Part 22 (1/2)
I appealed to Philip. ”Tell me the truth. Was all this all a ploy?”
”Not on my part. I believe Kurt had no part, either.”
”The boy had no part,” Brovik said, not looking up from the figures on the paper. ”He genuinely cares for her.”
Ethan was furious. ”Isn't this all so touching? The fact remains that she's mine and I have no intention of giving her up. She just made me a cool fifty thousand, between my compensation and the painting.”
”It's my desire she remain with you,” Brovik replied. ”I discussed this with her outside.”
Philip was perturbed. ”Do you even love the girl, Ethan?”
Ethan's face gave no clue as he replied to Philip's question, ”Ask Brovik, he knows the answer.”
Brovik looked bored. ”This work is important to us all. You two will work out your difficulties. Philip and I have business in Rome. I can't stay here and argue over hurt feelings.”
”You wreak your havoc and move on, just to get what you want.”
”Remember that Ethan and you'll have an easier time of it. I didn't survive a thousand years by worrying about sensibility. I get results anyway I can. We have bigger things to worry about than Mia fancying Kurt.”
I trembled from head to foot with anger. ”You used me. You're as bad as Gaius!”
Brovik grew horrifyingly still. ”I won't have either of you getting in the way of our progress. I don't care if you despise each other. You'll do as you are ordered. Philip, let's go.” He abruptly left the room.
Philip kissed my cheek and whispered into my ear. ”Courage, little one- the boy is true.”
I pulled away from him. ”You told me never to trust anyone. I guess you were right.”
”Philip, come,” Brovik called from the door.
Philip shook his head, taking one last look at us before he left with Brovik. ”Ruthven, old chap, we've made a sad mess of things.”
Ethan looked as if I were an insect he sc.r.a.ped off of the sole of his shoe. ”Here I thought it was Brovik, but all along he was pandering his paramour to you.”
”Well, that should work for you. Brovik's bed is a bit crowded. Go on, hit me again, leave bruises. They will fade. I found that out with Dirk.”
”You endured that animal because Brovik promised you an opportunity to rut rut with Kurt?” with Kurt?”
”No, to be free of you and all your misery!”
”Misery, madam? I've endured your haranguing for over a decade. Perhaps, I long to be free of you!”
”Go on, throw me out, and lose the best investment you ever made.”
Ethan grabbed my throat. ”Don't tempt me. I can always make a new and improved version of you. Brovik could care less as long as she does as she's told. What would become of you then? Maybe little Amor would spirit you away, or maybe he'd just let you lie there until the sun rots the flesh from your bones. You are nothing nothing without me. I took you from that wretched theatre and made you a G.o.ddess.” without me. I took you from that wretched theatre and made you a G.o.ddess.”
”I never asked to be a G.o.ddess. I only wanted you to love me. You should have left me to die. h.e.l.l, couldn't be any worse than this!”
He released me and looked on in grim satisfaction. ”Well, well, all grown up at last. Welcome to eternal perdition my dear, with all its empty promises and unending torment. Now you know... ”
Mia trailed off into silence. Joe observed her pained expression, and thought it best to call it quits. ”That's enough. I still have to go play chess with Kurt.”
She nodded, saying nothing more, still and depressed.
”All right?”
”Just missing him.”
”I understand. Good night.”
”Good night.”
He took a last inquiring look, but she didn't move a muscle. What had gotten into her lately?
Joe carried the beautifully carved chess set his father had left him into the other cell. Kurt delighted in the carving of the onyx pieces as Joe unpacked them, turning the slightly transparent stone in his slender fingers. ”Exquisite... ”
”Been in my family for generations- played a lot when I was a kid.”
”My father taught me when I was very young. We played backstage during my concert tours in the early thirties.”
Weird. Kurt was older than Joe's father was when he died, yet he looked so young and smooth. That image made Joe uncomfortable. Kurt was older than Joe's father was when he died, yet he looked so young and smooth. That image made Joe uncomfortable.
Kurt chuckled. ”Doctor, you needn't be so tense. I only only want a game of chess.” want a game of chess.”
”Sorry?”
”Set up the board. You move first.”
Joe made his first tentative move. Kurt astonished him by beating him in four. They played again and again. Each time Kurt swiftly took him down.
”You're murdering me.”
Kurt sat, arms folded across his chest, face relaxed. ”Take time to consider your moves.”
”You just look where I move and pounce.”
”I can see exactly what you're doing. You make it much too easy. See the board in your mind. Antic.i.p.ate my next move. Set up again.”
This time Joe was able to hold him off awhile. Kurt was very pleased. ”You see- you can do it when you think.” Kurt looked over the board before he moved. ”You talked with Mia earlier?”
”She's really upset about something.”
Kurt slid his bishop forward. ”You shouldn't have advanced that knight. Check.”
Joe made a defensive move, but Kurt boxed him in. ”Checkmate. Mia knows every ploy man has used on woman. To maintain her trust you must be completely honest.”
”Do you trust me?”