ODDS OF LOVE : SEASON ELEVEN

Episode 73

Nigel did say goodbye to his husband and hang up the phone but not because the woman intimidated him. No. Because he wanted to know exactly what she needed from him. He did not like her. She was too bossy. Too mean spirited. Too stubborn around the corners of her eyes and mouth. Too ... too..... Just too much. She was that word thirteen year old Richie and ten year old Rebecca kept using all the time , usually to describe himself. Extra.

" What do you want of me? ," he asked as he sat back in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest. It was getting close to medicine time and he had it with him in the leather shoulder bag he tended to carry his whole life in but he would be damned if he took a single pill in front of this woman. He did not trust her.

Dodie laughed heartily as she sat with a loud thud into the chair opposite him. She reached for the cup of tea before him. " Smells delicious," she said as she began to guzzle down the drink that he hadn't had one taste of yet. The bitch, he thought.

" It tastes delicious too. I do like tea occasionally but my family is a coffee drinker one really. You're Nicholas Volkouv's bastard son. By Matilda Swan. "

Nigel leaned forward and almost sneered ," You owe me a tea. And yes I am. How do you know this? "

" My family specializes in knowing things. I am a Giadello. I know things and I protect my family. That's something we have in common through our families. Did your father tell you about the old family feud between our families? Back in the day? Before he went legit ? From your face I say the answer to that is no. Oh well doesn't matter. Nobody cares about old skeletons anymore. Especially with Daddy and your grandfather dead. And Uncle Carlos retired now. I fucked your brother you know. Max not Alexi. What a boring time that was. I feel sorry for that wife of his. Always wanted to get Alexi in bed. " She smiled at him with perfect rows of shining pearly white teeth that looked like Jaws to him. " Not important now. I was just making small talk like Momma taught us. I can't ask Andrew this because he's not all here right now. And I don't feel comfortable around people like the man in the wheelchair. They make me feel guilty. I can handle my brother but..... That's what this is about. Alfred. "

Nigel kept his face clear of any thoughts he was presently thinking. " What about Alfred? And the man in the wheelchair has a name. He's Dr. Spencer Norland - Lane. He has the highest IQ in the country so if you need to know something he's the one to ask. If he doesn't know it probably wasn't that important. "

" I don't care about him. Or you either. Although from your phone call I would advise you to get the gun. Guns can be an excellent protection. No. I want to know who this fat man is hanging around my brother. He was engaged to Scott Sands not long ago until he freaked over a little cheating. " She shook her head in what looked like disgust. " I tried to tell him to just ignore it. Like Momma did with Daddy. Like I do with Tony. Like you probably do with your husband. "

Nigel thinned his lips. " My husband and I don't cheat on each other. We have a faithful relationship and always will. "

" You must be still newlyweds," she laughed.

" As for Gerald," he continued on swiftly ," he and Alfred are friends and colleagues. I don't know anything more because I am not nosy and poke my nose where it doesn't belong. If you want to know more I advise you to speak to your brother. "

Dodie finished off the tea. " That I will. My brother is special. He always has been. Even though I am younger than him I've always defended him from the time we were kids. Scott and I had an understanding about him. I just want to know if I can reach a similar understanding with this HighTower character."