THE BATTLEFIELD OF LOVE
Part 78's. Sergei Mashkov's
"Mr Charlie, are you married?" I heard Eva ask in a soft voice. Even though Eva was not young, already at almost forty, she still looked to be at the end of twenty. If people don't know him they'll think we're the same age.
"Not yet." He answered briefly. Eva became more excited.
"Why? Apparently the standard for being your lover is pretty high." Charlie's pretty good-looking, plus a thick purse, there's no problem getting any girl.
"Maybe just haven't found." He smiled at Eva, that was a diplomatic answer.
I only chimed in when I let Eva talk more. When we got to the restaurant, there was more to talk about.
"Miss Monica, I hear you have a successful boutique business." From Eva's onslaught of questions she turned to me.
"It's just a regular business, quite a walk. Just got about a bunch of employees. Not a big business." I said what it is.
"That's pretty good, you've got a career you can count on. Tom talks about you a lot."
*Tom (Monica's boyfriend died, right? forget his name again)
"You know Tom?"
"We're friends already from high school."
"It turns out so. We never met?"
"Ohh no, I'm mostly in the U. S. after college, only now there's business here."
"We go to LA and NY often, we can meet there too." Eva chimed in.
"Ohh yeah you go to NY a lot." But he asked me again.
"Me, oh no. I'm not taking the runway anymore. Eva still often takes the runway fashion week schedule."
"We can meet there." Eva did not hesitate to offer a meeting. Charlie just smiled but didn't say anything to Eva.
At the end of the meeting it seems Eva did not succeed in making him fascinated. We were grateful for dinner and I didn't think about it.
"Mr Addams, .." That afternoon I looked at her figure in surprise. I happen to be in the showroom, usually I'm busy in the back because more are ordering online than coming directly to the store for this boutique. Except those in the shopping center will be more crowded.
"Oh hello, I'm just passing through here, I don't think there's any harm in greeting you." It's hopelessly wrong, but obviously I immediately questioned why he showed up here.
"You looking for something? this boutique can be affordable for many people, most ready to wear collections. If you're giving it to your lover this might be a bit too ordinary. Do you know where my boutique comes from?"
"Oh I know from your manager, he says you're in office here every day if there's no work. I'm not looking for anything for me, just looking around." There's not so much to see here, customers are only one or two but the warehouse is busy tidying up orders, some stroller deliver thousands of neatly wrapped packages all to the pick up truck in front.
"Wow it's a daily sale, that much?"
"Ahh yes it's batch afternoon, orders that night until morning have been delivered this afternoon. We've got two deliveries." He looked at me with admiration.
"Obviously this isn't the usual business you're saying. Your showroom alone is small but I can imagine your warehouse inside there. It's worth it that you need a hundred employees, I thought if just a small boutique doesn't need hundreds, there's something else.." I don't want to be flattered by her compliments.
"You're being overly complimentary, it's because the price is good, and maybe a lot of people like the fashion advice I give them. Those hundreds don't work here, I have some gallery shops in other cities. But yes obviously that handles catalogs online much more."
"It turns out so. This terrific. I'm amazed by someone who actually takes his business seriously."
"Oh come on, what's the value of a business like this, it's not your fingernails, don't make me big, Mr. Addams." I laughed at his compliment.
"Not big or small, but its ability to profit and survive, and again it seems you like it. That's good, enjoying what you're doing is great."
He came here and said a lot of things and compliments to me. I don't know what to say but to thank you.
He seems to be approaching me. And I can't take it.
"Love I said I should consider the US too, I'm actually considering." I told him I already had a boyfriend.
"Of course, if you've been able to get to this stage it would be better to develop it again."
He's not bothered at all I said I had a lover.
"Charlie Addams what are you doing here?" This voice, I thought he'd be back tomorrow