“Where have you been,” she hissed. The fruity, sugary fragrance of her perfume filled my nostrils. Insolence by Guerlain. As sickeningly sweet as...it was, I yearned for it when it was not there. She wrenched me away from what I was doing. Forgotten, my textbook fell to the desk. She forced me to look into her hazel eyes. “You were supposed to meet me ten minutes ago.” Even the way she snarled was alluring, her piercing eyes slanted in disapproval. I watched her hair neatly curve downwards,. ‘Honestly Father, I don’t understand why I need to be here.’ I heard a younger man in the room up ahead say as we neared the entryway. ‘Veronoule you must learn that when you are as wealthy as us, all kinds of people will come at you in all kinds of ways. People will do just about anything to get some of your money, watch and learn how you deal with them Son.’ An older man also in the room up ahead said just before we passed through the entryway. It was a good-sized sitting room but not overly. 'How many people did you get here, you crazy?' I stood amazed.'I am not counting them, I am busy with other stuff.' He said motioning in the direction of the girl with him. I laughed and asked for drinks. He directed me to the kitchen, winked at me and returned to focusing on the hottie. My feet led me to the place where most of the alcohol resided. Around me were cans of beer, there even was a keg, but my interest was elsewhere. In the harder stuff. I had my tastes for good stuff developing. There was something about him that the staff always liked. There was no airs about him. He made them feel comfortable in his presence. As Charles reached for McTavish’s hand, the Scot seemed hesitant. It was then Charles realized that he missing two fingers on it. ‘I see,’ Charles said withdrawing his hand. ‘Sorry.’ ‘No need, sir. It’s me Blighty wound. Got it at Loos. King’s Royal Rifles, sir’ ‘That’s was my brother’s battalion. He was killed there, you know,’ Charles said softly. ‘Knew of the.