Addicted To Greed (8 page)

Wilhelm arrived wearing a pale blue tailored shirt and dark
denim Armani jeans with a large bouquet of white lilies and red
moonflowers, kissing her on the cheek avoiding her lips,
presenting her with the flowers.

“These are for a beautiful lady.”

“Oh
Monsieur Guillaume, they’re beautiful thanks. Please come
in, I’ll be right back, I just need to find a vase, make yourself at
home.”
Wilhelm walked past the great entrance hall admiring the high
ceilings, he couldn’t recall seeing them yesterday or this
morning, this was a great opportunity to look around the place in
the hope Felicity took her time, he wanted to avoid close
proximity, and then he could remain in control of his physical
urges and desires. He could hear light orchestral music coming
from the state of the art entertainment system, and then the
realisation hit him, how very little he knew about Felicity. He
looked around but couldn’t see any family photos in order to
feed his curiosity, just numerous volumes of Architectural
journals and books, some appeared to be over twenty years old
and older, others where brand new left untouched still in their
cellophane. Wilhelm suddenly found himself having lots of
questions and no answers, but this defeated the whole object of
getting to know Felicity even more when he came here tonight
with the intention of calling it quits before it got out of control.
He thought the apartment itself must at least be worth several
million pounds, the exquisite furnishings and oversized terrace,
how could she afford all this luxury at the tender age of twenty
one? He walked out on to the terrace admiring the night sky, it
was his favourite time of the day watching the sunset, the view
was magnificent some of the city lights already turned on, large
office blocks closing down from another busy long working day,
how he loved New York, he would be sad to leave.

“It’s beautiful this time of the evening, would you agree
Guillaume?”

Felicity handed him a chilled glass of white wine, he almost
jumped out of his skin, he hadn’t even heard her approach him,
he took the glass and took a large sip of it automatically
realising it was a good Cuvee Sauvage, pleasantly surprised
returning to the view. Felicity placed her glass down on the
table and tip toed behind him stroking and gently massaging his
broad shoulders, he felt very tense and welcomed the release.

“Just try to relax and enjoy it.”

He did as he was told and found himself loosening up a little,
Felicity’s hands felt almost too good to be true, just using the
right amount of pressure to alleviate his aching shoulders, he
wondered if this was one of her many talents.

“Was it a hard afternoon at the office Guillaume?”

Without even thinking he replied
yes
. He had already finished
his first glass and Felicity went back to the fridge to refill their
glasses, he awaited her return sitting down on the large wabi
cushioned swing seat, closing his eyes and taking a big deep
breath, all thoughts about ending this affair had simply deserted
him, maybe it wasn’t a bad idea after all getting to know Felicity
a little better, let this affair run its course.

They both spent the evening in each other’s arms contented and
at ease with one another, the food was more of a surprise, he
hadn’t expected she be so talented in the kitchen department.

Several months passed by and it was time for Wilhelm to go
home and visit his family as it was Christmas time and he had
made promises he would be there on the eighteen of December
so they could all go Christmas shopping together. Felicity
became enraged as they hadn’t spent a night apart since that
night at the Rubicon.
“I don’t understand why we can’t spend Christmas together over
here in New York, why do you have to go to England for three
whole weeks?”

“Felicity, sweetheart I have already explained I promised my
wife and children months ago, I can’t disappoint them all now.”

“I understand you have a
family Wilhelm and they need to see
their father at Christmas time but what about your wife, is she
aware you’re having an extra marital affair behind her back?”

It was the first time Felicity had made any reference towards his
wife and he was a little unsure of what she was trying to say, he
took his time to reply carefully with the hope it wouldn’t upset
Felicity even more than he could begin to imagine.

“Listen it is something
I have to do, I’ve never missed a
Christmas away from my children or my wife for that matter, I
didn’t know I was going to meet you and fall in love all over
again while I still had a wife. I’ve never found myself in this
situation before and I really don’t know what to do for the best, I
suppose I could just visit for two weeks instead of three and use
the extra week to go to Italy with you, how does that sound?”

