Chapter I : Night Club

In France, there was a show at a famous night club. This night club was for rich people. The show girls here were all beautiful but the most popular of all was a girl named Bernadette Poesy. When she performed, the club was packed. She was famed to be the most beautiful girl in France. Tonight in the audience, there was a famous billionaire named Gustavo Emmanuel. He was there with his wife. He was an older man. Past his sixties. He was still rather handsome though. That came without question. When Bernadette came on stage, he was enchanted by her. He watched her performance almost without blinking. When she finished, she had her back arched backwards over a male dancer's knee with a rose in her teeth. She got up and bowed. She threw her rose in the crowd and Gustavo caught it. All the dancers on stage disappeared when the curtain went down. In the dressing room, another dancer said , " Hey, Bernadette, did you see Gustavo? The billionaire? He seemed to like you a lot. During your dancing, he didn't take his eyes off of you!"

"It wouldn't be the first time Clemence." Bernadette said

"Oh yeah? But that's Gustavo. The Gustavo!" she said

"So what? Hurry up, I want to go to the party." Bernadette said. They were wearing evening gowns and they went to mingle. When they were among the people, they were socialites. Men flocked around Bernadette. Some just wanted to get a good look and others wanted to get "friendly". Bernadette was used to the excessive attention. Bernadette was standing near the bar talking to three men, another dancer and sipping strawberry wine. She was wearing a long red dress with sequent on the sides. Gustavo watched her from the other side of the room. He was dying to see her up close, just to be in her presence. Suddenly his wife touched him on the arm and said, "Honey, why don't I got get this picture autographed by Bernadette? I want to congratulate her on her performance." she said.

"Oh, of course, let's go meet her." Gustavo said. He and his wife walked over to her. She smiled and said, "Gustavo, I am so honored to have someone like yourself in my audience."

"Oh but you performances are all so exquisite." he said. She couldn't help but to smile. After a long pause, Bernadette looked at Gustavo's wife and said, "Oh! Excuse me if I am stealing your husband!" she looked at Gustavo and said, "Please introduce me to this lovely woman! She's just standing here quiet and polite!" His wife laughed.

"Oh how rude of me. This is my wife Aurore Emmanuel." he said.

"Pleased to meet you Madame Emmanuel" Bernadette said.

"Like wise." Aurore said

"You are a lucky woman to have won the heart of Monsieur Emmanuel." Bernadette said.

"Oh. It isn't that hard really." She laughed. "All I had to do was bat my long eyelashes and he was smitten ever since." she said. She and Bernadette shared a laugh. Gustavo stood there, smiling and sipping his wine. "Oh dear, I almost forgot. Can I have your autograph on this picture?"

"Sure. I'll be happy to do so." Bernadette said with a smile. She got a Sharpie marker from the bartender and signed the picture. "There you go."

"Thank you very much." Aurore said. Bernadette smiled and took a sip of her wine. She put the glass on the bar counter and looked at Gustavo as he watched her every move. "Thank you Bernadette. I believe it is time for Gustavo and I to get home, I am quite tired." Aurore said

"So soon Aurore? The evening is still young!" Gustavo said. He was surprised at her sudden urge to leave. "Gustavo. I said I am ready to leave. Let's go." he said.

"Well Bernadette, it seems that we must make our exit. Thank you for the autograph and it was very nice to meet you, face to face. Not just on stage." Gustavo said as he took Bernadette's hand and kissed it lightly. "Good night." he said.

"Goodnight." she said. With that, Gustavo turned on his heel and left. Bernadette watched him leave. When he was out the door, Bernadette turned to the bartender and said "Felipe, give me a glass of Chianti please."

"Sure." he said as he got her a new glass and poured the Chianti.

"Thank you." she said.

"Eh, Bernadette?" Felipe said.

"Yeah?" she said as she sipped her drink

"You know, Gustavo's wife was angry because he's taken a liking to you." he said. Bernadette rolled her eyes and looked at him,

"Felipe, believe me, Clemence has already told me this. He only watched me because he liked my performance." she said.

"That's not the only thing he liked sweetie pie." he said

"You pig!" she yelled. She picked up her glass and went to mingle for a little longer. Afterwards, she was going home for the night.