BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, NEW ORLEANS

Vincent looked over the large body of water that seem to travel for miles. He could see birds flying in the distance. The sun was shining in his eyes as he sped across the bridge, that stretched for almost twenty five miles. He pulled the visor down to keep the sun from blinding him.

"Home" by Michael Bublé played on the radio. He loved the song, but home was the last place he wanted to go. He thought back to years earlier when his career was on the rise and his priorities were in the right place. He had been a doctor and he was engaged to be married to his childhood sweetheart. Now he found himself crossing Lake Pontchartrain Causeway en route to New Orleans. He wanted to get as far away as he could from his old life.

After traveling for days, he was finally in the place he would call his new home. He had purchased a home online, and had it furnished, so he had very little to do. Being a man of wealth, he didn't want for anything.

Both of his brothers died in the towers in 9/11 and most of his immediate family members were deceased as well. One day an attorney contacted him and he was informed one of his brothers had invested wisely, and he was now the beneficiary to a million dollar estate. His life changed drastically from that point on.

He pulled up to a white Victorian home, surrounded by a white picket fence. Oversized rocking chairs sat on the rather large front porch. He loved the look and feel of his new home. The house itself was magnificent. A large staircase was nicely situated to the right as he entered the home. The house had an upscale look and feel.

His tour was interrupted by a knock at the door. He figured it must be his new assistant, Valerie. He opened the door to find a young lady standing on the porch. She looked shy and timid. She was pretty in a girl next door sorta way.

"Hi, Mr. Keller, I'm Valerie. I was sent by the agency," she said.

He shook her hand. "Hi Valerie, nice to meet you. Please, come in," he said.

Valerie looked in astonishment and admiration. She had only seen opulence of this caliber on television. The chandeliers were breathtakingly beautiful. Hardwood floors that could double as mirrors with the shine exuding from them. Furniture that she was sure she had only seen in upscale magazines.

"Valerie, can I get you something to drink? I just arrived, but I had groceries delivered and stocked yesterday?" he asked.

"Water would be fine sir," she said.

He headed towards the refrigerator. He grabbed a bottle of Voss water, his favorite. "Would you like a glass?" he asked.

"No sir, I'm fine with the bottle," she said. She didn't know if it was the bottle or the water, but it was the best water she had ever tasted.

"Valerie, I haven't had the opportunity to decompress or unpack, so you may find me a little unprepared at the moment. I arrived later than I had planned. How about you take the rest of the day off, with pay, of course, and we can start fresh tomorrow?" he asked.

"Yes sir, I will see you at 9 a.m. in the morning then," she said.

"Sounds good, enjoy your evening," he said.

"Thank you, sir, goodbye," she said "Goodbye."

Vincent went into his office and was very pleased with the set up. A white iMac computer was on the desk and bookshelves lined the walls of the room. He ran a non-profit organization that helped veterans transition back into civilian life. He was a war veteran, so he was passionate about helping other veterans.

He decided he would go swimming to unwind. He opened the French doors to reveal a nice size pool with a very big yard as well. He went to his car and grabbed his bags. He changed into some swimming trunks and headed to the pool. He was well built and muscular everywhere.. He ate healthy and exercised daily and it showed.

The water was extremely cold, but with the Louisiana heat, Vincent needed to cool off. He relaxed and thought of his new life. He needed a change of scenery and he was hoping this was it.

One day he returned home early from work and found his fiancé Alex in bed with another man. He was beyond devastated. He could accept many things, but cheating wasn't one. He had crazy thoughts and ideas running through his head, but before he could react he received the news about the 9/11 attacks and the untimely demise of both of his brothers. Devastated and heartbroken, Vincent joined the army and that was the beginning of some very bad impulsive decisions. One decision in particular, lead to a very dark secret, he had only shared with his best friend J.T.

The ringing of his phone interrupted his thoughts. "This is Vincent," he said.

"Hi, Mr. Keller, this is Susie with Crescent Landscaping, calling to confirm the appointment for tomorrow at seven," she said.

"Yes, that's correct," he said.

"Thank You, Mr. Keller, see you then, goodbye," she said. "Goodbye."

It was a little after six, so Vincent decided he would go check out the famous Café Du Monde. Beignets and coffee would be a welcomed change.

