by Ethan Egorov
“Ah. I’ve received many compliments on it. It’s the new Christian Coussier fragrance, ‘Conquered.’”
“Hah, well I suppose he has a great marketing team, because it certainly has the potential to do that. I was smitten with it when it first him my nostrils.”
“I’m glad that you decided to show up for dinner. Our first course should be here shortly.”
“Well, it’s not like I had a choice.”
“You most certainly did, I didn’t tell the guards to harm you. You could have walked out at any time you chose. In fact I gave them explicit instructions not to harm you in any way. You probably didn’t realize that though.”
“No, I didn’t realize that. Still though, I appreciate your hospitality and when a man offers a lady a fine dining experience, one shouldn’t turn that down.”
“I agree with you. Do you like the music?”
“Yes, it’s quite pleasing, I’ve never really listened to much classical music, but it has a certain appeal. It does set a nice tone for the evening.”
“I’ve been a fan of music since I was a youngster. I’ve also been a fan of what would be considered ancient things now. I miss the fact that people don’t dress for dinner anymore. Men do not wear their best things into town, nor do they open doors for women or pull out chairs. I feel that this new generation has lost quite a bit in terms of respect for tradition. They have no pride. They also have no stamina.”
“Stamina? What do you mean?”
“People today are very superficial, especially in terms of their romantic entanglements. I mean, what they consider dating is merely texting each other, or sending one another pictures over the internet. I have a nostalgia for the time when dating meant something different entirely. Now relationships are fleeting and disposable.”
“I guess this is true. I’ve been ghosted more times than you would think. One minute a guy is interested and wants to know everything about your day, then he finds someone new to sniff around and then you’re nothing. I just hope Trent doesn’t turn out like that, but he’s stuck around this long so I think he’s in it for the long haul.”
“Ah there’s our man Trent again. I’m curious about him. He must be truly remarkable in ways that I haven’t seen yet to captivate your attention for so long.”
“Well he’s actually got many great qualities. He’s loyal, he’s funny, he’s kind to a fault, and he’s well, I guess you would say brave.”
“Hahah! I see now. Oh my. I never figured you were the type, but I suppose I read you wrong at first.”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
“Kristina… you’re still looking for a hero? In this world of the self-obsessed, I thought that you would have learned by now that heroes do not exist. They are merely a wish and a dream. Trust me, there’s not going to be a man that will come to your rescue. In fact, that’s one of the things I always admired about Cassandra. She was fiercely independent. She didn’t need anyone to save her and she surely wouldn’t sit around and wait for a man to save her for any situation. What happened to your fighting spirit Kristina? He took that from you I see, but didn’t do anything to save you from your own purgatory of longing.”
Before Kristina had a chance to respond the servers came out and laid their first course. They also poured wine into their glasses which looked to be of a higher grade from an older looking bottle. Kristina cocked an eyebrow at Augustin who answered her unasked question. “It’s a merlot from France, vintage 1918. I got it from a collector who owed me a considerable amount from one of my jobs.”
“Ah, so a perk.”
“No… in addition to payment. Let’s just say that he angered me so I killed him and took his estate. I own his vineyards now. I do hope you enjoy the flavor, I find it pairs nicely with any finer meal.” For a split second Kristina saw his eyes darken and she felt her stomach churn. She remembered then for a man of great taste that he was indeed a murderer and a thief. She recalled seeing the scars on Cassandra’s shoulders and back and frowned into her salad. She didn’t want to end up like the young artist that found herself in a world that she couldn’t get out of. She then looked up at him and saw that he was staring at her expectantly. She then picked up her fork and picked through her greens. She often ate salads and was quite impressed with the house dressing that had been applied to a substantial portion of the lettuce. She then looked up at Augustin and commented, “Wow. This is quite delicious Augustin. You have some great chefs working for you. This dressing is exquisite.”
“Yes, I only employ the best in the world. They are paid well I assure you.”
“Well they certainly are worth it, I can’t wait to see what the main course is.”
“I think you’ll find it delightful. Though I warn you I did pick something that would give you an adequate amount of energy. I find that proteins are important to a new recruit’s diet. After all, we will be working out extensively in the coming weeks. You are certainly in good shape, but I find that sometimes in a fight you have to be even more fit than your opponent.”
“Augustin can I ask you a question?”
“Certainly I place no restrictions on our dinner conversation. “
“How long have you been in this well…business?”
“Ah, many years. I started out in it when I was a youngster. My family well let’s just say they proved weak through the depression so I left to make my own fortune. I fell in with some street thugs who were formidable in their individualism, but their organization lacked structure. I gave them the structure they needed and they supplied me with my riches.”
“So you were basically a politician?”
“Yes, I suppose you can equate it to that. Let’s just say that I saw an opportunity for improvement and I made them realize it. We all benefited from it in the end, but I of course benefited much more.”
“How do you do that? It seems without conscience to me. I mean, you took advantage of a group of people that were vulnerable.”
