Charles had awoken in the back seat of the taxi as the driver pulled up to an enormous white Georgian style house with huge white columns; which wrapped around all sides of the structure. In the cool night he stepped out of the taxi and on to the long porch lined with white rocking chairs, he looked back at the landscape, perfectly manicured oak trees were strategically lit up casting dark shadows as a gentle wind blew softly through the canopy of leaves. All was quiet and peaceful here save only the sound of the door chime as Charles waited anxiously for Melissa to answer. When she opened up the great wooden red door to her luxuriant home Charles held his breath as she stood there wearing a long pink cotton dress with no shoes. Her bright green eyes lit up as she smiled at her handsome visitor and it did her heart good to welcome him to her home. Melissa laughed and said something Charles could not hear as he was too enraptured by her sweet smile and charm and grace. Melissa hurried out, paying the driver a small fee along with a generous tip and she turned back to Charles embracing him warmly. As he held her briefly in his nice strong arms he felt her long silken red hair under his hand so he gathered a few strands up in his fingers rubbing her soft hair between his fingers. He apologized for disturbing her and she insisted she was not disturbed by his presence in the least.
In truth she had not had many visitors since the incident and she was in all reality quite sad and alone, but she did not speak of this to him. Rather she gave him a brief tour of her home filled with fine furniture and art and large expensive handmade rugs. It was one of the most expertly decorated homes he had ever had the privilege of seeing as he looked around mentally computing the value of some of the items he saw, he realized this woman came from a very wealthy, prominent family.
"Do you live here all by yourself?" Charles asked as she ended the tour in a massive library flanked with endless shelves of books, a massive desk and an exquisite painting of a young beautiful woman that resembled Melissa hanging over the fireplace
"Oh no, I can't run this household alone." she said her eyes widening at the mere thought. "No, I have a man named Sydney who looks after everything, and a driver, on the weekends I have a chef here, but I gave her the night off. Oh and Oliver is here with me. He was not doing well out in Dallas on his own. So he's here with me, taking a break from the fast lane. I think he's out in the pool house playing video games." Here she paused as she poured out two glasses of sparkling water. "You know with all the work that needs to be done in this world and full grown men sitting around playing computer games. I'll never understand." she shook her head as she bade him to come and sit by the fire.
"Nor will I." he agreed with her as he sat back in a large overstuffed comfortable wing-back chair.
The two sat there a moment as he talked of the books and rare objects in the room, the two made small talk of art and the old battle maps hanging on the wall. This is when he noticed a degree hanging on the wall. It was from S.M.U. and was a medical degree in Psychiatry. This information gave him pause as he did not want to be analyzed so he became a little nervous.
"Now then, dearest Charles." she said smiling in a gentile manner making him feel more relaxed as she reached out touching his hand. "What would you really like to talk about? You sounded so troubled when I spoke to you earlier.., and I notice, you have a small cut above your eye and your knuckles are all red and swollen." she said rubbing his hand with a look concern in her eyes. "Were you in a fight this evening?"
Charles felt a wave of numbness sweep over him from his head to his toes and he did not know what to say to this beautiful, perceptive woman. So he only laughed. Then Charles told her all of what had transpired at the club. She was mortified when he told her what Mr.Pruce had said to him. Melissa shook her head and said he was right to act the way he did and she prayed she would never ever have to see that fat, bald, loathsome Englishman man again.
Charles at this point had to empty his bladder so he excused himself to the restroom; which Melissa told him was the second door on the right, but he being drunk and unfamiliar with the house counted the hall closet door and went into the wrong room. When he flipped on the light switch he was shocked by what he saw filling the small room then Melissa, fearing he had made a mistake, ran after him; but it was too late and she ran up beside him not knowing what to say as he stood there in the doorway a look of bewilderment on his face. "What is all this?" he asked his jaw hanging open his eyes wide in confusion.
In truth she had not had many visitors since the incident and she was in all reality quite sad and alone, but she did not speak of this to him. Rather she gave him a brief tour of her home filled with fine furniture and art and large expensive handmade rugs. It was one of the most expertly decorated homes he had ever had the privilege of seeing as he looked around mentally computing the value of some of the items he saw, he realized this woman came from a very wealthy, prominent family.
"Do you live here all by yourself?" Charles asked as she ended the tour in a massive library flanked with endless shelves of books, a massive desk and an exquisite painting of a young beautiful woman that resembled Melissa hanging over the fireplace
"Oh no, I can't run this household alone." she said her eyes widening at the mere thought. "No, I have a man named Sydney who looks after everything, and a driver, on the weekends I have a chef here, but I gave her the night off. Oh and Oliver is here with me. He was not doing well out in Dallas on his own. So he's here with me, taking a break from the fast lane. I think he's out in the pool house playing video games." Here she paused as she poured out two glasses of sparkling water. "You know with all the work that needs to be done in this world and full grown men sitting around playing computer games. I'll never understand." she shook her head as she bade him to come and sit by the fire.
"Nor will I." he agreed with her as he sat back in a large overstuffed comfortable wing-back chair.
The two sat there a moment as he talked of the books and rare objects in the room, the two made small talk of art and the old battle maps hanging on the wall. This is when he noticed a degree hanging on the wall. It was from S.M.U. and was a medical degree in Psychiatry. This information gave him pause as he did not want to be analyzed so he became a little nervous.
"Now then, dearest Charles." she said smiling in a gentile manner making him feel more relaxed as she reached out touching his hand. "What would you really like to talk about? You sounded so troubled when I spoke to you earlier.., and I notice, you have a small cut above your eye and your knuckles are all red and swollen." she said rubbing his hand with a look concern in her eyes. "Were you in a fight this evening?"
Charles felt a wave of numbness sweep over him from his head to his toes and he did not know what to say to this beautiful, perceptive woman. So he only laughed. Then Charles told her all of what had transpired at the club. She was mortified when he told her what Mr.Pruce had said to him. Melissa shook her head and said he was right to act the way he did and she prayed she would never ever have to see that fat, bald, loathsome Englishman man again.
Charles at this point had to empty his bladder so he excused himself to the restroom; which Melissa told him was the second door on the right, but he being drunk and unfamiliar with the house counted the hall closet door and went into the wrong room. When he flipped on the light switch he was shocked by what he saw filling the small room then Melissa, fearing he had made a mistake, ran after him; but it was too late and she ran up beside him not knowing what to say as he stood there in the doorway a look of bewilderment on his face. "What is all this?" he asked his jaw hanging open his eyes wide in confusion.
