Addicted To Greed

by Catherine Putsche

  Felicity immediately made a long distance call to the Madame forgetting the time difference.

  “Who’s this calling at this ungodly hour, speak up I can’t hear you!”

  “It’s Felicity Madame. I’m dreadfully sorry to call so late but I can’t keep this news to myself a moment longer!”

  The Madame soon changed the tone of her irritated voice all of a sudden into a tone of curiosity. Felicity outlined her glorious evening with Wilhelm step by step while the Madame listened patiently; she encouraged Felicity to stay on in New York offering her a luxury apartment of her own nearby to Wilhelm’s offices. The Madame had even gone so far to set Felicity up with an old colleague of hers who would be her mentor in every aspect of architecture that she would need to pursue her career. The Madame had also set Felicity up with a part time secretarial post at Richard Myers and Partners, a small Architectural company on Tenth Avenue that was several minutes walk from her apartment.

  Felicity couldn’t help thinking how incredibly cunning of the old lady, perhaps she hadn’t lost her touch after all!

  Felicity couldn’t thank the Madame enough. The Madame had even gone as far as opening Felicity her own personal bank account in which she had instructed Monsieur Fredrik to do on her behalf and deposited three hundred thousand US dollars for Felicity to use as she saw fit, assuring Felicity that there was no way on this earth the adopted child of hers was going to go without anything, if she required more all she had to do was ask.

  “Now my dearest Felicity it’s time to go out into the big world and make an old lady very proud. I am counting on you to show me you have more than your mothers skills of persuasion. I’ll do anything to support your chosen lifestyle, it is with much of my approval, remember if it doesn’t work with the architect, there’s always senator Gordon, and numerous others, he doesn’t have any children to complicate matters as far as I am aware. Try to keep your options open my dear are we clear?”

  “Yes Madame everything is clear, thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity I won’t let you down.”

  “Be sure to call me every few days for an update my dear.” With this Felicity hung up, hoping no one was eavesdropping on the other end of the telephone. The next day she said her goodbyes to the Hamilton’s, her dearest friend and parents promising she would be in touch after their trip to Hawaii.

  “Monsieur Fredrik, I trust you know where my new apartment is, I would very much like to go there.”

  “Yes Madame Felicity as you wish.” Monsieur Fredrik pulled up to a huge luxury high rise apartment block. Felicity was greeted by what she presumed was a bell boy; she held out her hand to be kissed, the young man looked confused and nervously started to shake it.

  “Ms Jameson may I take this opportunity to welcome you to Stanley Apartments, I do believe you have purchased one of our most luxurious pent house on the top floor with a delightful east facing terrace garden. If you’d be so kind to follow me, I’ll escort you to your new home.”

  Felicity obediently followed instructing Monsieur Fredrik to bring her suitcases along. The young man showed her the reception area informing her that it was fully staffed twenty four hours a day, in the event of his client needing any extra services such as dry cleaning, the reporting of any faults that may occur and by the off chance that if she were to lose her keys they would have duplicates at her request. Felicity set her eyes on the various elevators opposite each other and followed the bell boy into one of them. A few minutes of strained silence passed in the floor to ceiling mirrored elevator until they reached the top floor and then she was presented with her keys for her new apartment, and underground parking swipe card. She noticed the young man had a name badge, he was called Peter.

  “Thank you Peter, that will be all for now.” Felicity dismissed him as though he was a piece of dirt on her shoe. Peter patiently waited for his tip, but Felicity just waved her hand at him to leave.

  Peter stood there speechless as he had never been treated like this in all his five years here and was secretly outraged by this arrogant young women’s abruptness.

  “As you wish Ms Pear son, if you require any further information please feel free to call reception, the numbers are on the back of your apartment doors.”

  “Young man you may address me as Madame Jameson . I don’t respond to Ms thank you, now be off with you. Monsieur Fredrik if you wouldn’t mind doing the honors please.”

