OUT OF THE HAZE

Cassie stood and made her way back over to my desk before picking up a bottle of spring water and sipping from it.

'so you see Amanda there could be some answers here, the only problem being that they throw up a whole load of new questions.'

True, very true but at least we were starting to get some sort of picture emerging from the haze, before it had been way too random.

So you think that the answer to who, of what is being this could lie in this nightclub ... what did you call it?

'GOTHEX', replied Cassie.

'That's it Gothex ... when does it open?'

'Funny you should ask, but it's next week ... the night after your new line launch in fact ... I put out a few feelers ... looks like a lot of industry bigwigs are already on the list.'

'How about getting us on that list ... I mused.

'Helen's gonna sort this one out for us .... the thought of free promo in the pages of Chic has given them semis', Cassie took another sip.

Perhaps it's time for the four of us to meet and chat, how about tonight?

Cassie smiled, 'leave it with me Amanda and I'll leave you to your knickers and undies. I'll get Millie and Helen to meet us in Covent Garden for a drink ... around 7?'

Perfect, I replied.

Cassie left and I got back to work.

BAD AND BADDER

Justin Gonzalez in London eh?

'... and it get's better'. Cassie spoke and I listened.

'The pair of them where last seen together in New York ... Trudie Hewitt and Justin Gonzalez that is ... Trudie was giving a seminar to some high profile business people ... dirty publishing and porn Barons I believe.'

Trudie Hewitt and Justin Gonzalez? An interesting combination ... a combination that possibly could hold the key to some of the mysterious events of late.

Justin hates me, pure and simple, he hated his Father (loved his money however ...) with his Father dead that just leaves me. I know that he won't be happy until he has taken everything from me, I suppose I know that he won't be happy until I too am in my grave ....

Yet, I had never been aware of an alliance, a friendship, with Trudie Hewitt ...

'Another thing', Cassie continued , 'Animaotkool ... I've been puzzling over that one for a while. Is it an anigram, a name? I just didn't know ... however I was playing around with the letters and spelt it backwards, L O O K T O M I N A.'

'Looktomina ... what does that mean?' I replied.

'How about LOOK TO MINA?' Cassie smiled.

Mina? I didn't know any Minas I shrugged, unclear as to where this was leading.

'Mina ... Mina Harker ... ring any bells?'

I shrugged again.

'She's the heroine in Dracula ... the classic book by Bram Stoker.'

Again I shrugged and looked blank.

'Justin Gonzalez ... his new nightclub? It's called GOTHEX, themed around bondage and vampires!'

This was too much, too much to be just coincidence.

WHAT'S THE COLOUR OF MONEY?

Cassie lead me over to the settee against the wall in my office and sat me down, I was still struggling to get my breath back after choking on my sandwich.

How weird is that? Justin may well make my skin crawl, but apart from revulsion his name didn't normally elicit any other form of reaction from me.

It is strange isn't it how individuals like Justin exist and survive.

Born with diamond plated silver spoons in their mouths and a modicum of attractiveness and intelligence they stride around the world with an air of importance that they don't deserve and certainly haven't earned.

Money and glamour blind people, they make them naieve and pliable ... why should we like someone more because they have money ... if you know a lot of rich people you will also know that they are the tightest bastards around.

Do we think that some of it will 'rub off on us'? Do we think that we will get better luck, better fortune just by grovelling to them?

I really have no idea ... however, I do know that if Justin had no money then most people wouldn't give him the time of day.

If fact, I'm fairly certain that if Justin had no money he would probably be on death row by now!

HEIMLICH

I spent a few hours making my choices before spreading my final selection out in front of me.

These models weren't just gorgeous ... they were pure sex ... they were amanda, Oh!

Now i had that finalised I just had to get in touch with their agents and finalise the deals ... job done.

Lunchtime was almost upon me before I realised, my growling stomach alerting me to the fact that I hadn't eaten anything all day.

It was amplified by the fact that I had enjoyed copious amounts of lovemaking and booze at my party.

Love making burns those calories like nothing else .... booze makes your body scream out for carbs, protein ... anything that will help it repair itself!

I move the picture of one particular female model into pole position ... she was gorgeous ... she was the one who would open the show, flanked by two uber-hot male models.

I was just about to call one of the girls and get a take-out from Pret when my door opened and in came Cassie, clutching a couple of brown paper bags and bottles of mineral water.

'Doctor cassie at your service', she said as she plonked the food and beverages down on my desk.

'Thought you'd need a little sustinance after last night', she commented before proceeding to open the bags and lay the trays of sandwiches out in front of us.

'Great party by the way', she opened a BLT and took a bite.

I nodded and took a large mouthful of a brie and cranberry concoction ... very nice.

