Nothing Is What It Seems

Nothing is what it seems.

A romantic yarn I knocked up when the internet went off for some crazy NBN reason. After about 30 minutes, it slowly came back on, in the meanwhile I had written (typed) about half of the story. It's just a bit of a (sort of) light-hearted romp really. Bit of a twist at the end but.........

The knockings at my front door were more like a rap, rap, rap of the door knocker.

I opened the door to see a young lady of about 25 years standing there.

"Hi," she said, "How are you, and can I come in?" This was said a nanosecond before she wrapped her arms about my neck and gave me a hug rivalling that of a boa, before she lightly kissed me on the lips, and then the left cheek as she rested her head on my shoulder. I had grasped her about her waist and pulled her tight into me, a position that we both relished.

"Yes, certainly. You look absolutely stunning, extremely beautiful in fact." I noted the busybody neighbours peering at us through their windows, so I kissed her again, slightly more forcefully this time, after which I whispered into her ear, "The neighbours are staring, give it your best shot."

Ash did, a kiss that curled my toes and rendered another part of my anatomy standing to attention, at which she giggled and after a slight wriggle of her hips, stood back and peered down at her handiwork.

"Well, so do you, scrub up very well I mean. Are they still perving on us? Shall we go, or are we early, and umm, what should I call you this evening, I mean Mr Wellington sounds too formal, and I'm not sure that I should call you by your first name either."

The young lady whose name was Ashley, had on a greenish, turquoise number, one shoulder spaghetti strap, with the dress finishing just above her knees. There was a split in the left side of the dress that ended about halfway along her thigh. She wore green shoes with a 2" inch heel, and a light green jacket. The complete ensemble matched her green eyes, and long red hair that cascaded down her back almost to her hips. She carried a small overnight bag which I deftly removed from her grasp and placed carefully on the small table just inside the front door.

I was some 20 years older than her, but tonight she was my date, and I couldn't have been prouder than to be escorting this vison to dinner and the rest of the evening which I had planned carefully for the two of us.

"Perhaps for this evening anyway, you could call me Henry, will you be comfortable doing that?"

"Yes, Henry, I think I can," as she leaned up and kissed me again.

"We can go now if you wish, or perhaps you might like a small aperitif before we go?"

"Ooh, that sounds nice, yes please, just a quick one, don't want to ruin the rest of the evening do we?"

We went inside and I gently closed the door behind her. She followed me into the drawing room, and I poured a small white wine for Ash, and a cognac for me, and as we sipped, I asked how she had been, how had her week panned out, and I really hoped that she was looking forward to our date. I told her how I was so much looking forward to the evening, and how much I had missed her since we last saw each other.

In response Ash whispered as she wound her arms about my neck once again and pressed up against me, "I have missed you terribly, the phone calls and text messages just don't seem to be doing it for me. I'm so glad we are together tonight, and I am so looking forward to being with you as well, I hope we have a wonderful night and a marvellous weekend together."

"I hope so as well. I have a feeling that this weekend is going to be the most important weekend we have had so far. How long do you think we may still need to do this?"

Ash thought for a few seconds, "I think about four, perhaps five, more weekends. I should be finished my thesis and defended it, hopefully successfully. Will you be coming down for the unveiling, as it were?"

Yes, I very much hope to. I doubt there will be anything pressing me to not be there for you. It's a Friday night isn't it?"

"Yes, perhaps you could stay overnight, and we can travel back the next day, would that work?"

"I'm sure it will, in fact why don't we plan it all tomorrow?"

I put our glasses down onto the cabinet shelf and took her arm as I guided her toward the front door. She waited on the porch while I locked up and set the alarm system, and then I guided her toward the Jaguar sitting on the driveway. "Don't look now, just glance around, you'll see all the stickybeaks peering at us."

"Did you come in a taxi or Uber?"

"Yes, taxi."

"Good, did you pay with a card?"

"No, I paid cash. The driver didn't seem too fussed, I thought he was going to insist on a card, but presumably once he'd been paid, he was happy enough. It's quite a way we travelled, and he has lost money on these trips before he was telling me."

