Page 123 of Once a Hero

The Zurich weather in November was cold and colder, but inside the ballroom was anything but cold. The heat was up, especially when Beatrice spotted Jake entering through a set of double doors.

She wasn’t supposed to recognize him at all. And yet they had sat in adjacent seats in the airplane on Sunday night, and their hotel rooms were across the hallway from each other’s.

Anyone who could put two and two together would realize that this wasn’t random.

Tonight, Beatrice had dressed modestly in a shimmery gown that she was afraid of tripping on. As a result, she walked very slowly and careful along the length of the ballroom, looking for a chair to sit down and watch the couples, hoping nobody would invite her to the dance floor.

Her glasses were thick, but they stayed on her prosthetic nose.

People milled about here, talking. She sat there, listening.

“May I have this dance?”

Beatrice lifted her face. It was Jake, with a poor attempt at a mustache.

“That looks…awful,” she said quietly.

“Thick glasses. Another nose,” he replied.

“Careful. Walls have ears. You don’t want to insult me right now.” Stern warning? Too stern?

“I’m astounded you’re still here,” Jake said. “May I have this dance?”

“I hate to confess I’m not much of a dancer.”

“Neither am I.”

“Sit with me a while, then.” She patted the empty spot on the beach seat.

Jake sat down, but the conversation was cut short.

A tipsy 819A ambled by.

Why would anyone name himself a number? Beatrice wondered what she should call him.

“Excuse me. Sandra, right?” 819A asked.

Beatrice nodded. “Have you considered my offer, Mr. 819A?”

“As a matter of fact, yes.” He leaned toward her, the smell of liquor all over his breath. “But first, may I have this d-dance?”

“Of course.” Without looking at Jake, Beatrice stood up and went with their quarry.

She tried to enjoy the waltz, but every time they passed by Jake, she could tell that he was not happy to see her dance with someone else—especially someone who had tried to kiss her cheeks numerous times.

She half-expected him to cut in, but was grateful that he did not.

She didn’t want to go through this another time. 819A was one of the vilest men she had ever met. This was the only time she had agreed to help Stella.

Because she wanted to get a gift for her brother.

And she thought she would see Jake again.

Although not this pouting Jake.

“I can give you the world,” 819A said in the middle of hanging on to her because his footwork was less than synchronous with the live orchestra music.

“Really?”

---