:Chapter I
The twilight was lurking and replacing the fading sun, as the silhouette of a young woman was walking fast down the road and racing with the upcoming moonlight. She was dragging her suitcase down the street, tired, in a hurry and anxious to get to her final destination. She was in her early twenties and she carried a great weight for her young age, as she tend to become a full-experienced office manager. She had a great tutor, her cousin Brian, and he arranged everything for her new job as his assistant, in Liverpool city. An inner voice told her that this job was her chance of a lifetime, her big opportunity, where she can show and express everything she was working for and giving up until now. As so, she thought that she should dress very formal (to leave the impression of a hard-working, ambitious young woman) and she chose a combination-white shirt, dark, elegant skirt and uncomfortable black high-heels. Her name was Victoria, and this was exactly in what she was believing - in victory, conquering fears, and being a fighter. Although a little nervous, she knew that her self-confidence will come out, and she will be ready to accept the challenge of being Brian's right hand.
Victoria approached the suburbian neighbourhood, that she found on a map, and she was searching for the part in which Brian's office was settled, but she never expected that it would be inside of an ancient red bricked mansion. She came near the heavy messing front door, and as she was ready to ring the bell, she checked if her lipstick was smudged, took a deep breath, and put her finger on a doorbell. On her surprise, the door was opened by a young-looking, pale-faced girl, dressed in a French maid uniform. She had little make-up, and her hair was tidly combed back, and she had a white ribbon over her dark curls. She looked simple minded, and had a friendly welcoming smile. Victoria thought that the girl was working here, so she said
"Hello, my name is Victoria Black, and I am here to meet Mr. Brian Epstein, we have an appointment."
The girl smiled, because of Victoria's strange foreign accent, and because of the fact that Victoria obviously thought that the young maid was Brian's secretary.
"I'm sorry to inform you, Miss, but I think that the manager isn't here yet. He went out with the boys, to visit a local pub nearby. If it suits your schedule, you could wait for them in the lobby, they won't be long", she said politely.
"I'm just here to see Mr. Epstein for a business deal, but thank you anyway."
Victoria thought she entered a hall of some eighteenth century French Chateaux; she saw huge room, silver marble everywhere, lots of green plants, that matched a big olivaceous windows that widely let the sunshine in, scarlet velvet curtains, abstract Warhol-look alike paintings, and big chandelier above. She set on a comfortable two-seater, and she waited, and waited, and waited. The maid was long gone to the daily choirs, leaving Victoria with her own thoughts and thinkings about how miserable, unnoticed and slow is her birthday evening passing.
...
Nervously looking her watch every minute, Victoria began to think how eternity is nothing compared to her waiting in vain. Then, suddenly, the cheerful maid came back.
"Oh, you poor thing, you're going to die of boredom! Are you hungry? No...? Well, at least take some tea cookies, they're crispy! No...? Ok, do me a favor and at least take a glass of fresh juice. Here, you go. I didn't properly introduced myself, please don't mind it, I was in a hurry to finish my work. My name's Veronica Jacobs, I work in this residence. I thought I'd talk to you, if you don't mind, because I finished my shift, and they're not home yet."
"I think I have noticed that by now", said Victoria with sarcasm in her voice. "So, you work here every day, is it exhausting? How long have you been cleaning the dirt of a Fab Four or Five, or some similar number; I hear people nowadays call them like that?"
Veronica raised her eyebrow, and suspiciously answered.
"And you dare to come into their house, not realising how big they are? Oh, you are not from here, I see... But still... Well, they broke America, and that's something, right? I mean, I'm not like all those crazy screaming chicken girls in the audience, and, come to think of it, I'm not even their fan, but I know a hell of a lot business going around here. I came in this house in September, and I work honest and hard. Oh, yes, I'm here every day, and every Sunday after church; I cook, I wash, I clean, you name it. And your profession, dear?"
"Hard work, ha? Well, tell me about it. Brian, my cousin, is training me to become his colleague. Too much paperwork, I don't expect you to understand that, you know, manager's stuff. He told me in a letter that this Beatle-mania-thing that is happening has gone too far, and that he cannot share his work with just anybody. And, luckily, I finished my collage some time ago, I need an experience, he trusts me enough and believes in me, so - woila, I'm here."
