The Deceiving Woman

Conartist's Easy Mark

CHAPTER 2: CONARTIST’S EASY MARK

 ***

Soon enough Albert contacted the reception and they managed to get him new clothes so that he would be able to go back with.

“What kind of sick joke is this…” Albert was left bewildered by the woman’s actions.

The fact that he was completely fooled wasn’t what bothered him.

He won’t miss that kind of money slipping away, but he didn’t want to let go of Amanda so easily.

 “Yesterday she…” Albert began remembering while they were having s*x yesterday how Amanda had told him ‘I love you.’ In a desperate heated voice.

He couldn’t stand still… Even if he was conned, he still wanted a reason to be around her.

“I’m going insane…” Albert was having a hard time believing everything that happened.

He was determined to go back to Heaven’s Door tonight and confront her about what happened.

*

Going to his company he was in a bad mood and all his employees could sense that from a mile away. So no one bothered to ask him what was wrong out of fear to not get on his bad side.

“Mr. Cunningham, I have today’s report…” His secretary Olivia said in the hopes of not disturbing her employer too much.

“Yes, leave it there.” Albert said in his usual icy cold tone but why did it sound even more freezing today? The room’s temperature seemed to have dropped several degrees after he said that.

Olivia quickly followed her orders but before she left she needed to say one more thing. “Also… Mr. Cunningham you have a guest waiting for you. Should I call them in?” She asked in a gentle tone.

“Hm? Fine, tell them to come in.” Albert wasn’t in the mood to speak with anyone right now but he wasn’t going to ignore his work.

“Yes sir.” Olivia said and quickly left the freezing cold office atmosphere.

The man that entered soon after seemed to be a ray of sunshine in comparison. A strong contrast to what awaited him in the office.

“Hello~!” He said not bothering to introduce himself. “So you got conned by Amanda, huh?”

“What?” Hearing that name mentioned Albert couldn’t very well hide his surprise. “You know her?”

“Of course I do! We were from the same organization. Well I quit a long time ago but still.” The man with the naturally cheery disposition sat on the office couch.

“What is this, why would you be telling me this?” Albert asked as he wasn’t too convicted by the man’s words.

“Because Amanda was like a younger sister to me~! And I wanted to make sure she isn’t getting into trouble.” The man spoke looking at the CEO’s direction. There was no way to tell whether or not his words are genuine.

“Could I have your name?” Albert regained his composure quickly and began asking the more appropriate question.

“It’s Mason Radwill. Or at least I think it is. It’s hard to really know after all this time.” Mason said looking as happy as ever.

“You think it is?” Albert wasn’t getting clear on the situation that was unfolding before him. Suddenly meeting a man that knows and has worked with Amanda but doesn’t even know his own name.

“I think so, yes. Honestly I can’t tell you if ‘Amanda Hendrix’ is her real name either.” Mason said looking up at the ceiling as if remembering something. Then bringing his attention back to the CEO.

“Then Mr. Radwill, could you tell me a bit more about her.” Albert asked looking at the man in front of him. He didn’t know if he could trust him but he also didn’t want to let an opportunity like this slip past him.

“I guess I wouldn’t mind. You are an interesting person after all.” Mason said giggling to himself.

“Interesting?” Albert asked but the man in front of him ignored that question and simply continued to ramble on his own.

“Darling Amanda is a conartist. She’s been her entire life. I won’t tell you anything about the organization she is a part of but simply put she conned you.” Mason said with a lighthearted tone.

“I gathered as much. But what use is it to you to tell me that?” Albert couldn’t comprehend why the man would walk into his office so openly and tell him he’s an ex-criminal.

“I think you’re an interesting person. Somehow it seems like you want to meet her again. Is that right?” Mason said observing the CEO’s reaction to his words.

“I do.” Albert confidently said without a second of thought or hesitation.

“That’s sweet and all, but… You are no different than anyone else she’s been with. So stay away from her from now on, okay?” Mason said it nicely but somehow his smiling face didn’t seem to be with good intentions.

“I don’t see why I should listen to you.” Albert said as he was thinking through everything he heard until now.

“How much did she take from you?” Mason asked looking interested by the man’s response.

“My suit, all my cards and about 500$ in cash.” Albert said remembering back to the things he lost to the woman.

“Those are minor things that you could live without right?” Mason asked while keeping eye contact with the CEO.

“Yes, so?” Albert asked back not moving his sight away from the man.

“What happens if she takes something bigger? Like let’s say… your entire company’s funds? Do you think you can forgive her for something like that?” Mason asked looking as cheerful as ever, he didn’t even bother to change his tone of voice.

“I wouldn’t allow that to happen.” Albert said with confidence that he wouldn’t be conned a second time.

“Hahaha~! You really are interesting!” Mason laughed his heart out hearing the other’s response. At a time like this after someone is conned once they wouldn’t ever go back to that person. But the CEO was different, not only did he still want to go back to her but also had no fear of being conned a second time.

“What’s so funny?” Even though the ex-con was having a great time, Albert wasn’t as amused by the situation.

“Your confidence amazes me!” Mason exclaimed. “So are you going back to Heaven’s Door today?”

“I am.” Albert didn’t take a second longer to answer.

“Well then… What will you do after you go there?” Mason asked while squinting his eyes as if to focus on the CEO once again.

“…” Albert hadn’t thought about what exactly to tell her yet. He was just certain that he would go back.

