marry him."
"Excuse me?" Even though I know exactly what Reinhard is alluding to, I can't believe what I’m hearing. How has my stepbrother heard of Ron's infidelity?
"It's just, father and I, we’ve been considering whether to take Ron on to the Board of the Bank. But I think he might be involved in illegal activities. At least it looks that way, but we have no evidence yet."
It takes a moment before I understand the meaning of his words. Reinhard isn’t alluding to Ron's girlfriend.
"How you did find out?" I ask the question that concerns me the most.
"We routinely check everyone who qualifies for such a position. Of course, Ron had to agree to the review. Apparently he thought that nobody could prove anything, but the investigations indicate that something fishy is going on. I don't know anything specific, but I'm worried about you. I don't want you to marry him, only to then find out what kind of person he really is. I know it's not a good time so shortly before the wedding, but still..." Reinhard inserts a pause. Even over the phone line, I hear his regret for having to give me such news.
"Don't worry, Reinhard, I'm not marrying Ron."
"You? What? ... Why?"
"He cheated on me," I answer the question which I know Reinhard was trying to say, but couldn’t in his surprise.
"Oh. So... I'm sorry. Honestly."
"Yeah, me too."
"But why didn't you tell me? I didn’t know..."
"I only found out today myself."
"Sis, I’m sorry. Really, really sorry. Not, that you won’t be marrying him, because that’s the first piece of good news today. But that he could do something like that to you! The next time I see him, I’ll break every bone in his body, I promise."
"That's not necessary, anyway, he’s not worth the trouble. I'll get through it."
"You want to come over? Tina certainly won’t mind, come to dinner. Tomorrow we’re flying to the Seychelles, and I’d like to talk everything over before we go."
"Reinhard, that's sweet of you, but I need a little rest. And your sweet marital bliss is a bit too much for me at the moment. Give me some time, okay?"
“Alright. But Tamara, I'm serious. If you need a shoulder to cry on, then come over. Even though I have no idea what to do with a crying woman."
"Okay, I’ll hold you to that," I reply, and smile. The idea, of my brother sitting helplessly with a woman crying on his shoulder, is worth its weight in gold. I know Reinhard well enough to know that would be one of his worst nightmares. He’d rather face a whole pack of angry board members.
After our conversation my mood is a little better. Maybe I've never had a boyfriend who really loved me, but at least there are two people in this world who accept me as I am: Nana and Reinhard.
It's late as I finally arrive at the Mainhatten Hotel. The brightly-lit hotel is like an oasis to me, so happy am I that I can take refuge here. From now on, I will concentrate only on the positive aspects of my money and my origins, I decide as I walk through the sliding doors and over the black marble that dominates the entrance. Shortly afterwards, I find myself travelling upwards in the lift and am released onto the twenty-sixth floor. The first thing I do when I arrive in the suite is to slip out of my shoes. My feet sink into the expensive carpet which feels as smooth and soft as moss.
Despite my depressed mood, the skyline spread out before my eyes pulls me into its spell. The city is beautiful at night. The roads are winding through the canyons like glittering ribbons, everywhere the lights of homes and street lights sparkle like jewels. For a long time I am immersed in this vision. Gradually the tension of the last few days starts to fade.
If only it could always be like this! Why can’t I turn back the clock to last week? Back then my life was all in order. I was in love with Ron and had no other worries than planning our wedding.
He should burn in hell! The ugly thought destroys my calm. I had actually planned to enjoy
"Excuse me?" Even though I know exactly what Reinhard is alluding to, I can't believe what I’m hearing. How has my stepbrother heard of Ron's infidelity?
"It's just, father and I, we’ve been considering whether to take Ron on to the Board of the Bank. But I think he might be involved in illegal activities. At least it looks that way, but we have no evidence yet."
It takes a moment before I understand the meaning of his words. Reinhard isn’t alluding to Ron's girlfriend.
"How you did find out?" I ask the question that concerns me the most.
"We routinely check everyone who qualifies for such a position. Of course, Ron had to agree to the review. Apparently he thought that nobody could prove anything, but the investigations indicate that something fishy is going on. I don't know anything specific, but I'm worried about you. I don't want you to marry him, only to then find out what kind of person he really is. I know it's not a good time so shortly before the wedding, but still..." Reinhard inserts a pause. Even over the phone line, I hear his regret for having to give me such news.
"Don't worry, Reinhard, I'm not marrying Ron."
"You? What? ... Why?"
"He cheated on me," I answer the question which I know Reinhard was trying to say, but couldn’t in his surprise.
"Oh. So... I'm sorry. Honestly."
"Yeah, me too."
"But why didn't you tell me? I didn’t know..."
"I only found out today myself."
"Sis, I’m sorry. Really, really sorry. Not, that you won’t be marrying him, because that’s the first piece of good news today. But that he could do something like that to you! The next time I see him, I’ll break every bone in his body, I promise."
"That's not necessary, anyway, he’s not worth the trouble. I'll get through it."
"You want to come over? Tina certainly won’t mind, come to dinner. Tomorrow we’re flying to the Seychelles, and I’d like to talk everything over before we go."
"Reinhard, that's sweet of you, but I need a little rest. And your sweet marital bliss is a bit too much for me at the moment. Give me some time, okay?"
“Alright. But Tamara, I'm serious. If you need a shoulder to cry on, then come over. Even though I have no idea what to do with a crying woman."
"Okay, I’ll hold you to that," I reply, and smile. The idea, of my brother sitting helplessly with a woman crying on his shoulder, is worth its weight in gold. I know Reinhard well enough to know that would be one of his worst nightmares. He’d rather face a whole pack of angry board members.
After our conversation my mood is a little better. Maybe I've never had a boyfriend who really loved me, but at least there are two people in this world who accept me as I am: Nana and Reinhard.
It's late as I finally arrive at the Mainhatten Hotel. The brightly-lit hotel is like an oasis to me, so happy am I that I can take refuge here. From now on, I will concentrate only on the positive aspects of my money and my origins, I decide as I walk through the sliding doors and over the black marble that dominates the entrance. Shortly afterwards, I find myself travelling upwards in the lift and am released onto the twenty-sixth floor. The first thing I do when I arrive in the suite is to slip out of my shoes. My feet sink into the expensive carpet which feels as smooth and soft as moss.
Despite my depressed mood, the skyline spread out before my eyes pulls me into its spell. The city is beautiful at night. The roads are winding through the canyons like glittering ribbons, everywhere the lights of homes and street lights sparkle like jewels. For a long time I am immersed in this vision. Gradually the tension of the last few days starts to fade.
If only it could always be like this! Why can’t I turn back the clock to last week? Back then my life was all in order. I was in love with Ron and had no other worries than planning our wedding.
He should burn in hell! The ugly thought destroys my calm. I had actually planned to enjoy
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