DISCLAIMER: This story is a Twilight spin-off/crossover of the movie made for TV in 2000 titled Sex and Mrs. X. All publicly recognizable characters, settings, dialogues, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE: Different Choices
"At least, that's how she saw it," added Heidi, shrugging a shoulder. "I don't really look at it like that, she tried, but I guess it wasn't meant to be. I know now that she never really gave up on me, just let me take my time."
"What do you mean?" I asked, flabbergasted.
Heidi turned her body to face me fully on the backseat of the car.
"There is something you must understand. Madame's clients go through a very thorough scanning before she even meets them. She interviews them all, since she believes that what's on paper can be deceiving. She has a knack to look right through anyone's façade and that's why all Madame's clients are what you would consider elite."
"So, there are many men that don't make it to her list?"
"Oh, plenty! Money isn't everything, and even if you are on your best behavior during the interview, Madame knows how to separate the fake from the true gentlemen. There have been men that have approached Madame after meeting a girl, Mr. Whitlock is proof of that."
I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "He wasn't on her list?"
Heidi shook her head. "No, he didn't even know who Madame was, but I do know it took him weeks to get Madame to approve of him to date Alice. I don't really know much about it, but he proved himself worthy and a true gentleman."
"What do you mean by a true gentleman?"
"Isabella, you have to understand that manners do not necessarily make a man a gentleman. Everyone has manners, it is easy to say 'please' and 'sorry', but a true gentleman not only has manners, but knows how to treat a woman right. He will never harm his lady, neither physically or verbally. He will always put her first and never ever make her feel inferior to him, even if his is the sole income of the household. He will always look at his lady as a partner and a lover, but most of all, someone who deserves respect above all."
"And your guy wasn't a gentleman?"
Heidi sighed and looked down at her hands on her lap. "Felix was a gentleman through-and-through, and really charming. He was perfect, but not so perfect that it drove you mad. He was really amazing, that's why Madame considers it a failure, because for all intents and purposes, we should have worked out, but I guess he just was not right for me."
"What happened with him?"
Heidi pursed her lips and turned to look out the car window. "I hurt him, badly," she confessed in a small voice. "He proposed after dating for six months. I had no idea his feelings ran that deeply and my rejection broke us up. After that, I couldn't stand to think I might hurt someone else in the future. I moved out of the château a year later. I lived with the sisters, Tanya and Irina, for a while before I got my own place. Since then, Madame has been very respectful of my wishes of no more set-ups for me; there is no ill will between us, and she never really held anything against me. She never tried to set me up again until a few months ago."
I smirked. "So, it was a set-up?"
Heidi chuckled, looked back at me and nodded. "I had no idea, of course," she said, grinning. "I only knew Madame needed me that day because there was some problem with the chef or something. We were having a small dinner to celebrate Alice's engagement, so I rushed over there and fixed the problem easily. I was on my way out to finish some other errand, when the doorbell rang and I literally opened the door to my destiny."
I smiled at her candidness, seeing with my own eyes how truly in love she was.
"You mentioned Tanya and Irina… are they Madame's girls as well?"
"Oh, right, you haven't met them. They are sisters, Irina is a year younger than me and Tanya is three years younger. Madame tried to set those two up for years. They sort of met Madame late in the game. In fact, Tanya had gone through a divorce back when she was only twenty-five. They never really put forth too much effort with Madame's clients. We all try to at least be nice to them, but those two…" she whistled. "They were hellions!" She threw her head back in laughter.
I laughed. "They had never been matched?"
"Tanya is the only one who found a partner; she is married and waiting for her first child, but Irina eventually decided to leave and Madame let her go. No hard feelings. But Madame still considers her as one of her girls, and she is often invited to her parties; sometimes she attends, sometimes she doesn't."
I was surprised by this. "So you're saying that Irina didn't want a match?"
Heidi nodded. "She never really wanted one. I guess she only came along for her sister, but like I said, we all have a choice, and Madame's ways are not really for everyone. She is going to be taking over my duties, when I leave for America after my wedding. Madame is very pleased with this, and I have no doubt she will try to find someone for Irina. Madame is a romantic at heart and never gives up!"
We both laughed at that, knowing it was the truth.
I hadn't noticed the car had stopped, so I was surprised when Guy opened my door and announced we were at Madame's apartment.
I turned back to Heidi.
"Thank you for answering my questions with such honesty."
"Thank you for listening. I had a lot of fun today with you, Isabella."
I smiled. "Me too, Heidi. You and Demetri will be very happy together."
I got out of the car and waved goodbye. I turned around and faced the beautiful building, preparing myself for what was to come next.
BETA: Mauigirl60 | PRE-READER: Alterite
