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“Come on, Vlad. Better tell me… I know you don’t like me that much, but Eva. Why don’t you like her?”
“I don’t get what you mean…” Vlad was sincerely confused.
“Well…. we talked about having dinner, just three of us, right?”
“Elly, don’t be weird. Do I have to get lost when guys call me asking where I am at? Or ignore them when they come to say hi?”
“I’m not talking about your guys…. tell me, what are THEY doing here?” Elly quietly hissed.
“Well…they’re with D.”
“Right. When I heard David’s gonna be here too, I almost threw up.”
“Siri, I am proud of you didn’t,” Vlad burst into loud laughter.
“Honestly, that David of yours is the source of all problems. I’ve never even seen someone that fat. Even if I looked hard enough I wouldn’t probably find anyone like that.”
“Why look then? He’s one of the kind and you’ve found him already. Everyone knows D. He can solve any issue, right bro?” Vlad spoke loudly now addressing a chubby guy with a silly smile who had just approached the table behind Elly. Don’t be fooled, his silly smile was paired with sharp, intense, and calculating gaze.
“Sure, bro… you just let me know and I’ll fix it,” the chubby guy was spitting saliva as he spoke with his usual lisp. “Elly, Eva! Hi girls, looking good tonight.”
“Hi dear,” I tried my best to smile.
I didn’t despise David the way Elly did. In fact, I was quite indifferent to his or his friends presence. I was quite entertained watching them interact.
“Yo D! Here’s the thing. Elly was just saying you lost weight. And some muscles going for you. She’s been thinking of you all the time and wondered why you didn’t notice that. She’d love a date night.” Vlad was laughing once again having winked at bewildered David who was now smiling in a silly way, but now looking directly at Elly.
“Vlad! Are you forgetting to take your meds? You shouldn’t skip.” Trying her best to make indifferent look, Elly replied and took her electronic cigarette out of the red silk purse. “Oh, now I AM gonna be sick for real,” she whispered to me.
“He’s looking at you now… “I whispered back. “I think he didn’t get it… that Vlad was actually joking.”
“Fuck. I don’t even wanna smoke now.”
“A good opportunity to quit. Let’s call it David Effect.” I could barely contain the laughter that was filling me up.
“Still looking?”
“Who? David… or the handsome billionaire?”
“Oh, right. I forgot all about him because of these freaks.”
“Well… the billionaire isn’t. He’s looking, but at our laughing guys now.”
“Here we go. I’m so done. They’ve ruined it.”
“What have they ruined? There was nothing to ruin in the first place.” I laughed.
“But there could have been! They’re killing the game.”
“What can I say: c’est la vie.” I shrugged my shoulders. “But if this will make you feel better, David is still looking at you like a big crazy-in-love cat.”
“Shut up, will you?”
“No way!” a wave of laughter was growing in me.
“I’m begging you!” Elly herself was on the verge of laugher.
She was sitting with her side to David and looked stunning her dress that reached all the way to the floor. The long slit revealed her incredible sexy legs. Of course, she had stroke a pose initially to attract the attention of the handsome billionaire, but the pose seemed to backfire having drawn David.
“He’s eating you with his eyes…” I tried to be careful and not to look at David directly. “He’s drooling now.”
“So disgusting,” Elly closed her eyes. “He’s horrid. You know his managed to talk his parents into buying his ex – that bag of bones – a used Bentley”.
“I know who you mean… be quiet please.”
“Well… I know, to each their own, but still… but how could anyone sleep with him for a used Bentley? No one could fall that low. She must have a zero self-love or respect. You know, one thing…. when you hook up with a friend, drunk. Then we’d be talking about poor taste. And everyone has different tastes anyway…”
“So smart of you, I’m writing it down…” I giggled.
“So, she conned this tub of lard, and dumped him. Left him crying into the pillow, drinking and feeling worthless…
“So…?
“So, what?”
“What are you trying to say? If memory serves me correctly, I have seen it and heard all about it. It was actually me who told you all that.”
“Are you sure?” asked Elly jokingly. “Relax, I’m just messing with you.”
By then the restaurant was packed. On Friday evenings every table featured a company of very rich and influential men – much like the one Elly seemed to be obsessed about that evening. Most of them were accompanied by younger girls, however it was the kind of work that they engaged in that added a few extra years to their looks. Our table was good. It may have been not the best one, but considering the hierarchy of people who were present, we occupied a decent level.
“Hey Google, Chunky wants your number. Your dress slit overloaded what’s left of his brain… take my advice…”
“NO!”
“…go on a date with him, you have a chance he’ll stick around. He may even give you a beat up ‘Rolls’ He’s into non-conventional personalities, such as…”
“Are you serious? Did you just compare me with that bag of bones of his?”
