Hapless By Leo 15

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Chapter Fifteenth

 

  It was evening and it was raining. The Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport was crowded immensely with  people flowing the entrances and exits. Ben took their luggage and made way among the people with Jennifer following. They exited and the roads were wet with the showers still continuing. Ben covered his head with his bag and Jennifer was still standing in the shade of the airport's edifice. Ben got himself a cab and he quickly put the luggage in. The cab was a native French and was asking,

''ou monsieur?''

Jennifer looked at him as he was thinking what to say to him. He studied French in school a long time ago but never spoke a word of it. It was never needed neither did he liked Paris nor did he ever wished to be here. Now the circumstances required him to use his rusty French.

''a hotely.'' Ben tried to pressurize his vocabulary and vowels. 

The cabbie got confused and asked him again,

''quel?'' He did not get a word he was saying. This time he tried again with Jennifer interrupting.

''Why don't we use translate instead.'' she took out her phone from the bag. 

''Let me try.'' he stopped her with his hand over hers.

''a l hotel ritz.'' he said it in a jiffy.

''oui.'' the driver got him. Agreed and there cab rode through the slightly washed streets of Paris.

''Aha, there you go.'' Jennifer looked at him and smiled.

He smiled too. Although he made just an attempt it was his luck that what he said was right. Although he still feared that the cabbie might take them to a cemetery rather than hotel Ritz.

 

They reached hotel Ritz which was filled with foreigners most. 

''You go sit I'll check on reservations.'' Ben said to Jennifer and dropped the bag from his shoulder.

He made himself way and reached the reception.

''oui monsieur?'' the receptionist who had a expressionless straight face looked at Ben.

''English please?.'' Ben was not in a mood to search for another phrase. One was already quite enough. The serious man moved and waved at another one then he appeared. He was quite the opposite to the first one.

''Yes sir?'' he said with a wide smile.

''I made a reservation for two rooms yesterday. The name is Brown.'' 

''Very well.'' He pulled a huge register from the shelf and began to browse the B alphabet.

''Aha. It says one master suite Sir.''

''No that's not possible check it again please.''

''there's only one Brown, Benjamin with one master suite booked yesterday on 12.'' he said and waited for Ben to respond who took out his phone and called Angela. Angela was his secretary and took care of the reservations for him.

''Angela! How many rooms did I told you to reserve. Here I am standing at the reception and they are saying you said only one!''

Angela was probably sleeping as it took her time to respond.

''Did you said two, it seemed one to me. Well its a master suite a whole family can adjust in it. There's nothing to worry about and it will save your money too. Do you know how much two master suits could have cost you at Ritz.'' she managed to surpass her fault incredibly.

''You know what it didn't have to be master suite. Simple bedrooms but two would have sufficed. Let me get back and I'll sort you out perfectly.'' he hung up on her.

''Moron.'' Angela sighed and went back to sleep.

Ben turned to the smiling face again who was no longer smiling but was now getting exhausted due to the delay.

''Okay give me the key.'' Ben filled up the requirements in the enormous register and the smiling guy gave him the key-card. 

''Floor five room 210.'' he waved to the potter who loaded the bags in.

''Follow me.'' Ben lip synced to faraway Jennifer and she followed.

''Are we staying in one room?'' Jennifer said when Ben closed the door after the potter left.

''Unfortunately yes. You can sleep in the bedroom and lock the door from inside. I'll adjust myself here.'' he said lifting his arms in the air.

The Ritz master suite had the interior near to the King Louis style. It had all the modern technology intact with the same touch of class both at the same time. So there was no big deal for anyone to adjust in this elite sitting room. Even then Jennifer stood there folding her arms on her stomach.

''I can happily adjust here you can sleep on the bed. And for your concern. I trust you enough to travel with you. I'm not a silly woman locking doors to make you feel like a damn hypocrite pervert kind of a thing. I am going out for a while. The flight has made me like a squirrel. You can have your discreet space till then__''

Ben cut her off,'' There's no way you give me orders. You'll take the bed and I the couch. I too am going outside for a while you can have your moment here too. It might take me long.''

Jennifer did not say a word and left slamming the door behind.

''Men damn you all.'' she said and wore her shrug which she was carrying in her hand.

The Parisian sky was clear now after the clouds had lifted away their pressure making the air smooth and healthy. The moon was dancing with the light clouds left behind and some stars shining. It was the last month of summer and the weather was great. Neither tropical nor cold making the Parisians stay on the streets for longer than usual. Some were walking. Some were standing in groups chatting. The vendors were busy making either juices or most were enjoying their drinks. At this time of the night restaurants and clubs were the most thronged of all.

Jennifer had no aimed spot she was fond of walking beneath the open sky. It relieved her of most things as she was persistently thinking of what she should do.

Ben looked at the chateau amidst the most famed residential area of Paris. He came closer and sighted the name of the chateau. ''Toussaint and Monet.'' That's right. It must be her but who was the other guy her husband maybe. Ben thought and looked at the chateau again. He had heard from his father that her mother owned a palace. Which was ancestral home to the Monet's but she sold it after her father's death. His heart was beating so hard that as if it would come out of his chest if he stayed a little more longer here. He then began to walk. He walked and walked without the idea of time moment. He just walked.

 

                                                                             

 

''This is the best. Why don't you wear it so that I also get the idea how it looks upon you. ''

''No not now maybe some other time.'' she said and took out some more things.

''I am waiting for Ben to come and then I'll buy the dress. Its just some random things. I won't be showing you each and every one of them otherwise there will be no surprise left.'' Tina covered the rest of the things she bought early on her way back office.

