Before Michael began to tell his tale he took a sip of wine, what passed over his lips was the most delicious red wine he had ever had in his mouth. "My God." Michael commented savoring the oakey notes, with a touch of raspberry and cinnamon.
"Yes, I am very impressed myself.., this is an exquisite bottle of wine." Felina said not mentioning the age, rarity, or cost of the fine vintage, allowing her most welcomed guest to enjoy the potent libation.
Michael drank in the wine and he immediately felt a rush of blood to his face, his cheeks pink with a slightly inebriated glow. He felt most relaxed, sinking down into the sofa, as Felina sat beside him, covered up by a crimson chenille blanket. And so he told her all, every detail of his crime, the case of the United States vs Dr. Michael Cullen, the charges, the expected prison sentence, and fines. Over the course of the hour, his first night in Argentina, as Michael explained it all to his new friend, Felina, she began to interrupt, stating. "How is it the American Government can tell a Doctor how many patients he can see in a day, or how much he can charge them, or how many prescriptions he can write. This makes no sense to me! And still the Government wishes to lock you up for ten years? The sense this makes.., is none!"
Michael felt some sort of vindication by her statement, even though he knew Felina had no clue about the laws of America. "I did not know what else to do, I can not be at the trial next week. So I flew down here, to Buenos Aires, to start a new life." Michael said ending his tale, which felt more like a confession.
"So.., what was your plan?" Felina asked as she curled up closer to Michael on the sofa under the warmth of the blanket.
"I took $10,000 in cash, the most you can legally take out of the United States, and I have about $200,000 in time pieces back at my hotel.
"Where are you staying?" Felina asked, a plan forming in her mind.
"The Wilton." Michael said as he moved the chenille blanket over his lap as Felina leaned on his chest, his arm around her.
"Yes, that is a very nice hotel." she paused turning her head to look in Michael's eyes. "Listen, I think I should take a look at those watches, I might be able to help you out. You could live a nice life here in Argentina for $200,000." Felina commented approving his plan to escape from justice. Then she gave a very serious look to Michael and she said "Your plan is a good one, I will agree, however, I will wager you could live a better life, spending your time with me."
Michael was now in a deep, strange intoxication from the wine it was a little before three a.m. and he could not recognize the implication of Felina's suggestion. Michael let out a heavy sigh as he noticed Felina glancing over at the telephone. "Are you expecting a call?" he asked catching Felina off guard.
Felina looked back at Michael feeling the wine coursing through her body as she felt her legs tingling with the effects of the 1945 Mouton Rothschild. "I called.., I left a message for my brother.., 2 hours ago!" she said nearly in tears as she glanced up at the mantle clock.
"Where is your brother.., Xation?" Michael asked wondering.
"He is with Bengiman, at the Ritz Carlton on Maui.., they go every year for the opening of the PGA season at Kapalua.
"Who is Bengiman?" Michael asked wanting to know more of her story.
Felina did not answer his question she threw the blanket off of them as she stood, glass of wine in her hand. She walked across the grandiose room over to the white, baby grand, Steinway piano: which was covered by photographs of her family in ornate silver frames from Tiffany and Cartier. Michael arose from the couch following Felina who picked up a photo staring down at it. "This is my brother, and my little sister and me." Felina said feeling the warming sensation of the wine seeping into her blood.
Michael looked down at the photograph of the three of them aboard a sail boat in the Mediterranean, Xation, a tall, amber eyed, handsome man, with movie star looks, his lean, muscular arms wrapped around Felina and Serena's waists, both in black bikinis, looking drop dead gorgeous. Michael commented on the beauty of Felina and her family. Michael took a good look through the pictures noting the ones of Xation and Bengiman, a giant of a man, skiing in Switzerland, on the Beaches of the Costa del Sol, with Serena, whom Michael thought looked like the Latina phenom, Selena. Michael was impressed by the photographs of Felina's brother Xation on horse back during heated polo matches, wishing he could have been with Xation and his father, Carlo, when they teed off at Augusta. Or been at the outdoor cafe with Felina and her sister in Monaco watching the Formula 1 race. Each picture a record of some phenomenal achievement Michael could have only ever hope to dream of.
Felina made a few snide comments about her brother, and the mysterious Bengiman Pruce, as she sat herself back down on the couch pouring out two more, full, glasses of wine, finishing off the outrageously expensive bottle. Michael curled up under the blanket once again with Felina, who seemed to calm down a little each time she sat next to Michael. "Why don't you tell me a nice story from your time in Illinois." Felina asked setting her glass down, resting her head upon Michael's chest as he placed his arm around her shoulder.
Michael paused for a moment, recalling Christmastime of 1979. "It had been snowing for weeks, I was on Winter break from North Western, at my family's house, just North of Chicago." Michael began "During the long, cold Winter, for as long as I can remember, my Mother, Grace, would always put out sunflower seeds and fresh water for the cardinals, the state bird of Illinois. I remember one morning I looked outside, at the wooded area that lined our backyard, and there must have been hundreds of the little bright red birds, with their orange beaks, chirping as they fluttered their wings, foraging for seeds and fresh water there in the white winter snow." Michael exhaled recalling the splendid spectacle of nature, remembering the warmth from the fire inside his childhood home. As for Felina, she had curled up underneath the blanket, leaning close to his body, the rhythm of his words and the quiet beating of his heart causing Felina to fall asleep half way through his story. Michael made himself comfortable with his new friend resting on his body, as she slumbered in a safe, secured sleep, and he too felt calm. For Michael knew well, there are may ways to relaxation, and expensive red wine is one of them.
So it was the two slept there on the comfortable suede sofa as the hours passed along until 7:32 in the a.m. this is when the peaceful slumber Michael and Felina had finally attained was shattered wholly by the sound of the telephone ringing loudly, arousing them to wake.
