BE PREPARED for a little humor and even satire, sex, romance and obnoxious attitudes. The setting is Clyde, a small city servicing a hinterland of small productive farm units up to large ranches. In pioneering days the Jefferson family arrived first followed shortly by the Elliot's. They cross-married but within this generation the two families divided because of 'the incident'. That centers on the very personable Miss Ellis Jefferson (33), illegitimate daughter of an Elliot. Ellis now a highly successful lawyer and multi-million dollar property owner suspects two uncles are scheming to divest her of her property inheritance. Troy Gardiner her property manager comes up with this theory she'd be kidnapped and held until she breaks down and agrees to sign the properties over her uncles. Ellis is snatched and Troy leads a successful quest to free her that ends well but despite Troy's best efforts the complex Ellis remains somewhat aloof although advancing a little to actually sit on his knee. It's coming closer Troy...
*
Property manager Troy Gardiner arrived at work to find his office administrator Fleur Gekko waiting for him, grim-faced.
He knew not to wise-crack. Her mother could have died or she may have had unprotected sex or it could be something more mundane like...well...perhaps the coffee machine had fused.
Fleur handed him a folded slip of paper.
"What's this," he said, knowing it was her resignation. It was essential to cut her off at the pass. "Oh, before we look at that I just wanted to say that I am full of admiration for you subdivision design for your new office upstairs. Please print me out a letter of authorization for it to proceed and I'll sign it."
"But you can't have seen it; I only finished it yesterday and it's in my top drawer."
"Oh I wander around at nights and check out things – I opened your drawer to check for drugs and found these fantastic sketches."
"Drugs – me?" Fleur said, bottom lip trembling, knowing she did pop pills but never at work.
"Oh no, you are top of the list of innocents but the search and destroy mission is mandatory for department heads," he lied, yet again. He hadn't a clue what layout an office administrator required so the intelligent thing was to authorize what she'd received.
"Do you fuck?"
"Pardon me?"
"Oh, did I not speak in English. I apologize."
"You did but...this is highly irregular Troy."
Troy pulled out his number two smile – number one was for seductions. "You may have misunderstood me," he said smoothly. "I meant would you like me to fuck you when you are between regular dates. There must be nothing more frustrating for a young woman in her prime, waiting to build up a track record of experience to impress a future husband, only to miss out opportunities to broaden her sexual horizons."
"Broaden her sexual horizons?" Fleur asked, stretching her neck and looking as if she was swaying in front of a snake charmer,
"Oh well, if you're not interested," Troy said, casually scratching the back of his neck and looking out of the window into a ghastly brick wall.
"Not interested?"
"Well, if you are why don't we go our for dinner tomorrow night. Book a place where you like to visit on my credit card and let me know where if you decide you'd like something afterwards. I have in mind something touchy-touchy."
"I ready don't know," she whispered.
"Well, if you decide to proceed could be bring a pack of condoms – a twin-pack should be enough as after all if would be only our first date."
"T-Troy"
"Yes dear."
"C-could you please hand back that slip of paper I handed you."
"Of course, here you are. Oh, by the way. Don't wear panties tomorrow night; it's so much more fun living on the edge."
Troy left his office, Fleur still sitting there was if she lacked the strength to stand up. For heaven's sake, he snorted; the woman was twenty-eight. He wasn't to know Fleur was a modern schizophrenic – meek and sure by day but after dark she turns into a cat – with claws and insatiable tendencies.
Next morning Troy continued his property inspections wishing Kelly was paving the way. She had the principals eating out of her hand and because of that they'd speak charmingly to him but now when he entered alone the head of the tenancies greeted him almost as if he were a pariah crossing their doorstep. At 1:00 he met Molly outside an exclusive restaurant – women were prohibited from entering without being escorted by a gentleman. Molly, of course, couldn't resist a crack at the pedigree of Troy's status of a gentleman.
Molly had said the topic was 'family business' and that's all she would say. They entered and were led to the table of their hosts, Troy smirking because in the tradition of the club Molly was obliged to follow him. He kept waggling two fingers behind his back in an upward position and from two feet away could feel her heating up.
Ellis's mom, Alice Jefferson, the two Ellis brothers and Mitch were there. After drinks were served Mitch said the purpose of the meeting was to come up with a novel way to allow the family to formerly integrate Ellis into their midst. Philip, wheezing, pleaded to everyone not to make him laugh because he had four cracked ribs. At that Molly looked disappointed; well she had thought she'd cracked or sprung five of them.