  With this she handed him her set of keys waiting for him to open the beautiful arched solid oak double doors to her new life. The first thing that hit her senses was the smell of fresh paint, she laid her eyes upon the huge entrance hall with great Italian Marmorino plaster high walls, she couldn’t believe what she was seeing the pleasingly textural effect that seemed to emphasize a sophisticated feel. Giant hand painted mirrors, with a huge gall robe, enough for a family of six people. She couldn’t wait to explore the rest of the apartment.

  Monsieur Fredrik began to open further double arched doors that revealed a huge spacious living area several red oak french doors leading out to a large terrace garden.

  Felicity absolutely adored the 1973 Steinway Ebony piano, its contemporary style fitted with the ultra modern long L shaped couch in black leather. The whole apartment was open plan except for the two king sized bedrooms and two luxurious bathrooms.

  A giant ultra sleek and modern Italian kitchen with integrated counter top sinks and stainless steel appliances, combined with a huge breakfast bar and modern open plan dining area. Felicity noticed cellophane, labels and tags on all the appliances and furniture, and soon realised it was more than likely that everything was brand new, never used. The high wall and ceilings were freshly painted in a delicate shade of rustic cream. Felicity envisaged the bare walls as a huge blank canvass that she could decorate with European art and historical landmarks.

  Opening the French doors stepping out in to her giant terrace filled with Portuguese topiary trees, Acer palmate fire glow, and Japanese shaped cloud trees, she inhaled the deep fresh air, exhaling it slowly. She had to hold on to the stainless steel railings in order to syke herself up for the ultimate breath taking view. Her legs began to tremble as she had a genuine fear of heights, she slowly opened her eyes and looked down in the hope she wasn’t as high up as she thought, but been on the 65th floor proved her wrong.

  “Monsieur Fredrik, bring me a glass of water please!” Monsieur was enjoying the fact that Felicity appeared to be frightened of the great height and decided to take his time to fetch the water informing her he must let the kitchen tap run for at least five minutes so all the new fixtures would be thoroughly clean and hygienic enough to drink from.

  In this time she vowed herself no to look down only up towards the blissfully pale blue sky line. Thinking of nothing else but her new love interest Wilhelm Pearson and how she would enjoy pursuing him until he couldn’t resist and gave into all her womanly charms, even if it did involve a little blackmail in the process, she didn’t care as long as she got what she wanted. Her imagination was going wild with all her and the Madame’s ideas, her fake job would give her really useful contacts, as she knew Wilhelm was keen to make more than a name for himself, as he had confessed that he longingly desired to be successful over here in the states as he was already in the major cities in Europe. She dreamed of becoming his devoted trophy wife eventually, escorting him on all his successes. She would have her own houses designed as she required, he would be eating out of her hands in no time and she would become the famous wife of a great architect, bearing his children so long as they were nothing more than perfect. Eventually she would have a family of her own that nobody could take away from her and in the process become a very wealthy woman, this was by far her biggest desire to have all the money she ever could want in her lifetime and more.

  After Felicity visited Wilhelm’s offices, she informed him she wouldn’t be going back home to Paris, as she had been offered a job opportunity at Richard Myers and Partners and she would be sta
ying in the states for at least six months.

  Wilhelm couldn’t resist asking her to dinner the following week she accepted with a huge perfectly practiced smile on her face. This was her opening, she must confide in the Madame on how she was going to play this one special opportunity, after all that would be all she needed to set her deceitful plan into action.

  “Oh Madame, Wilhelm has invited me out to dinner at the L'Atelier de Joel Rubicon next week, I must ask you for your advice on how to impress him and take our friendship up to the next level!”

  “How delightful my dear I hear it serves the best french cuisine New York can offer by far. You must listen carefully to me now; I daresay this will be a good opportunity for me to call a colleague of mine from the New York Times.”