'Thought you might like to know who's arrived in town', Cassie asked between mouthbites.

I raised an eyebrow to question.

'only your stepson, good old Justin Gonzalez'.

Cassie whipped round the table to perform a quick heimlich as I choked.

HOTTEST OF THE HOT!

I sat at my desk and took a sip of my steaming cup of coffee.

It did feel a little as though a tribal dance was being performed inside my cranium, but what the hell, it was worth it ... what a night last night had turned out to be.

Various images flashed through my head .... exciting, crazy, sexy and stimulating ... I felt myself beaming like the Cheshire Cat.

As the coffee (and nurofen and dioralyte) worked their magic on my body I tried to focus on my work.

I was launching my first major male and female swimwear range and i had every intention of hitting those headlines as hard as possible.

Sex, near nudity and more sex ... more marketing strategy had worked so far and i had no intention of changing it.

I called Tomas ... I had a few questions that only he could answer ... I also wanted to check out how he was after the party ... he and ben Truman had certainly looked very intimate with each other!

His phone rang onto the answer machine and i left him a rather unsubtle message ... 'Hey, slut boy call me as soon as you can ...' I never said I possessed any degree of wit and i think that the message clearly demonstrated it!

I spread the photos of the models out on my desk ... it was important to pick the hottest of the hot ... male and female ... that should take my mind off my hangover for a while!

OVER THE HILLS

Trudie Hewitt stood and pulled down her skirt before slowly walking to her desk and helping herself to a cigarette from the onyx box.

Justin Gonzalez followed, she had been on top of him on the soft black corporate armchair, he too adjusted his clothing accordingly.

Trudie drew on her cigarette and watched the man walk towards her ... true he was good looking, true he was as rich as her ... true the darkness of his soul was similar to hers ... but in comparision ...? Well, there was no comparision.

Trudie offered him a cigarette which he accepted, without thanks.

'Well, that was a good start to the meeting', his voice always sounded like a sneer, if she wasn't 100% confident that she was in full control of him she may have considered meting out something rather unpleasant for him.

He exhaled a cloud of smoke before continuing.

'So, you want to talk to me about my slut of an ex-stepMom?'

She walked around to him and stood close, 'Amanda Gonzalez ... oh yes.'

She unzipped him

He took a sharp intake of breath, she was rough with him, bordering on the painful ... he liked it.

'I also want to talk about your nightclub, I would like to invest in it.'

His breath was coming in short sharp intakes.

'How do you feel about that?'

He dropped his cigarette and groaned.

THE MORNING AFTER

I awoke with a start, I was laid atop of Nico on my bed ... the rest of my room seemed to be full of slumbering bodies.

What a night!

Judging by the strong sunlight that was shining through the window morning was here already, I could only have had an hour or so's sleep but I needed to get up and go to work.

Foam, lifeboats ... dwarves ... great stuff!

However, I didn't have time to lie about reminising, I needed to get to Bond Street and quick.

On top of everything else the launch of the new Amanda, Oh! lines was imminent and with Tomas out of action I needed to get sorted and quick.

(Mind you, form what I remember of Tomas and Ben Truman, I think that my main man got himself plenty of action last night!)

I rushed to the bathroom to prepare, shedding the few clothes I was wearing as I did so.

I turned the shower onto full and grabbed my toothbrush to clean my teeth as I washed myself.

As I washed my hair, rinsed and repeated I sensed someone in the bathroom with me.

Wiping the suds from my eyes I saw that it was Nico ... naked and ready for action.

Would you like some help washing your back he enquired.

Oh yes, I replied as he joined me in the hot water ......

FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT TO PARTY!

It wasn't long before the party was in full swing.

A cacophany of lights, music and sound ....

Booze was flowing and sounds were pumping ... I was loving every minute.

Several of my Amanda, Oh! models had arrived, young and beautiful ... it didn't take them long to join in, soaking themselves in champagne and stripping themselves down to their finest Amanda, Oh! underwear ... what an advert! The silky smooth curves of the girls, the chiselled muscles of the guys.

I have to admit that the whole stripping off thing was my idea ... but hey ... I do have my reputation to live down to!

I'm not sure who invited the foam people but we had a blast with them! They set up inflatable rubber chutes, like the ones that pop out of a plane's doors if it crashes, from the windows of my apartment down to the gardens below.

Then they squirted copious amount of foam down them creating the fastest slides you've ever seen.

It was wild, and if I say that then I guess you would probably agree!

Angela Alette arrived with Ben Truman, her impossibly handsome Italian husband and posse of men who could all have succeeded as D&G models in tow.

It was crazy, Millie and I dressed the dwarf waiters up in nothing but feather boas and Amanda, Oh! underwear and they served sushi to the increasing drunk guests whilst whizzing around on the heelie shoes.

