The Mind Controller of Seville
Part Two: Afternoon Developments
Eduardo lay next to Claudia on his beach blanket and absorbed the sun’s rays. He had eventually convinced Claudia to accompany him to the beach, but she had insisted the he come with her to shop for a new swimsuit first. Now they were absorbing the sun, he in a pair of swim trunks that barely held his powerful erections in check, she in a skimpy, sexy bikini. Simply assisting her in applying sun screen had tempted him greatly.
Eduardo sat up. “Are you thirsty, my dear Claudia?”
“I am a little parched.”
Eduardo clapped his hands. Within a few moments, Becky, who was wearing her new French maid’s outfit, minced over to them with two glasses of iced tea on a little tray. She set the tray down on the sand within easy reach.
“Thank you very much, maid Becky,” said Eduardo.
“I live to serve Master and Mistress.” Becky minced back out of the way to avoid casting a shadow over them.
Claudia looked up and smiled at Eduardo.
“You know, Claudia, there was something I was supposed to do today. Ah, yes, you wouldn’t happen to have a spare CD, would you?”
“There’s one in my purse. Why do you need it?”
“I need to send a present to a friend of mine by the name of Parku. Or was that Vittorio? Nevermind. I’ll pay you back with a very posh dinner tonight.”
“Sounds delightful.”
Parku hovered around the secretaries’ cubicles all that afternoon, trying to look purposefully busy on some complicated errand, but in reality secretly fretting that Eduardo’s courier would never arrive. Finally, at the very stroke of quitting time, a bicycle courier in tight-fitting spandex walked out of the elevator with a small package in hand. The package was flat and covered in brown paper.
“Excuse me,” the man announced to the world at large. “Is there a Mr. Chubby here?”
The secretaries snickered. Parku ignored the humiliation.
“Yes. I’m Mr. Chubby. Right here. I’ll sign for that.”
Parku scribbled his incomprehensible signature over the man’s paper and received the package. By the time he made it back to his office, the heavy paper wrapping had been torn to shreds to reveal a CD case. Inside was a “Christmas Medley” performed by the American Women’s Christian Chorus.
“What do you have there, Mr. Parkuramathanafar?” asked the CEO from her office. Parku straightened up stiffly and tried to act casually.
“It’s…. um… a present… from… my American cousin.”
“Let’s take a look, shall we.”
Parku stepped into the spacious office. CEO Rossetti was sitting there behind her desk wearing her trademark pink business suit – clearly not a color that could possibly inspire any confidence in a potential investor. He gingerly handed her the CD to inspect.
“This looks absolutely fascinating, Mr. Parkuramathanafar. I’ve always had a fondness for traditional American music.”
“Please, be my guest, Ms. Rosetti.”
“Oh, I couldn’t. It’s a family gift, after all.”
“Ms. Rossetti, I still haven’t made it through my cousin’s Halloween Medley, nor her Fourth of July Medley, nor her Arbor Day Medley. Please, you would be doing me a favor.”
Ms. Rossetti smiled. “Very well, Mr. Parkuramathanafar. I’ll listen to this on the drive back home. Dinner with Herr Gluckmann is promptly at eight.” She went back to typing the monthly reports on her laptop screen.
“Very good, Ms. Rossetti.”
Parku turned to leave and smiled to himself. Everything was going exactly according to plan.
Vittorio spent the afternoon in his apartment trying to compose a love poem for his love, Margot. It was late in the afternoon when he heard the lid of his mailbox slamming shut. This must be his package! He flew down the stairs down to the alcove and found a CD wrapped in brown paper in his box. Tearing the paper open, he discovered that this was “Power Affirmations for the Modern Career Woman”.
He slapped his forehead. Margot wanted to be a nun, not a career woman. Still, there was no turning back now. He’d have to think of something. CD in hand, he dashed off into the street.
After long, tense minutes of running, he finally reached the convent where she was volunteering her time in the afternoons. Maybe he could convince her to listen to the CD right away – if, that is, she hadn’t impulsively put on the habit once and for all.
Vittoro spent the next half hour waiting, impatiently trying to come up with some kind of cover story for his CD. Nothing seemed good enough. Then Margot finally emerged from the convent. She was short and petite with her hair pulled into a small bun. She was wearing a modest purple dress with little traces of white lace trim along the neckline and cuffs. Vittorio swooned. He thought she looked more like a ballerina than a nun.
“Play it cool. Play it cool,” he whispered under his breath.
She walked towards him on her way home. He pretended to be lost in thought studying the playlist of the CD when she came by.
“Oh, hello Margot,” he said. She paused.
“So it’s you. Is that some new present you have for me?”
Vittorio tried not to smile even though her French accent sounded so sexy. He sheepishly handed her the CD instead.
“This doesn’t seem like something I’d be interested in. I don’t want to be involved in the world of money.”
“But it’s not like that. See, it’s power affirmations, as in God’s power.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. And modern career women refer to… um… a career as a nun. You have to admit, it’s pretty hard being a nun in the secular modern world.”
“That’s true. It’s so hard with all those horny guys constantly asking me out.”
“Right. So this CD will give you the confidence to embrace God’s power and start a career as a nun.”
“Wow, that’s so thoughtful of you, Vittorio. I’m so happy that you can accept my calling now. I hope we can still be friends in the future.”
“So do I, Margot. And… um…maybe you could help me with a little spiritual counseling now and then?”
“I’d love to, Vittorio.”
Vittorio could have sworn that Margot was going to kiss him at that moment, but she turned and started to hurry home. He bit his nail. He hoped he was doing the right thing.