  After Felicity placed the receiver down, she poured herself a large glass of 1994 red chateau Ausone, a gift of eighteen bottles sent by the Madame to congratulate her on her many to be successes over in New York. Mulling over what the Madame had told her and her advice Felicity had to set to work on polishing her seductive, sexy and manipulative skills, her choice of outfit and her most elegant manners down to the smallest detail. She knew this would take a lot of time in the mirror to perfect but she was excited, in fact the most excited she had been in her entire existence. She wondered if this is how her mother used to feel. If so she was beginning to understand her more so than ever.

  Felicity arrived at the L'Atelier de Joel Rubicon fashionably late, the thought of keeping Wilhelm waiting was what she found herself enjoying more so than she dare admit, it was a buzz prolonging the inevitable. She was completely unaware that Wilhelm thought twice about cancelling their dinner date.

  Wilhelm was seated waiting patiently upon her arrival, ordering a bottle of vintage Dom Perignon. As soon as Felicity entered the restaurant, dressed in a long elegant black Jovani evening gown, he became instantly mesmerised by her tall sleek silhouette. He notice for a few brief moments that all the tables surrounding seemed to stop and look at Felicity in wonderment, at her delicate, yet incredibly graceful walk, her shiny golden blonde hair tied up neatly into a french pleat, her perfectly shaped oval face. He noticed that she had all the qualities of his late mother who had died several years ago.

  Felicity reached his table waiting to be seated, Wilhelm almost forgot his manners, he couldn’t take his eyes of this beautiful creature, he barely heard what she was saying to him, she was in mid conversation and all Wilhelm could think of was how he would like to slowly undress her, unaware of her cunning plan as he accepted her offer to go back to her apartment after sharing several bottles of champagne and a delicious french cuisine three-course meal.

  They talked into the early hours of the morning sharing more champagne, discussing architecture and how they both loved New York. They shared each other’s flesh, making love time and time again, both having the most splendid of orgasms, they both wanted this moment to last forever, nothing else mattered. Wilhelm had no idea the entire time he was being photographed. They both fell into a blissful sleep their bodies united and naked, exhausted by their passionate love making.

  Felicity was now satisfied she had all she needed to pursue her plan to the next level.

  Chapter 3 Wilhelm woke the next morning with a particularly sore head, dehydrated and unaware of his surroundings, and then the sudden realisation hit him he was in Felicity’s bed, where had she gone? He was completely naked with only a single satin sheet, where the hell was all his clothes? He laid there remembering the night before and a sudden surge of guilt came over him, it was the first time he had been unfaithful to Jeannie, his devoted wife. How could he of been so stupid? He loved Jeannie; she was his childhood sweetheart since his days at university where he met her through mutual friends that were celebrating their graduation. Jeannie was his first great love and last he believed until now, what had he done? How could he face her now? Conscious of the fact that he had been unfaithful with a woman closer to his eldest daughter’s age. Whilst all these thoughts were running through his head, the beautiful Felicity walked in with a tray full of fresh orange and freshly baked croissants, she was wearing a black silky nightgown and her long golden blonde hair falling on to her tiny waist, she looked stunning with her wonderfully long bronzed legs.

  “Bonjour monsieur Guillaume, your name in French I believe, I have prepared us a light breakfast.”

  “Bonjour mademoiselle, how fascinating is there a translation for your name also?”

  “Felicite, I believe.”

  “That’s a beautiful translation; you must teach me how to pronounce it correctly.” Felicity couldn’t help but stare at his nakedness; he had a very trim lean physique, no signs of over indulgence on his stomach as she could just make out his abdominal muscles, not an inch of fat to be seen and his large thick manhood protruding under the sheets, she witnessed his striking handsome face under his masses of curly black hair and just wanted to get on top of him and ride him again and again but held back, in the hope that he would make the first move.

  “Penny for your thoughts mademoiselle?”

  “They’re too rude to say out loud monsieur!”

  With this Wilhelm began to stroke her face and kiss her plump lips, she sought out his tongue and they began french kissing, spending the entire morning making love and regenerating by having small naps in between until it was time for Wilhelm to leave, as he needed to drop into his offices and meet a new client at three in the afternoon, bearing in mind he would have to go to his apartment first to shower and change.

