Summary: There are unexpected consequences when Laszlo seeks a new human familiar...
Part XXIX...
Next day...
Guillermo's cell...12 noon.
He glumly pacing...No one due to drop by till later, then just Jen and Erika to make a report to the guys on the respective progress on the two sales...
Though Jen had mentioned on phone that Susan would likely drop by as well, to see if he needed a hand with anything...He eyeing envelope with his DNA results...
Wonder how interested in me she'd be if she finds out...
Heck, even Jen was ready to kill me a little while back for Laszlo's sake... I mean, she would be very sorry about it, I'm sure. But...He pictures host of Zeller Properties' enthralled agents enraged and attacking him as he prepares to stake Nandor in open coffin, Nandor sleeping peacefully.
Why would I picture killing Master Nandor? He blinks. I mean I have had my troubles with him but he saved me from the Vampiric Council just this month.
Uh-boy. Is this that "Destiny" thing? No, I am not fated to kill my friends.
Though they are killer vampires...They're such nice people, really. Maybe all a bit overbearing, inconsiderate, and aristocratically arrogant in two cases...
Generally this the one moment of the day when no one bothers or bothers with him. Though now, the heavy burden of Chief Familiar takes a unique form...Apart from the new burden he carries concealed within...
"Gui! Guillermo?! It's Phyllis!" rap at door.
He nervously opens to reveal a beaming Phyllis, hair and face carefully made up, in black suit with gray scarf to conceal still-healing throat wound and cream-white blouse.
"Sorry if I startled you, I know it's not my day here but I had some time before my next client and I thought I'd bring you lunch." Warm smile, holding bag. "Master Nandor couldn't be sure what you liked but Jen said you seemed to like barbecque. I did bring a salad, too, mainly for me. Can I come in?"
Wan grin at his hesitation... "I know you're not a vampire, Gui. Just being courteous."
"Yeah, sure...Please, come in." he opens door wider and waves her to a chair at his desk. "Have a seat." She eyes the one seat.
"I'll just sit on my bed, I usually do when someone comes in."
"Well, how about I do too?" smile, she taking seat on bed, near him. "We can do this picnic style, if that's ok with you? It's nice and quiet here. Unless you'd rather go to the kitchen or outside?"
"Uh...Sure. Here's fine."
"At least we won't be bothered by the rats, huh?" smile. "Master Nandor really laid down the law to them the other night, huh?"
"Yeah...That and the strychnine in the attic and hallway..." he nods. "And your mistress did some laying down."
"Yeah...She's quite commanding in her own right, my beloved mistress." She nods.
She unpacking bag, clearly a bit nervous...He eyeing her from his side of the bed.
"I hope you like this, it's supposed to be the best in the city. I tried to get every sauce I could...And I brought Diet and Regular Coke."
"Thanks. That's...Nice...Thank you. Ummn...Diet's fine."
"Great, well...Don't stand on ceremony...Honey." Beam. "That's beef brisket, that's pork, that's chicken. Dig in." she takes paper plate from bag, pulling salad out of bowl. He a bit reluctantly taking out plate and taking some barbequed beef and chicken, she eagerly spooning salad on his plate at his faint request.
"I hope you like it." She hesitates, he taking forkful.
"It's great, thank you."
"Good. Glad you like it." Pleased smile. "So, is everything going ok here?" she took forkful of salad. "I guess it's mostly planning now, but it's gonna be a madhouse in a day or two, what with starting to pack up and clean and all, right?"
"Yeah...It's not too bad today, thanks to you guys helping, but we've been planning it out."
"Well, you know I live to serve..." open smile. "But I honestly want to help you, so don't be shy about asking me to do anything I can."
"Thanks..." nod. He swallows some more down.
"But you're not getting into too much now? You're just getting over your being hurt before." Anxious look. "Jen said you had some pain last week, is it better?"
"Oh, it's fine and everyone's been so helpful round here and nice. All of you. I'm doing just fine. We've really got caught up on things here." He notes to her worried face. Now close by his own...She edging over gradually and gracefully.
"Yeah, really appreciate all you guys have done..." he notes.
"Thanks. I only wish I could've done more." She sighs. Taking pull from her Coke, more of her salad.
"Thanks for bringing lunch..." he nods, taking another forkful. "This really is good."
"Great." Fond smile. "Gui, you've done such a great job here for the Mistress and the Masters, all by yourself. I don't know how you've managed. Cleaning, fixing, finding victims, disposing of the corpses." Shake of head.
"Well, they are very powerful vampires. Master Nandor helps me with anything really heavy inside during the day or outside at night."
"He seems the type to. Very nice guy...If I weren't Mistress Nadja's slave, I'd be proud to work just for him. But I guess I do, really. He's my Master too." Smile, hand on Gui's as he stares at hand.
She putting her plate down... "Guillermo..." she breathed, edging to him. He blinking at her...
"I sense you're the kind of guy who lets nothing get in the way of serving his Master or Mistress...And providing for his family, Gui." Phyllis, intense stare. "I'm saying flat out...I like you. I want you. And this isn't just because I think the Mistress would like it..."
"I kinda doubt she would...She doesn't really think too much of me." Guillermo sighs. "Look, Ms...You know I still haven't gotten your last name?"