"Wow, that's nice. You know, Mr. Epstain has an office inside the house, so I presume that we will see each other often." While she was talking, she sounded very exciting, and Victoria taught that she could use some help in meeting the life and work of a new popular sensation.
As the talk went on, Victoria forgot to be angry with Brian's late arrival, and she had a pleasant chat with Veronica. But, her anger rose again when she heard the car outside the entrance, and when she realised it was past ten o'clock.
-Oh, this must be your relative, and my bosses. (Honk is heard). And they had a great time, I'm sure.
As the ladies were talking, the limo car stopped, and the driver in a black suite opened the door for the gentlemen. First one who got out was a skinny, tall-looking male, dressed very modern and classy. He had enormous eye lashes and every time he blinked, it felt like a great black tide splashed his boy-alike face. After him, another one went out, this one more muscular, with wider shoulders and darker look. He was carrying an alcohol in his glass, and was giggling with the first one. They obviously talked about something very funny and amusing to them, something that the other two companions did not understand.
As for the third one, the smallest of the crowd- his laser blue eyes were half way closed (apparently he couldn't handle too much of a wild night life ) and he was lighting a cigarette. His noticeable rings were on every finger.
The last one, but not the least, seemed very uninterested about what is happening around him, although he wasn't trying to cope with the first two in a conversation, and didn't mind the third one. He was the skinniest, with the darkest hair, that was intentionally or not, increasing his head size. Under the treetop of the hair together with bushy eyebrows, there were two coal black pupils.
Veronica moved the curtains a little bit to take a look.
"God almighty, they're drunk again! ... Well, you know, when they go out for "one drink", it's usually three or four more. And here's Mr. Brian in front of them."
Through the front door first came a man who seemed the most mature and serious among the party animals that were still outside.
"Victoria, I'm so glad to see you, finally, I'm so sorry..."
"Hello to you too Brian, how nice it was of you to come for me at the station. Silly of me to expect that from my cousin, my blood. Not to mention all the walk from the station, and the king size blisters on my feet. Plus, I don't know the town. And, plus once again, you promised me a dinner today..."
Suddenly, Brian realised his grand mistake.
"Bloody hell Vic, I absolutely forgot about your birthday, this kids are making me watch after them, while they are having a ball, literally every night, I'm exhausted, I cannot even make a decent phone call without being interrupted by one of them for some nonsense..."
"It's your special day! And you even refused to take my cookies!" Said Veronica, with a mix of a surprise and disappointment.
"Forget about it Veronica, that's not the point. Well Brian, I cannot argue with you tonight, I'm too tired to even keep my eyes open. I'll wait for you outside until you finish your business here, and kiss your pop star youngsters good night."
"Who's the angry bird?"
Behind Brian, a young man appeared, he looked drunk, careless and free. His glass was already empty, and he didn't seemed like he had enough. He looked Victoria, and continued speaking.
"So my friend, this is our new manager? You got to be joking! Wait, is this serious?" A rude and insulting laughter came from his mouth. "Hey, college girl, return to your classroom, and come back when you grow up."
"Shut up John you idiot, she's the same age as you are." Brian replied.
"And, you won't believe it Sir Lennon, it's her birthday TODAY!"
"Marvelous! Brought some cake?"
"I think that I don't need to say anything to your sarcastic comments, Mister whatever, but never mind, here it goes, just for your better understanding. I have no intention explaining what I'm doing here, or how mature I am, and I personally think that you should not doubt in Brian's decision and choice of me being his assistant. And, needn't I add that I sincerely don't care about your opinion, I'm just here for the job. Glad we sorted that one out."
John Lennon just shrugged his shoulders, not listening even half of her monologue, but Victoria was satisfied, and she believed that she fully showed her confidence. She then calmly went out to wait for her cousin, while the other three members of the group were still outside talking and laughing. Veronica said goodbye and rushed to catch the late bus, while Brian took some paper work and hurried towards Victoria, and they disappeared in the direction of Brian's parked car near by. Three Beatles reluctantly went into the house, as the fourth member searched the kitchen in order to find birthday cake.