  “I wish I didn’t have to go but I have to . Why don’t we meet up later for dinner tonight?”

  “I’d love to, when you’re finished with your client and tied up all your loose ends, meet me back here I´ll cook this evening. Do you have you any food preferences?”

  “Sounds great, no preferences you can surprise me with whatever you like.”

  They kissed again reluctantly letting go from one another and said their goodbyes.

  When Wilhelm was gone and Felicity could hear him enter the elevator, she placed a call to the Madame. “You shall have the prints posted under your door before 6 this evening my dear and by the way my contact at the New York Times says they are of exceptional quality and quantity. Well done my dear you shall be rewarded for all you hard work in time, I’m sure of it.”

  “Madame, when do you think it would be appropriate to show them to Wilhelm?” “All in good time, first you must wait and let the relationship blossom, who knows he may just want to divorce his wife in time. You shall use the photographs when you feel he is having a change of heart about your relationship and perhaps wants to end it, it’s hard to put a timescale on it and even more difficult to say what he will do when you give him an ultimatum in the next month or so. Just take it nice and slowly for now and be the perfect hostess to all his needs.”

  “Yes Madame, I understand, thank you I shall call you in the week and let you know how it’s progressing.”

  Felicity put down the handset and went to run herself a shower, she must go food shopping if she was going to cook tonight, she knew she could of just had it all made to order and delivered to her apartment but she wanted to make a special effort and use her well practised culinary skills to woo Wilhelm even more. She hoped that he would fall in love with her naturally and she wouldn’t have to use the photos, they were a last resort.

  Wilhelm called Janice his secretary from his mobile phone he just switched on realising he had several voicemails from her. “Hi Janice I shall be in the office in an hour or so . I am diverting all my calls to the office number in the mean time, hope you don’t get too swamped!”

  “Good afternoon Wil helm, I have been trying to reach you but I think your cell phone has been out of range, Jeannie called this morning several times, she said she will try again later this afternoon. Smith & Brothers have a client they want you to meet, and don’t forget your appointment with Mr Anderson at three this afternoon.”

  “
Thanks Janice, I haven’t forgotten I shall deal with the rest when I get to the office later.” Wilhelm dialled his wife’s number un-prepared for her continual nagging to come home, he managed to calm her down and speak to Chase promising him he would be there for Christmas and he would bring him a big surprise. He felt incredibly guilty and asked Jeannie to bear with him for another few months until he got the Smith & Brothers contract, then they would all have a family holiday together somewhere in Tunisia. Jeannie soon came round to his gentle persuasion in the hope that when he got the contract he would be coming home for good. Wilhelm hung up and a huge lump came to his throat at the thought of Chase getting so upset, he missed his little boy immensely and the girls, even their squabbling sulking tantrums that used to annoy him so much, he missed all his home comforts, Jeannie’s cooking and her great sense of humour. But he had come this far and was dammed if he was going home empty handed, he needed this contract, this would be his biggest achievement so far, it would allow him to design and build the largest coliseums all over Europe and the United States. He also knew he needed to end this affair that had just began with Felicity, it would be very difficult because he knew when he was in her presence he just couldn’t resist, he had never felt this out of control around anybody and this worried him slightly. He decided he would call it off before it went any further after dinner tonight, he must inform her that his wife and family will always be the most important people in his life and he couldn’t jeopardise this any further, he hoped she would understand, he knew he had gone too far and he needed to put this right, besides Felicity was a beautiful woman who could have any man she desired, he doubted he would have to do too much explaining. Wilhelm shook Mr Anderson hand and welcomed him to his offices, he showed him a number of CAD print outs of the floor plans, site plan, cross sections and isometric and axonometric projections he had designed in regards to Mr Andersons proposed new house talking him through each with detailed drawings, showing a small part of the construction at a larger scale. The house was almost finished and the next step was to enable a building contractor to construct it providing that Mr Anderson didn’t have any further ideas in the design process he may want to add now or at a later stage.