The Devil's Intended-Love & Evil In Palm Beach

by Pamela Southwood

“Don’t you have your car to drive to the bank?” Robert looked rattled and said “I don’t have the car, long story. Can you please give me the money? It’s not that much. Please?” That was all she could take!

   Kristen screamed at him “No Robert. You’re getting out of this scrape on your own. I don’t trust you. I want all my money back now. You also owe me for those drugs or whatever else you bought with my money. I want it immediately or I am going to call the cops on you too. You need to give me something.” She said “What can you give me now? I want your watch.”

   Robert looked down at it. Kristen was really frustrating him, so he took it off his wrist and handed it to her. “Here, if this will get you to go away right now; then take it.” Kristen had no problem with this and grabbed it from him before he could change his mind. He looked very sad and still was not aware that Kristen knew it was from his girlfriend. It was the cheap watch that she had seen in the hotel room. 

   A car pulled up while they were still arguing. Kristen saw that it was the pregnant girl. Robert jumped in next to her and she handed him some money. Kristen got out of her car and went over to Robert’s side. He was very nervous and reluctantly rolled down the window. Instead of making a scene, Kristen just handed him the watch. “Here, Robert, you left this in the restaurant.” Robert’s girlfriend seemed puzzled to see Kristen again and looked over at him. Kristen could tell Robert was relieved and looked thankful. She thought “This was probably the one relationship that meant something to him. Maybe it was his baby. Poor girl!”

   Kristen drove off.  She figured she would find some way to get her money back. This time, it was really worth never seeing his face again!

  8 FOR A NIGHT LIKE THIS

   

   Kristen was having a great start to her summer, but she was increasingly out of control in every direction. She had been spending money recklessly and watching hopelessly as the balance in her checkbook grew smaller and smaller.

   She was nearing the end and was down to only one bank account. She thought again about how much the $75,000 that she lost to St. Germain would really help her out now. She spoke to a lawyer friend about pursuing the rat but he said if there were drugs involved, she should decide to leave the whole fiasco alone. Kristen assured herself that when she got her big money, she would then go after him with a team of high-powered attorneys.

     She wondered where Robert was lately and who he was scamming now. She searched for his name on the internet and saw that there was plenty of information on him. He wasn’t even using an alias. Someone actually had a blog on him to ask that people who had been bilked by him to come forward and tell their story. It was unbelievable! He had been going across the country for several years and had a long list of victims. No wonder why he was so good at it. Men, women, hotels, and large corporations had all been charmed, and then coerced by him. She knew now that there would never be a chance to recoup her loss. He was the biggest nut that she had ever met. She wondered if anyone else had the special treat of seeing him in his red skirt. She could only venture guesses why his buddies were so willing to risk their livelihoods’ hanging out with him.  

     How could Kristen have been so gullible? She wished she had researched him like she was doing now when she first met him. She could really, really use that money!  She was mad at herself for throwing it all away and started calculating all the other stupid moves she had made. Such a waste! It was hard to remember the highlights and the good times. The thought of going broke, and her problems with all the men in her life, past and present, really began to stress Kristen out.

   But Kristen wasn't one to readily admit defeat and she started to think how she could put this all behind her and come out on top.  To avoid the real issues at hand, she thought she would start first with the easiest way to change herself. And, of course thinking like the social bunny that she now saw herself as, that entailed reviewing her massive wardrobe for a possible change to her styling. She wanted to become more conservative. There were plenty of purses and designer clothes that she could sell at a consignment shop and get a considerable amount of money for. Then she would buy new items to fit her updated persona.

   She became very excited about this idea and went to burrow through her closet. Kristen was knee-deep in a pile of shoe rejects when her phone rang. There was a long silence and then he spoke. "Kristen, I have sensed that all is not well with you. Are you alright?"

   Kristen flopped herself down and held the cell closer. She removed a painful stiletto sticking in her hip and answered. "Karl? Is that you?" An impatient voice replied "Why do you always ask? You know that it is." Kristen became flustered. "It's just that I didn't expect to ever hear from you again. You made that quite evident the last time we saw each other." Karl said "Circumstances have changed. I am not one to abandon a friend. Plus, I have my own reasons for calling..."