"Yes, I am very impressed myself.., this is an exquisite bottle of wine." Felina said not mentioning the age, rarity, or cost of the fine vintage, allowing her most welcomed guest to enjoy the potent libation.
Michael drank in the wine and he immediately felt a rush of blood to his face, his cheeks pink with a slightly inebriated glow. He felt most relaxed, sinking down into the sofa, as Felina sat beside him, covered up by a crimson chenille blanket. And so he told her all, every detail of his crime, the case of the United States vs Dr. Michael Cullen, the charges, the expected prison sentence, and fines. Over the course of the hour, his first night in Argentina, as Michael explained it all to his new friend, Felina, she began to interrupt, stating. "How is it the American Government can tell a Doctor how many patients he can see in a day, or how much he can charge them, or how many prescriptions he can write. This makes no sense to me! And still the Government wishes to lock you up for ten years? The sense this makes.., is none!"
Michael felt some sort of vindication by her statement, even though he knew Felina had no clue about the laws of America. "I did not know what else to do, I can not be at the trial next week. So I flew down here, to Buenos Aires, to start a new life." Michael said ending his tale, which felt more like a confession.
"So.., what was your plan?" Felina asked as she curled up closer to Michael on the sofa under the warmth of the blanket.
"I took $10,000 in cash, the most you can legally take out of the United States, and I have about $200,000 in time pieces back at my hotel.
"Where are you staying?" Felina asked, a plan forming in her mind.
"The Wilton." Michael said as he moved the chenille blanket over his lap as Felina leaned on his chest, his arm around her.
"Yes, that is a very nice hotel." she paused turning her head to look in Michael's eyes. "Listen, I think I should take a look at those watches, I might be able to help you out. You could live a nice life here in Argentina for $200,000." Felina commented approving his plan to escape from justice. Then she gave a very serious look to Michael and she said "Your plan is a good one, I will agree, however, I will wager you could live a better life, spending your time with me."
Michael was now in a deep, strange intoxication from the wine it was a little before three a.m. and he could not recognize the implication of Felina's suggestion. Michael let out a heavy sigh as he noticed Felina glancing over at the telephone. "Are you expecting a call?" he asked catching Felina off guard.
Felina looked back at Michael feeling the wine coursing through her body as she felt her legs tingling with the effects of the 1945 Mouton Rothschild. "I called.., I left a message for my brother.., 2 hours ago!" she said nearly in tears as she glanced up at the mantle clock.
"Where is your brother.., Xation?" Michael asked wondering.
"He is with Bengiman, at the Ritz Carlton on Maui.., they go every year for the opening of the PGA season at Kapalua.
"Who is Bengiman?" Michael asked wanting to know more of her story.
Felina did not answer his question she threw the blanket off of them as she stood, glass of wine in her hand. She walked across the grandiose room over to the white, baby grand, Steinway piano: which was covered by photographs of her family in ornate silver frames from Tiffany and Cartier. Michael arose from the couch following Felina who picked up a photo staring down at it. "This is my brother, and my little sister and me." Felina said feeling the warming sensation of the wine seeping into her blood.
Michael looked down at the photograph of the three of them aboard a sail boat in the Mediterranean, Xation, a tall, amber eyed, handsome man, with movie star looks, his lean, muscular arms wrapped around Felina and Serena's waists, both in black bikinis, looking drop dead gorgeous. Michael commented on the beauty of Felina and her family. Michael took a good look through the pictures noting the ones of Xation and Bengiman, a giant of a man, skiing in Switzerland, on the Beaches of the Costa del Sol, with Serena, whom Michael thought looked like the Latina phenom, Selena. Michael was impressed by the photographs of Felina's brother Xation on horse back during heated polo matches, wishing he could have been with Xation and his father, Carlo, when they teed off at Augusta. Or been at the outdoor cafe with Felina and her sister in Monaco watching the Formula 1 race. Each picture a record of some phenomenal achievement Michael could have only ever hope to dream of.
Felina made a few snide comments about her brother, and the mysterious Bengiman Pruce, as she sat herself back down on the couch pouring out two more, full, glasses of wine, finishing off the outrageously expensive bottle. Michael curled up under the blanket once again with Felina, who seemed to calm down a little each time she sat next to Michael. "Why don't you tell me a nice story from your time in Illinois." Felina asked setting her glass down, resting her head upon Michael's chest as he placed his arm around her shoulder.
Michael paused for a moment, recalling Christmastime of 1979. "It had been snowing for weeks, I was on Winter break from North Western, at my family's house, just North of Chicago." Michael began "During the long, cold Winter, for as long as I can remember, my Mother, Grace, would always put out sunflower seeds and fresh water for the cardinals, the state bird of Illinois. I remember one morning I looked outside, at the wooded area that lined our backyard, and there must have been hundreds of the little bright red birds, with their orange beaks, chirping as they fluttered their wings, foraging for seeds and fresh water there in the white winter snow." Michael exhaled recalling the splendid spectacle of nature, remembering the warmth from the fire inside his childhood home. As for Felina, she had curled up underneath the blanket, leaning close to his body, the rhythm of his words and the quiet beating of his heart causing Felina to fall asleep half way through his story. Michael made himself comfortable with his new friend resting on his body, as she slumbered in a safe, secured sleep, and he too felt calm. For Michael knew well, there are may ways to relaxation, and expensive red wine is one of them.
So it was the two slept there on the comfortable suede sofa as the hours passed along until 7:32 in the a.m. this is when the peaceful slumber Michael and Felina had finally attained was shattered wholly by the sound of the telephone ringing loudly, arousing them to wake.
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