Threatened
I hope you catches them, and that you tell me his opinions, through them I know if I'm on the right path.
Remember English is not my native language, I hope the translation is correct, check it, but sometimes I miss some incorrect personal pronouns for the phrase, sorry.
I reiterate, I do not own the characters of Friends I only rely on them for the pure pleasure of writing stories without any economic interest, and Monica and Chandler inspire me.
CHAPTER 6
Friday April 15
Nora, Jonathan and Chandler met at the hotel, Jonathan told them that they had begun to follow Richard's movements, but there was something they had already found out, daughter Michelle had not been to the City for almost 6 months, and when the baby was born her mother went to Boston to help her. It was clear that the woman Chandler saw in the restaurant was not Richard's daughter.
Chandler felt calm, he hadn't made a mistake, Richard was a shitty old sequoia who was cheating on Monica.
"Look Jonathan, if your men are watching him, I would tell you that tonight is a good opportunity, Monica has a long night shift, and Richard probably told her that he is going to play poker, he is already relaxed because no one distrusts him anymore and he will surely come back to the walks."
"Today we will be attentive, maybe we can find out who the woman is, the little friend"
"On Sunday I'm going to meet him," said Nora. "I invited everyone to dinner, I want to study the guy."
"But don't give him any clue that we suspect him, otherwise he'll take care of himself."
"Also, I explained to Chandler that he has to continue with his normal life and meet normally with the rest of his friends, it's a challenge that he will face." "It can lead to making a mistake," Jonathan answered.
"Yes, but we are exposing Chandler's life. Your boys are taking care of Chandler and Joey," Nora said with a worried look.
"Yes, friend, stay calm, Chandler is part of my family, I take care of him like my son," Jonathan answered.
Jonathan's vigilance paid off, that Friday night Richard picked up a tall, well-figured, dark-haired woman. First they went to a restaurant, and then they went up to Richard's apartment. The woman left the building the next day at noon.
They will find out who she is.
Saturday April 16
Early Saturday afternoon, Jonathan called Chandler to tell him the news. They followed the woman to her house and managed to find out her name and that she is a colleague of Richard's.
They will continue investigating.
Liz had guard duty that day, so Chandler went out to dinner with his mother.
The first thing Chandler did was tell his mother the news, there was not one but two little friends.
After commenting on the topic, Nora began a long and serious conversation.
"Son, I know you hate the job you do, even though it is comfortable and gives you a lot of money, but why don't you look for something else? We have been talking for years and you told me that you would like to do something creative"
"Mom, I've been working there for more than 7 years, I rose through the ranks, it's true that I hate it, but it's also comfortable, it's easy for me…" Chandler said.
"So easy that it bores you, don't be lazy, the publisher is a client of an advertising agency, I know them, they have many clients, before traveling I spoke to the director who keeps track of my books, and you have an interview next Monday " said Nora
"Mom, you should have asked me, a new job, I would have to start at the bottom, with ridiculous pay," Chandler said, annoyed.
"Son, we have already talked about it, you even told me that it would be an area that would interest you, since it is creative and mobilizes you, and don't worry about the pay," Nora explained.
"Mom, I know where you're going, I don't want financial help"
"I don't know who you turned out to be so stubborn and proud," said Nora.
"You are stubborn and Dad is proud," Chandler replied.
"Obviously a bad combination," Nora told him and continued,
"But what I decided is not to give you help, besides it is already done, you are my only son, I have been spending my money, earning with some effort and a lot of fun, in my crazy way of living, and I have decided that I do not want to continue squandering my fortune, obviously by that I don't mean that I'm going to abandon my crazy life, I'm hopelessly like that, but it's time to protect that fortune by sharing it all with you, it's already legally settled, half of the royalties from my books will go directly on your bill. That will help you get through the first stages of your new job, and even be able to continue saving. I know you have always been generous, but you have also managed to build up some assets." and she continued with his monologue
"Chandler, it's time for you to do a job that you want to go to with joy every morning, where you can create, that excites you, you know that you are very intelligent, you will adapt and learn quickly, I know positively that you are very good at writing, I have read some of your things behind your back and they are very good." Chandler smiled at her, shaking his head from side to side while Nora continued talking "But I also know that you don't want to dedicate yourself to that because of me, one day the resentment of being compared will pass and I know that that day you will write successfully, but in the meantime this job is ideal for you."
"Mom, I appreciate what you want to do for me, but I always took care of myself," Chandler replied.
"Exactly, you learned to fix yourself because of us, and that made you strong, and you will continue to fix yourself, the only difference is that now you will have support for the future, the decision has no turning back" and Nora continued"
"Please, Monday, don't miss this opportunity, the interview is at 10 in the morning, dress nice and put on that smile of yours, since the person who is going to interview you is a woman, she is my age, but I'm sure she has eyes to fall in love with you." Nora said laughing.
"I think I'm getting old, I'm softening up and accepting your interference," Chandler said, laughing.
"Thank you, mom, I love you, and you know you didn't need to do any of this for me to love you" Chandler told her with a tender smile.
