Please remember to donate to Nifty, it gives so much to all of us.
Any amount, large or small, is welcome in order to keep this free site available.
Thank you, donations to the address below. http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html
Life's Illusions - Book Four - Chapter 29
Piers, Milo and the children had enjoyed over a month traveling to visit family around the world.
Their last week had been an indulgence Piers had insisted on, returning from a week in the US where they'd received the customary family welcome in Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York.
Spending the last week in Montclair, and much to Vinny's delight, Paulette, with her parents, was there waiting for them, or rather him.
In Philadelphia, one afternoon, whilst Dillon and Trevor were entertaining the younger children, Piers and Milo had accompanied Vinny on a special mission, if they were honest, they didn't entirely agree with what he wanted to do, but after listening to his reasoning, they'd given in to his request.
It was during that last week in Montclair when Vinny and Paulette had formed an understanding.
Two nights before he was due to fly home, Vinny invited Paulette to dinner at The Inn, in the main restaurant, just the two of them.
It was a date, they both understood that, and both were justifiably nervous.
Vinny had asked Bo if it was possible for them to have a table where they could talk without being overheard.
Paulette spent several hours getting ready, changing her dress several times before she was satisfied with the result, much to Carry's annoyance as several outfits were strewn around the room, but when she appeared in the lounge, a clearly nervous Vinny's heartfelt, uncensored statement, vindicated her efforts.
"Oh wow, you are so beautiful".
Josef was beaming, Carry was almost tearful, Milo, Piers, and the younger ones, were all looking on lovingly.
Walking into the restaurant, they'd been shown to probably the most prized table in the room, at the far side of the restaurant, in a semi circular alcove, with floor to ceiling windows which looked out over the rose gardens, in full view, but several feet back from the rest of the tables, making it impossible for anyone to overhear it's occupants conversations.
Despite their nerves at the outset, they'd fallen easily into their familiar conversation, so much so that coming to the end of their meal was something of a surprise for both of them, and Vinny knew, it was time.
"Paulette, I wanted us to have this evening, on our own, because I want to tell you something, and ask you something, and now I'm doing it I'm as nervous as heck, but here goes".
He paused, Paulette said nothing, she didn't think she could, not without crying, he looked so vulnerable, so nervous, she just reached out and held his hand, and that gave him the confidence to carry on.
"I've never been good around girls, they've always made me nervous, turned me into a babbling idiot, so I always avoided them, then I met you, and I can talk, I don't worry that you'll think I'm stupid, and I find myself wanting to be with you, getting irritated if someone else is taking up your time, if you're not talking to me, it's new, really new for me, and I like it, I like you, I guess that's what I wanted to say the most, I like you, I'm a bit nervous about saying this but I want to ask if you might feel the same, or am I just being silly?".
He was looking down when he finished speaking.
If he'd been looking up, at Paulette, he'd have understood immediately, her expression of euphoria said it all.
She reached out a hand, her finger under his chin, lifting his face gently until he was looking directly into her eyes before she answered.
"Yes Vinny, I feel the same, I've had a few first dates, I've never had a second date, and I know officially this is supposed to be our first date, but it's not really is it, because we've been doing first dates since you got to Torremolinas, so technically this is a sort of second date, my very first, and yes, I definitely feel the same".
He was beaming now, and he reached into his pocket, pulling out a small box, and seeing the look on her face he was quick to say, almost in a giggle.
"Don't be alarmed, I don't think we've quite got to the stage where I propose, but I wanted to give you something that would be a symbol of how I feel, something that you could have and it would be a constant reminder, it's something that by tradition is supposed to be given much later in a relationship, and I never understood why, because I want it to give it's message now and for always.
With that said, he opened the box to reveal a beautiful eternity ring, crafted in Platinum, completely encircled in tiny diamonds.
"I don't know if we'll be the couple I'd wish us to be, but I do know I like you enough to pledge eternally, I'll be here for you, so this ring is me saying, whatever the future holds, I'm here for you, if you want me, if you need me, for whatever reason, know that I'm here and I'll come if you call, will you accept it?".
With tears in her eyes, she didn't hesitate.
"Yes Vinny, and I'll be proud to wear it always, knowing there's a man I like a lot out there who I can count on eternally".
They'd talked on for another hour or more, about him returning to Australia, about how they were going to miss each other, but vowing to talk by Skype every day, and agreeing she would come to visit in a couple of months when he knew her parents and uncle Juan had a planned meeting with his Poppas.
