be happier for her dearest friend, although a little envious, she sometimes longed for a man who would take her into his arms and shelter her from the world. Being around Monika was great; Felicity just wished she had all she had, her loving parents, and a handsome protective boyfriend who would do anything for her. Maybe it was time for her to find a man of her own.

  Monika and Felicity went to shop in New York’s Fifth Avenue several days before the official engagement party. Felicity found the perfect outfit in Bergdorf Goodman, a deep red Burberry Prism Sheer-Top Chiffon Gown in mulberry silk, it was simply divine accentuating her tiny waist with its ruched gathered at center panel. Monika choose a stunning Gucci Floral-Embroidered Tulle Gown with crystals on the neckline and shoulders, its Asymmetric, draped body and neckline fitting her tall lean and petite figure perfectly, making Felicity envious with her sheer extravagance.

  Monika stood admiring her reflection in the generously lit full length mirror; she wrapped her long black shiny hair up into a knot admiring the crystals one by one, as they brought out the natural sparkle of her oval hazel colored eyes.

  Felicity thought that Monika was the most beautiful women she had ever seen in her life, with exception to her mother of course. “Monika you look so beautiful, your choice of outfit is just divine. Richard is the luckiest man alive; he will be flawed when he sets his eyes upon you in this dress!”

  “Thank s, I very much hope he is, now all I need to find is some earrings and shoes to finish this incredibly gorgeous gown off. Will you help me?”

  “It would be a complete honor.” Their next stop was Tiffanies where Felicity fell in love with the romantic swirl of several pairs of earrings with diamonds set in platinum so delicately she thought if she touched them they would break, much to her surprise they didn’t however the price tag revealed they cost twenty nine thousand dollars. She handed them back to the assistant reluctantly as she knew she couldn’t afford them.

  Monika opted for diamonds set in platinum in rose gold. Felicity couldn’t bear to look at the price tag knowing they were double the cost of what she was looking at. Felicity thought that Monika certainly had expensive tastes; it seemed everything Monika wanted she got regardless of the cost. Felicity wished she could trade lives with her best friend only if it was for a day she would be happy. Maybe there would be an eligible bachelor after all at the party she could charm and hoped that he would fall in love with her, shower her with expensive gifts, eventually asking her for her hand in marriage, then she wouldn’t have to be so dependent on the Madame, she could leave ensuring her future was all taken care of in the luxury she longed for, to be rid of the Madame once and for all was one of her many dreams.

  Once the girls were finished with their shopping Monsieur Fredrik relieved them of their numerous bags of clothes and shoe boxes not even curious to what these two very little spoilt bitches had purchased. He was tired of all their demands, he just wanted to return to the Madame to serve her, he had no time for the stupidity of young women with no manners and much to his distaste little class.

  On the eve of the engagement party the girls had various appointments for their hair, makeup and nails that Monika’s parents had arranged on their behalf as a surprise, they were delighted, it was beginning to feel like it was Felicity’s engagement also, the excitement at seeing the giant house transformed in to a glitzy ambience, with workers everywhere preparing the enormous tables with giant and decorative flowers, candles and name cards for each guest. As far as Felicity could see there were eight large banquet tables seating at least forty guests or more on each one. Curiosity getting the better of her she sought out her own name card and immediately checked who was seated next to her, a Wilhelm Pearson on the right and a Veronica Jordan on her left, she didn’t know either but the name Wilhelm rang a few bells wasn’t it the architect who designed this magnificent house? She secretly hoped so, how splendid to be sat next to such a person, she would definitely make more of an effort with her appearance and practice her architectural knowledge so she could engage in conversation. Breaking her from her thoughts Monsieur Fredrik informed her he would be waiting in the limousine, as their beauty appointment at John Barrett was in less than an hour. Where the hell was Monika? Felicity made her way up the staircase to search for her friend finding her in her bedroom suite.

  “Felicity, close your eyes I have a surprise for you!” Felicity did as she was told anxious to find out was it was that Monika seemed to be hiding behind her back.

  “Hold out your right hand, and don’t open your eyes until I tell you.”

  Monika placed a tiny black box into her friend’s right hand while slowly counting to ten, “Okay, open your eyes.” Felicity looked at the tiny tiffany box opening it up slowly and to her surprise it was the platinum swirly diamond earrings she had been looking at yesterday.

  “Before you say anything, I noticed the way you were looking at them yesterday, your hesitation to put them back. I had the assistant put them to one side for me, knowing they would be the perfect gift for you.”