I was atop the glass top table, a bottle of Krug between my breasts, wearing nothing but underwear and strings of pearls, pouring champagne onto the heads of my guests when Nico arrived.

He was straight into the action ... it wasn't long before he was sporting my finest men's underwear and flying down the chute into the back garden.

I followed him down and found him waiting for me in an inflatable dingy that the entertainment people had also brought with them, for some reason.

'Would you like me to save you?' He questioned as i made my way to him.

'Do you think I need saving' I replied.

'Maybe tonight...'

The words fell from his lips ... I fell onto him.

BRING ON THE PARTY

We all piled into my apartment, laughing, joking ... staggering around.

I popped next door and got the guys to wheel Tomas around in his wheelchair ...

'Darling, I am fine to walk by myself', he protested but I was having none of it.

Sorry ... Doctor's orders ... I insisted.

As there were now seven of us we had enough to make a party.

Millie and I rang around and ordered anything and everything we fancied, Cassie and Helen opening bottles of champagne as we did so ... filling all of our glasses up time and time again.

We ordered ... chinese take-away and sushi. Male strippers and midget waiting staff.... catering from Espanola and vodka from the Smirnoff Ice bar. This was accompanied by magicians and jugglers, celebrity look-a-likes and contortionists... DJ's and sound bars.

Hell, this is London and you can get whatever you want ... day or night.

Cassie and Helen set to and invited everyone they could think of, advising them it was fancy dress or to come in whatever they fancied ...

It wasn't long before the street outside my apartment was heaving with cars, taxis and delivery vans.

As people, food, sound systems and waiting staff arrived I jumped onto the table ....

'Let's party!' I cried before popping a champagne cork and spraying those in front of me....

This was going to be one helluva night!

CRISTAL AND BELVEDERE

One ... two ... three ... four!

Was it more? I lost count after the waiter had brought the fourth chilled bottle of Cristal to our table.

It was Cassie who had decided on the Belvedere Vodka chasers, Millie in full agreement, Helen reluctantly coming along for the ride ... at first anyway (after a few glasses of Cristal and shot glasses of Belvedere she was calling for the waiter to bring more champagne as loudly as anyone!).

The four of us exchanged our stories and talked in depth about the events of the past week ... how things had changed since the break in at Amanda, Oh! ... how we all seemed destined to be together, our lives intertwined by greater forces.

Cassie, as always, had done the most investigative work, she was quietly working away in the background, breaking down the facts and studying the evidence ... she had already formulated some ideas as to what could be going on ... ideas that she part shared with us, part kept to herself, she wanted to have more proof, be more sure, before she let us in on her thoughts.

As we drank, talked ... laughed and joked ... I started to sense the bond that held the four of us together, it was more than just friendship ... there was something deeper, greater ... stronger.

However, there was one thing that we all agreed on ... Trudie Hewitt was involved and the fact that Justin Gonzalez was also on the sidelines was a cause for concern.

'Justin is about to launch a new west End NightClub '... Cassie informed us.

''s'called GOTH-EX ... Picadilly ... all dungeons, whips ... you know the sort. Bondage for the rich, very exclusive I hear'.

Sounds like Justin alright, I replied, seedy, sordid and involving the pain and humiliation of others ...

When I had been married to his Father Justin had made it his mission to try and get me into bed ... his very name still made my skin crawl ...

On many levels I could see his attraction, Justin had inherited some of his Father's South American dark good looks ... and he was as rich as hell.

Yet, if you looked under the flash exterior there was something else, something dark, nasty ... hell .. rotten, about him.

It was late afternoon before the four of us poured ourselves into a taxi and made our way back to my apartment.

It was big enough for us all to chill out, sober up and just 'be togther in'.

The future was about to start ... right now.

FOUR LEAFED CLOVER?

Lunchtime.

The four of us met for the first time since we had been at my apartment ... how things have changed since then ...

All of us seemed different.

Our lives, our worlds were no longer what they had been ....

'..and thank God for that!' laughed Cassie as we took a corner table at Le Caprice.

Of us all Cass was the most upbeat, the most ebullient.

'How great is this?' the smile still on her face, 'we're like the girls from Charmed or Buffy the Vampire Slayer!'

'Only this is real life, not television'. Helen appeared the most non-plussed. How was she going to fit fighting the forces of evil into her already, stuffed to the gunnels, personal organiser?

'If this could of all just happened the year after next,' Helen had that look on her face that shouted 'I am not amused', 'then i would have 5 years as Editor under my belt ... things would be so much easier.'

'Just like fellas', Cassie laughed,' the good ones always seem to appear just when you don't want them to!'

Let's get drunk ... I said.