All too soon, both their evening, and the vacation was over, the Australian family were leaving.
Most of the European family were at Nice to bid them a loving farewell, and before they boarded their flight, Vinny was holding, and openly kissing, a distraught Paulette.
Their return home was something of an anticlimax, a quiet few days, before Milo announced.
"Okay, we had a ball, you guys understand now, just how important family is to us, and more importantly, how much we mean to them, there's no such thing as a false welcome in this family, in just a few months, we'll be going to the Christmas House, now that's a complete blast, but right now we expect every one of you to knuckle down and get on with whatever your role is, so shuck the long faces, today you guys are in charge of the cook out, let's invite Bill and Fraser over, it's been too long since we saw them".
Two weeks after arriving home Vinny started his apprenticeship program with Guardian, a three year hard slog, but it would prove to be the best thing he ever did, and possibly his saviour.
In Madrid, Juan and Ralph now had a large portfolio of residential properties completed, they were enjoying a ninety five percent occupancy, with the remaining properties under offer.
The company was going from strength to strength.
The next project on Ralph's schedule was a new venture for both him and Manny.
Juan had bought an estate of dilapidated commercial buildings which had long been an eyesore, bringing down properly values in an otherwise highly desirable area.
There were twenty blocks, all four stories, with five units on each floor.
The ground floor of each block consisted of shop-fronted store units, with the upper three floors offering generously sized office units.
In it's heyday it had been a fashionable Mall, but neglect had brought it to its present state, boarded up and fenced off.
The blocks were arranged around several open courtyards which, with the right mix of stores should guarantee a decent footfall.
Juan had purchased two empty lots of land, one on either side of the original estate, which City Planning had been keen to zone as parking for the site, exactly as Juan had hoped.
Below ground there was an underground car park which extended down two floors, offering safe, protected parking for staff employed on site, thus leaving the above ground parking for customers and clients of the businesses.
It had been Juan's wish to lure in one of the big Supermarket Chain Stores, which in turn would bring a whole host of other retailers fighting for space.
As soon as the plans were finalised, and hailed as a definite improvement to the area by City Planning, Juan got his wish, five ground floor units, in a central position, taking up one complete side of the most prominent courtyard, facing the road, were snapped up by a major chain store retailer.
Juan had been right, they were inundated with offers for the remaining units, they could pick and choose the mix of retailers, ensuring footfall was maximised throughout the whole site.
Ralph had been encouraging Manny to beef up their workforce for months prior to commencing this latest project.
He'd explained, it was his intention to have the teams following each other across the site like locusts, except they would be leaving behind a better situation, not the destruction associated with the little creatures he'd referred too.
The teams were referenced as, Strip, Reinstate, Refurb, Finish.
Strip took the buildings back to mere skeletal carcasses, ripping out everything, leaving just the walls and ceilings.
Similarly in the courtyards, anything not shown as existing on the new blueprints was cleared away.
Reinstate installed the essential services, water, power, and waste, installing new wiring for general power, along with IT cabling and alarm cabling, plus pipe work to wherever the plans dictated their eventual need would be.
Refurb installed external and internal windows, doors, built internal stud walls, replaced plastering, laid courtyard paving, built planters and set out planting and landscaping, allowing the plants, shrubs and trees time to mature, so that ultimately the project would look well established when building work concluded.
Finish took what they were presented with to it's conclusion, fitting and decorating everything internally, skirtings, architraves, kitchens, restrooms, floor coverings, light fixtures, window blinds.
Ralph knew all he had to do was give Manny the overall plan and schedule, then step away, Manny would bring the project in on time, leaving Ralph to oversee quality and negotiate supplier delivery schedules, Manny was the ultimate project manager.
It was Friday lunchtime, Juan was about to leave his office at Guardian's Headquarters in Torremolinas, he'd be traveling home to Madrid, there was a meeting to discuss the annual accounts of ACT-Esse Developments scheduled for later that afternoon.
He was interrupted in his final preparations by one his researchers walking in, she was carrying a light blue folder, the colour folder that signified a human trace.
"Hi Dania, sorry I only have a couple of minutes, I'm just heading out, can we talk in the lift?".
She smiled.
"Yes that's fine, I'll bring you up to speed in the lift, the details are in this folder, it's a duplicate so don't worry about rushing it back, I found your missing surgeon, he's practicing in Miami, it's a private clinic, he lives in Shell Key, anything else you need give me a shout".
