“So you wanted Tee dead for a totally different reason. A pettier, menial, narcissistic, and absolutely debasing reason. And that entire circus about your so-called revenge for Nadine’s death, you only staged it to convince me that Tee was guilty of killing her.”
“Partially. I’ve never been sure whether he or Igor has done it. I allowed Igor to grow up and become a man. I did it for Nadine’s sake. She was so fond of him. I supported Igor. Financially. I studied him. In time, the balance tipped to his favor. Timothy appeared to be the guilty party. In fact, I wanted him to be guilty. I’ve always hated Timothy. He’s so… fucking perfect! Excuse my French! But he’s always been like that. He could’ve twisted any woman or girl’s mind. Hell no! He had to choose my Nadine! And now, you! Timothy is like a curse that I can’t escape,” she said viciously. “He follows me through my life, stealing my happiness, my joy, leaving me alone, and vetoing my love completeness. Whenever I love someone, voilà! There he comes; ready to take that woman away from me. He’s my nemesis.”
She managed to produce a false smile that hurried to adorn her lips too early and rather distorted her face in a repugnant grimace. As she approached Vivien, her green, cat-like eyes were still displaying her savage and unjustified hatred against Timothy.
“All of that is less important right now, Vivien. Because now, I want you! I need you. The Amazons need you. You are beautiful, you are smart, and you have everything it takes to be a leader. We’ll be unbeatable together. Mother and daughter… hmmm, wonderful!” she exclaimed, excited. “All I want from you is to forget Timothy and come and live with me. And I promise you that I will also forget everything about him.”
“You amaze me! You’re so vain, so self-centered, and so out of touch with reality! You think the world revolves around you,” Vivien said calmly. “I hate to think that I live in the same city, the same country with you. But to live under the same roof with you? That’s hell on earth for me! Can’t you see how much I despise you?” she asked surprised. “I have no intention of hiding it.” Then, Vivien spoke slowly and very clearly. “I love Tee. There is nothing you can change about that. Neither you, nor anybody else in this world. I love him ever since I can remember. I have the most beautiful feelings for him. I love him as a friend, as a lover, as a wife. For Tee, I’ve got feelings you’ll never even dream of experiencing. Ever! And for that, I feel sorry for you.”
“I’ve got my share of love, Vivien,” Lili replied, defensively. “And speaking from experience, I can tell you that you can live without him. Actually, you can do great without him. Pain, tears, and suffering breed geniuses.”
Vivien shook her head adamantly.
“No, Mademoiselle Lili. You’re wrong again. I’m not a genius, and I’ve never desired to become one. Unlike you, I don’t entertain megalomania dreams. I’m very happy the way I am. And I wouldn’t leave Tee for anything in the entire world. I would die with him. I would give my life for him. Do you know why? Because I know that he loves me, every bit as much as I love him.”
“He loves you?” Lili laughed sarcastically. “Men are animals, Vivien, creatures of basic instincts. Their love doesn’t come from their hearts, but rather from their penises. A man doesn’t love his woman. He lusts for her. When lust is gone, there is usually nothing left but disgust. And the devouring desire to discard the old and find another woman, a younger and more beautiful one.” She threw her head back and laughed maniacally. “Oh, my dear girl, you are going to be a real Amazon, just the way I am. Do you have any idea what that implies? You’ve seen my body, haven’t you? You’ve seen my holly scar – the scar of the real Amazon woman. You will be the same. In conclusion, Vivien, when I’ll be done with you, I doubt that your darling Tee will still want you in his bed.” She chuckled sarcastically, and her eyes clung to Vivien’s breasts.
“You’re out of your mind,” Vivien uttered in shock and horror. “How do you imagine that I’m going to let you mutilate me?” she added, taking a few quick steps back.
“Not so fast, missy,” she heard LaFontain barking in her ear.
The woman got hold of Vivien’s arms and crossed them painfully behind her back.
Vivien struggled to escape, yelling as loud as she possibly could.
“Leave me alone, you crazy women! Let me go! Help! Help!”