"Nugent. But call me Phyl...Or whatever you'd like. Gui..." she puts hand to his cheek, helping him set down his plate on the bed with her other hand. "I know Susan says she likes you, I know Jen likes you. But they're kids, nice girls and all but spoiled, really. And you know Jen's married and you're not the sort to take a married woman with a kid in thrall, I can see that."
"Yeah...Well, Phyl..." he tries.
"I know Susan thinks she cares for you and she's beautiful, I don't deny it, Gui. But I'm not bad looking..." sheepish smile... "...And I have been through things she couldn't survive. Gui..." seriously intense stare, touching cheek with left hand, unbuttoning blouse with right. "There's nothing like an experienced woman who's been slapped down enough by life to appreciate a good man. Yeah, Susie would probably look great on your arm, I know that..." sigh. "You don't have to make promises, Gui. Just give me a chance to show you..." ...moving to embrace him.
"I don't think you're unattractive, Phyl...Ms. Nugent. But just right now..." Guillermo tries, squirming a bit out of her embrace but finding himself held tight. Eyeing the lovely brunette, looking at him with rapturous look that took years off, hair just starting to fall out of its bun, blouse undone to reveal cleavage and the top of her bra...Lips parted.
"Thank you." Warm smile, kiss, then serious, slightly forlorn look as she relaxes to his acute relief. "Gui, I won't push it. But look... Sue comes out of thrall one day. She may not remember Nandor or what happened. But lets say Nandor has her remember you and she remembers at least dating you...I won't be catty and say she'd dump you right away, she's not a bitch, honestly. But you know, she's young and thinks she can have anyone. It wouldn't be long before she'd be looking around, comparing you to other guys. She wouldn't be able not to consider the dollar sign, his status, what he looks like. She's young..." wan shrug. "I mean sure, if she stays enthralled...Or same for Jen, if she loses her husband or has to kill him...I know they'd be very devoted to you while in thrall. It's just...Wouldn't you always wonder? 'Do they really care for me? Or would they run if free?' " she eyes him seriously...Intently.
"But someone like me...I've made those mistakes, Gui. I know what I want, thrall or no thrall, and I want someone good and kind and decent...I got money myself and I know Master Nandor would never let you go hungry, I've no concerns there..."
"You might be surprised..." he sighs.
"Oh..." she sighs. "You sell yourself short, Gui. He's very fond of you, I can tell. You're like the son he had who died hundreds of years ago."
Oh...He blinks...
"You could have him ask me to answer truthfully, I've been the breadwinner for a few guys who didn't deserve it. That's not a big deal to me. Not that I don't think you'd pull your own weight...Just...Money shouldn't be a problem for us."
"Please...I...Really..."
"Sorry..." she releases and pulls back. "I'm only coming on strong because I want to make my case. Gui. I want you. I love you. I know I could make you happy. And if you want kids, I'm still young enough." Fervent look.
He blinks...Uh...
"You're very nice, Phyl. But I just don't think I should take advantage here. Of any of you..."
She eyes him a long moment, then, as he gets a bit nervous, looking round, considering if there was anything an enraged woman might make use of about the room, a sudden warm beam... "I thought you'd say that, you're that sort of guy." Fond look. "Well, you need some time. I can wait, Gui. Just let me know, I'm in the running. I won't make trouble about it, I swear, if you decide you want to try and see how you like Susie or anyone else. But tell me, honestly? You haven't settled on anyone?" careful stare.
"No, I haven't." he shakes head anxiously. She nods and pulls back.
"Ok, then." Smile. "Just remember that I love you and I'll prove it. But take all the time you need, Gui. I can wait. I'm patient. Experience teaches you that. And I'm in a profession that requires patience." Warmer smile, fond pat.
"Sure..." he nods, eyeing camera with stricken expression.
"I better go and get off to my 2 o'clock. Still gotta make the donuts, you know?" fond smile, again patting him...Quick sudden kiss of cheek, then rising as he stares at her beaming face.
"Sometime you should come see me in action with human clients. I'm a shark, but a decent one..." grin.
"Yeah..." he nods, blankly. "Thanks...That'd be nice."
"It's a date, then." She beams. "I hope you liked your lunch. I'd love to do it again, soon."
"Oh, hi, Colin..." to the faintly smiling Colin Robinson in Guillermo's doorway. "Sorry, gotta run."
"Sure, nice to see you, Phyllis. See you tomorrow at the office." Nod.
"Yeah! Good luck with the final details! Let me know if I can help!" cheery call. "Bye, Gui! See ya!" sound of her scurrying feet.
Guillermo staring after her...
"Well, well. Knee deep in thralled loving minion assistants are we? Boy, are you screwed." Colin, in hallway, grinning at a distressed Guillermo.
...
Phyllis in car en route to her appointment...Beatific expression...
"Gui is such a good guy. Any of a dozen guys, offered what I offered, knowing he could take it without any promises..." slow shake of head. "I love that man and hell, if I have to share him with Susie or the rest of the office, fine. It's a sacrifice I'm ready to make, just as I'd lay down my life for the Mistress." Nod. "I can be big about it, till he sees I'm the one who truly loves him." Firm stare.
...