"I think this is a splendid idea," Troy said. "Please excuse me – I'll take my drink, sit in a corner and think."
After a while when the others had consumed soup and were being served entrée, Mitch whispered to Molly did she think Troy had gone to sleep. She said no, he probably was looking into hotel room windows opposite watching women undress. They laughed, Philip demand to know what the joke was so Molly repeated it. Alice thought that was disgusting, Richard bellowed with laughter followed by Philip whose laughter turned into cries of pain.
Troy returned to the table and sped through his soup and entrée and had three quick glasses of wine to catch up.
"Well!" wheezed Philip.
"The family seeks the permission of the Mayor and Council for the two families to place a brass plaque into the sidewalk outside City Hall to commemorate the spot – theoretical of course – where in 1888 Irene Elliot stood when she met the gunman she'd hired to rid the community of a family of outlaws terrorizing townspeople and driving settlers off farmland. The name Hurst's should not be noted. The ceremony should be held at 8:00 on a Sunday morning before the town stirs. Perhaps the main thoroughfare could be closed off and those attending the ceremony be invited to attend, with breakfast to be served in the Council reception hall. The Mayor may speak if he wishes but Miss Ellis Jefferson must unveil the memorial and at the breakfast present a short speech about her great-grandmother.
"I want that to happen," said Alice.
"So do I," said Philip; it's a great idea.
"Aye," said Mitch and his Uncle Richard together.
"That is incredibly inspirational Troy," Molly said, wiping her eyes.
"Thanks Mol – I suggest Molly and Mitch present this concept to Ellis and if she agrees that Molly be appointed honorary organizer with power to co-opt on to her committee," said Troy.
"Damn good idea – no need for a resolution," Philip decreed.
* * *
Ellis knew that something unconnected with the office would be the subject here; it was rare for Molly to invite her somewhere for a drink after work – normally she was rushing to get alongside that husband of hers. With Molly that meant to work alongside him – that was a reprise born out of knowledge rather than romantic notions because when talking about the home front Molly always talked about work, never about sex. Ellis smiled thinking she wasn't even sure if Molly knew about sex.
On the other hand, Ellis knew about sex. Oh to a moderate degree. As her field of friends and associates had widened since she'd returned to Clyde as an experienced law graduate Ellis had become aware she only had to lock her gaze with a male to know she could have him – it he turned away it meant sorry unavailable because I'm married, I'm gay or that's my girlfriend standing right behind you glaring. Even then most of the males who broke eye contact turned away reluctantly, or so she imagined.
Despite being elevated to the A-list as a screw – no-one had told her about that status, a woman just knows – Ellis assumed she indulged in fewer encounters in sexual intercourse than the prim wife of a husband who was forever bone tired and with low libido because he worked ten hours a day on night shift. Some of her friends were at it like rabbits. Her virtual soul-mate Sophie was one – about the only thing they didn't have in common; on the second night without a man in her bed Sophie would begin showing signs of panic and that's why she had been through three divorces; those husbands had been suffering over-use syndrome with their bodies breaking down under the fatigue from pleasuring Sophie. It seemed odd that Troy hadn't wanted to park permanently with Sophie – those two seemed to match perfectly and even seemed to look slightly like rabbits.
About once a month was sufficient for her; she had few excesses.
Molly emerged from the women's restroom scuttling, head down which was an indication she was rehearsed and ready to say her piece.
"Well?" Ellis encouraged as Molly took her seat in front of her concoction that had the horrible fragrance of aniseed. Molly's mouth opened and she began extremely favorably: "I don't quite know how to say this."
That excited Ellis because she knew Molly's techniques from any direction: this was Molly burning with something to divulge and it was big and personal and involved Ellis. This was almost as good for Ellis as having her monthly – her man she meant.
Ellis fired them up with another drink and Molly was away, telling her about the sidewalk plaque. Ellis almost fell off her feet in astonishment; she'd been thinking more or less alongside identical lines but hadn't thought of her giving a formal speech afterwards about her great-gran. This was unbelievable.
"Who attended that luncheon?"
Molly gave her the names.
"My mother as well? That would have placed a dampener on discussion. Who came up with the plaque idea?"
Ellis had difficulty in accepting it was Troy. She imagined he was too busy plundering maidens or racing across the countryside saving them to indulge in anything approaching intelligent thought. She heard the head click as her brain pushed her forward incrementally another step towards commencing a passionate affair with Troy Horatio Gardiner – yes Horatio. Troy had told her both parents were addicted to romantic novels.