“That’s how the world works, Kristina. The sooner we all realize this, the better life we will live. It’s not a question of rightness or wrongness, it’s a question of instinct and survival. Any person who’s ever observed nature will tell you that. It’s all about survival. I just wanted to survival really well.”
He then stuffed his mouth full of salad and quickly took a drink of wine to emphasize his point. “I see. You are very hard to read, were you ever close to anyone? Did you have a wife at one point?”
“No. Once more I didn’t find any joy in the simplicity of domestic life. The societal bonds of marriage meant nothing to me. I did find a few women who brought me joy and I devoted some time to them, but I didn’t feel as if I absolutely needed to settle down to experience true bliss.” The servers then promptly went about the task of delivering their soup. It was a small bowl of what Kristina assumed was tomato based on its texture and color. She busied herself with incorporating the cheese and crouton into the dish as she responded, “In a way I understand that. I don’t find myself wanting to settle down anytime soon. I just find it rather dull is all. I need more adventure in my life than seeing the school bus pull up delivering the children every day.”
“So you’ve never wanted children?”
“Not really. I have never had that feeling that my biological clock is going to go off any minute and I simply have to have offspring to contribute to the world. That’s where I’m different than most people I suppose. I don’t have a desire to contribute anything to the world. I’m not an artist with anything to say, I don’t have a desire to further the species and I don’t want anything to take care of. I’m not really concerned that I’m not going to leave anything behind for future generations.”
“Ah…now you’re a woman after my own heart. I feel if I were younger we would indeed make the perfect pair. That ship sailed many years ago though. I only seek companionship in the simplest means now…save from your predicament. Does Trent understand your positio
n?”
“Oh he has that same darkness in him as well, but I feel that he finds domestic life intriguing. He wants to settle down with me very much. In fact, I think that’s the reason he wanted us to go on vacation together. I’m expecting him to propose to me.”
“Ah. Well I do love a good romance. Are you going to accept his proposal if he does?”
Kristina’s eye met Augustin’s and searched them. She didn’t know how to read him yet, but she knew that behind them there was a calculating man who only wanted to live life for himself. Sure, she wasn’t ready to up and start a family yet, she still felt as if there were some living to do, but she wasn’t selfish. Augustin was pure selfishness embodied. She considered her answer while main course was set in front of her. She admitted that the steak tar tar looked delicious and the pure aroma of it made her stomach rumble. Of course, her cut was more petite than his own, but Augustin made certain that she had enough. Kristina cleared her throat and smiled at the man, who was looking at her with an expression of pride. “Augustin this looks amazing. You really didn’t have to go to all of this trouble for me! I do appreciate it though.”
“It is a fine meal for a fine woman. You did change the subject though. Please enjoy and tell me once again if you’re going to accept his proposal or not, I do love a good drama as well as a fine romance.”
Kristina cut a small portion of her steak and plopped it in her mouth before responding. She chew slowly considering her answer. “I love Trent. I’ve been in love with him for years, but couldn’t bring myself to admit it. Our relationship was always complicated and he was always working and we he wasn’t working he’s sequester himself in his shabby apartment to watch baseball or some other sport I had no interest in. He, unlike me always has had an eclectic taste in music. I’m rather just drawn to some of the classics. Elvis. I do love Elvis. There just something about his voice that transports you. I don’t know… everything in my core tells me to run, to get as far away from him as possible so I don’t get roped into playing a secondary character in my own life. Despite all that though, I stay. I want him. I need him in my life the way fish need to come to the surface, not necessarily to breathe but to amuse themselves or to feel less lonely in their world. So yeah, if he asks, I will undoubtedly say yes and I’ll do so with joy in my soul.”
“Hmm… that surprises me, but I have to say that I do admire that. Admitting to oneself your own feelings can be quite overwhelming and I’m proud of you for that Kristina. Still though, despite you interest in him I feel that after some time away from him you may change your mind.”
“Nah. We’ve spent time apart in the past and something always brings me back to him. He’s my forever, he’s my home.”
“Hmm… well that’s all very nice, but let me show you a little bit more of a different world. Let me prove to you that some things can be easy if you just relax.” After they both finished their main course in relative silence, Kristina watched as the lights suddenly lowered once more and there was a swell in the music the band was playing. “Augustin, what’s going on?”
“I’m about to ask a beautiful woman to dance with me before dessert. Will you do me the honor, Kristina?” Kristina smiled at him and nodded her head. This was the softer side of Augustin that Cassandra often told her about. This was the part of Augustin that almost made him seem at least human if not lovable. He stood up and walked to her chair and made an effort to pull it out for her before offering his hand to her for assistance and gently guiding her to the large space in the middle of the room. He then placed his hands on both of her shoulders and began to lead her into a slow waltz. As the music quickened Augustin picked up their pace as well, spinning her around the room. He was very light on his feet and surprisingly strong for an older man.
