Excelsior

Chapter 21: The time is running out

Katlyn said goodbye to her butler as she opened the door when she saw her friend outside who was about to knock, and jumped up in surprise.

"Oh, Lord!"

Evelyn came in.

"What are you doing here? Weren't you on a date with that Belgian count?"

"Yes. It didn't work."

"It's only been fifteen minutes."

—Solo han pasado quince minutos.

"I'd rather not give any detail, I'll just tell you he is not for me, absolutely."

"It is the fifth suitor you reject this week," Kat cried, "and a marriage with that man would have certainly given you a real countess title."

"Are you going out?" she asked in a natural tone, as if she didn't hear what her friend said.

"I was offered a beautiful bag that I must have."

"Fine, let's go then."

Unable to decide, Katlyn went out with Evelyn. On the trip she tried to get information about her date without much success. The young woman chose to leave the subject behind, and entertain herself with idle shopping. She couldn't help noticing that Miss Cabot had shaky hands and her voice was evidence of her nervousness that she hid while deciding on a bag. Her mind seemed to wander to other matters, and her suspicions that something was bothering her friend became more apparent when the cashier informed her that her card had been rejected, and she did not react.

"¿Evelyn?"

She shook her head, "excuse me?"

"Your card has been rejected, miss."

"Okay," she took another card out of her bag, "it usually happens."

She gave the man the card, which was also rejected. Evelyn insisted him on trying again, getting another error message.

"How is that posible?" she wondered as she looked for her phone.

"Don't worry, darling."

"How dare he not inform me that I have no funds?"

"I will pay it for you."

"Hello?" she said to the phone, "you finally pick the call!"

Evelyn moved away and, in a tone of fury began to speak with the poor interlocutor. Anyone would wonder what kind of penalty he was paying.

Katlyn insisted that she would pay for her bag and they both left. Evelyn said she would meet her accountant at her home, and in the midst of the confusion, she had forgotten about the gift Katlyn had given her, and it wasn't until they got in the car that she was able to thank her properly. The rest of the way Evelyn did not speak of the matter again.

Ms. Cabot pushed the doors of her superb mansion, Villa Contessa. The expression on her face shocked the maids, who were chatting in the hall.

"We are sorry, Miss Cabot!" they replied as they went to other rooms, thinking that their boss was mad because they were lazing around.

"Can anyone get me a glass of water?" Evelyn asked as she threw open the office doors.

The staff rushed to please her as she typed in her computer hysterically, checking her financial statements.

"Give me my relaxer, please!"

An employee brought her a marijuana joint with exceptional speed. Evelyn would kill if anyone in the house talked about that flaw. She claimed, and without being wrong, that her family would disinherit her, and her reputation in the city would be tragically attacked. So precious was this secret to her that she didn't even trust Katlyn with it.

"Get rid of the smell before the accountant arrives."

By a miraculous work, when the accountant walked through the door, there was no longer any trace of what she had smoked. The employees had lit incense and opened the windows.

His office was eclectic, with light blue paneled walls and a white marble floor. The furniture and decor were oriental themed, with elegant Chinese pots in the corners, among other sculptures, and the bookcases were cabinets with drawings of red dragons. This made it easier to accommodate the incenses in the room.

Evelyn greeted him, and invited him to take a seat. Anyone would be in awe of the flowing aromatic smoke, yet, the staff informed the man that Miss Cabot was very superstitious and believed that those smells kept the bad vibes of poverty away.

"And tell me, Philip, when were you planning on tell me that I have no funds in my account?"

"I did not consider it necessary, Miss Cabot, as you always use Mr. Cabot's card when you have no funds. All of them were gone by last Tuesday."

"I understand." She clasped his hands on the desk and looked down. She didn't say anything for a moment. "And did you not think that, perhaps, I have used all the funds on my dad's card too?

"I'm afraid that's not possible, miss. His credit is gigantic, and, according to the expenses you have made this month and of which I have a record, you haven't spent that amount."

Suddenly Evelyn's phone rang. She nonchalantly stood up for her bag, which was on a table. The sender was her father.

"The time is running out," she read out loud. "Philip, I owe you an apology."

The man stood up and his heart accelerated in surprise.

"My dad is playing with me."

Silence had entered the room.

"So, tell me, do I have nothing in my bank account?"

Mr. Halls mentioned to her a comparably insignificant sum that she had in the bank. Evelyn walked to her desk, and leaned against it.

"If you can't use your dad's card" he added, "you basically have no money, Miss Cabot."

"Does that mean that I am poor?" she asked calmly.

The accountant, skeptically, nodded, having no idea of the reaction his client would have.

The young woman looked up and put a hand to her forehead. She exclaimed in concern before dropping to the ground.

"Evelyn?" he rushed over to her. "Help! Please, somebody help us!"

Some employees came in and helped her while the young woman's dogs entered to lick her face. Numerous suggestions were heard amid the anguish presented by the crowd around her.

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Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed. English is not my native language, so any feedback, suggestion or advice to change the grammar would be really appreciated.