Marshall couldn't put up a rational argument that night, the next day, or even the day after. He didn't shout, but she could see he wanted to. For a few days, he stormed the house, asking all the stupid questions she had once asked. She loved how perplexed and ashamed he was when she returned his answers right back at him. He didn't have anything to say after that.

Even when she told him of her expenses, instead of his passive aggressive snide remarks he usually made, he simply sighed and muttered under his breath. It seemed that seeing her with Claude had proven to be a bigger detriment than she had thought. That worried her a little, but Parker assured her he was simply sulking. A few more dates with Claude and he would be finally ready to come around.

Claude. She blushed whenever she thought of him. She had apologized for her drunken words, and he had accepted, but things were different between them now. She had almost canceled it all to avoid meeting with him again. There could be nothing, she had emphasized, and he had agreed. Ah, if only perhaps…

No. Her heart might be yearning, but she was no teenage girl. She wouldn't falter, not now. Tears tried to overrun her eyes, but she dabbed them away. She would go on a few dates, make Marshall jealous, and then be…

Happy?

"Where are you going?" Marshall asked her.

"Dancing, of course." She kissed him on the cheek. "You don't mind, do you?"

"No, but," He shifted guiltily in his seat. "With that guy again?" He asked.

"His name his Claude." she said as he put on her new jacket. "And you have met him."

"Where did you two meet?" He suddenly asked.

"Oh, someone introduced us," She replied carelessly. "Perhaps it was Susan, I can't remember exactly. Why " She asked mockingly, "are you jealous?"

"Jealous?!" He spluttered. "No, I am simply asking you to be careful. There are lot's of dangerous people out these days."

"You think Claude is dangerous?" She adjusted her earring. "He can't even stand the sight of blood! And if he was after me," She turned to face him. "Don't you think he would have done something by now?"

"I don't mean it that way, Georgina," Marshall coughed, and looked away, suddenly shameful. "Have you given him gifts or something like that? And has he, you know, asked for them?"

"Oh! Oh." When she realized what she meant, she was suddenly furious. "Why, no, not at all." But she controlled herself. There was a date to attend, and it wouldn't do to have an argument with him right now. "Never at all."

"Okay," He sounded relieved. "Just so you know, there are a lot of victims out there, middle-aged women," He looked away, "and men, falling prey to these sort of crimes. Even the best of us can be fooled."

"Claude isn't like that." That was the final reply, and the end of the discussion.

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Doubt is a seed that grows very well in the fertile imagination of the mind. And Mrs. Georgina spent a lot of the time thinking these days. The words of her husband, so easily denied in the night, haunted her in the light of the day. She knew what he had insinuated. Claude was a gigolo. But they had met by coincidence.

But as she thought, was it truly a coincidence? Parker had arranged for her to visit there. And Claude had pursued her, from that very beginning. Why? It wasn't like she was overtly beautiful, or anything. They had barely talked when he decided to accompany her. Was it possible? Were Parker and Claude in it together? Was he laughing at her right now, about old, fat Georgina and her wild fantasies? But wait, perhaps she was overthinking things. She suddenly felt sick and had to sit down.

Could she test him? As she massaged her head, the insidious thought came to her mind.

She thought for awhile and called him to meet at Claridge. Then she went over to Asprey's and bought a golden tie pin. She examined it closely, and satisfied with her choice, went over to lunch. As they ate dessert, she produced it from her bag. "A gift," She explained and handed him the box. He looked up and frowned. "For me?" "Yes. I, I hope you like it." His hands closed over it and slid it violently across the table. "Why?" His dark eyes flashed. "Take it back! Take it back, I say!" His voice shook with anger.

"I am sorry." She apologized. They tried to bring the conversation back to harmonious matters, but the air was constrained between them.

She went back home more confused than ever.

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The next day, he called her for the first time. "Can we meet?" He asked her. There was a sense of urgency in his voice. She agreed immediately.

When she arrived at the saloon, she found him pacing around the place, tense and wound up. His face was scrunched up like he was deeply thinking. They greeted each other. The air was still tense.

"I know why you gave me that gift yesterday." He spoke. "You think I'm, I'm a gigolo, don't you? A creature that lives on women? Preys on their money?" His face was deathly pale.