Lili took the small bottle and a handkerchief from the vanity drawer.
“Calm down, Vivien! It’s not as if I’m going to kill you. I will make you a princess. Isn’t that any girl’s dream? Easy now, in just a few seconds, you’ll feel nothing at all.”
“Hurry, my Queen! Please, hurry,” LaFontain pleaded, panicky, straining under Vivien’s desperate attack. “She’s getting stronger. I don’t know if I can hold her any longer. Hurry, please!”
The strong voice of a man cut the air with authoritative force over the entire uproar.
“Take your hands off my wife, LaFontain!”
“Tee!” Vivien called him through tears.
LaFontain freed her immediately and moved her hand swiftly to the pocket of her manly cut coat. Timothy had anticipated her intention. With the back of his hand, he instantly sent her a powerful and very efficient blow over her sour face. His former secretary hit the doorframe and slid slowly on the floor, in a sitting position, propped up by the wall like a lifeless rag doll. She blacked out. The gun fell from her hand right beside her. Timothy kicked it hard with the tip of his shoe. He watched that pistol slide on the parquet floor until it reached the furthest corner of the room.
He turned his attention to Lili. The Queen had dropped the bottle and handkerchief. Maddened, she was rummaging through the drawer. She took the bistoury and aimed it at him.
“Are you kidding me?” Timothy scorned. “Now you want to fight with me, Lili? Hand to hand combat? Come on, give it a try! I dare you!”
“You’re a gentleman, dear Tim. A gentleman doesn’t hit a woman.”
“Oops! I just did it with LaFontain,” Timothy reminded Lili, advancing aggressively toward her. “And I can’t wait to repeat that with you, Lili. I’m burning with anticipation.”
In the blink of an eye, Lili evaluated the situation. She understood that the odds were against her. She threw the bistoury on the floor.
“You’ll pay dearly for all of this, Timothy,” she threatened and hurried to the front door.
To her bitter surprise, she collided with detective Leonard.
“Quo vadis, Miss Lauren?” His question was well-seasoned with sarcasm. “I’ve booked the best cell for you,” he told her. “You’ll love the arrangements. Alberman, handcuff her!”
LaFontain was just regaining consciousness. She mumbled obscenities, still unable to move. Another police officer walked up to her with his gun at the ready.
“You’re with LaFontain, your most trusted servant. What a wonderful surprise, Your Majesty,” the detective mocked her. “One undreamed-of bundle package,” he concluded contently.
“You have nothing concrete against me! It’s just their word against mine,” Lili fought back.
Art Leonard glanced inside the closet.
“And a few little things worth studying,” he continued, disregarding her belligerent acting.
He put on a pair of plastic gloves and approached the drawer.
“It looks like… we have enough evidence to put you behind bars for the rest of your life,” he announced with a grin.
* * *
Timothy and Vivien stepped outside. Lili was just being escorted to the police car.
“She’s not your wife yet,” she yelled insanely.
“She is in my heart,” Timothy answered.
“You know,” Lili continued, suddenly calm. “I actually admire you two. I can’t help it. I’m an expert in couples. I’m sure that you’ll have beautiful children. I can’t wait to see my granddaughter,” she told them, as she finally stepped inside the police car laughing dementedly.
Timothy turned his back on her. She was out of their life fore
ver. The nightmare was over. Now, he had more important issues to solve. Urgently!
He immobilized Vivien between the outside wall and his body. He didn’t touch her, even though he looked consumed with passion. He just stood there with his hands on the wall and his arms on one side and the other of Vivien’s head. His deep brown eyes seemed to want to devour her.
“Vivien, you have to stop this practice once and for all,” he said in a dangerously serious tone of voice. “You can’t enter strangers’ houses without gambling on your life, woman! Don’t you get it?”
“I was invited,” she defended her action.
“Vivien,” he breathed angrily. “Don’t even try that with me. I know your bad habits.”
She felt like a child caught red-handed, and she hated it. I’m not going to stay here and let him twist my tail, she thought.
