16 Going on 30…
Chapter 1
"Where the hell am I?"
Terry was outside the tower, after playing the harmonica for Candy, he fell asleep, eh wanted to stay near her, even if they were separated by those thick walls. He was still kicking himself for falling into Eliza's trap! He should've known better! But it was too late to cry over spilled milk. He had to find a solution for Candy, he had for find a way to save her, and she was going to be disowned by her family according to her cousins. He's going to ask his father for help, even if he knew it was no use, that old geezer was not going to help… but he had nothing to lose by asking for help, except his pride… but for Candy, he'd do anything. If I can't convince his father to help Candy, then he will have to make the ultimate sacrifice.
He fell asleep, thinking:
"If I were a little older, I would've taken you with me, and marry you…"
*
* *
Terry was fast asleep in his nice and fluffy bed. He felt a hand on his chest. But who could it be? He was in college, in his dorm room… He never brought girls over to his room to…Even though the idea of Candy in his room in a transparent nightgown would be a sight for sore eyes… He tried to open his eyes, but they were so heavy. There as a knock on his door…
- Mr. Grandchester! It's time to get up! Mr. Grandchester!
- What de hell…? Said Terry
- It's the housekeeper, said a woman's voice
Terry's eyes opened suddenly. Who the hell was that?!
- Who the hell are you? Said Terry cranky
- I'm your fiancée, Terry come on…
As she said that she put her other hand on his chest and she was approaching her head to kiss him… Terry looked at her…
- Aaahhh! He screamed
He got out of bed so fast that he almost fell.
- Who the hell are you? Repeated Terry, what are you doing in my…
He looked around him. The room was breathing luxury: canopy bed, thick carpet , satin bedding…
- Where the hell am I? He said
- Oh honey, said the woman, you must've drank too much last night…
- What?
- This is our room… you and I…
- You and I equals what?
- We're a couple, engaged to be married since like… forever! I'm still waiting for you to make an honest woman out of me…
Terry felt a little chill he looked at himself and he saw that he was buck naked! He pulled a sheet from the bed to cover himself.
- Honey, she said, what's going on? There's nothing there I've never seen before…
The knock on the door continued. Terry went to open the door. A housekeeper came in. She was short in her fifties carrying a tray.
- Finally! She said, I was afraid to have to call the doorman to break down the door…
- You should be fired for your insubordinance
- Fortunately, Mr. Grandchester signs my paycheques, not you!
- Do you see how she talks to me? Said the women
The housekeeper put the tray on the dresser in the bedroom.
- Here is your coffee Mr. G, breakfast is on the table…
- Thank… you, said Terry looking at her
The housekeeper left… Terry followed her outside.
- Excuse me…euh…
- Esther…
- Esther! Yes! You're going to find me weird but I feel a little lost today, where is the water closet?
- The what?
- The… bathroom!
- Oh… it's that door over there, Mr. G… did you get drunk again last night?
- I think so… I don't remember a thing! Where am I? Who is that woman?
- Someone you wish you could forget unfortunately… you can't
- Why?
- You owe her…
- I owe her what? Money?
- If only…
- What then?
The housekeeper's eyes went to something against the wall…
- A prosthetic leg?
- Miss Susanna lost her leg saving you…
"Susanna, that's her name!" he said to himself
- What? Saving me how, where?
- At the theatre of course… during the rehearsal of your big break; "Romeo and Juliet", why am I telling you all this? It's your life, you know what happened! I have to clean up the kitchen!
Esther left leaving an astonished Terry. She lost her leg?
- Where the hell is Candy??!!!
He went to the bathroom, still with his sheet around him. He looked at himself and he looked older…
- Oh my God! I'm a man!!! What is going on??!!! And I need to shave! Great!
He took a shower for the longest time. He got out wearing a bathrobe her found hanging on the bathroom door. He tried shaving himself, but the result was not very good, he cut himself a lot!
He went to the bedroom hoping to find it empty and thank God for him it was! The bed was made everything was cleaned. He went to the closet and he saw it full of clothes.
- Not bad Grandchester! Very good quality stuff in here…
He got dressed with nice black pants and a white shirt. He looked at his hair, still long…
- At least one thing hasn't changed… except for my taste in women… a one legged broad? I left Candy for a one legged broad! I must've been drunk!
He walked out of the bedroom to the big dining room.
- This apartment is huge! He said out loud.
He went to sit, Susanna was there having breakfast. He sat down, there was a paper by his side, he took it looked at the date; June 30th 1927???
- What the hell!?
- What? Said Susanna
- I… I didn't realise it was so… late!
- Don't worry honey; we have time until the first board meeting…
- Board meeting?
- Yes…
- What about…?
- The theatre?
- Yes…
- We have to be there in the afternoon… that should give you the time to sober up…
- I'm not drunk… I'm just a little … lost
- Right! Who was it this time?
- What do you mean?
- You think I don't know you change starlets every single night? But I don't mind, you always come back to me… You're going to marry me if it's the last thing you do!!!
Terry looked at her with disgust. What was he doing with a viper like her… the fact that she had one leg didn't even make him feel sorry for her, she was just despicable.
- What a very charming way to get a man to marry you! Don't hold your breath!
- How dare you talk to me like that? I saved your life! I lost my leg! You owe me!!!
- It's good that you're talking to me, because in the eyes of God, you already have your reward in full!
Susanna blushed and she looked down. Then she said.
- Terry, mama is pressuring me… it's been so long
- That means you can wait a little longer, can't you?
- But Terry…
- Susanna, you must know by now that no one makes me do what I don't want…
- We made you break up with Candy…
Terry looked at her… He wanted to strangle her… Duty over love.
