2.
*******β
It was almost 10:30 by the time we left the Highwayman. It was Springtime, it was dark, but the evening was still warm. As soon as we pulled away from the kerb I opened the car windows to enjoy the fresh air. (I was concerned that I had maybe drunk a little too much to be legal and needed to clear my head).
As we headed down the high street Veronica put a hand on my thigh to get my attention (as if that was needed!) and said, "Oh look, we're going to be driving by Zizi's."
Zizi's was another restaurant which had a license for music and dancing, a kind of pseudo nightclub. It also had a reputation as a place to go if you were looking for a one night stand ... not that I had ever done so.
I gave her a smile, "Yes, I know, I live just down the street from Zizi's."
Veronica stared at me for a moment and then she said, "Really? How come I've never seen you there?"
"Do you go there frequently?"
Veronica laughed, "Yes, at least two or three nights a week."
I shrugged, "Well I've never been there."
"You live 'just down the street' and you've never been there?"
I nodded, "That's right."
"Dougie, you don't know what you're missing, I have to take you there. Zizi's is a great place. Crawling with talent, on a good night, absolutely crawling. Jeannie and I love the place."
"Who's Jeannie?"
"My best friend. I can't wait to introduce you to her, you'll like her."
We drove past the neon sign that announced, "Zizi's, Dining and Dancing" and the cars parked outside. Veronica said wistfully, "Seems like there's a good crowd tonight. Oh, look, there's Ron's Porsche."
I looked at her, "Ron, who's Ron?"
"Just another gentleman I know."
I shook my head amused at this constant chatter and her references to the kind of life she led. As we approached my turn, we slowed and came to halt while I waited for the gates to my apartment building to open. It was Veronica's turn to shake her head, "Dougie, Churchill Gardens, you don't live here do you?"
I grinned at her. "Yes I do."
"Churchill Gardens, how can a poor teacher afford to live here? Is there something you haven't been telling me; Dougie, are you rich?"
I laughed. "I don't know, that depends on how you define rich."
I took a deep breath, I am 'old school' as far as money is concerned and personal wealth was not a topic to be discussed with anyone other than your bank manager (if such a person could be found these days!) but I decided that for the sake of keeping Veronica interested in me that perhaps in her case I would make an exception.
We pulled into my marked parking place and I said, "Do you remember I told you at dinner that my Mother died of cancer when I was little?"
"Yes."
"Well, he later remarried and we came to live in this place and were bought up by my step-mother. He was an executive with an international bank and this was the family home. They were both killed in a car accident and he left everything to me and my sisters. My sisters had left home by this time, I was married but recently divorced with nowhere to live so I was given the house which after everything to do with the will had been sorted out still left me with a large sum of money"
"How large?"
"I'm not going to tell you that. Let's just say I don't really need to work, I have enough in the bank to live comfortably for the rest of my life."
"Why do you work then?'
"Because I like working; I like meeting people and anyway, I figure that if we get together I want it to be because you like me and not because I have money."
Veronica got very quiet. She was obviously thinking about this. Finally she said. "Dougie, I can't remember the last time when I have been as excited about being with someone as I am now. She sighed, "It's not about money, it's not because of the sex ... although I do have that in mind with you tonight. Dougie, I've also got a confession ... you might not believe it but I live a lonely life?"
I nodded, "Yes, so do I."
"I meet a lot of men, but none of them bother about getting to know me. You have and when we met I just felt that I had found a kindred spirit. This morning and tonight at dinner you didn't just flirt with me so you could get me into bed, you took the time to ask me about me, my life. You actually seemed to care about what I said."
Veronica sighed. "Dougie I know I like you, but we just met this morning. I don't know how all of this is going to turn out. Part of me is very excited and another part of me is afraid. I've been hurt too many times. I don't let my guard down easily. Right now I just want to spend some time with you. I want to enjoy being with you and I hope you'll enjoy me."
She smiled, "Dougie, don't get me wrong, I love the things you can do with money but it's never been a big deal for me. Companionship is what I value. Dougie, I'm not interested in stealing your money, I want your heart..." She gave a little giggle, ".... with a side order of pleasure, my 'legless' man".
I blushed. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything."
Veronica laughed. "Dougie, you don't need to apologize, it was me who asked, I'm not offended if you don't want to tell me. It's right that you should protect yourself." She winked at me, "It's not as if size matters!"
We went through the front door and Veronica looked around, shook her head and said, "Your father was a very rich man."
I nodded. "Yes he was, but we very frugally. Growing up, I had no idea that we were rich. Being in banking, he was very discrete and astute and the investments he made have been very lucrative."
"Did your ex-wife get any of your inheritance?"
I shook my head. "No, she divorced me a couple of years before my father died and I rarely talked about him while we were married, so she didn't know he had money."
"Does she know how rich you are now?"
I laughed. "No she doesn't. I haven't spoken to her in several years and I really don't see any point in telling her now!"
Veronica laughed. "Dougie you're a better person than I am. If I'd been in your place I would have made sure that she knew exactly what she'd missed."
I smiled. "Enough about money, let me show you around."
As she slipped off her coat she said, "One last question."
"OK."