“I just wanted to see Mr. Logan’s statues. That’s all. I’m sorry,” she brazened it out.
Edgy, he imitated her tone, as he could hardly control his effusion.
“I’m sorry is not going to save you. What would’ve happened if that obsessed kid who follows your every move like a faithful dog had not told me where you went?”
“Brad. Now you’re jealous on Brad! He’s a child.”
“His childhood years are long gone. He looks at you with man’s eyes. I know that look too damn well. I’ve been there!”
“Not every adolescent is as precocious as you were.”
He exhaled deeply.
“Some strange epidemic in Woodside, I guess. Because not every child is as precocious as you were.”
Vivien smiled.
“Tee, I’m really sorry,” she said tranquilly, and she meant it this time. She finally realized what he must’ve been through when he had not found her at her place.”I will never do it again. I promise you. Now, please darling, calm down,” she asked him quietly, gingerly touching his cheek. “Errare humanum est. So please, forgive me.”
His features started to change gradually. He became less and less agitated. His eyes bathed her with unrestrained passion.
“Where should you be right now, baby?” he asked softly.
“Home,” Vivien whispered.
“More precisely,” he pressed.
“In bed…”
“Wearing?”
“Something small, very small…”
“Only my ring,” he stated in a husky voice and his passionate look descended on her lips.
He is not going to kiss me. He wouldn’t dare. Not here, with so many people looking at us, she thought, feeling a sudden void in the pit of her stomach. Involuntarily, she bit her lower lip. Timothy heaved a silent groan. The next instant, his lips were eagerly crashing hers. Oh God, he’s actually doing it, Vivien thought, terrified.
They already had a few good hours of kissing time, and yet, this kiss seemed like the first one ever. She was beginning to feel her body melting and slowly flowing into his, when Timothy broke the kiss.
He was still using her full first name, as he always did when he was mad at her.
“I have to punish you, Vivien,” he said brusquely and gravely. “Now, you have to understand that I need to feel that you belong to me in a way or another,” he went on, rather degage, as if the earlier kiss never even existed.
“We are not in the middle ages,” Vivien replied, hurt by his demand and especially by his quick recovery. She was not having the slightest idea about what it would follow, what he would ask from her. “I’m not your slave,” she rose in revolt.
“Come on, Vee! I saved your cute little ass so many times, that it practically belongs to me,” he laughed, relaxed.
“Is there something I don’t know yet?” she inquired. “Has Clark actually succeeded in co-opting you into his misogynic organization?”
Timothy denied shaking his head. He just watched her intently for a few seconds. She fell silent under his hypnotizing gaze.
“Marry me, Vee,” he asked unexpectedly.
Vivien produced a floral smile loaded with tranquility.
“My sweet darling, I promised I would marry you, and I’m keeping my word.”
“No, Vee, you didn’t understand me. Marry me now!”
“Now? But I’m in yoga pants and…”
“And I’m wearing a pair of jeans and an old sweater.”
“We have no witnesses,” Vivien exclaimed. “Who do we find on such short notice?”
“I apologize for interfering,” Art Leonard paused beside them. “I involuntarily overheard your discussion,” he stammered. “My girlfriend and I would love to be your witnesses. We don’t have a wedding gift, as we were… not expecting such an event, but I’m sure that she could find a few perfume samples to offer you symbolically. You two discuss the matter, and tell me if you need anything,” the detective said, and then he retreated to his work.
“You see? The witnesses issue is also solved,” Timothy encouraged her.
Vivien couldn’t stop laughing. He put his fingers under her velvety chin and gently lifted her face toward him. His eyes bored deep into hers, as if he were searching for her soul. His gaze revealed so much love.
“I’m serious, Vee! I want your answer. Now.”
“Because you’ve saved my life so many times,” she started. “Because I love you so much that it hurts sometimes. And when you look at me, the way you look at me now… How could I say no? It’s yes, anytime, anywhere.”
He gathered her in his arms and held her tight.
“God! I love you, Vee.”
“I love you too, Tee.”