It was then that Vlad realized he may have gone too far. He was raised by a good father and knew the difference between decent lady and a whore. He knew better not to mix one with another.
“Sorry, boo. My bad. I’m really really very sorry. Don’t get mad, Elly babe.”
“Vlad… how could I be mad with someone who’s clearly mentally challenged?”
“You’re such a bitch, though. Poor, poor David,” Vlad rolled his eyes.
“I think we’ll be on our way.”
“What?” Vlad couldn’t hide his surprise. “What’s up? Eva, you too?”
“Of course me too. You want me to stay here alone. You know all the things they’ll come up with to talk about tomorrow.”
“But what happened? Anyone care to explain?”
One of the Vlad’s flaw was that when something went not according to his plan he would turn into a small, spoiled boy.
“I’ve been trying to ask you a question for the last fifteen minutes and you don’t give me a chance and interrupt!” fired Elly, clearly annoyed.
“Ok, ok, I’m listening,” Vlad expression was now serious. He seemed to have transformed into one giant listening ear.
“I wanted to ask you two very simple questions. First, how could you do it to us? Arrange for us to be sitting at the same table with those whores…” with her eyes she pointed at the opposite end of the table, “ – and the second question; for how long are you going to continue feeding those free-riders?” with that she looked up at the people who had approached our table.
“Hey Vlad, what’s up man?”
In front of us now stood the capital’s two most notorious slackers who we had nicknamed Chip and Dale. And don’t be fooled with their second-hand Ferrari with out-of-town license plates, and their expensive garments, which they wouldn’t mind wearing price labels on. This particular couple emitted a cold and detached arrogance which I found especially repulsive. I never wanted to be at the same tables with them as seeing them would always spoil my appetite. Those were true freeloaders. It was acceptable to invite and treat dinner to actual public figures, someone who’s really popular, such as an actor, a tv host, or an extravagant politician – the expenses are justified by having an insightful and mutually beneficial conversation and time spent. I agree it’s so wrong, but at least there’s an explanation. However, having those two at the table had zero benefits. It would have been fine, if they possessed a nice, friendly personality and sense of humor. The only thing that they had going for them were their cold, condescending, arrogant faces.
They seemed to accidentally run into Vlad at various trendy places. With a look as if it was them who were paying for everyone, they would join the crowd at a table, looking down at everyone around them. I never did understand how come Vlad always allowed this to happen. I once confronted him about this, but all he said was: “Come on, why not be nice?”. It was how what was initially planned as dinner for three, turned out to be a crowded event with so many participants that a bigger table was often required which inevitable skyrocketed the check’s amount every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The fact that they brought along their friends didn’t help the matter. We were always bewildered by those who were able to date individuals like Chip and Dale – all of their chicks looked the same, most of them resembling pale jellyfish or grey mice. Little did we know…
Vlad
Vlad – a true leader – is an assertive and dominant alpha male, despite being younger than most people in our circle. Being born with a platinum spoon in his mouth, he was used to paying for everyone around him, traveled only private jets, and was always accompanied by his entourage of bodyguards. Everyone seemed to be weary of him, trying not to be a focus of his sharp sarcastic remarks. He didn’t hesitate to address them to whoever he pleased which at times made him look like one of those stupid rich kids. It wasn’t entirely true though, for having always had access to what seemed to be an infinite source of cash, he was always striving to make a living on his own. That aspiration, however, didn’t go hand in hand with the notion of education which he never seemed to care about. Streets were his school as he often would say, having probably picked it up from a gangster movie or two. Street smart as he was he set up an underground casino where his own kind of people – other rich kids – would come gamble, however the idea turned out to be so good that more mature, and “seasoned’ individuals would often frequent his little establishment. Elly and I didn’t like the idea from the start but Vlad reassured us that with his connections in high places, wherever those places might have been, coupled with a big case of cabbage, as he liked to call cash, he would never have to face an unresolvable issue. Despite his reassurance his idea seemed stupid, even dangerous to us. “Trust me, one would need to know everything about my little club in order to cause any trouble. Everything! And there are only two that do, besides me. They’re as interested in making money as I am. So, we’re pretty safe,” he would say. I thought it sounded childish and naive, though the only thing I could do was to shrug my shoulders. We never went there, not that Vlad was actively inviting us, either. Everyone sort of knew that it was a place to go to after our routine Friday dinners. They would play poker and other card games, betting insane amounts of money all night long. Elly and I preferred going to sing karaoke or male striptease club.
Vlad hated karaoke but loved us, and an opportunity to spend money, so he would ask me to let my driver Sasha off for the night. He gave us his driver and bodyguard, and paid for all of our fun. Just because he could. Because we were his friends. Very few people could wrap their minds around this idea, and therefore were often envious, spreading all kind of rumors behind our backs. It only proved my point that the majority of people surrounding us were cowards who could never bring themselves to say what they really thought to our face. Talking shit behind each other’s backs was an accepted norm, or even an example of appropriate behavior.