"Excellent, no trail set for anyone to follow."

I had closed the car door behind her noting that a goodly amount of upper thigh together with the merest hint of a thong was shown to me as she got into the car, and of course Ash noticed my eyes looking at the slowly revealed view of her as she did so. After I had sat behind the steering wheel, she grinned and whispered, "I trust the glimpse was to your satisfaction?"

"Oh yes, very much so. And a totally green, or shades thereof, ensemble as well I note."

"Good, play your cards right and well see what more we will see during this evening."

I drove for about 25 minutes turning off the main drag onto a side road that stopped outside a restaurant with no illuminated signage anywhere. In fact, if you didn't know the place existed, you would have no reason to drive along the little road at all.

I stopped the car at the front steps to the restaurant and after helping Ash from the car, handed the keys to the valet parking attendant. I took her hand, and we climbed the steps and after passing through the front doors found ourselves at the Maître D's desk.

Good evening, Mr Wellington Sir, Signorina, I trust you will have a wonderful evening with us. Your table is ready, please follow me."

"Thank you Antonio."

I lightly held Ash's right elbow as we followed Antonio to our table. The women at other tables looked and there were some whose looks were decidedly shocked at what they presumed was the scandalous behaviour of the much older man and the very young lady who were about to be seated at the best table in the house, near to the dancing section of the floor and nearly at the raised section on which the orchestra was seated quietly playing mood music. The men seated at those same tables were in most cases envious of our mismatch of fortunes, me with the gorgeous Ash on my arm, them with the not so young lady in their company.

Ash was seated by the Maître D while the waiter hovered ready to pass me the wine list. I sat opposite Ash ensuring that our positioning was such that by a slight turn of our head, we could see what was happening on the dance floor and around the restaurant generally. I suggested a Pinot Gris for each of us, and asked Antonio, knowing how special the evening was for us, that he choose the chef's selections for us both.

We made small talk while we both enjoyed the entrée and main course, timed so that Antonio, who also filled in as the MC, suggested that some dancing music was now about to played, following which the evening's special dessert would be served. I looked at Ash and unspoken she imperceptibly nodded. I helped her from her chair and guided her to the dance floor. A set of waltzes started, and we danced for the complete selection. The MC then advised that dessert would be served, and we both returned to our table. Ash had the most delightful slight flush to her face, and she whispered into my ear as we left the floor that we had both taken part in some highly charged vertical love making, and she was anxiously awaiting the horizontal version of the same.

I was behind her as we left the floor, and she maintained contact with me by surreptitiously keeping her lower anatomy gently rubbing against mine as we slowly made our way toward our table. As we did so, she looked over her shoulder at me, her future intent clearly evident by the smouldering looks she gave me.

If looks could have killed, we would have both been struck by lightning from the withering stares we, or rather she, was receiving from the other women present. Their partners, or significant others, who probably wished at that moment they weren't, kept shooting looks ranging between outright lascivious, to absolute jealousy, and both Ash and I, silently by mutual understanding, provided them with every reason to continue that line of thought.

We both knew that nothing would come of any thoughts that others might have, because for tonight Ash was mine, and almost by mutual understanding, everyone in that restaurant was aware of the fact. As we both found out later, there was one who was not of that viewpoint.

I was able to maintain my decorum because I was faced away from the other tables as I returned to my chair, however as I sat, I was able to adjust my clothing to hide the affect that Ash had had on me. She looked at me, giggled and whispered, "Did I give you a hard time, hmmm?"

"As you are well aware you did, however, the evening is yet young, and I will see that you get yours, or rather, mine, later," I answered sotto voce.

Ash looked at me through half closed eyelids, "Hmm, we'll see," but with the teasing look of the temptress to her latest victim.

Just then the waiter arrived with our dessert, and the wine menu. Ash asked for a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, while I asked for a Cognac.

We finished our dessert and Antonio once again announced that the orchestra would be playing a selection of dance music for our enjoyment.

