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.