“Well I suppose if you put it like that how could I resist Italy,
you know how much I long to go there.”

He kissed her lips and thanked her for understanding, not
expecting more confrontations about his family, that was his
business and none of hers, it was bad enough the very prospect
of facing Jeannie after his liaisons with Felicity, he didn’t want
Felicity making it more difficult than it already was.
He placed a call over to his best friend Anthony Wallace in
England informing him he would be over for Christmas asking if
they could meet up, he wanted to discuss the new proposal that
Smith & Brothers had offered him regarding the coliseums.

“Wilhelm old chap how the devil are you?”

“Less of the old chap if you wouldn’t mind,
may I remind you
that you are two years my senior. By the way I am great
couldn’t be better, how’s the lovely Margret and yourself?”

“Oh just great Margret
has just completed her marathon in aid
one of her pupils who fell sick and needs specialised equipment
for her to walk properly, you know how she is always dedicating
herself to her school and children in need, a Florence nightingale
of the twenty first century.”

“Yes but remember old friend that’s how you guys met in the
first place, her good deeds for various charities don’t forget.”
“How could I forget, she’s the greatest wife a man could have,
with the exception to Jeannie of course.”

Wilhelm
soon changed the subject, he didn’t want to get into a
conversation about his devoted wonderful wife, and it would
only make him feel guiltier.

“I’m
coming over on the eighteenth of December, hope you can
find time to catch up with me, I am only over for a few weeks,
as I have more loose ends to tie up over here in the states that
require my full presence I am afraid. If you have the time
maybe you could you look over some legal papers for me?”
“Nonsense, Wilhelm, drop by anytime. I have four weeks
holiday to take and Margret insists I take them, we’ve both made
no plans to travel this year as the children are joining us here in
Cumbria.”

“Super, I’ll give you a call beforehand. Send my best wishes to
Margret my friend.”

Wilhelm put down the receiver and realised Felicity was behind
him with her warm hands slipping under his shirt to stroke his
chest, he felt instantly aroused forgetting all his worries and
loosing himself in the moment, he led her to her bedroom and
made passionate love to her over and over until he fell into a
deep sleep unaware there was already a seed growing in
Felicity’s womb.

Felicity laid there fully awake unable to sleep, seething with
jealousy regarding Wilhelm’s wife and children, she hated them,
the fact that they could take Wilhelm away from her and leave
her all alone at Christmas was devastating. She informed the
Madame and much to her surprise the Madame invited Felicity
over for Christmas, she was hosting a huge dinner party with
many rich young and old bachelors. Felicity couldn’t refuse the
Madame as she was the only living relative alive in whom she
could visit. Christmas was especially difficult for Felicity as she
had no family she could share it with. A close colleague who
she had befriended at work invited her over for Christmas dinner
with her husband and children, she politely declined in the hope
Wilhelm would change his mind and decide to spend it with her.
In her frustration she got up quietly not to wake Wilhelm and
poured herself another glass of wine, hoping it would relax her
and send her off to sleep, however just one sip did the opposite
and she could feel herself on the verge of vomiting. She ran to
the bathroom and put her head into the toilet where the whole
contents of the evening meal were washed away after a few
flushes. Felicity had the sneaky suspicion she was pregnant and
bought a pregnancy kit at the local pharmacy, she had to know
for sure so she followed the instructions on the box and waited
anxiously, two lines slowly began to appear, this gave her the
confirmation she needed, she wrapped it up with kitchen roll and
placed it in her private safe along with the naked photos of
Wilhelm and herself in the mists of passion with a huge smile on
her face. She would surprise him with them at breakfast
tomorrow, before they both headed off to work.

Wilhelm woke to the aroma of baking bread along with the scent
of grilled bacon, he was ravenous, grabbing his silk robe, a
present from Felicity, he made his way to the open kitchen
where there was freshly pressed orange juice, Felicity had
already several papers of his choice delivered daily, underneath
was a brown envelope containing the pregnancy test applicator
and the compromising glossy photographs, she would enjoy
watching the expression on his face change dramatically.