Spreading rumors is a prerogative of those individuals who still have some brain, as one is prerequisite for such a creative process in the first place. However, it is merely a result of slow degradation that shows, and any further development can only manifest itself in precisely that kind of notions of creativity: coming up with various gossip, hearsay, tittle-tattle, speculations of all sorts. Having analyzed it all thoroughly in my head on multiple occasions, I was no longer surprised and came to piece with the sad fact. I finally accepted it. Not that I consider myself very smart, but I do believe I have a good and ethical conscience. Throughout my childhood I was taught what the good and bad values were. It is precisely because of this it was imprinted in my mind that gossiping was low, and that I should do my best to avoid having anything to do with it. Perhaps my parents strove to cultivate and develop Pavlovian conditioning regarding gossiping, and I must say they succeeded. Elly didn’t like gossips either, however her explanation was that those who gossip have the same facial expression and they get older sooner. It really didn’t matter though what explanation we both had or whether we even shared one, since neither of us enjoyed gossiping. We were nowhere near that kind of conversations and neither was Vlad, not since the time he befriended us anyway. We should never deny or underestimate the power of the impact one’s environment is capable of.
“Bro, I called you but you didn’t pick,” said one of the two freeloaders.
“I was at the gym.”
“I thought that.”
Of course, he “thought that”. It was kind of obvious Vlad didn’t want to pick up the phone.
“Sparring stuff, huh?” the leech continued to inquire.
“Yeah… you didn’t say hi to the girls?” Vlad asked, clearly displeased.
“Didn’t have a chance yet, bro….” “Chip’ tried to appear sincerely confused to Vlad… “-girls, you look stunning as always. Queens!” he added hypocritically.
You know, compliments from such people often sound like insults. We tried to smile. Behind “Chip’, stood “Dale’, accompanied by two grey mice looking girlfriends.
“These are my sisters,” Vlad said in a serious tone, “ – especially this one – Eva.”
The faces of two girls accompanying the leeches seemed to wince. They clearly didn’t enjoy being ignored as Vlad didn’t acknowledge their presence even with a simple nod. That fact however didn’t stop the freeloaders from sitting down at the table and joining dinner at Vlad’s expense which repulsed me even further. People like those two, pursued yet another hidden agenda besides having a free champagne and meal. They wanted to be seen as part of our rich and influential circle, and food and drinks were just a nice bone.
Of course, Vlad wasn’t particularly rich or influential. His father was, and that sufficed. Period. However, Vlad wasn’t merely his father’s shadow. He was a person. Many could debate as to what kind of person Vlad really was – odious, crazy… the list could go on forever, but a person nonetheless. Besides, his condescending attitude particularly towards those two individuals was totally justified. That didn’t mean he would behave this way towards another person. In fact, when it came to me, he was always kind, caring, and charming. He was simple, much like a brother I always wished I had.
“Did you hear his especially Eva?” Elly whispered in my ear. “He’s real asshole.”
“Don’t get offended, you know how he is…” I shrugged my shoulders, trying to calm down Elly.
“Sometimes I wish I didn’t! I’m sick and tired of these kids. And where did my billionaire go, anyway? The evening couldn’t get any worse…?”
“What do you suggest?”
“You know what…” Elly said in a cheerful, cunning voice and squinted.
“No idea…”
“Let’s go over your guy’s…” I could her a hint of begging in her voice. “There are always tons of handsome men. Unlike these kids here.”
“Elly, sorry but I really don’t feel like going there tonight,” I was perplexed.
“Why?”
“Cuz, i just don’t feel like it!!!”
“You actually sound like you kinda do…”
“Well, kinda do and kinda don’t…”
“Why is that, I wonder?”
“Elly. He doesn’t even write me, or call after our last date. I don’t want to chase after him.”
“Chase after? No girl, you just happen to run into him. It’s so plausible you both like the same places…”
“It would have worked if… he weren’t the owner of that place.”
“But you have to admit it’s a darn good place. I like the idea of that restaurant being private…”
“True. I don’t even know whether I like him or his restaurant better… Anyway, next months or something.”
“What kind of nonsense is that. Don’t tell me you schedule your visits there and mark those visits on the calendar with a red marker.” Elly’s eyes rounded with disbelief. “You take everything too seriously. Be simple. It’s not like you’re marrying the guy.”
“Of course not. I am never getting married!”
“Cool. Me too. Not today, at least,” Elly laughed. “Let’s go! Call your Sasha,” she ordered bossily.
“Don’t be pushy ok?” I’m not going anywhere.”
“Don’t tell me it finally happened?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re falling for him, yes? Mr. Shh.”