As they spun around the room, Kristina felt herself relax. After all, he did say she could leave at any time. Of course, he didn’t really say what would happen to her if she left, but she imagined her fate would be similar to Cassandra’s. She didn’t want to be on the run constantly and looking over her shoulder worried about being the victim of the next hit instead of the one pulling the trigger. “Ah. You do move gracefully Kristina. Thank you for the dance, shall we go have our dessert now?”
“Wow, you’re really pulling out all the stops aren’t you? You know I am a woman who’s never been able to resist the sweet stuff.”
“Oh I guessed as much. Most women can’t resist a good sweet treat. I’d be lying if I didn’t confess that junk food is one of my vices as well.” They returned to the table to find that the dinner dishes had been cleared. The centerpiece had been removed and there was now only a single candle between them. The lights were dimmed once more and the band had switched to a different selection that was faint and almost hypnotic. There was a lavish cheesecake laid on their plates and several small containers of sauce were set around it in a circular pattern. Kristina silently appreciated the variety. “Augustin this is amazing. Thank you again.”
“Oh it’s no bother. I personally enjoy mine with some caramel drizzle, which is your favorite?”
“While I do love chocolate, I think I’ll go with cherry for the evening. It reminds me of home. There’s a deli back in my hometown which serves the best sub sandwiches. It’s not at all fancy though. I think deep down you’d like it though, despite its lack of elegance.”
“So you’re saying I’d be what’s the expression? Slumming it?”
“Exactly. I don’t know if the owner would like you though, he tends not to like wealthy people.”
“Aren’t you actually very wealthy?”
“Of course I am. He likes me though. I’d like to think I’m a likable person.”
“Well you’re certainly good at conversation. I suppose that’s why you caught Cassandra’s eye in the beginning. She must have picked up on your vibe.”
“I caught her eye because I was on her turf. If you remember correctly she was going to kill me on the spot, but decided to let me take the kill. I actually regret that now. I should have just backed out of the job and came home to Trent. Then I wouldn’t be mixed up in her problems.”
“Hmm well that’s one way of looking at it. Though think about it. Wouldn’t you say this is fated then Kristina?”
“So you believe in fate?”
“I believe that some fates are uncontrollable. I believe others are.”
“Hah! That’s that control freak in you. I see, so you pick the fates you control?”
“Yes. I have control of many variables in my life. Through our time together you’ll find that out.”
“You told me that I could leave if I chose. What if I leave right now? Is that fated?”
“Oh yes. If you leave that’s up to you, but it would ultimately seal your fate. That’s one of the things I now control too. I could easily have the guards come over right now and snap your neck if I chose, but I won’t. Just be sure to consider all the possibilities before making your choice. It would make me sad though. You have so much potential.”
“Ugh. You’re talking about that again. I don’t know what you’re talking about with this potential.”
“Hah! You don’t even recognize it do you?”
“Recognize what?”
“You have something dark within you Kristina. I knew it the moment Cassandra alerted me you were in her life. That itch, that urge to kill, it will always be there Kristina. That’s why you won’t settle down. You crave that excitement and that rush. You see we’re much like addicts in that way, one ultimately has to be a better, riskier job than the next.”
“Oh yeah? Well that’s where you’re wrong. I’ll never kill a child, Augustin. You’ll have to kill me first. Of course, I’d prefer it if you’d man up and do it yourself though. I’d hate not to have the opportunity to at least draw first blood before I put a bullet in your brain.”
“Hah! Oh there she is. I’m glad I’ve touched a nerve. No I have learned my lesson. I won’t have you take any jobs that compromise yo
ur morals. I’m still saddened about the loss of dearest Cassandra. I have learned my lesson though and I won’t make that mistake with you.”
“Well I suppose that’s a bit reassuring. I still can’t believe that I’m here, wherever here is. Are we in Paris again? Sometimes I do miss that place, or maybe I just miss the amount of freedom I had there.”
“No, we’re not in Paris. I don’t travel there often anymore, my business is primarily now in the United States so I kept this house so that I can maintain my affairs more easily. I’m at the point in life when I can’t afford to make mistakes you see.”
“I see. Well I suppose at this point in life I can’t afford to either, so where do we go from here?”
“I’d say that all this talk is getting a bit depressing, don’t you think? Come Kristina. Let’s take a stroll to the gardens and I’ll show you a bit more of the estate.” The both stood up from the table once more and Augustin gently placed his arm around Kristina’s shoulders. She shuddered involuntarily a bit at Augustin’s first touch, then forced herself to remain calm. After all, he already stated he wasn’t going to harm her and that was something despite his terrible nature, she genuinely believed. They walked out of the large room and once again went through a corridor. At the end of the corridor there was a set of large double doors with multiple glass panes. Augustin open the door easily and nodded at the guards which stood outside. “Sir.”
“Good evening, fellas. It’s a nice night isn’t it?”
“Yes sir, it’s a fair evening to be sure.”