"No, no" She protested. "Not at all."

"Well," He seemed torn, "I am come to tell you it's true. I am a gigolo, I prey on women, the lowest of the low, and the most despicable person on Earth." He deflated, and then picked up again. "It was Parker. I had my orders to take you out, to dance with you, to amuse you, to make love to you, to make you forget your husband, to make you happy." Tears fell from his eyes, and from her own as well.

"Why, " Her voice quavered. "Why are you telling me all this?" She found it difficult to control herself.

"Because I have come to love you." He kneeled and took her hands in his. "You may think it's another lie, another trick, but I swear, Georgina, I do love you." He kissed her hand. "And you have changed me, Georgina. I am done with all this. I am going away, to make myself a man worthy of Georgina - and not the despicable creature that I am right now. And this is all because of you." He took her in his hands. His lips closed hers. A short moment, but it was an eternity. Then he released her.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"We won't meet again." he said. "And I am sorry for causing so much trouble." He whispered, "You once told me that you loved camellias, and how you cried when you didn't get them for your birthday." She remembered the words. Marshall didn't get the right flowers. Camellias. "But as long as I live, I will send them." He stepped back. "This is my promise."

"And here," He pressed something in her hand. "This was my mother's. I would like it on your fingers, but still," He looked into her eyes, and kissed her again, "I want to you have it." They both stared at each other, etching each other in their memory for eternity.

"Good day." He suddenly said and left.

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Marshall was tired. The girl was flirting with several men in the office, and there were a lot of shouting when the boss had found out. Who tipped them off? He didn't know, but somehow his luck had held out. There was the talk of demotions and salary cut, but he had escaped unscathed. He was lucky, in a sense. The girl had been simply using him for money, and like a fool, he had been taken in. Georgina would never let him hear the end of it if she found out.

Georgina. He realized how stupid he had been of course. She had warned him in the beginning, but he hadn't listened. She deserved an apology. Perhaps even dinner, at one of the fancier restaurants.

When he reached home, he found her sitting on the sofa, a faraway look on her face. She spoke kindly and forgave him, but somehow she seemed a little absent-minded. They talked and drank tea, and chatted. Usual routine, but it was pleasant after a long time. This was the comfort he wanted. Why had he gone after the woman anyway? No, he was too old. Should stay at home and rest in leisure.

"Listen, Georgina," He began, "we haven't gone anywhere for a long time, have we? Why don't we take a break, visit Richard…" He trailed off, unsure. "Or anywhere you want?"

"That would be lovely, dear," She smiled at him. Poor old Marshall. He was still the same. There were no secrets in his life, no faraway love. She grasped his hand and held it tenderly. "But don't worry about me." She smiled. "I am perfectly happy."

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"So the total profit comes to four thousand, five hundred and thirty-two," Parker noted. "A respectable amount."

Lisa nodded dutifully. The office door opened, and Claude (or rather, Daniel) stepped in moodily. "Morning, Daniel." Parker greeted him. "That was commendable, your performance at the end."

"I suppose so," Daniel replied moodily.

"When's her birthday?" Parker asked.

"November 3rd."

Parker wrote it down. "Camellias, a whole bouquet. Twenty five years, subject to renewal. How much would that be?"

"A hundred and eighty eight." Lisa calculated. "I'll add it to the registry."

"Good. By the way, what name did you put on the ring?" Parker asked.

"Martha." Daniel's voice was still gloomy. "1957."

"A surprisingly popular choice for mothers these days," Parker chuckled. "Well, not that Georgina would know. Thank you, Lisa," He handed the file back to her. "You can leave now."

Lisa nodded and walked out. Daniel fished out a cigarette. Parker looked over to him, surprised.

"A little puff never hurt anybody." Daniel explained as he fiddled with the lighter and took a deep drag. "Helps to calm the nerves too."

"I recommend tea." Parker walked over to the far edge and looked outside the glass walls. Then he looked back. "Doesn't kill your lungs." They waited, each expecting the other to speak.

After a while, Daniel began conversationally. "I almost told her the truth, you know."

"Instead, you did the right thing." Parker replied.

"The right thing?" He laughed hollowly. "Lying to her, that was the right thing?"