  “Oh my God Monika they’re just divine, I had no idea, these are by far the most extravagant gift I’ve ever received, and I don’t know how to thank you and you’re enormous generosity!”

  “Nonsense , you don’t need to thank me, just having you here with me sharing my joy and happiness at this time in my life is huge gift I hold so dear. I can’t thank you enough; I wish you could stay here forever, I’ll be so sad to see you leave in the ne
xt couple of days.”

  Felicity felt the lump come up to her throat, blinking through the tears she hugged her friend wishing she could also stay. “It’s a joy to be here with you and I’ll also be sad to leave, but let’s not think about that yet, I am still here and we must go before we miss our beauty appointment, the grumpy old Monsieur Fredrik is waiting for us.”

  They departed arm in arm giggling to one another only too pleased to be keeping the Monsieur waiting. Upon their return Felicity made a long distance call to the Madame assuring her that she was having a great time, carefully asking if the Madame had heard of a gentleman called Wilhelm Pearson.

  “In deed of course my dear I believe he is a very exclusive architect from England originally, who has set up over in the states, not far from where you are I believe. Why do you ask Felicity?”

  “I am to be seated next to him at the engagement party.” “Oh Felicity that’s wonderful you must do as much networking as you possibly can with this gentleman, call it a test if you will my dear on how to use your perfect discretionally skills.”

  “I’ll be sure to do my best Madame!”

  With this Felicity said goodbye assuring the Madame She´d be home in the next couple of days or so. Felicity wondered if Monika’s parents were aware of the real nature of the Madame’s business, although she doubted it, apparently the old lady had made her fortune through old money through various wealthy jockey clubs and her dead parents left all their money and many businesses to their only child. The Madame certainly had an extremely wealthy prestigious reputation for being flamboyant with an exceptionally generous nature. Felicity found it hard to believe the Madame also made her money from the exploitation of glamorous women over the globe. She would prove to the Madame she had what it takes to succeed in her mother’s footsteps and then and only then she would win over the Madame’s much awaited approval, however as much as she wanted to be rid of her, she longingly craved her approval at the same time, she didn’t know why it meant so much to her but it did.

  Felicity retired to her bedroom suite where she managed to find the time to read some of the architectural journals she’d picked up at the Architect Digest offices after her beauty treatment. Tonight she planned on reading an article on Architecture, Design, and Urban Planning in the United Kingdom. She poured herself a vintage 1979 glass of Le Pin, courtesy of Madame’s heavy over populated wine cellar. She had managed to pack at least three bottles. Content with just her own company this evening as Monika had reservations with Richard at the Le Bernadine seafood restaurant, their last meeting before the party tomorrow. Felicity didn’t want to intrude or play gooseberry after all the girls had all day tomorrow to prepare for the engagement party that was to start at six o clock in the evening and as far as she was aware to go on in to the early hours of Saturday morning. Changing into her silky cream dressing gown, sipping on her wine she once again noticed the name of Wilhelm Pearson in which there was a picture attached to an article in which he had written called for contemporary and gracious living. She felt a tingle of excitement in the lower part of her stomach, so this was Wilhelm Pearson, he was dashingly hansom dark haired and tall, she couldn’t take her eyes off his amazing trim physique, he must do a lot of working out, although he was perhaps fifteen to twenty years her senior, she suddenly found herself intrigued in his work and the article that was at least ten pages long. Included were huge glossary photographs of his work, the most fascinating was The Stein Haus located in Austria it’s key work of deconstructionist architecture, made entirely of stone with the exception of glass windows was perhaps the most fascinating piece of architecture she had ever seen. Her mind was set she must have this man for her own self whatever the cost. She began to set to work on her cunning plan on how to achieve her goal.

  Felicity and Monika spent the whole day back at John Barrett hair salon where Monika had her long locks of hair dressed up into a high French twist decorated with silver crystal flower pins. Felicity opted for a long naturally blonde romantic look with flowers and crystals in hair, styled with loose waves, half up half down. Both girls looked incredibly beautiful and glamorous, as their stylists worked with professionalism, precision and accuracy. Both girls were asked for permission to take photos for the salons gallery of famous celebrity glossaries that filled the many walls; they were thrilled and keenly accepted, after their makeup artist had finished pampering them. All they had to do now was to return to the house and slip into their gowns, shoes and accessorize.

