Chapter Two
The young woman was wearing expensive Gucci sunglasses and handbag to match. The many vendors, most likely crooked, had the gift of persuasion and weren’t afraid to make the initial approach.
Her long platinum hair from all the sun that she had been receiving in tropical settings was in a ponytail over her shoulders. The natural beauty of her body wasn’t lost on those spectators giving her the careful once over.
She had gone out of her way to accentuate the positives, including a couple of buttons undone to show just a modicum of skin.
Those milling around her stopped momentarily as if their interest wasn’t like a neon sign over their head. She dressed with the confidence of a woman who sold herself at night, fueling their looks of hunger.
“I hope you know that I wouldn’t ask you to do this unless I thought it was necessary. I hold you in high esteem and this business will always have its ups and downs. I apologize for how fast we blew through the money. It was not my intention of losing it at the tables in Monte Carlo.” Nicholas was a notorious womanizer, drunk, and gambler.
“I don’t want to hear it. We’ve been over this and it’s not like we can go back in time to change things. I wasn’t expecting us to live high off the hog forever. I just thought that we had some breathing room. Money will always be the root of all evil.” She found herself interested in some of the homemade items for sale.
“Claire, you’ve known from the moment we met that I have issues.” This statement was vastly under-exaggerated. He believed the world owed him something and had found a way to use people to prevent him from drowning in a 9-to-5 existence.
She could literally feel his hot breath on the back of her neck. His voice was grating on her last nerve. It reminded her of those days in Catholic school where the scratching of the blackboard would send chills down her spine.
“I’ve accepted you for all of your faults. We don’t have to beat this thing to death.” She gravitated towards one of the tables with high-end scarves in a multitude of colors.
“I’m probably going to apologize a few more times before I figure it’s enough. Getting drunk was one thing, but losing our nest egg was unforgivable.” It wasn’t the first time that he had done something foolish and it wasn’t going to be his last. “I really don’t know what I would do without you and I don’t want to find out.” Nicholas felt deeply about their connection, but he understood their relationship was primarily platonic.
They would enjoy each other’s company in the bedroom from time to time to get one out of the chamber. There was no emotional connection. He wasn’t even sure that she was capable of such an emotional outburst. She was cold and calculating. There was a wall to make sure nobody got close enough to hurt her physically or otherwise.
“I’m not going to dignify that with a response. Leave me alone. It would be best that we don’t talk for some time. Do yourself a favor and make some time with a lonely housewife looking to get laid.” Claire turned off the Bluetooth and took a breath of relief of not having to listen to him anymore. She wondered why she hadn’t cut him loose and the truth was painfully clear.
Bouncing from one orphanage to another had denied her the right of what having a family was all about. Meeting Nicholas had given her a purpose and a reason to trust somebody besides herself. They were both damaged souls looking for somebody to cling onto as a lifeline. She was a little bit more subtle where he was practically screaming for help.
The smell of overpriced cologne had her looking around for the source. It was an aphrodisiac and the name of the cologne foiled her senses. There was the aftertaste of sophistication in the air. The hairs on the back of her neck were standing on end.
Claire turned her 5’2 and 110 pound frame in a circle. She looked over the crowd and felt the tediousness of their lives crushing her from afar. It was the same old story with different characters within the pages of the chapters.
Bumping into him was an accident and felt like she had made contact with a brick wall. She stumbled backward, losing one of her high heels in the process. She found herself knocked off balance.
Eric was slightly startled, but he managed to reach out to prevent her from falling in an unladylike fashion. Her hand was soft as butter and her eyes bore into him from the moment they looked at each other.
“It was my fault… I wasn’t watching where I was going.” Claire shielded her eyes from the sun. The feel of his hands on the small of her back was causing slight tingles to run up and down her lower extremities.
“We could call it kismet and what are the odds of us bumping into each other. I don’t mind saying you have the face of an angel. Heaven is missing one of their flock and I can almost see the wings sprouting from your back.” He was never comfortable with the ladies and his wife wasn’t the exception to the rule.
“You are one silver-tongued devil in disguise. The suit is Armani. Don’t even get me started on the cologne. You’re not afraid of standing out from the crowd. Humble doesn’t do you justice. I don’t like anybody that feels they are better than everybody else.” She was putting him on the spot and using the shield of her sunglasses to run her eyes down over his frame.
“I’m not bad once you get to know me.” Eric tried to hide his wedding ring digging into his skin. He could only hope that the symbol of love would not deter this young creature from pursuing more of their banter.
“That’s a matter of opinion.” She brushed past him, purposely touching the fabric of his pants below his waist.
Losing him in the crowd would’ve been like taking candy from a baby, but she didn’t want to lose the hold she had over him. The taste of his aura made her hungry to learn more, but she wasn’t going to be obvious about it.” Claire had on a purple suede jacket and the eyes of those prospective suitors would be drawn to her like a moth to the flame.
Window shopping was a natural high and a pastime that Claire could never get enough of. The market was abuzz with electricity and the sound of proprietors making their sale gave her a necessary jump start.
“I don’t know how many times I have to say this, but the price is firm. I know the quality of my merchandise and you can’t find anything better at these prices. I’m practically giving them away as it is. You’re robbing me blind. Should I close my eyes and let you take whatever you want?”
“You wouldn’t be here unless there was some wiggle room in the price. Nobody in their right mind would price things at market value. There’s always going to be a markup and you can’t convince me otherwise.” They shared a knowing glance. This dance was meant for two people to play.
“I am offended by the accusation. I’ll try and meet you halfway, but don’t take my generosity as weakness.”
“I’m not accusing you of anything. This is your life and I won’t condemn the way that you handle your business. I will give you $10 for this one and not one penny more. It’s more than fair and you’re still going to make a profit. You claim these are one of a kind, but being manufactured from China doesn’t exactly instill confidence.” Claire dug around under the fabric until she found the hidden tag.
“You do drive a hard bargain and I’ll even throw in another one as a bonus.” The money was a mere pittance of what he would need to bring his family over from Iraq.
“I might look like I fell off the back of the turnip truck, but I can assure you that you won’t be able to pull the wool over my eyes. There are only a few here who legitimately are using their own hands to make what they are selling. You are not one of the few. Quality doesn’t come from mass manufacturing from sweatshops overseas.” She handed over the $10 bill and then felt the shadow of someone familiar behind her.
“I don’t know that much about you, but maybe I can rectify that over dinner. I don’t normally go out of my way to approach strange women in the market. There’s just something about you.” Eric’s main purpose for coming down here was to haggle with those in the business of doing just that. He had no interest in something of the female persuasion.
“It bothers me that a married man like you feels like you have a chance with me. Take your pompous blue blood attitude and waste your time with someone else. I’m not that gullible to fall for your charm and dimples.” Claire gave him a tongue lashing with a cheerful smile on her face.
“I don’t want to give you the wrong impression. I don’t go out hunting for available women. I’m married to a woman of considerable taste and refinement. I’m going to share with you a little secret.” He moved within earshot to be heard quite clearly over the noise of the crowd.
“Before you say something that you’re going to regret, I have to say that you are barking up the wrong tree.” Claire stood her ground with her arms crossed defensively. She wanted there to be no mistake about her being some kind of home wrecker.
“I would like to know you and all I’m suggesting is to have a bite to eat with me. What harm could there be?” He said. “I know you might see me as a cad and I feel like I have to prove to you the kind of man I can be. Have dinner with me. Give me an address and I’ll have a car pick you up at precisely 7 p.m.” He could tell that she was fighting her natural instinct and then her address suddenly appeared on the palm of his hand.