Again, by mutual consent, we both rose, and I led Ash by the arm to the dance floor. We swirled, twirled, and dipped, we held each other tight and then just touching as the orchestra led us through some close, and some standard ballroom, dances. About halfway through the set, I felt a tap on my shoulder, and a voice asked if he could cut in. I raised an eyebrow to Ash, she nodded to me ever so slightly, and I relinquished my place to him.

It was all very innocent at first and I took advantage of the break to visit the gentleman's facilities. On my return, I saw that Ash was now in a clinch rivalling that of the earlier python hold but with a certain amount of distaste on her face. I also saw the look of annoyance that was rapidly making its appearance. Several times, she tried to push him away to gain some breathing room between him and her, but each time, he leered at her, and pulled her back to him.

I thought it was about time to re-enter the floor and take back that which was mine, and in so doing, let the octopus know that he was out of line, and he had done his dash for the evening, at least as far as Ashley was concerned.

I stepped up to them and suggested that I might cut in, to which he looked at me and said in not much more than a whisper, "Fuck off, you gave her up, she's now mine."

"No," I replied, "She never was! Now let her go, leave quietly, or I will remove you from the floor."

"They stopped dancing, and the man who apparently thought that his shit didn't stink, came up close and personal to me and said, "I think, little man, you had better leave us if you know what is good for you. If you don't know who I am, my name is Phillip Sebastion Ackerman the Third, and I will squash you like the insect you are. So again, fuck off."

"Ash, please return to our table while Phillip Sebastion Ackerman 3 and I have a quiet discussion about manners and respect."

"You fucking well stay here girlie until I tell........."

That was all he had time to say as I took hold of his shirt and collar of his evidently expensive suit and spun him round so that I could grasp the back of his trousers and started to march him from the floor.

"Ashley, please return to our table. I may be a few moments."

A collective gasp rose from the other diners as Antonio and Vincenzo made haste towards me as though they were about to rescue the marvellous Phillip etc etc, from my hold. He, in the meanwhile saw the two men who were ostensibly coming to save him from this brash hick who was severely embarrassing him but who would be punished for his stupidity and was somewhat astonished when they took hold of Mr Wonderful and ushered him toward the entrance. I followed the small procession outside and watched while Vincenzo smoothed the suit from its rumpled appearance and Antonio suggested that he not return to the premises under threat of arrest for disturbance of the peace and assault of a patron.

"You will pay for this.... this travesty. I will have that girl and not you, nor anyone will stop me."

That was enough for me. "Gentlemen, just a moment please. You," I spoke softly to him as I stood almost in his face, "I know very well who you are. I've been watching you. Your reputation has preceded you, so I'm giving you fair warning, you come near me, or to the young lady, or to anyone that is a friend or even an acquaintance of mine at any time, and you'll not see another day on this planet. You may think you are more important than any of the rest of us, but I will remove you and no one will even know you existed."

A look of fear crossed his face until his bravado returned, and he sneered, "Like hell, you aren't going..........."

"Vincenzo, ask Guido and Guiseppi to deal with this please. I do not want him around. Alright?"

I waited and when I saw Guido on my left and Guiseppi on my right, although not quite at Ackerman's side, I turned and started back to the entrance, when I heard a plea, "Alright, I'll leave, I was only looking for some fun, some sport for the weekend."

Guido and Guiseppi quietly stood, one on either side of him.

"No, not enough. Remove him." Ackerman looked around him, ready to argue his case again. Realising the futility of his pleadings and that his support group were nowhere to be seen, he slumped his shoulders. Gone was the look of the entitled, the man to whom women would rush ready to drop their panties at his feet, the look of disdain on his face while he made his selection of the carnal offerings.

"No," he almost started to cry, "No, no, please, what do I need to do? Do you want me to apologise to the girl, what?"