She'd finished as they arrived at the car park level.
"You Dania are my absolute star, I'll look it over on the flight, thanks for giving it your time, I really appreciate it".
He hadn't said anything, but her mentioning Shell Key had given him goose bumps, bringing back memories of his youth, vacationing at his great grandfathers mansion on the beach at Shell Key, the vacation when his Poppa Reece had been shot and nearly killed by a gunman in a Mall whilst protecting his sister Sofia, this could only be Pierre's doing, he wanted Juan to act.
The meeting at their apartment in Madrid was attended by Juan, Ralph, Manny, Arty, and Anton.
The results were nothing short of phenomenal, the profits already exceeded their best expectations.
Many confirmed the Mall project was actually two weeks ahead of schedule and Finish were forecasting a completion handover in two weeks.
Manny's teams were already working on the next projects.
Juan was noticeably distracted during the meeting and Ralph pulled him aside afterwards.
"Okay, you need to tell me what's going on, and don't bother giving me any crap".
Juan spoke quietly.
"We've found him, the doctor who operated on Pierre, and on me, he's practicing in Miami, living in Shell Key, it's really freaky, because when I was little I was staying in our house there when Poppa Reece was shot by some nutter in a Mall, it's as if Pierre is telling me I have to do this, but now I'm terrified, how do I put this to Anton?".
Ralph pulled him into a hug.
"Sometimes you can be so dumb, it's what you have me for, and if you think Pierre is pushing this it can only mean one thing, the outcome will be a good one, but we don't tell them about our theory on Pierre, come on, no time like the present".
Manny and Anton were sitting in the small lounge, just off the main lounge, watching television, they tended to do that, insisting it wasn't fair for them to constantly crowd Juan and Ralph.
Ralph spoke as they entered the room.
"Hi guys, would you mind if we joined you, we have something to discuss?".
Both answered at once.
"Please, it's your home, come sit down".
Ralph started the conversation, knowing Juan would take over at some point.
"Juan has had Guardian's investigators searching for a particular person for some time now, the person he's been looking for is a specialist in repairing and restoring the damaged neurological pathways that cause paralysis".
Anton's eyes were wide as he realised, this was about him, he grabbed for Manny's hand, waiting for Ralph to go on.
Juan took over, exactly as Ralph had expected he would.
"I haven't approached him, I wanted you to know that we've located him, he's practicing in a private clinic in Miami, but you have to believe, he really is an absolute maestro at his trade, he took Pierre, who hadn't been able to walk from birth to twelve years old, and gave him a life he never dreamed he'd have, then when I was partially paralysed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, he restored me too, I, we, want you to have that chance Anton, but it has to be your decision, it might not be possible to repair the damage you suffered, right now all I'm asking is for your permission to approach him, supply him with your medical notes, see if he thinks it's worth further investigation?".
Anton looked at Manny, then back to Juan and Ralph.
He didn't answer for a while, and Juan couldn't understand why he was silent, his expression looked disappointed, almost crestfallen, but Ralph saw it straight away.
"It's the cost isn't it, that's why you're not answering?".
Anton nodded, the sadness evident in his face, tears forming as he replied.
"I couldn't raise the sort of money it would cost, and it would hurt too much if he said it was possible to put me right, then to have to go on living like this, I'm grateful Juan, honestly I am, you've done so much for me already, but I have to say no".
He'd started to haul himself from the sofa into his wheelchair, obviously intending to leave the room, and the conversation, but Juan wasn't finished.
"Answer me one question, and I'm asking for a completely honest answer, if it weren't for the cost and your lack of funds, would you let him investigate?".
Anton didn't see the trap, he simply did what Juan had asked, he answered honestly.
"Yes, I would, but that's only a dream".
Juan shocked him, both with his statement, and the tone of his voice, he didn't surprise Ralph, and he only mildly surprised Manny, but he definitely shocked Anton.
"Good, because you're going to approve your medical records being sent for his analysis, if he feels there's any hope of bringing about an improvement then you're going for an examination, and if he feels he can definitely improve your current condition you're having the treatment, cost is not a consideration, do you understand me?".
Anton just nodded.
Juan's four word answer settled the matter.
"Good, then that's settled".
Juan started to get up, then he sat back down.
