E - The Soul of Spanish Women

Almost two years ago, whilst checking my email on AOL, I got an IM, an instant message. It said simply, "Are you Patrick Stein?"

I replied in the negative and, shortly, another IM followed with the same question. "Are you Patrick Stein?"

I wrote back and apologised for not being Patrick Stein and a flurry of other IM's followed all basically seeking reassurance. "Are you sure?"

Her online name was Starqueeny so I was curious and checked her profile. She was a Spanish female in her mid 20's, into parties and beaches, the outgoing type. Sounded interesting.

After a few more IM’s we said, "Goodbye".

A couple of days later the same question flashed up on my screen, "Are you Patrick Stein?" I insisted I was not and suggested that he was a lucky man to have such a tenacious female in pursuit.

IM's flew back and forth, the story began to unfold and interest grew. Patrick Stein hid behind different names, a man who did not necessarily wish to be found. Why?

Our exchange continued until the point that I suggested she give me her telephone number so I could call her.

After logging off, I called her in Valencia and she told me the story of Patrick Stein and gave me an insight into the soul of Spanish women.

Her name was Maria and she had lived in England for six years before returning to Spain. These were wild years of partying and socialising, predominantly, with the Spanish expatriate community in London. She was young and free and had slipped her parents leash for a while so, why not enjoy?

Through an acquaintance, she was invited to a party at the home of Patrick Stein, who was, apparently, a slightly shady, but not criminal car dealer who had lots of money and enjoyed life to the full.

On first meeting Maria decided he was 'her' man, the one for her.

The party went well and they met socially on a couple of occasions afterwards but nothing substantial took place. Contact slipped and so Maria sought to influence matters. She got hold of his phone number and rang him. Initially, he was polite and sounded interested but nothing came of it.

She asked him out but he was always too busy. She got a girlfriend to arrange to see him and appeared in her place. Patrick did not seem amused.

After this incident he started to avoid her and no longer took her calls, but she kept calling. She turned to email but her letters were never replied to. She thought of breaking into his home and waiting, naked in his bed for him to return home, but couldn't bring quite herself to do it.

To an Englishman, this sounds strange, maybe even obsessive but, I was assured by Maria that this is how Spanish women catch their man. They chase their prey until it wearies and then collar and domesticate it.

Patrick fought hard against the collar. He changed his personal mail addresses and telephone numbers and did not take the calls she made to his office. Even resorting at one point to the downright un-British action of saying, "No, I'm not interested".

Despite all this, Maria wanted 'her' man and was sure he was just playing hard to get.

I don't know whether she ever got her man. I spent sometime with her in Valencia that year and she was still alive with her quest. I do, however, feel that if hard work and tenacity was the sole arbiter of success, she deserved to get her man.

I also feel that, if she did ever manage to 'take' him, he would never be the same again.