Chapter 6

            Julian had gotten a call two hours ago from Chelsea telling him to pick Chastity up at Hilltop House instead of the Van Dyke Estate. It was no big deal. It was only an extra fifteen minutes out of his way.

            He rang the doorbell and waited at the white, paned glass door.

            Derek walked to the door wearing a white dress shirt and gray slacks. “Hey, Julian, come in.”

            “Thanks.” Julian crossed the threshold as Derek closed the door. He had half a mind to wait in the limo and send the driver to fetch Chastity, but he decided against it. He wanted to start the evening off as a gentleman, hoping it would put Chastity in a decent frame of mind. The last thing he needed was her being the Indian version of ‘Sitting While Pissed’ with the Italians.

            He followed Derek into the living room. Almost everything was all white. There were a few toys in the floor in front of the fireplace.

            “So, where is she?” Julian asked.

            “Still upstairs. Chelsea has been making a fuss over this whole thing for hours. Chastity just came over for lunch, but Chelsea nagged her so bad about dressing up tonight that Chastity had given in and stayed to let Chelsea have her way.”

            “Ergo, as to why I am picking Chastity up here.”

            “Right. You must be pretty desperate for a companion this evening with your hopeful business partners to ask the evil twin to cover for Constance.”

            “I was, and if that wasn’t bad enough it cost me fifty grand,” Julian said resentment.

            “What!” Derek shouted, shocked as hell.

            “I had to agree to give money to some convent in Boston. Something about them needing a new roof and landscaping. She wanted seventy-five for them at first. I got her down to fifty.”

            “Oooh,” Derek said with understanding – like he knew something Julian didn’t.  “Well, at least you’re Catholic. You have a notch in your belt towards getting you straight to heaven and not getting stuck in purgatory.”

            Julian scoffed with amusement and looked at his silver Rolex. “I hope she doesn’t dawdle long. We still have to pick the Italians up, and I don’t want to be late.”

            “Hold on.” Derek walked to a small desk next to the entry way. He picked up the phone and pressed a button. After a few moments he said, “Darling, Julian is here to pick up Evileen for, God help him, their evening.” Then he was quiet again. “All right.” He hung up the phone. “They’ll be down in a minute. You want a drink while you wait?”

            “No thanks,” Julian took a few steps into the living room. Very tastefully decorated home – and modern. He turned around when he heard footsteps.

            Chelsea was slowly descending the stairs, holding her son - who was wrapped in a red boa. The child seemed happy about it.

            “Gentlemen,” Chelsea began with a huge smile. “May I present, Miss Chastity Claire Van Dyke.”

            “Oh god, Chelsea,” Chastity moaned as she came down the stairs.

            Julian could only see the bottom half of a burgundy dress.

            “Stop being so excited,” Chastity said as she descended the rest of the stars. “This is business not a date for Pete’s sake.”

            Julian was stunned at the sight of her.

            Chastity’s burgundy strapless dress hugged her in all the right places. She actually had breasts – a good hand full, too. Her cleavage was tastefully on display in the heart-shaped bodice. There was a slit in the gown that was just below her knee. She held a matching handbag and a shawl in her hand. And dear God, her blonde hair was down. Julian had never seen her hair down before. The length came to her chest. It was curled under at the ends and her bangs were long, curled under and brushed to the side almost covering her eye. Chastity had on pink lipstick. It went well with her complication.

            “Chelsea.” Derek looked shocked and bewildered. “Who the hell is that?” he sang out.

            If Julian wasn’t so taken aback by how Chastity looked, he would have laughed at that.

            Chastity rolled her blue eyes, which were very prominent because of the eyeshadow and eyeliner.

            “Doesn’t she look beautiful?” Chelsea preened.

            “What she looks like is not herself. I can’t believe I’m actually going to ask this, but Chastity are you comfortable?” Derek asked, concerned.

            “No,” she answered and walked to Julian. “Good evening.”

            “Good evening. Comfortable or not you look lovely,” Julian said seriously.

            Chastity’s eyebrows rose. “Thank you.”

            He was surprised he had said that himself. That was the first real compliment he had ever given her.

            “See Derek. She looks great. I did a fantastic job if I do say so myself. What do you think Davidson? Do you think Mommy did a good job with Auntie Chaz?”

            The child happily babbled and put a piece of the boa in his mouth.

            “Chelsea, why is my son wrapped in a boa like it’s a blanket?” Derek asked.

            “He likes it. He was playing with it and when I tried to take it away from him, he screamed bloody murder. So, I let him keep it,” Chelsea answered with a shrug.

            Julian extended his arm to his date. Yes, his date. It was what it was. “Shall we go?”

            “Yes, please,” Chastity said as she took his arm.

                                                                                         ****

            Julian sat in the limo next to her. The driver closed the door. It was a nice night. Every star shined in the sky along with a full moon.

            The driver wasted no time pulling off. The limo looked like one of the ones in the Beaumont fleet. It seated at least ten people; black leather seats, a moon roof mini, a mini bar, etc.

            Chastity cleared her throat to get his attention.

            “Something to say?”

            “The check” she reminded him.

            “Oh, yes.” Julian dug into his tux inner pocket. He actually looked handsome in his black tux. His blond hair sported a fresh trim. He handed her a white envelope.

            “Thank you,” She folded it in half and put it in her hand bag.

            “You’re not going to open it?”

            “No. I believe you’re good for it for now. But if you cancel the check before the convent deposit it, I’ll come for you,” she said seriously.

            Julian chuckled. “I wouldn’t expect anything less. But don’t worry, I don’t renege on a deal. I have champagne on ice. I’ll open it when we pick up our guests.”

            “And who are our guests? What are their names?”

            “Stefano, Luca, and Carlo Benetti. They’re all brothers. I don’t know their wives names. I never met them. The goal is to schmooze them into bringing their company under the Beaumont and Blanchett corporate umbrella.”

“I understand. I’ll do the best I can to help,” Chastity said with sincerity.

                                                                                    ****

            The ride to the theater was surprising and intriguing. Chastity spoke Italian to their guests which they appreciated and loved. Julian had no idea she spoke Italian. Because of his heritage he knew French but very little Italian. He was like a bump on a log during the ride to the play. Julian had no idea what they were saying and smiling about.

            A play called, The Choice, was having its opening night. There were a few celebrities in attendance along with some of New York society. Julian got floor seats. It was the norm to get box seats for an occasion like this but Julian found that the box seats didn’t always have the best view of the stage. No one seemed to mind sitting on the ground floor.

            The play was about a young lady who was torn between a man, who she had fallen in love with and the Catholic Church. All her life, she had wanted to be a nun. But before she committed herself to the church, a young man, who she had a crush on as a child, comes back into her life. Even Julian found it enthralling. In the end, the girl chose the church – and the guy killed himself over it. It was definitely one of those plays that didn’t have a happy ending.

            He looked over as the curtains swooshed closed.

            Chastity’s eyes were glassy.

            Wow, she does feel. Normally, she is as stout as a robot. He pulled out his handkerchief and offered it to her.

            She slowly took it without looking at him as applause ensued.

            Everyone rose as the curtain opened again to the cast taking a bow.

            Chastity dabbed her eyes.