"It was." Parker replied curtly. There was silence again.

"Look here-" Daniel began suddenly. "I don't understand it at all. Why - Why did you make me do all this, if I was to leave her in the first place?"

"Because it was required." Parker patiently enunciated the words, as he returned back to his desk. "Everything you did was necessary, trust me. "

"All these lies? The gigolo act?" Daniel spat out the words. "Making her fall in love and breaking her heart, this was necessary? Hurting her was necessary? And -"

"Yes." Parker cut him off, his voice stern as he sat down.

"Well in that case, I quit." Daniel slammed his hand down on the desk. "I won't do this anymore."

"Quit? Hardly, Daniel." Parker calmly looked at the hand on the desk, disdain evident on his features. " You know it yourself, don't you?" He leaned back and looked directly at his face. "This is what you excel at. What else would you do if you quit?"

"And besides, I don't understand." he said, "This work didn't trouble you during your affairs with the Viscount of Albaross, or the Duchess of Carthy, and the numerous other women you actually swindled." Daniel's face looked guilty at his words, and Parker pressed on his advantage.

"In fact, I particularly liked your performance with the Oil Baroness. That was masterful. It was where we first met, didn't we?" His voice took on a sudden cheerful tone. "Unfortunate, though, that they still are looking for you there."

Daniel glowered for a while. "Are you threatening me?"

"Only making sure you remember our original conversation." Parker reply was immediate. "And the agreement."

"Funny, cause I seem to remember a few things that you have forgotten." Daniel's voice was harsh. "Didn't I tell you that maybe the reason I joined you that day was to stop all that? To stop being a swindler, a cheat or a gigolo?" He grew angrier. "That I wanted to live a straight life from then on?"

"No, you simply said you wanted a new job, which I gave you." Parker pretended to be surprised. He stood up and matched Daniel's gaze. "The other statements were your wishes about what it should be. One that unfortunately couldn't get fulfilled."

"Unfortunately?" Daniel balled his hands into fists. "You just wanted to use me for your own crimes."

"No, Daniel." Parker empathetically stated, raising up open palms. "I wanted you to use your powers for good. To help others, as you requested." He smiled. "And you did."

"Help?" He disbelievingly questioned. "How did I help Georgina?"

"You don't understand, do you?" Parker let out a long suffering sigh. "Very well. But just this once."

"Your actions were necessary. You gave Georgina exactly what she needed - a romance." He held up a finger, smiling as a school teacher who explained his favorite topic. "The finest romance that a middle aged woman could conjure for herself. A romance based fully on love, not lust. An impossible task to pull off, but you performed it adroitly."

"You gave her a pure romance that she will treasure and look through the rose tinted glasses for the years to come. The flowers will only reinforce your love in her mind. She remember you fondly, time and camellias making the days spent with you seem more beautiful as it passes."

He continued on, speaking slower than before. "She will remember your words, your promises, and the dreams you passionately spoke of. Then she will start to remember her own. She will grow much more accepting of herself, because you had accepted her. She will love herself, because you had loved her. And one day, she will be free."

"Free to be happy." He clasped his hands together. "Which is exactly what we promised." His eyes twinkled. "We have done our work very satisfactorily, and this is all thanks to you."

There was silence in the room again.

"I don't believe it." Daniel finally said. "It doesn't work that way. It doesn't. Love doesn't-" He fiddled with his lighter again, his brow furrowed as he thought how to continue his argument.

"Thank you for your opinion." Parker didn't allow it to continue. "But you best remember as long as I head this company, you'll do as I say. That was the agreement." His sudden business-like tone caught Daniel off guard. ""If the day comes you run this Company, you can show me your methodology." The severe tone brooked no argument.

Parker reached into the drawer and pulled out a envelope. "Till then, here's your pay. You will it quite generous. I even included a bonus." Daniel took it from him, eyeing it warily.

"And now, if there isn't anything else, you can leave." Parker curtly finished. They stared at each other again, until Daniel finally gave up and walked out.

Parker watched him go, his eyes softening as he left. After a few minutes, he pulled a file from one his drawers and started to write.

Hardened lizard shows vestiges of a conscience. Interesting. Study further developments.

CASE 17B332 - The End