Her True Self(Darrell Case)  

He approached her in the mall's hallway. She was beautiful. She always treated him kindly. But was it her true self or a persona? She had spent the morning at the beauty salon. She came from Harries Jewelers. There was a wet spot on his pants where someone left a full soda in a trash can. He smiled. It reminded him of when he just started out. The jobs until he gained enough to invest in his first store, then a company. He worked at whatever he could. Janitor, ditch digger or other low-paying jobs.

“Please Miss. You are very beautiful. I would like to buy you lunch.” He said. She told him he was very handsome. The makeup wig and thick glasses made him a different person. The padding gave him the appearance of someone overweight. He smiled at her, hoping the black gum hadn’t fallen off his tooth.

She looked him up and down, frowning. “Get lost, you creep or I’ll call security.”

His face fell. “But I just ask you to lunch?”
“I am going to Harold’s for lunch. Do you even know what that is? It’s a very high-end restaurant.” She said, stepping around him.

“The restaurant here serves very find food.” He said to her back. She whirled around.

“Do you know who I am?” she snapped. He shook his head in frustration.

“You are a very beautiful woman.” He said, tears misting his eyes.

“My fiancé owns this mall. Which means he owns you. I’m meeting him for lunch and one little tidbit of our conversation will be your firing. One little phone call and your history.”
“Do you love him?” He asked, knowing the answer.

“As if it is any business of yours. No, I don’t love him. He is a means to an end.”

She turned, her heels clicking down the mall. He checked the camera. He had captured every second of their conversation. In the locker room, he changed.

When he entered Harold's, he found her already seated at the table. She smiled at him. He said to her after they air kissed. She didn’t want to mess up her makeup. “Give me a second. I need to speak with the manager.”

 

“Of course. Take your time, darling.” She said, smiling. The smile didn’t reach her eyes. In a minute, he was back.

“I just came from Downer’s Mall.” He said smiling.

“I’m sorry I didn’t see you there.” She said. Hoping this wouldn’t take long. She had a tennis lesson at 2PM.

“Yes, you did. You and I had a very enlightening conversation.” He said. Taking his iPhone out of his pocket, he held it up to her.

As he replayed the interaction between them, her face paled. “As if it is any business of yours. No, I don’t love him. He is a means to an end.”

“You…you tricked me.” She said, her eyes wild.

“No, you tricked yourself.” He said, “Arthur will see you out.” The manager stood at the table, waiting.

 “I will take that ring and the earrings you just purchased this morning.” He said, holding out his hand.

“But…but their mine.” She said, tears coursing down her cheeks.

“No, they’re not. And I will take the debit card with which you purchase them.” He said firmly.

By this time, they had drawn the attention of the other diners.

“Please darling. Don’t do this. It was a misunderstanding.” She said seeing her life as a rich man’s wife going down the drain.

“Arthur, please call the police.” He said to the manager.

“Right away, sir.” Arthur pulled his cell phone from his pocket.

“Wait, wait.” She said. With shaky fingers, she removed the ring and earrings. Tears ran down her cheeks, messing up her makeup.

“And the debit and all my credit cards.” He said.

“Please don’t do this! We were going to the opera tonight,” she bawled.

He waited his hand out. She fished the cards out of her purse. She lay them in his hand    

“Arthur will see you out.” He said, standing to his feet.”

“Wait a minute, wait a minute. We were going to be married.”
“No, we’re not.” He said with finality.

“Take out the gold digger, Arthur.”

“Yes, sir.” “This way Miss.” Arthur said. He pulled her up from her seat. Taking her by the arm. He led her by the clapping diners. She stumbled to the street door. Her dreams gone.

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