''Whatever you say. your wishes are my command.'' Taylor said and she took the things to her room upstairs.

''You both have given me such limited time.'' Rachel said after ending a call.

''You agreed with this .'' Taylor shrugged.

''Yes it is but I.. '' Tina came and looked at both of them. 

''Was something private. I'll go and make some coffee.''

''No nothing I was just getting in touch with some old friends. They were shocked when I told them that my little daughter is getting married some days later.'' 

''I'm not that little.'' she said from the kitchen.

''Do you want to invite your friends or relatives?'' Rachel was now taking out some old albums.

''You guys are my family. You are my mother. Do what you would like.'' Taylor tapped her hand.

He was also browsing through the albums with Rachel.

''Is this Christina. Oh my, '' Taylor was now acting typically comical.

''What hey, give this to me Taylor !'' Tina yelled at him and due to their scuffle the coffee spilled over Taylor.

''Now look what you made me do.'' she was damn angry.

''Come here.'' This was a trick.

He curled her in a hug and due to this the stain got on her shirt as well. When she came to know his trick he ran.

''Damn it you idiot!''

Rachel was laughing mute.

                                                         

 

Tina was busy with the load of contract readings. Taylor never trusted anyone but her to go through the contracts in order to get them signed by. He saw Taylor got up and rush outside. She although continued her work in order not to disturb him.

 

She looked at the time and it was evening but Taylor did not return. She gathered her things and came out of the office just then a voice came from behind,

''Miss Harris.'' the guy was panting.

She looked at him. He was the assistant at work with Taylor.

''Yes? Mr. Jim.'' 

''I heard about the wedding date. My congratulations. Sir is out of town for some important stuff that I do not know about he told me to inform you so that you don't worry.''

''Yeah it's fine. Thank you Jim.''

She went to the car and then she rode home.

She called Taylor but he didn't answer. Never the less she texted him,

'Wherever you are take care and don't get too much workaholic.'

  She although didn't say anything to Taylor but she did not liked him going away without informing her himself. She hated Jim most among the office staff. He was nosy always getting in their personal affairs.

When she got home , her mother was in another room obviously making arrangements of the wedding. 

Rachel was on phone.

''Yes I want that venue. Make it possible Kyle. I ...Yes I understand whatever the price.'' she went inside and closed the door.

''Hi mom hi Karen.''

''Your mom us so wrapped up in your marriage that I believe I've never seen her like that before. Does she sleeps well or even at night talks like that in her sleep.''

''You know her.'' she smiled. 

Karen was handing her the tea when accidentally the wine bottle which was open spilled over the stove and the flame blew up reaching for her arm. She wailed in pain and screamed. Rachel came running and Tina who was sitting just beside the counter went to her and tried to understand what happened in just a snap.

''Oh my Lord. '' Karen screamed.

''It will be alright. Rachel turned of the stove and extinguished the flame.

''I will take her to the hospital. This is a serious burn.'' Tina said giving her a hand to help her stand.

''Wait I'll come with you.'' Rachel helped Karen to the door.

They both managed to take her to the car. Karen was feeling dizzy.

Rachel went inside for her bag and house keys when her phone rang.

''Mom we can't , Nanah is in pain. I must take her immediately.'' Tina was in a shock her color turned pale all of a sudden.

''I'll be there as soon as I can. Call me.'' Rachel said from the door.

Tina was driving fast. Karen was moaning on the back seat.

She took her to the nearest hospital.

''This is serious. You got her here on time. What was it an explosion of some kind?'' The doctor was injecting Karen a pain killer.

''Yes a sort of .'' Tina was looking at the unconscious Karen lying with her eyes shut. 

In a world where people are often judged by colors being white or black her heart was of one color that color consisted of humanity above all. Karen was a black and she treated her like a second mother. They never treated her like a servant rather a family.

Rachel was calling and Tina came outside the room so that Karen wouldn't be disturbed.

''Yes mom. Nanah is fine the doctor said he'll keep her here for the night for some tranquilizers and stuff. Don't worry its all taken care off.'' Tina was walking round the gallery. There were many rooms in this gallery. Most doors were covered with blinds some were not. She unwillingly turned towards one room where she saw a man holding hand of a woman lying unconscious on bed. Then man's face was on side and only half of him was visible. ''Mom I'll call you later in a minute.'' she ended the call. Her heart was beating fast. She went closer to the door which had no blind on it. The man was Taylor.

Tina quickly turned her back to the door. She was feeling predicament. She then again turned and gazed inside cautiously not to be seen to confirm what she had seen was real and not a dream.

Again she saw Taylor. This time she began to walk faster returning to the room where Karen was being treated. Life had brought her into quandary over the thing she saw today.

 ''She's fine and we've given her pain killers and she will be sleeping now. I've checked the burn you are lucky its just second degree. Don't worry she'll be as fine as nothing had happened. You can take her home in the morning.'' the doctor informed her. She nodded in agreement and sat on a chair beside the bed. Inside her a storm had came and passed. She seemed normal on the outside. With her hand over her head she was sitting as if she would go to that room and murder Taylor with no hassle. She wanted to do this act badly but now she had to act a little in order to give him one chance to reveal the truth. Because the woman he was holding the hand of was no other than that blonde chick whom he had dismissed of work. What is this are they having an affair and he wants to marry me despite this fact? I could've never imagined you would turn out to be like this. She was talking to herself.

 

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#novella #stories #hapless by leo