Canal street was busy, so he parked in a nearby parking lot and walked the rest of the way. He took in the city air and the sounds of cars and buses. It was rush hour and the hustle and bustle of the city was very alive. He reached his destination rather quickly. The establishment was beautiful inside and not too crowded. The smell of coffee permeated the air. He looked around at the pictures and the people, caught up in the moment. He was seated on the patio and he ordered the famous beignets and coffee. He sat quietly taking in the great splendor of the city and ambiance of his surroundings. The coffee was delicious and he made a mental note to have his assistant order a box. He knew it would be his morning treat. He finished his delicious dessert and headed to the river walk. He followed the signs and he was not disappointed with the view.

He sat on one of the benches and meditated for what seemed like hours. Just looking out towards the water, he released the worries and troubles of his past. He felt at peace and ready to start a new life in New Orleans. He looked at his watch and realized it was after nine. He needed to get home. He needed to be well rested for his busy schedule tomorrow.

He jumped up and in the process knocked a young lady to the ground. "I'm so sorry Ms," he said, as he helped her to her feet. She had been carrying a glass bottle and he could see her arm was cut from the broken glass. "Here, let me get you to a hospital. I'll pay for everything," he said.

"No, thank you, sir," she said.

"I tell you what, I live close by and I used to be a doctor. I could stitch your arm up really fast. You can call someone and give them my information if you think I'm untrustworthy," he said.

"Ok, but give me your drivers license," she said.

He took out his wallet and obeyed her request. She texted the information to a friend and then signaled an okay to leave. He walked along side her. She was very beautiful and he knew stitching her up wasn't his only reason for inviting her to his home. He wanted to get to know her better.

"I'm sorry, I didn't get your name," he said.

"It's Catherine," she said.

"As you already know, I'm Vincent. It's really nice to make your acquaintance. I actually just arrived here today. You're the second person I've met so far," he said.

"Nice to meet you as well, Vincent," she said.

They walked on in silence, lost in their own thoughts. " I'm parked right up ahead in that parking lot," Vincent said.

Catherine followed him to a silver range rover. He opened the door and made sure she was safely inside. "What type of music do you like?" Vincent asked.

"Do you have Alex Clare?" she asked.

"I do," he replied. He played "Too Close" as he navigated the streets of New Orleans. Ten minutes later he pulled up to his house. "Hold on, let me get your door," he said. He rushed to the other side of the truck and opened the door for Catherine.

CATHERINE

She sat in Vincent's truck, more relaxed than she should have been. She had just met him, but she felt comfortable with him. By all accounts, he seemed like a perfect gentleman. He was unusually handsome and with a body to match. She deduced by the truck and his appearance he wasn't a poor man either. Not that it mattered. She would never date someone for material possessions. She was a romantic at heart and she wanted a deep, passionate love.

Vincent opened the door and escorted his guest in.

Catherine stood in awe of what she saw. Her eyes couldn't take in all the elegance and beauty displayed from wall to wall. Priceless artwork, expensive furnishings and windows with extravagant drapes were everywhere.

"Catherine, can I get you something to drink?" he asked.

"No, thank you," she answered. She hoped she didn't look too surprised by his home. She didn't want to be perceived as ignorant and uncultured.

"Would you excuse me Catherine, I need to get my medical bag, so I can take a look at that cut?" he asked.

"Sure," she replied.

He could tell she didn't need stitches, but he wanted to clean and bandage the cut to prevent it from becoming infected.

Catherine scanned the room and stopped at the refrigerator. She thought to herself, "why would someone need a television on a refrigerator?" She spotted a wine rack with expensive bottles of wine and numerous other expensive appliances.

Vincent entered the room and examined her arm and bandaged it up. Very minimal damage as he suspected.

"Are you from here, Catherine?" he asked.

"No, I moved here five years ago. I attended the Culinary Institute of New Orleans. I graduated last year. I already had clientele established for a catering business, so I made New Orleans my home. What brings you here?" she asked.

"I operate a non-profit organization for veterans and the demand for assistance was unusually high here, so I moved my headquarters here. I needed a change of scenery as well," he replied.