- That's because I had a duty with you!… can you not say her name? You're not worthy of saying her name… she's a saint! You're pure evil!
- Terry! Said Susann a in tears
Terry stood up and left the table. He walked around the apartment and he found a room , it was his study, he felt good there. He got in and he locked the door. He went to sit at his desk and he opened the drawers, there's got a be something on Candy, he had to find her… He found, hidden in one of the drawers, some news paper clips...
- What??!!! Candice White Andrew is marrying her adoptive father?? Albert is Candy's adoptive father? And she's marrying her!!! Albert? How could he do that to me? I thought he was my friend! Some friend! He was lusting after her the whole time! What a sick pervert! His daughter!!!! Is that even legal!!!?? I have to stop this! I can't let this happen!!! But … that one legged broad might be an obstacle … Well I don't know how I'm going to make it, but I'll find a way to get Candy back… Nothing makes sense without her…
In the same drawers, there were letters from Candy to him… he read them all, he had tears in his eyes…
"I invited her to the Premiere of Romeo and Juliet… She must've come and found the situation with Susann… oh Candy! I lost you!!! No! I won't accept that! Candy is mine! She's mine! I won't let her marry Albert!!!!"
There was a knock on the door. He went to open. Esther was standing in front of him.
- Miss Susanna is waiting for you in the car downstairs …
- Thank you Esther…
She looked at him he seemed so sad.
- Are you all right, sir?
- Yes, I'm fine, said Terry
He went to get his blazer and he went downstairs. He was the luxury car, he got in. Susanna was sulking. Terry sat by her side.
- You were in there thinking about her again…
- That's a problem because…
- I'm your fiancée! You should be thinking about me!
"Finding out about you only today is not helping me to think about you, especially since you're the cause of my break up with Candy!"
- Saying it , does not make it so, said Terry
- Terry! What's go into you!? Ever since you woke up, you're not the same man…
"That's because I'm not the same man! What was my alter ego thinking! Living without Candy!? How is that even possible! And I was thinking of leaving her in college if I couldn't prevent her expulsion … waking up in a world without her is gut wrenching !!! I need Candy!"
- Can you tell me about this meeting we're going to have?
- You know what it's about…
- Humour me…
Susanna looked at him. Something was off… it was like she fell asleep with a passionate man making love to her, even if he was whispering Candy's name, but he was passionate… that was enough for her.
- All right…
She started telling him the highlights of the meeting… Terry listened with one ear, his mind with Candy. They arrived at the office… It was a big building on Fifth Avenue… How did he become the head of this big corporate company?
- Grandchester Enterprises? He said out loud
- Yes, your father gave you the company when he retired…
- My father? The duke?
- Yes… he opened a branch here, he and your mom rekindled their romance…
- You don't say! That old geezer wasn't as stupid as he seemed…
- Terry!
- I can see you're not the one who had to live with him during your childhood…
- Your father is a very nice man
- That's not how I remember him… whatever! Let's and get it over with!
They went inside the building and went up to the office headquarters. Susanna showed Terry his office and he young man who was his assistant.
- This is your office, are you going to be ok?
- Yes, Susanna, thank you Susanna…, said Terry ironically
She looked at him, she shook he head and she left to go to her own office. His assistant came in, in name was John.
- Good morning sir, your mother is on the phone, should I tell her you're not it?
- Why would you do that? I want to talk to my mother!
- But you always say…
- I love my mother, I miss my mother, pass me the call!
- All right sir…
John went out and a few second lather Terry's phone on the big desk was ringing and a red light was flashing, he picked up and pressed the red light.
- Hello? Mum?
- Terry! You took my call!
- Of course I took your call, I always take your calls mum…
- Yeah whatever! How are you today?
- I'm kind of a little lost mum, actually
- What's wrong? Is it Susanna?
- No… it's…
- Candy?
- Yes…
- Terry, it's been over 10 years…
- I don't care! I woke up missing her like hell! I have to see her! Do you know where I can contact her?
- She's getting married very soon Terry…
- Don't remind me! To my former best friend and her adoptive father! Can you say disgusting?
- Terry, you moved on
- I still love her mum…
- Let it go…
- No! I have to see her…
- I called you to invite you and Susanna to a dinner party tonight
- As a couple?
- You are a couple… Susanna already said yes… are you going to come
- Yes, I'll be there… I want to see you mum… I miss you
- I miss you too Terry and … your father misses you too…
- I'm sure…, said Terry ironically
- Terry, he's your father…
- You don't have to remind me that… anyway, see you tonight? Bye mum, I love you
- I love you too… It was nice talking to you today…you remind me of that young man I reconciled with in Scotland…bye baby, I love
Terry hung up the phone. It was nice talking to his mum… as opposed to talking to that one legged broad who is annoying him like hell! John his assistant came in the office with some files…
- The meeting in 5 minutes, here is your report on it… do you need anything else?
- No… yes! Can you find a way to get me Candice White Andrew's phone number? Isn't she getting married in a few days?
- I don't recall paying you to discuss my orders …
- I'll get to it right away sir…, said John leaving the room
Terry went to the conference room for the meeting… Susanna sat beside him and he was able to follow what was going on. He couldn't wait for the meeting to be over so that he could get Candy on the phone and talk to her, hear her voice… Nothing made sense to him, all the luxury, the financial security, without her… she was the missing link in his life…
"To think that I let her go…she's my heart, how could I let my heart go? How could I have been so stupid?! One legged broad or not, I should've never let Candy go..!!!"