"I know, I just want to see you happy and married one day, that will be my new battle," Nora said, laughing.
"That's a lost war," Chandler replied.
"I wouldn't be so sure," Nora finished.
On the other side of town Monica was with Richard in apartment 20, taking care of Ben, for a couple of hours.
Monica loves Ben and had him in her arms spoiling him.
"Children are beautiful, aren't they? She asks Richard
"They are beautiful, fun, it was good to have mine, although they are a lot of work and take away a lot of time and opportunities for fun with your partner," Richard answered.
"Richard, the other day at dinner you told me that you were planning your future, that it was time to rest, sell the practice, ¿am I in that future that you imagine?
"Of course Monica, you know how much I love you, I wouldn't do anything without you"
"And in this future there were children?"
Monica asked.
"Look Mon, I already did the thing about children and I definitely don't want to repeat it, I imagine the future with you going to live in the south of Spain, there the English-speaking colony is large, the climate is pleasant, and from there we could travel all over the world, knowing every corner"
"Mon, I'm too old to start over with children, I don't want that, I just want to enjoy a young and beautiful woman by my side, and besides, you are young, in the fullness of life, ¿what need do you have to tie your life together to bottles and diapers when in reality you can enjoy it in total freedom? on the other hand keep in mind that a pregnancy would ruin your figure"
Monica's heart sank and her stomach hurt. Anyway, she smiled and made an effort to speak without her voice shaking, "you're right, it's better to enjoy life" and changed the topic of conversation.
That night she made an excuse for Richard not to stay. During the entire time they were dating they had never talked about this, she believed that he was the perfect man, sexy, mature, financially stable, who said he loved her and would surely want a family with her, she took it for granted… she had no idea how wrong she was. She had changed many things in her life for him so as not to scare him away, and in reality he had no intention of changing anything at all for her, he had already designed a future, he made it clear that it was immovable and obviously that future had to be followed or nothing.
Sunday April 17
Monica couldn't sleep that night, she was totally confused, she felt disappointed, but why? He had never promised her anything, she had woven a perfect novel, but now she didn't know if she loved the man or the novel.
Obviously she felt a great crush from the beginning, he was sexy, handsome, elegant, seductive, a gentleman, but he was also a sure possibility of fulfilling her desire to start a family, he had already had one and she believed that he was looking for it again stability, but in reality he wanted just enjoyment.
He told her several times that he loved her, but that he really loved her, the woman who had dreams or the pretty young woman with whom he could have fun and show off as a trophy.
She didn't know what to think, she doubted the nature of the love she thought she felt for him, and she also doubted the nature of the love he said he felt for her. She wanted commitment and he wanted company for pleasure.
Tears ran incessantly down her face.
On Sunday morning, everyone was arriving for a late breakfast, Monica was preparing pancakes, but she was serious, thoughtful, she did not smile or speak.
Chandler looked at her and deduced that her clear discomfort was due to his presence; the day before she had been with Richard and he would surely have added some more criticism towards his person.
Now he was the one who was upset, Monica still seriously believed in that old sequoia tree.
He got up from the table, finished drinking the coffee standing on it, washed the cup, dried it, hung it in the right place and had a pancake, he told everyone that he would see them at dinner tonight.
When he was leaving Joey asked him, "Where are you going, are you hanging out with Liz?"
"No, she works today, I'm going to play tennis, then we'll see each other and he went out"
The moment Chandler left, Monica wanted to run after him, she knew that talking to him would, calm her down, he would give her a sensible opinion, the right words she needed, the reassuring hug, but she had pushed him away, she had lost him.
After everyone left Monica was left alone with Rachel, who quickly attacked her with questions.
"Mon, what's wrong with you, you're dumb, you have circles under your eyes and it looks like you cried, something happened with Richard."
Monica told her the conversation in detail, while tears ran down her cheeks again.
"Rachel, I'm confused, I don't know what I feel for Richard anymore, I'm not even sure it's love, yes it was a great crush, but love? What hurts me the most about all this is the disappointment, I thought I had found the perfect man to start a family with, I thought he was looking for the same thing, but I was greatly mistaken."
"Mon, maybe he said that now, but once you're together, maybe he'll think differently," Rachel told her.
"No, it was clear and definitive, he knows perfectly well what he wants and what he doesn't want, I have to adapt to the future that he has in mind"
"Mon, if he loves you like he says he does, maybe when he sees that he loses you he will change his mind and agree to have a family," Rachel said.
"I don't want a man for whom having a child is a sacrifice or an obligation just to keep the woman, he will be unhappy and will end up getting tired of the woman and the child," said Monica and added.
"And I don't want to accept Richard's rules of the game either, he wouldn't be faithful to me, and I don't think I love him enough to make that sacrifice either. And no matter how big my infatuation has been, it is not enough to subject my life to his plans"
"So what are you going to do?" Rachel asked.
"For now nothing, I'm very confused and also upset with myself for having believed the story that I made up on my own" "I'm going to wait a few days, I'll try to calm down and stay away from him with some excuse, and then I'll decide"