"Guido, remove him from here, remind him not to return for his next visit will be his last anywhere. Mr Ackerman the third, I see or learn that you are anywhere near me or those I hold dear, or that you have seen fit to plot or attempt to set in place some sort of revenge for your perceived humiliation, and there will be no fourth. The gene pool will cease to exist. I detest people such as you, you think that your name, and I imagine your so-called wealth, makes you immune to everything, even the law. You can think that, however it is not so, as you will discover should you return. You might also think that I am doing exactly what you would do, perhaps so. But you see, I have nothing to lose by immobilising you and causing your disappearance. You on the other hand, have everything to gain if you leave and do not return. By the way, had you determined that you were to throw a punch or some-other move against me, I would have defended myself, and very capably, to the extent that you possibly would not have survived. In fact, you would not have. Do I make myself clear. Next time you find yourself in front of a computer, look up Redeemer in MMA on You Tube."

I turned away and moved toward the doors and saw Ash and others carefully watching the scenario that had been unfolding outside. I stopped and turned back, "I retired because three men were hurt to the extent they would never fight again. When you watch those matches, put yourself in the place of the opponents. When you see the matches that stopped those men from ever taking part in the business again, imagine that you are one of those men, and where you would now be, if you had been. You can leave now, be quick, I do not wish to see you when I close the doors behind me."

I reached the doors as they were flung open and a small cyclone hit me, almost knocking me down. "It's alright now. He's gone, and I trust, will not be back."

"My God, Henry, he wouldn't take no for an answer, it didn't matter what I said or even when I pushed him away or tried to. And where did he get off telling you that I was his, and for you to 'fuck off'."

"It doesn't matter now, he won't be back, if he knows what's good for him, anyway."

"This has really put a dampener on the evening now, I don't even know if I want to stay."

"Come on, let's sit down again, I'll get you a glass of wine and we'll just sit and listen to the orchestra for a wee while. If you're still upset, we can go. Is that okay?"

Ash took my hand and led me to our table while we waited for the waiter. Antonio appeared and asked, "Are you at ease Mr Wellington, is there something I can get for you and the Signorina?"

A small white wine for the signorina, and a cognac for me please Antonio."

"Yes, I'll be but a moment."

When he returned, I asked him if he had seen the oaf before? "I have," Antonio replied. "He'd been a few times and had done this in the past, cut a man from his partner for the evening, took her away and eventually the man left, cucked, and laughed at by Ackerman's cronies. Except for Ackerman, none were seen again. One man came back to see if the lady who had been taken from him had returned, but of course she had not. Ackerman saw him of course and boasted to his companions of what he had done and how, to which of course his cronies were suitably impressed. Of course, no-one stood up to him or defended their lady against him. In fact, it seemed from my point of view that the so-called lady was all in favour of the changing of the chaperon, until this evening of course."

"Well, of course it was never going to happen to Ashley or me. I'd have neutralised him if he'd have hurt Ash. As it was, I still think he got off lightly. I trust he will remember tonight and not return. I wonder what the women saw in him. Bravado and bull shit I suppose."

"Well, the thought of someone with such a name might conjure up appearances of wealth and power, but in his case, it seems to be an illusion."

"Yes, I suppose so," I mused. "I didn't see his cronies though, what happened to them?"

Ash spoke up quietly, "They left through another door when they saw the other two men, Guido was it, and his friend."

"Guiseppi, yes."

"I wondered where his friends got to, I saw them when I returned from my ablutions, they were sitting at his table laughing and pointing at you, and at me walking back inside. They made themselves scarce rather quickly when they realised what was happening, or at least, what was about to happen, didn't they."

"Ash, you got up close and personal........."

"Not of my doing, I can assure you."

"Yes, I know and understand that fact, my love, but was he.... or did he seem to be......."

"Well endowed, you mean?"

"Aahh, yes I suppose I do."

"Not to me, he didn't. of course I'm biased, you know that."

"I wonder what the other women could possibly see in him then?"

"I just don't know. I think whatever he was able to do with them, it would have been all about him. He strikes me as that type, you know what I mean, Find 'em, Finger 'em, Fuck 'em, Forget 'em 'Four F'."

Antonio looked at Ash and then at me and burst out laughing. "Sorry, sorry, Four F, I'll have to remember that."

"Antonio, if you hadn't heard of that saying before, you have led an obviously too sheltered a life."

"Not quite, but some things I hadn't heard before. I'll remember that one though. Thank you Signorina."