“Would you like more coffee darling?”

“Please if you wouldn’t mind
and more bacon would be great,
this entire wonderful love making gives my appetite a huge
boost!”

“No problem, would you like more orange juice?”
“That would be great.”

Not bothering to glance up he began to read the wall street
journal, flipping through the pages, nothing really interesting,
his eyes stumbled onto the large brown envelope, wondering if it
had been placed there for him.

“Felicity is this for me sweetheart?”

She glanced over from the coffee machine realising he had
stumbled upon it before she could finish off grilling the bacon;
she made her way to the table with orange juice and coffee.

“Yes
, of course, your bacon will be along shortly.”
She couldn’t miss this opportunity.

Wilhelm tore the top of the envelope off pulling out the neatly
folded kitchen roll out first, unwrapping it gently to reveal the
pregnancy test applicator, he looked at it in confusion, not quite
believing what he was seeing, then the realisation came flooding
in, Jeannie had shown him exactly the same with Ella, Destiny,
and Chase. His face colour changed, he looked like he had seen
a ghost, and he was nearly as white as Felicity’s table cloth.

“Jesus Christ Felicity, I had no idea, how far on are you?”

“Seven weeks to be precise, it also came as a shock to me
Wilhelm, but we haven’t been using any protection of any kind,
it was just a matter of time, wouldn’t you agree?”

“You informed me you were taking the contraceptive pill and
assured me this couldn’t happen. I’m in shock, I don’t know
what to say, what’s going to happen now?”
“I was taking the contraceptive pill, it may have happened on the
days I had perhaps forgotten and what do you mean what’s
going to happen now?”

“Jesus I don’t know what to say, how could you forget to take
birth control tablets? Please tell me this is some kind of joke?”

“A joke is that what you are hoping and then this will all go
away Wilhelm? I can assure you it’s no joke why don’t you take
a look at what else is in the contents of the envelope, and then
perhaps you’ll take me seriously?”

He reached into the envelope taking the entire contents out
looking at his naked body along with Felicity’s both enjoying
sex, he ran to the toilet to vomit the entire contents of his
breakfast up.

Felicity sat back in amazement sipping her hot fresh coffee
waiting for his return. She placed a call to work informing them
she was too sick to work today, saying she had been up all night
with a sickness bug. They were more than sympathetic asking if
they could get her anything, she assured them she was going to
see her doctor and would let them know of the outcome later in
the afternoon.

Wilhelm returned and sat down at the table with his head in his
hands repeatedly asking why?
Had she staged the whole show
all along, pretending she was interested in his work? Interested
in him? What the hell was going on?

“Who the hell took the snaps of our lovemaking Felicity?”
She paused for a second enjoying his hurt expression.

“A known contact of the Madame’s
from the New York Times
I’m led to believe, he was very discreet I may add. I even forgot
he was present the first night I brought you here after our
wonderful meal at the Rubicon.”

“Why Felicity? How could you be so sure we were going to
have sex? It’s a big gamble for not knowing what could have
happened that evening. I could have walked you home like the
perfect gentleman.”

“Oh c’mon Wil
helm, I never expected that to happen, you see
when I first laid eyes upon you I knew I had to have you all to
myself one day, it was all part of my plan you see with the
Madame, she coached me and the rest was easy I reeled you in
slowly like a giant heavy prized fish.”

Wilhelm found himself speechless absorbing the information in
like a wet sponge. This was more than blackmail he felt himself
getting angry and began to lose his temper.

“So what is it the hell you’re
after my wealth? Is this what it is
all about money? Surely the Madame provided you with a lot of
that, you can’t want for anything, so why what’s this all about
Felicity?”

“It’s all about you and
me Wilhelm, our future, our child we
could be so happy together. I love you and wanted you the day I
set eyes upon you at Monika’s and Richards’s engagement
party.”