Ex-soldier Birmingham-gangster bets his life on luck and illegalities, adroit wit and burning passion streaking his blood-stained fingertips as a dire quarrel commence between himself and the disturbed Dane who purloined his lover.
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CONGRESS OF CHANCE
ENTERING THE WIDE HALL, Ines felt humble like never before. All backbone she had picked up over the years was ripped right out of her spine as she walked the marble floor that returned her green reflection. Clad in a long, appropriate, pear-colored dress, fitted nicely to her body with a darker tone of green belt adorned with pearls hugging neatly around her waist. A floral crown ended the dress just under her collar bone, and her neck held her most valuable and stunning diamonds in matching emerald, the ones her father had presented her on her 31st birthday.
Originally he had meant to give the necklace to her on the day she turned 30, however, the corrupt and dishonest merchant he had dealt with, had been holding out on him, seeing if anyone could out-bid the elderly man. Receiving the glorious diamonds, Ines had been speechless at the sight, the reaction Hans had hoped for and his heart was fluttering for his daughter's joy.
The bootlegged gangster selling the green diamonds to Hans Lenz was sketchy in more than one way and managed to accumulate a great deal from the man. Had Ines' father been tighter on money, he would have looked more into the market of sapphires and other divine stones, albeit he did not, for upon spotting them shining in a small street market in, he was certain they soon would be gone and he jumped into unknown territory and secured the stones.
Ultimately, months later, he was in possessions of these and turned to a lapidary and then a silversmith in order to present the perfect gift.
Then at Ines' right, Anton was standing. Back straightened and arm extended for Ines' to rest in. As he observed the area, eyes scanning for any familiar faces, he gave a firm nod to any he made contact with.
Ines too looked around the great room. The flooring carried on all through the corridor and into the main hall where the attending guests mingled. It was wide walls going on forever until they reached the ceiling, which was carried by several pillars around the assembly room. Chandeliers hung around, casting light in every corner and round, large tables were decorated with bouquets and golden candelabras, enough set up to make seating for all the guests during dinner.
Time went by and Ines was both introducing herself and introduced to many businessmen. Maes had been right; there were very, very few women partaking in this Congress. The women that had actually met up were wrapped up in the arms of their husbands, playing happy wife and it made Ines slide her arm from Anton's, not eager to have her potential colleagues mistake her for a simple tagalong.
She was pleased by the wives' attire, as she had been a mess finding a proper fit leading up to the occasion.
Within the first two hours, a large amount of woman had detached from their husbands to find less boring company. Groups had taken the liberty to settle by the tables, drinks in hand and cigarettes between red lips, allowing Ines to talk business without earning a hard glare from a mistress.
As she was exchanging politics with a man she had learned to be the delegate of the rising car brand Foreman, she found herself bored with the illiberal wit of this man and she was rescued by another.
"Sir, mind me stealing Miss Lenz for a minute?"
Left with no more surplus for the narrow-minded, Ines allowed the man to attain her attention, although not without a polite adieu to the Foreman commissioner. As a woman doing her best to keep up with these boys and without hurting their fondness in the process, she did not possess the same the freedom to emit same sordidness as they. She was not yet playing in the big leagues; she was close, but not quite there yet, and that she had no wish to ruin.
"Please excuse me, miss. I am Nikolaj Brogaard," introduced the man with and offered his hand for her to shake. He had been the first to not attempt to plant a kiss on the back of her gloved hand, and that gave away he had not approached for she was a woman. Nikolaj was here on business. "I was just informed by Mr. Maes over there, that you're the one who has provided him the new look of his clubs, yes?"
"I am," admitted she and Nikolaj Brogaard gestured with a suggesting nod of his head to follow him. Side by side, the two walked slowly with no particular destination in mind, easing their way through the crowd.
Mr. Brogaard started, "I do not often enjoy myself at such establishments. I think it has to do with the music and dancing."
She could not quite pinpoint the origin of the suppressed accent as it was as vague as barely audible.
"You do not enjoy music?"
"Not the recent racket the young are so fond of. I do like a decent violin, though," confessed he with his head at tilt and a humorous glimpse in his gentle, brown eyes, earning a chuckle from Ines. She could not contradict his perception. "However, at Maes I did not find myself entirely displeased. I like to think it had to do with the interior, it gave the whole setting a refreshing yet valiant and old-fashioned semblance."
"You know, I was going for those themes!" smiled she, acknowledging his courtliness. She knew very well she had done well uprising in this business, but it was nice to hear it from a man.
"Do you know what I do for a living?" asked he curiously, unsure whether the woman was aware of his denoted scandals.
Coming to a halt, two men came from a door with bland faces and Nikolaj noticed the semicircle balcony. Leading Ines and allowing her to step out first, they exited and were met with a stunning view over an uplit Hamburg. Time had flown by with Ines had not even noticed it to be nightfall.
"I have been informed you own a company dealing vehicles, but that is about all I know."
Nikolaj nodded his head and offered Ines a cigarette. It was thicker than the usual type and the sloppy handiwork was given away by the crumbled rolling paper. When Ines went to inhale she felt the tobacco scraping against her throat, and she did her best not to cough.
"Hive Automatics, yes," affirmed he and blew out smoke, having no trouble breathing the exotic shag. "And I just so happen to be in the process of finding the right material for my seats."
"Is that so?" smiled Ines and he nodded. She considered mentioning her business with Anton Maes had recently come to an end, but she wondered for a moment if she should wait for him to propose an offer, and Nikolaj then spoke up.
"Yes. I wondered, actually, it was Mr. Maes that mentioned it, but see I wondered if you by any chance would like to take a look at one of the new models? See if any ideas come to mind." And there it was. Ines turned to look at Brogaard and she shifted her position, lifting the hand-rolled cigarette to her lips. "The prototype is in Berlin with the manufacturer as we speak, so that is some way, but should you be interested, I would have it arranged for someone to take you there directly. You will, of course, be paid for your consulting no matter what we find out," assured he.
"It does sound tempting," told Ines and although the job, even if no agreement was to come out of the trip, she found it enticing. Howbeit, she was worried it was too early for her to accept a new job—after all, her father had just passed a month ago. It likely would encompass her to move once again. "Would you allow me to consider for a small while? Will you be here again tomorrow?"
"I will, and take all the time you need. I'm out of ideas myself—my offer goes nowhere," said Nikolaj and inhaled his expensive import.
Ines did the same, nodding thankfully and glanced over the beautiful city. She wondered what Mr. Brogaard's relation to Anton was, as she would have to remember to thank him if she ended up leaving Germany with a new, promising deal in her hands. She recalled he had mentioned something about a smaller quarrel between the two, thus the surprise concerning the invite.
It was already decided, but to be sure and make no rushed decision out of excitement, Ines allowed herself to dwell on it overnight and return with a verdict the following day.