Catherine scrutinized his appearance. He was well dressed and everything about him screamed class, and his manners were impeccable. She found herself wondering about his history, as well as enjoying his company. The way he looked at her made her feel like she was special to him.

"I'm hosting a fundraiser tomorrow for a friend, if you would like to come. You can meet some other people and make some new contacts," she said.

"That would be great. I would love to come. I'll give you my business card, so you can email me the details," he said. He produced a fancy business card and handed it to her.

"I think I better head home now. I know you're probably tired and I need to plan for the event tomorrow," she said.

"Ok, I'll drive you home," he said. "I live in the French Quarters in one of the upstairs apartments," she said.

The ride was quiet as they listened to Ray LaMontagne sing "You are the best thing." Vincent wondered what she was thinking. He enjoyed her company immensely. He couldn't believe he had met someone like her so soon. He drove slower than usual, because he needed her company just a little while longer. He could smell her perfume and he loved the scent. She was about five-seven with long brown hair and the prettiest brown eyes. She directed him towards her building and he pulled up to the front.

"Thanks for everything, Vincent, and it was a pleasure to meet you," she said.

"The pleasure was all mine, Catherine, have a good night," he said.

"Thank you, ditto," she said. And like that she was gone. Only the remnants of her perfume remained. Vincent drove home in silence. He needed to think. It had been years since someone piqued his interest, but never on the level of tonight. She was independent, beautiful, and most important, down to earth. He thought of the "ditto" comment and it made him smile.

CATHERINE

She sat on the bed thinking of Vincent. He was unlike anyone she had ever met. He had style, class, sex appeal and was highly educated. She feared she wasn't worthy to be someone he would date. She was a caterer and he obviously came from a more elite background. Nevertheless, she basked in the joy of tonight. Butterflies formed in her stomach when she thought of seeing him at the fundraiser. She knew she had to look her best, because this could be her last time seeing him.

VINCENT

The ringing of the phone woke Vincent out of a deep sleep. "This is Vincent," he said.

"Hi, Mr. Keller, this is Crescent Landscaping, we're here to do your yard," the person said.

Still groggy, Vincent replied, "Right, go ahead and start. Just call me when you finish." He hung up the phone. He hated to get up, but he knew he had no choice. He showered and dressed, so he could start the long day ahead. Valerie arrived right before 9 a.m. She proved to be a very competent assistant and the day sped by.

"Mr. Keller, you have an email from a Catherine Chandler, in reference to a fundraiser at 8 p.m. tonight," she said.

Vincent quickly looked up at the clock. He had only three hours. "I'll take care of it Valerie, you can go ahead and leave. We should be finished with everything for today," he said.

Catherine's name took him back to last night. He became anxious and nervous. He busied himself trying to find something to wear. Eventually he picked a suit and started the process of getting dressed. The event was being held in the French Quarters at one of the local establishments.

Vincent pulled up and the valet opened his door. The event was in full swing. He estimated it to be about 100 people there, as he looked around the room. He didn't see Catherine, but he knew she was working, so he didn't expect to see her that much. One of the cater waiters offered him a glass of champagne. He took the glass and moved further into the crowd. The event started and Vincent mingled with other attendees. Towards the end he excused himself and went to the restroom.

He figured it was almost time for him to head home. He wanted to see Catherine, but he didn't know where she was. Later he headed towards the front door.

"You came," she said.

He didn't have to turn around. He recognized the voice instantly. He turned to face her and it took everything in him to keep his composure. She looked stunning and he was captivated beyond belief.

"I told you I would," he said.

"Are you leaving?" she asked.

"I was. It is almost over, so I figured I would head home," he said.

"You would leave without saying hi?" she asked.

Smiling, he replied, "I assumed you were busy and I didn't want to interfere with your duties."

"You let me worry about that Mr. Keller," she said. She was comfortable in her element and it showed. He was impressed with her feistiness. "If you have time, I'll be finished here in twenty minutes and we can talk," she said. He nodded yes. She walked away to complete her hostess duties.

Twenty minutes later she reappeared and they headed towards the door. "So, Mr. Keller, what would you like to do?" she asked, smiling.

"Lets take a ride," he said.

"Sure, sounds great," she said. The valet brought his truck around and they drove off to tour the city.