"I should apologise to you guys and to Arty, I was completely distracted earlier by this business and by trying to figure out how to broach the subject with you, I should have known Ralph would just take the bull by the horns, if I go and get Arty could we have a really quick meeting now?".
They both agreed and Juan went off to see if Arty was free for a few minutes.
Arty answered the door to their apartment and invited him in.
"Arty, I came to apologise, I was distracted earlier with something that dropped in my lap as I left the office this afternoon, it's something not connected to the business in hand, and it's resolved now, but I didn't say any of what I planned to earlier, could you possibly spare fifteen, or maybe thirty minutes now?, if it's not convenient we can reschedule for another time".
Arty smiled.
"Now's good, I need to be back in an hour to read the boys tonight's instalment of Mark Twain, if I'm late I'll just cut it short and blame you".
Juan smiled.
"I'll make sure you're back in time, I might even sit in, it been a long time since I went to sleep listening to that".
Juan returned with Arty and once they were all seated he led off, explaining in a way that told Anton, he hadn't shared anything they'd talked about.
"As I told Arty, I was distracted earlier by something unrelated to the business in hand, it meant I didn't fully engage, I didn't say any of what I'd intended to say, so I like to right that wrong now".
After a brief pause.
"I was listening, it's an occupational hazard, I might not be concentrating on the matter in hand, but I hear and retain everything, so, about the state of the company, it's nothing short of phenomenal, and it's not down to me, it's attributable entirely to you guys".
He paused again for them to take in what he'd said.
"Arty gave you some figures, which painted an extremely healthy picture for the company but I'm going to expand on his details, initially I made available, as an interest free loan, four hundred million Euros for purchase of the properties we were adding to our land bank, plus providing running costs until the company became cash fluid, we, you, have taken the company to the point where that initial cash injection can be reduced, partially repaid, at intervals, whilst leaving the company with a healthy cash pot for property acquisitions and day to day expenses".
They were hanging on his every word now, even Ralph hadn't appreciated exactly how successful the company was, until Juan had explained it to him in simple terms.
"I am proposing a repayment of one hundred million from the original loan amount, leaving the company with a reduced loan debt of three hundred million, and a healthy cash surplus for its daily needs, this still allows us to buy up properties which we feel have potential, it is a more than healthy position to be in, we have income from the serviced apartment arrangements which is constantly adding to our cash surplus, add to that, the Mall project which will complete shortly and we'll begin adding an extensive further rental income, I anticipate within the next twelve months, the company will be in a position to reduce the loan debt by a further one hundred million, and within two years after that will be loan free but extremely cash wealthy, effectively purchasing stock for the land bank without the need for credit".
"I prepared this very simple and basic tally sheet which Arty has verified".
The sheet showed a very simple incoming and outgoing cash flow chart, projected forward over four years.
"I know it's very rough, it doesn't take in taxes, etc., but it tells you what you've done is miraculous, and I just wanted you to know how proud I am of all of you".
They were all completely agog, all except Arty who knew the figures already, and Ralph who'd had the benefit of Juan's explanation previously, they thought that was it, until Ralph said.
"I bet you think that's it don't you?, well hang on to your belt and braces, because I think he might blow your minds with the next bit".
Juan laughed.
"You really do enjoy drama Ralph Esse, but he's right guys I do have something else to add, we, that's Ralph and I, believe we have found the perfect set of individuals who, as a collective, can operate this company at a level above anything we could have ever expected, and although I described you, us, as a perfect set of individuals, there is another equally descriptive word, a singular word, and as of the first day of next month, in exactly six days time, we'd like it if you agree to adopt and accept that word and the status that it carries, the word is 'Partners',".
There was not a sound, they all were staring, trying to understand, the same question running around in the heads of Arty, Manny, and Anton, 'Did he say Partners?'.
Until Juan said.
"Take it away and think about it, you would all be twenty percent partners, with no cost to you however, I'm afraid we need to break this up now because Arty has a very important engagement with two very important people, and I don't want to be the one to cause them any disappointment, we'll speak again in a day or so unless you have any questions, in which case you can come to me anytime".
Juan and Ralph had left them, returning to the larger lounge, giving them the opportunity to discuss what had been said.
They saw Arty dodging back to his and Marcie's apartment a few minutes later to fulfil his fatherly duties of delivering the next instalment of Mark Twain.
Next morning at breakfast Marcie had asked.
