AFTER CHRISTMAS
By
DimariS
Chapter 11 – New Year's Eve Day
I awoke with a smile on my face. Before coffee! Coffee, I swear I could smell it. Now here's the thing, people break into my apartment uninvited all the time. I, however, cannot open the door without a key. It's bloody amazing I've not been murdered in my sleep! Upon staggering into the kitchen there was the coffee maker merrily dripping away. On the table sat a pastry box with a long-stemmed red rose on top. Don't know whether to be thrilled or terrified so I approach it with tremulous smile and shaky hands. Sighing in relief I open the envelope addressed to "Babe." Inside Ranger wrote,
"Stephanie, I hope you enjoy this special treat
and the party tonight is spectacular.
Happy New Year,
R"
In the box was a calzone. A fried calzone! Stuffed with chocolate! With powdered sugar! Maybe the Mayans were a few days off. I was stunned then I flipped the note over and written on the back was, "This stuff will kill you, Babe." Whew! The world righted itself. Batman, the king of twigs and berries, had returned.
I decided last night my hair was the first order of business so I ambled downstairs to the car. Leaning against the driver's side of what I now called the Gray Goose was none other than His Majesty himself.
"Why didn't you get a better car from Ernesto, Babe?"
"Because I didn't want you to fork over $10,000 for a car that's just going to blow up in a few days. Ranger, we've had this conversation before. I pay my own way. I've destroyed more cars than I can count and the expensive ones were yours. Never again! You know I don't want your money and I can't believe you tried an end run with Mr. Foca when you already knew that."
He raised his hands in, I guess, submission. "Okay, Babe. I just want you to be safe."
"And I really appreciate it. Thank you for the coffee and calzone this morning; it was sinful and delicious. Now I'm off to the hairdresser's to have my hair repaired for tonight."
"Yeah, have to get to a meeting. I really like your hair; it's becoming, but I hope your curls will be back before too long. Be careful tonight but have fun and I'll see you next year." He kissed my forehead, slipped in his black Porsche Cayenne and pulled out of the parking lot.
Huh, he seemed…distant or unsure. Can't be 'cause Ranger doesn't do unsure anything ever. Maybe he's just thinking about his meeting. Yep, that makes more sense.
I pointed the Gray Goose toward the mall, slipped an old Metallica disc in, turned the CD player volume to a harmful decibel level and zoomed away. OMG the speakers work! Hallelujah!
Shortly after I arrived at the salon Mr. Alexander was able to work me in and fix the damage. My hairstyle was flawless once again and I couldn't wait to get home to enjoy a hot bath. My favorite scent is Dolce Vita so I stopped at the Macy's perfume counter to pick up some DV shower gel and bath salts. The words for today were leisure and luxury and I was so looking forward to it.
The bedside alarm clock read one o'clock which means I have a little over five hours until the chauffer shows up. Time for a snack and a short nap. After a peanut butter and olive sandwich with some chips thrown in for 'texture and crunch' (don't you just love the Food Network) and setting my alarm for 2:30 pm, I assumed my thinking position and was out like a light.
When the alarm went off in what seemed like five minutes later, I staggered to the bathroom to run my bath. The scent of Dolce Vita permeated the apartment as I lower myself into the tub. There are tea light candles burning on every surface giving the room a soft glow. Relaxation and pampering is the order of the day so once I step out of the bath wrapped in my old robe it's time to treat the scars with silicone gel. I've been using this stuff for about two months and all my wound scars have faded well. Now I won't be embarrassed by the low cut front and back of my dress. Who am I kidding? Nobody will even notice my skin with this dress on! Hell, I could probably rob a bank and the witness description would be something like "it was some woman in this black knockout dress with maybe a gun, officer." If the witness is a woman, I'd get off Scot free.
By 6:30 I'm standing here in all my glory staring at the mirror in wonder. I look classy and attractive. Who'd a thought I'd clean up this well. And then the door bell rang. Here we go.
A man in a chauffeur's hat stood in the hallway with what appeared to be a black cloak over his arm and an envelope in his hand. I've seen him somewhere before but can't really place him. After a short bow he gave me the letter he was holding. It was addressed to "Stephanie Plum" so I very carefully opened the letter. This was the acid test. Was the whole thing a dangerous ruse to get to me or was it my special surprise. And the winner is…
Ms. Plum,
Some time ago I asked you to marry me but you declined. I don't believe that you thought me serious. I was. Now if you will do me the honor of accompanying my manservant to the Princeton gala we can discuss this. I look forward to seeing you in the apparel selected for you. Regardless of tonight's outcome please join me in celebrating the end of a most trying year.
Alexander Ramos
Now I remember the driver. He's Stavros, Mr. Ramos' butler or something. I also remember the time I drove Mr. Ramos to a bar so he could sneak cigarettes. He did ask me to marry him but I thought he was kidding. Guess we're going to have a major talk. There are two small problems: he's probably in his mid-seventies by now and he's the godfather of the 'Guns R Us' family. Yeesh! How do I do it?
Stavros held up the cloak for me to slip into, took my elbow and escorted me into the elevator, out the front door into a snowy, blustery evening and finally held the door for me to slide into a warm stretch limousine. Wow!
A man I did not recognize introduced himself as Thanos then served me a flute of champagne and small silver plate of appetizers. He closed my door and sat in the front beside the driver. Talk about your royal treatment. Now let me think again why this is a bad thing…oh, yeah…seventy…Guns R Us! At the risk of sounding like my mother, why me?
As the limo started forward Thanos opened the privacy screen and greeted me saying, "Ms. Plum, we will be arriving at Princeton Hall in an hour or so. Mr. Ramos is anxiously awaiting your arrival. If there is anything you desire while we are en route, just touch the button on your right and let me know how I may serve you." The screen closed and the sounds of violins filled the air.
I leaned back against the headrest. It was time to think about what I really want from life and how I'm going to explain it to Alexander Ramos. My first thought was 'Hell, who's going to explain it to me?' Enough! Stephanie, quit shirking the responsibility. It's your life; suck it up! By the time the limousine rolled to a stop in Princeton I had made a decision. I just hope I can manage the fallout.