Hotel Berlin - Chapter 4

The all-known black car stopped in front of the house. Richard was back home, at his devoted wife. Mrs. Danielle Deschamps. How he liked that name…

It is said that the French master the art of love. Indeed, he had French blood running throught his veins, since his father, Francis, was from Lyon. On the other side, Emily, his mother, was an Englishwoman. Maybe that was why they were quarrelling because of evry small thing. But he had its private life and that was their personal problem.
He was taught that when you have money, you can have everyting you want. And he applied this rule in every moment of his life. No obstacle could stay in its way without being removed. He loved challenges, especially when he won. Of course, that always happened.

He was near the door. That moment, he stopped.
He had caught every woman he wanted in his net in an instant. None of them had ever thought of marriage. But Danielle was different. Was it because she was from the countryside? No, it was her personality. Still, he had never met a woman with such a high level of honour.

He passed over the insignificant detail and opened the door. Richard felt a pleasant smell coming from the kitchen. There she was, near the oven. He sighed, went near her and embraced her.
-What is my love doing?
She smiled, as she enjoyed surprises a lot. Especially if they came from Richard, the one and only man in her life. He was her life.
-Don’t you see I’m cooking, Richard? Let me go or else I’ll spill the soup and I’ll burn my hands, she said as a joke.
-That’s why I told you to let someone else do this for you. Your hands are too delicate. When you will have time for me, for us?
“How sly I am…”, said Richard to himself. From his point of view, it was always wise to praise the ones close to you since you may never know when you need them.
-I will always have time for you, darling…But why should I let someone else cook when I can do it myself?

He gave up and sat at the table, watching her. She was so beautiful with her curly, red, natural hair and deep blu eyes…Moreover; he thought she even felt something for him. Many women had been in his arms before, but only Danielle took their relationship seriously. Well, if they had married…But that would end, sooner or later.

***
It was late at night and Danielle had fallen asleep. Richard was still awake, though.
The moonlight was revealing her bare shoulder, since her blouse was a bit low-cut.
Without understanding why he was doing this, he kissed her skin. It was just like he was feeling a sudden need of tenderness.
Unexpectedly, the touch of her soft skin made him shiver. At that very time, he felt so tight to her that no one could interfere. He felt the need to kiss her again and again. But another thought came into his mind and that feeling disappeared and was quickly ignored, like it had never been.

Still without realising, Richard caressed her hair. It was as soft as silk. She was sleeping so silently, like an angel.

And then the thought came into his mind.
He had never been with a woman for more than two or three weeks. But he was married for about three months. It was too much for his masculine dignity.
“In fact, she’s just a woman and there are so many to choose from in this country, right? But...No! I must leave her.”
He suddenly felt tired but, before falling asleep, kissed her on a cheek, saying to himself it was just a goodbye kiss.

***
The next day, Danielle went shopping. She didn’t find what she needed, so she came home with her hands free. It was surprisingly she didn’t see Richard in the morning.
“Maybe he has things to do.”
When she approached the door, she saw two pieces of luggage and a note on top of one of them She didn’t know what that could mean, but she realised it wasn’t something good…
During those three months, Richard had taught her to read. She was still a beginner, but thought she had to read the note. It was his writing.
He said how he had hired a fake registrar. “Unfortunately, he couldn’t bribe the pries, but that was just a detail. The essence of the message was that Richard was telling her, in a way it harmed her, that their marriage never existed, that he had used her like all his lovers and that now he was breaking up with her.
The only thought in her mind was “How can someone be that cruel?”

Danielle was now left on the streets.
She burst into tears, thinking it will never stop…