"I don't want this to sound rude, but I don't know of any other way to ask it, why would you give away sixty percent of a company that is making such successful progress when you could just reap the rewards?".
Juan was smiling as he answered.
"Many, many moons ago, my brother and I asked that very same question of someone else, when we were offered a share of Guardian, the answer then, is still the same now, it doesn't matter what we give away, in the long run we'll be better off because we can be assured our partners will have a reason to ensure the growth of the company, by having a stake in its success, it's future, and ultimately we won't have given anything away, we'll be the owners of a percentage that far exceeds what we originally had, but you were right to ask".
Marcie nodded, obviously thinking, before saying.
"We're still learning, this family is so straight forward, but it's not the norm, it's not what we've been brought up to expect, by modern society standards, it's complicated, and I admit, it still surprises us, but thank you, I can talk to Arty now".
Ralph was looking baffled by the exchange, until Juan explained.
"Arty doesn't make the big decisions, he defers to Marcie, much as a company does, it wouldn't do for everyone to be making decisions in areas where they had no real understanding, I excel in field decisions, but Josef would be the first to tell you how many disastrous management decisions I have made, I'm not a diplomat, that's Jo's role".
Then Ralph asked a question, one which slipped out unintended, and was expressed in bitterness, he asked it in a way, and in a tone which threw Juan completely, it hurt him, that was clearly evident in how he reacted.
"And Pierre, who I'm supposed to believe excelled in absolutely everything, what role did he occupy?".
Juan didn't answer, he couldn't, he was taken aback, receding to a place he couldn't get away from.
He could hear the calling, the voice so urgent, but he knew he didn't want to go there, it would mean more questions, and he wasn't ready for that.
Ralph was becoming frantic, he'd expected a reaction, sometimes it was daunting, even irritating, living in the shadow of Pierre, but he hadn't expected this, Juan was practically comatose.
Marcie had been the hero of the hour she'd brought Juan back to a semi functional state, guided him to his suite, seen him settled on the bed, then left him sleeping.
When she emerged from the suite she'd launched an attack on Ralph.
"What did you do, no one goes into that sort of shock reaction without provocation, something you said or did hurt him, what was it, tell me if you have any feelings at all for him?".
Ralph was all but babbling, it had been a stupid thing to do, to say, but he admitted to Marcie what he'd said, and her reply was vitriolic.
"Well you'd best hope he wakes up and still feels anything for you, because to be honest, I want to smack your face right now, and believe me it's taking all of my self control not to let my sense of justice rule, how on this earth could you do that to him?".
Juan slept, a troubled sleep, Ralph could see that, because he never closed his eyes all night.
Lying next to Juan, spooning him, whispering words of love, apologising over and over again.
At first light Juan opened his eyes to be greeted by the sight of a tearful Ralph.
"I'm sorry, don't hate me, I shouldn't have said what I did, it was stupid, it just came out, and I hurt you, I never wanted to do that, I fucked up".
Juan was trying to get his bearings, when he did, he answered Ralph honestly.
"I didn't see it coming, I thought you understood my baggage, and it's baggage I'm not willing or able to cast off, not ever, I didn't know you felt that way, maybe we need some time apart to try to work this out, I'll go back to Montclair for a while".
Juan turned onto his side, facing away from Ralph, his expression as he'd said what he had, left Ralph in no doubt about how hurt he was feeling, but Ralph's reply surprised him.
"No, if you think we need time apart, it just means it's over, I'll move back to my Studio Apartment, it's empty, I'll do it today, it wouldn't be fair for you to leave and never come back, there are so many people here relying on you for their lively hood, their future, especially Anton, you promised to make his life better, do that, he deserves it, Manny will run the construction side of the company for you, I want out of our arrangement, have your solicitors draw up the paperwork, I'll sign the company over to you, I don't want anything, I'll figure something out for myself, but you have to know, I love you, I'm certain I always will, and I'm sorry, more sorry than you'll probably ever realise".
Ralph had left their suite, with Juan expecting they could talk this through when he felt rested enough to get up, but he'd nodded off again, and when he finally awoke, Ralph was gone.
He hadn't taken even a change of clothes, he'd left everything, he was walking away from a complete life, heartbroken, but convinced, he was the fool, the one who'd thrown it all away, but to Juan it didn't matter, he was gone and all he felt was empty.
TBC Allan
Comments are welcome to cfgw2000@aol.com.
Thank you for giving me your time, enjoy.