Subj: The Working Man-Part 7 of ?
Date: 1/2/00 9:56:01 PM Central Standard Time
From: Delilah Robbins
For the first time, Diabolos could understand his ex disciple's attraction for Maggie. Her long shapely legs nearly started at her neck. Her skin was the color of cream and the titian glint of her hair reflected back her innate brand of feistiness. Not only was she extremely easy on the eyes but, she had that exquisite blend of sweetness and tartness that nearly drove him wild. That coupled with her sometimes, fiery nature made him sick for home.
Conversely, Maggie seriously wondered what had come over her husband. Usually, the picture of good form and remarkable savvy, it seemed as though he'd scrapped his manners all together. Openly, he flirted with every attractive female they'd encountered, leering at them shamelessly. When his flabbergasted companion commented on it, he would stop for a spell, only to resume the behavior moments later.
Gone was his usual attentiveness. In fact, there were times when she knew he'd tuned her out completely. He seemed to have developed selective hearing, focusing only on the aspects of her conversation pertaining to him.
Maggie shuddered to think of what he was going to be like at the hotel. Once tucked in their cab, his demeanor totally deteriorated. Crudely he grabbed at Maggie against her muffled protestations. Constantly, she had to remind him that his advances were inappropriate in public. The new egomaniacal, Nicholas was consumed with satisfying his complete and ever present needs.
"Do you think you could control yourself while we register for the room?" She inquired breathlessly adjusting her mini dress that he'd savagely hiked up.
Grinning contemptuously, he smacked her caboose in answer.
Just as she thought it couldn't get any worse, she added humiliation to the list of tortures her husband meted out. Playing up the clandestine bit to the hilt, he intimated to the general public that he and Maggie were adulterous lovers, as he constantly looked over his shoulder for his "wife."
"Must you do that?" She spat, mortified.
"Darling, it all adds to the excitement of it!" He reasoned.
At the check in desk, he signed them in as Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
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Nicholas continued his race against time. In his cab, he contemplated ways he could do battle with Diabolos without aid of supernatural powers. So far he'd come up empty.
More pressing however, was the explanation he needed for Henri. How could he tell him about his body double? Frantically, Nicholas searched for his long time friend.
The proprietor found him instead. "Bonjour Monsieur Blair!"
"Henri, when was the last time you saw Mrs. Blair?"
Henri shrugged clearly confused but offered his favorite patron a polite answer. "A half an hour ago, with you."
Nicholas sighed. He'd have to explain as best as he could. "Henri, that was my twin brother posing as me." He rolled his eyes. "He's kind of a practical joker. Do you know where he took her?"
Henri's eyes involuntarily popped open. "He probably took her to the Liberty Hotel. I know this because he'd asked us to ring them for him." The proprietor's face flamed at all the insinuations that crept to his mind. In vain, he tried to cover his shock. "He intended to reserve a room Monsieur."
He thanked Henri and ran from the restaurant.
The host pulled Henri to one side.
"Has Mr. Blair lost something? I thought he'd left us for the evening."
Henri gave his associate a knowing look. "Perhaps his wife. The man pawing over her during dinner was Monsieur Blair's twin brother."
"Close family!" The host sighed through widened eyes.
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Maggie felt her heart creep into her stomach as she and her faux husband approached their hotel room. Where was the man she'd come to know and love? In his place, stood someone else, a decadent, depraved, dissolute monster. He must have had a Hell of a day at work, she surmised.
He'd refused letting her pack a few garments from home so she had put her foot down, insisting that he purchase her a nightgown.
"Very well my pet, but it's really unnecessary as I'll be tearing it off you the moment we get to the room!"
That was only the beginning…Upon opening the suite's doors, Maggie was horrified at the sinful visage. Mirrored tiles and golden cherubs hooded the ceiling above the round King sized bed! She crossed to the middle of the spacious room and reached out to touch the crushed velvet bed spread that matched the devil red color of the rest of the décor.
Her heart leaped as she heard the door click in all its finality. Then, instinctively, she backed away from a glowering Diabolos, stalking her like prey.
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"Mr. Smith, is there something I can do for you?"
Smith? How original of Diabolos, he thought. "Yes I've forgotten my room number."
"It's the room at the top of the hotel sir, room 1666."
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In an instant he jumped at her, flinging her to the very center of the great bed where he had her braced. Instantly, he started tearing at her garments until terror caused her to scream.
"Wait!" She yelled, her voice blood-curdling.
He stopped short.
She looked up into his fiery eyes gasping for breath. "I'd like to have a talk with you first."
"What about?" He asked quietly, resolutely.
She wrenched herself free. "Anything, everything! Where's the damned fire? You're scaring the Hell out of me!"
He bit his upper lip. "What do you mean?"
She threw her hands in the air. "There's something desperately missing here!" Her bottom lip started to tremble. "I mean…usually, we talk first." Her voice was shaky.
He shrugged shaking his head. "Alright, let's get it over with!" He folded his arms. "What do you want to talk about?"
Clearly put on the spot, her mind went blank. "I…I don't know."
He grimaced, finally nodding. "I know what we can talk about…movies!" Crawling across the bed to her, he asked through excited eyes, "Have you ever seen that Polanski one…Rosemary's Baby?" With that, he threw her back down continuing where he'd left off.
A frantic knock at the door saved her from unintended adultery.
At the door's other end stood a contemplative yet uneasy Nicholas. Tapped of his supernatural powers he had to rely on his wits, which were vast indeed. He'd also remained ever hopeful that he hadn't arrived too late.
On his way to the room, he'd formulated a plan that took into consideration his boss' sordid weaknesses.
The old goat always reminded Nicholas of the fabled dog carrying a steak in his mouth. In the story, the dog, spying his own reflection in a river, though it to be another dog. (With an even larger juicier steak than his own.) As the canine snatched at the "other animal's" meat, he watched his own, become consumed by a swift current, that carried away his haul with the rushing waters.
If he knew anything about his former boss it was this; He was no different from the fabled dog! The former warlock merely needed to present him with another woman…A French maid to be exact. The Big D was a sucker for them!
Since time was of the essence and there were none in sight, Nicholas reluctantly employed himself for the job. Resolutely, he pounded on the door for the second time…only louder.
"What is it?!?" The Devil blasted in his raspiest voice.
Nicholas looked around and when he was convinced that no one was within proximity of him, he spoke. "Pardon! Monsieur! I've brought clean towels and bedding."
"We have plenty of all that, now beat it!" He bellowed.
He's not biting he thought ruefully. Nicholas tried harder to make his voice sound higher and even more appealing. "Oh mon Dieu! ! I apologize Monsieur, in the management's haste to engage the room, fresh towels and bedding weren't provided. You now share the linens from the prior inhabitants.
Maggie flinched, immediately sickened by the maid's revelations. On the other hand, Diabolos was intrigued by the new female presence as he questioned "her" with interest.
"What are you wearing?" He asked, as he continued to hold his unwilling wife in a wrestling hold.
Maggie's eyes nearly fell out of her head.
"Pardon?" Nicholas answered seductively.
Diabolos continued to drool. "Are you wearing one of those short black and white jobbies with the high heels and the fishnet stockings?"
For his second question Diabolos received a much deserved and painful pinch in the arm.
"Certainement Monsieur!" Nicholas replied appealingly and as he did an older couple emerged from their room. As they stood watching, they eyed him suspiciously.
The promised description was enough for the Big D. Practically dropping Maggie to the floor he sprinted to the door, to allow his fantasy entrance.
To be continued…