“You don’t know, do you?” Mason was having a fun time speaking to the CEO in this kind of manner. Listening to him being completely sure about one thing and completely uncertain for another was amusing.

“I don’t.” The CEO admitted, being seen through so easily.

“Then should an old man like me help you out with that?” Mason suggested.

“Why would you help me?” Albert thought there was something strange about this whole situation.

“I’ve seemed to have developed quite a liking to you. So I don’t mind helping you a bit. Oh but I guess I should ask for something in return as well?” Mason said jokingly.

“If it’s money-” Albert was just about to suggest an amount but was interrupted.

“I don’t care about things like that. I’m an ex-con remember? I’ve already given up on such useless things. Rather what I want to you is not to make her angry.” Mason said then went into complete silence awaiting the other man’s response.

“Not make her angry?” Albert asked not understanding why that would be the condition.

“She’s really scary when angered. I don’t want her to cause chaos in the peaceful city I live in.” Mason said his voice sounding a bit more genuine.

“Agreed. I won’t anger her.” Albert wasn’t hard to convince in this situation. Usually he would have thought more about this. Especially after hearing what a dangerous woman he’s gotten involved with. However his mind didn’t seem to be thinking as it usually did.

“She’s really got you wrapped on her little finger…” Mason wasn’t sure if he should laugh at such a thing. He’s never seen anyone be so infatuated with Amanda before. At least not to this extent.

“…” Albert wasn’t sure what to say to that remark. All he knew was that he wanted to possess her. Such strong feelings of desire towards a woman he barely knew. He wasn’t acting like himself at all.

“Well whatever… The things you should know about her are few… but very important…” Mason began his explanation to the CEO.

*

*

*

Same day…

At bar Heaven’s Door:

“Welcome back Albert!” Amanda said in a cheerful tone. Continuing to polish glass cups as she does so.

“Hello…” Albert said thinking that it was strange for her to even still be there. But his image of conartists wasn’t too clear. He still wasn’t sure what they to exactly even after listening to Mason’s explanation.

“I’m sorry that I can’t pay too much attention to you today. I have a lot of work to do.” Amanda said in an apologetic voice and continued to do her work in the meanwhile.

“I can wait.” Albert said looking at the completely filled bar. There were a lot of people there indeed.

After several hours the bar was closing and everyone else left. Leaving the man and woman on their own.

“So glad you waited for me darling~” Amanda said in a mocking tone. She seemed to be making fun of the CEO for coming back. “Before I forget, here are your things.” She said while taking out a small bag with his things inside.

“That’s not all of it.” Albert simply said by taking a single look at the contents of the bag.

“Of course not~ I didn’t take your cards but all your cash is gone. Oh also the jacket of your suit. I’m keeping that, it’s very nice.” Amanda said with a much different attitude than what she had just moments ago when there were people in the establishment.

“…” Albert kept silent for a bit wondering why she would just return most of his things.

“What is it dear? You suddenly went all silent on me.” Amanda said while approaching the man. She sat down on his lap. “Aren’t you going to talk to me anymore?”

The tone Amanda used was very seductive to the CEO’s ears but he didn’t react the usual way he would and kiss her. Instead he kept a cool head and spoke with indifference.

“I just came to see how you would react. Thanks for my stuff.” The CEO tried to stand up the woman surprisingly managed to hold him down with ease.

“What are you talking about? Weren’t you saying how much you loved me yesterday in bed?” Amanda said remembering the night before.

“A moment of stupidity I suppose.” Albert answered as he as well remembered the events of last night.

“Really… I enjoyed myself a lot that day. Especially looking at your heated expression.” Amanda whispered into the man’s ear. “You know… our bodies are really compatible.”

Albert’s heart raced a bit hearing those words. He touched the woman’s face gently looking it up close. “Amanda…” Feeling like his limits were being pushed he still tried remaining calm.

“Albert you know…” Amanda spoke while bringing her lips closer to his and then raising her right hand up to show the CEO something. “… you should be more careful~!”

She said while waving around the CEO’s wallet that she had just took from his pocket.

“My new wallet?! When did you?!” Albert got flustered looking at the wallet he bought today in the hands of the woman.

“Hahaha~! Here you go~! Here you go~!” Amanda said while giving his wallet back and laughing almost to tears. She loved looking at the CEO’s flustered expression.

Regaining his composure once more Albert spoke in his indifferent tone. “…Then I’m leaving. I already got my stuff back.”

Amanda seemed to be interested in the man’s words. “Really? So you don’t want anything else, you just came here to get your things back and realize I conned you?”

“Yes, that’s all. Now that I know that, there isn’t a reason for me to be here.” Albert said still maintaining his icy tone.

“Hm… somehow I don’t believe that.” Amanda was completely unconvinced by what she heard. “If you really wanted to end everything between us… Then you wouldn’t be here in the first place. It makes me think you want something completely different…”

“Ugh…” Albert grunted a bit because the woman was moving her hands all over his chiseled chest.

“So…? What is it that you want…” Amanda slowly wrapped her arms around his shoulders looking into his eyes. The whispered into his ear once again. “Do you want to do me again?”

At that moment as if all his reasoning flew out the window Albert pulled her in for a kiss.

“Mmmh…” Amanda answered the man’s kiss with a more passionate one of her own.

The kiss continued abnormally long until either of them could pause and take a breath. After their lips parted Amanda spoke “I suppose I was right.” Giving the CEO a nice smile.