He kissed the top of her head.
“Does this mean that you forgave me?” Vivien asked with her lips on his chest.
“Of course I did. Just don’t do it again, baby. I’m running out of ideas for punishing you.”
EPILOGUE
It was way past midnight in snow dressed-up Paris, but in a small, coquette villa on a quiet street in Montmartre Quartier there was light in the windows. Vivien was adding the last touches to the beautiful Christmas tree they had bought that afternoon in a neighboring marketplace.
Timothy had sprung a formidable surprise on her. Without her knowing anything about it, he had rented that villa for an entire month, so they could spend the winter holidays in Paris.
One early morning, about half a week back, he had kissed her gently, tens of little kisses, until he had woken her up.
“Open your eyes, my love,” he had urged, waving under her nose two plane tickets. “I have something to show you.”
“Where are we going?” she had asked sleepily.
“I’m taking you to Paris, Vee! The departure is tomorrow. We’ve got to start packing things up. It’s going to be some work. We’ll be in France for a whole month.”
It came as a well-deserved vacation after all the chaos and uproar Vivien’s mother had created. The news that Vivien and Timothy had married in an impromptu ceremony, without family and friends - and especially without her! – had driven Alison Hopkins out of her senses. Accompanied by a small army of devoted girlfriends, she had descended upon them like a hurricane. In approximately a month, she had efficiently organized a monstrous wedding that had materialized in a genuine and dangerous assault to the mental health of the quiet and private bride and groom.
“I know that you loved him ever since you were a child, but to get into such a state of panic and drag him to the altar in jeans and pullover! And you in yoga pants and hoody! I could’ve never imagined that!” Alison Hopkins had exclaimed stupefied.
“It was the other way around, mother,” Vivien had attempted to explain.
“What? Was he in yoga pants and you in jeans? What importance does it have now, dear? The issue is by all means cut-and-dried at this point.”
“No, mother, this time, it wasn’t me who panicked… You know, you’re actually right! It has no importance at all. All that matters now is that… you’re here,” she said with an exasperated look. And…” And our peace is painfully g
one until you reach your noble goal, Vivien had wanted to add, but she had managed to restraint her temper, warmly encouraged by Timothy’s amused smile.
And indeed, Alison Hopkins had organized a fairy tale like wedding.
“I have only one daughter,” she had declared proudly. “And I’m not going to allow her to evade into life with a pseudo wedding!”
In the end, though tired and stressed, Vivien and Timothy had enjoyed every minute of their formal wedding.
Now they were ready to spend the second night in Paris, and their biological clock still kept them awake. In California, it was just a little past 3 PM.
Timothy brought a bottle of Champagne, a couple of glasses, and a delicious arrangement of cheeses, vegetables, and fruit on a tray they had prepared and put it in the refrigerator earlier. He left them all on a small table by the Christmas tree, and then he laid a huge blanket in front of the fireplace.
“Tonight, we’ll celebrate our arrival in Paris,” he announced, placing a couple of pillows on the blanket. “Last night, we were too tired and jetlagged, especially you!”
“I’m sorry love, the flight seemed endless,” Vivien lamented. “I was so grateful to lie horizontally in a bed, that I fell asleep immediately after I touched the pillow. And then this morning, my stomach wouldn’t cooperate.”
“That’s because you had nothing to eat during the flight, and then you gabbled almost an entire jar of pickles with peanut butter. Are you OK now? You look… so beautiful…” he said, mesmerized.
“I feel great,” she assured him. She radiated happiness.
He approached her from behind and wrapped his arms around her. Then he pushed her hair aside and kissed her fine, long nape. His hands gingerly cupped her round breasts. They fitted perfectly inside his palms. Vivien’s breasts seemed even fuller lately. Maybe she put on a pound or two, he thought. It reached just the right places! She was superb, more beautiful than ever, and he could hardly wait to undress her.
“Vee, honey, it’s enough for tonight,” he told her gently. “There are a lot of other… things we have to do.”
Broken Serenade Page 27