  Upon their return to the house, it was full of caterers, musician’s waiters and waitresses all running around busy with their many different tasks. Monika was led to her bedroom quarters by her mother, leaving Felicity by herself to get changed into her outfit. She slipped into her chiffon gown in mulberry red silk and stood in the mahogany full length mirror to admire her reflection, she hardly recognised herself; she looked older than her eighteen years. She took a few deep breaths holding them in for a few seconds exhaling them out slowly, how she resembled her mother it was uncanny, it was like staring at her own mother all those years ago, tall, slender, graceful and strikingly beautiful. Surely if no man could possibly resist her mother then how could they resist her? Especially the handsome architect she would be meeting in the next hour or so.

  She had nearly forgotten about the earrings Monika had given her as a gift, she put them into her pierced ears and admired their bright sparkle all she could do now was wait to be called, she opened another bottle of Le Pin careful not to spill any on her dress and began to sip on the fruity vintage red wine engrossing herself into more of the magazines on Architectural Digest.

  With over four hundred guests arriving just before six o clock Felicity could hear them all a few floors below, muffling sounds of conversations she couldn’t work out along with one of the pianists playing Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. A sudden knock at her door sharpened her senses, upon opening of the door she realised it was Wilhelm Pearson standing at the other side in a grey tailored tuxedo suit, her heart began to accelerate, he was even more hansom in real life than his photo.

  “Good evening, may I introduce myself I am Wilhelm Pearson and I am here to escort you for the evening Madame Jameson.” Felicity coughed to hide her embarrassment and replied politely, “Oh I had no idea that you would be my escort for the evening Mr Pearson, how delightful. You may address me as Felicity.”

  She hadn’t expected this, to be escorted by Wilhelm; she was pleasantly surprised but hid it well. She wondered whose idea this had been. She was keen to find out, not yet, but later on in the evening.

  Wilhelm Pearson took one glimpse of Felicity and thought she was the most beautiful young lady he had ever set eyes upon; he was temporally flawed by her beauty, her ocean blue perfectly oval shaped eyes, her full big lips and the masses of curly blonde hair falling just before her delicate waist line. He couldn’t take his eyes off her trying to figure out how old she was and how proud he would be to have her on his arm and escort this young lady for the entire evening.

  “No problem Felicity. I’d be more comfortable if you’d call me Wilhelm if you don’t mind!” With this she placed her arm into his whispering into his ear she much preferred first name terms it was more intimate and less formal.

  Wilhelm guided Felicity down the long stair cases, he felt an overwhelming desire to kiss her wet full lips, but thought better of it after all she was a lady and he was a gentleman and it was no way for him to conduct himself, he was a married man, with a beautiful devoted wife back at home in England and three wonderful children. What the hell was he thinking?

  Monika and Richard were waiting at the bottom of the staircases greeting guests who were congratulating the hansom pair, receiving large and small decorated gifts that Monsieur Fredrik and the other housekeeping staff were careful to put on a huge table already full of presents and surprises. Monika looked stunning beautiful and radiant in her Gucci Floral-Embroidered Tulle Gown with crystals. Richard looked equally attractive in hi
s dark grey Armani tailored suit and couldn’t take his eyes off his fiancée. Felicity felt the abundance of love in the air, and a deep sense of happiness for her friend. Felicity clung onto Wilhelm’s arm a little tighter, hoping to have her friend’s happiness one fine day and her prince charming would be no other than the one person that was escorting her tonight.

  “I can see you lovely pair have already been acquainted, how delightful. Now go and help yourselves to champagne Richard and I shall be along with you shortly.”

  The girls embraced and air kissed one another careful not to spoil their makeup. Richard and Wilhelm shook hands. Wilhelm then took Monika’s hand and kissed it delicately congratulating them both at the same time. A waiter approached Felicity and Wilhelm with a tray of canapés on one arm and filled champagne flutes on the other hand, they both ignored the canapés and reached for the champagne, then their arms once again finding each other’s.

  Wilhelm guided Felicity throughout the entire house giving her a beautifully illustrated version of his grand designs. Felicity couldn’t be more happy to let Wilhelm control the conversation regarding his work, she found herself more and more fascinated by his architectural talk, his dreamy voice was deep, mature and his English accent was just divine, she could listen to him all night, he was by far the most interesting man she had come across in her eighteen years, how regrettable he was married and had three beautiful children. She hoped her plan was going to work regardless of his marital status.

  The evening was a huge success, so romantic; Richard got down on his knees and presented his future wife a beautiful platinum ring with three claw set round brilliant cuts diamonds set on a twist. Monika accepted breathlessly. As the evening came to a close and the guests started leaving in their groups. Wilhelm kissed Felicity’s hand and wished her the rest of a pleasant stay in New York, inviting her to his offices to see more of his work, the following day before her departure home to Paris.