   Kristen jumped in. "Are you back in town?" Karl was displeased at her disruption. "Seriously Kristen, you need to stop acting so eager. It is quite the turn-off. It won't be much longer before I quit tolerating your childish behavior. You seriously embarrassed me in front of my acquaintances and you know that is why it ended."

   Kristen was ready to start arguing with him but held back. She was curious as to why he wanted to talk to her.

   Karl scolded her a bit more and then his voice took on a smile. "Kristen, I would be honored to have you accompany me to a small dinner with the Ambassador to Britain. He will be hosting a small gathering in Chicago tomorrow. "He chuckled "I know you like handsome men. Here's another chance to go international. Or would you rather stick with me?"

   Kristen laughed. "The jury is still out on that one Karl. You are not the easiest person in the world to please. I really have moved on. But, I do accept your offer because I feel that this would be a creative outlet for me. I haven't done anything special in a long time. I just don't know if I can afford the correct outfit for it."

   Karl stiffened and replied "You know that is never an issue. I enjoy dressing you. I will have an associate of mine find you something and then I will come over tonight to put it on you." Kristen became excited again and started bubbling "Oh Karl! I would love to see you. I can hardly wait!" On the other end Karl shook his head and smiled. He would never let on to her in person, but he really did enjoy the little girl in her. He answered on an upbeat. "Kristen, I will be happy to see you again too. I will be there at 7 PM."

   Kristen abandoned her closet project and spent the following hours straightening up her place for Karl's arrival. She showered and dressed and had barely enough time to finish putting on her make-up when her doorbell rang at precisely 7 PM.

   Karl made a grand entrance wearing an evening suit and sporting a slender and beautiful long black-haired woman on his right arm. He met Kristen's dismayed look with a smirk. "This is Anna Marie. She is going to a party with me after we drop your outfit off." Anna Marie was carrying the goods. She had a wardrobe bag and a few small packages containing what Kristen hoped were expensive shoes, and perhaps an evening clutch. Anna Marie looked bored and held them straight out in front of her.

   Kristen inquired "Are you two going to one of those parties?" Karl did not answer as he took the articles from his date. He pointed to a chair and she obediently went to sit. Karl unzipped the dress bag with a flourish and brought out a gorgeous couture cocktail dress. Kristen rushed over to see who the designer was. Karl looked disapprovingly at her. "Can't you just appreciate the beauty? Why are you so crazy for labels?"

   Kristen stepped back and knew not to cross over the boundary line that Karl had created between her and the dress. But she was feeling bolder around him now and tactfully replied, “I am sorry Karl; you know how I love fashionable clothes. It has nothing to do with labels. You seem to have some off-kilter ideas about me.” Karl looked amused as she then looked over at Anna Marie who registered no reaction. Kristen then leaned in towards her and noticed that she had a glossy appearance an
d didn't even seem to be human. She actually looked like a mannequin. It was entirely possible. She had yet to speak.

   Karl laid the other bags down on the couch.  He smiled "Kristen, we must be leaving now. I will send a car service for you tomorrow, again at 7 PM. Please be out front to receive him. Kristen was mad that Anna Marie was with him and was half-tempted to tell Karl that she had no interest in accompanying him and being used as a social accessory. But she knew that Karl was definitely not the person to react to in that manner. There was something about him that was frightening. She still didn't know what it was or why he had that effect on her. He was a genuine mystery.

   She managed a weak "Good Bye Karl" as he gave her a brief kiss on the cheek. He then smiled again at her and gave her a slight spank that made her stand straight. "You had better be a good girl. I will see you tomorrow. Please wear your hair up. I have provided a lovely jeweled clip for you." He then walked out with Anna Marie, head down, following directly behind him.

   Karl then stepped back in the door. "By the way, is there someone that you would like me to speak to for you?" Kristen looked puzzled. She immediately wondered if he was referring to Robert St.