We've all got a lot to think about, a lot to talk about and I can't see that being sober will do anything but weigh down the proceedings.

''sfine by me', replied Millie.

'After nearly getting knowcked down by a car yesterday and surviving only to find out that the man of my dreams thinks I've got supernatural powers or something like that ... I am sooooo ready!'

Champagne all round then, I instructed the waiter ... and as I'm paying ... (I looked at the others daring them to challenge me ... I know they are independent but sometimes when you want to treat you friends YOU WANT TO TREAT YOUR FRIENDS!) .. please make it Cristal. Total waste of money I know, but what the hell, I can afford it.

The waiter returned with the golded liquid and poured us all a glass.

I lifted my flute and proposed a toast.

To the four of us ... let's hope we can work this out and keep luck on our side.

'Like a lucky four leafed clover', said Helen.

We all drank to that.

BUMBLE BEE

I stood and dressed.

Nico and I had left Madame Zhou and had returned to the Soho Hotel for a bout of mind blowing sex.

Following my meeting with the ancient Lady I felt empowered, strong ... you could even describe me as ripe ... fertile!

It was like my body had spent all my life preparing itself for this and now it was ready.

Although Nico had always been able to satisfy me this time it had seemed different, better ... more satisfying ... more intense.

I looked down at him on the bed and the poor guy looked worn out ... he smiled giddely at me, a soporiphic look on his face like the one you see on a drowsy bumble bee ...

'See you later...?' he mumbled.

Not sure handsome ... gotta meet the girls.

I had one last look down at his chiselled body before I leant, kissed him on an intimate area ... and left.

I walked a couple of blocks before hailing a taxi, the fresh air clearing my mind and enabling me to formulate plans for the day. I still had the major Amanda, Oh! launch to prepare for and I sent a quick text to Tomas to see how he was feeling today as I walked.

'Three heads are better than one' - came his reply - I guessed that he must be recovering nicely under the two young nurses I'd arranged for him!

As I settled into the back of the cab I sent texts to Millie, Helen and Cassie. If what Madame Zhou had told me had any element of truth about it, it concerned them as much as me.

I smile crossed my face as I composed my messages using predictive ... the time for action was fast approaching and I had never felt more ready!

DRESSED FOR SUCCESS

Half an hour later the three of us descended the steps from the Refuel bar at the Soho Hotel and made our way out onto the street.

Nico, unabashed and unshamed had eventually been able to return to our room to dress, the Night Porter had not been impressed by Nico's display of naturism in the foyer of his hotel and it took some of my negotiating skills and a £20 note slipped into his top pocket to eventually see our side of the story.

The whole experience had added somehow cemented my relationship with the older lady ... and whilst I was still unsure that she wasn't some cuckoo celeb stalker ... I liked her.

With Nico dressed and back with us I thought it better to escape the hotel and go and grab some breakfast at Pauls.

Ten minutes later we were squeezed around a small round table filled with steaming cups of Parisienne coffee and pain au chocolats.

Madame Zhou, relaxed and friendly, talked openly about the extra-ordinary forces that control us, that wrap themselves around us, controlling, guiding when they can, letting us slip free if the mood takes.

Nico, Greek by origin, was must more receptive to this whole concept ... although a Greek Orthodox he was more than aware of the 'evil eye' and that there were other forces out there to be reckoned with ...

With this in mind Madame Zhou passed a small sliver necklace across the table to me, an unusually crafted pendant hung from it.

'Think of this as your lucky charm' she said as Nico picked it up and hung it around my neck.

A couple of hours passed before we left to go our separate ways ... Madame Zhou had described in some detail what I had to do ... and what I had to do was to meet up with my three best friends as soon as I could.

Nico and I returned to our hotel ... there was time for him to remind me just what I had seen under that towel earlier before I had to do what I had to do ......

THE CHOSEN ONES

I sat and listened as Madame Zhou told me of her childhood in the misty hills of China and how her history had changed when her family had moved to England.

She told me of the bizarre incidents that had occurred in her childhood as her powers manitested themselves to her ....

She told me of the elders, how they spoke to her, how they advised, guided ... and often infuriated her from the spirit world ....

She told me of my destiny ... how she knew of my birth ... how she knew of the powers I would one day possess ...

'Powers that may differ from mine', she explained , 'but powers that will help you in the fight against the forces of darkness'.

She told me about my friends, Millie, Cassie and Helen ... how each of them were tied to my by some greater force, by some ethereal beings ....

'You are all beautiful, talented and intelligent ... the elders have picked well'.

She also told me about the 'other side' the shade at the side of the spotlight, the shadowed corners in every room.

'They desire power for the sake of power ... they use lust, greed and human weakness to get what they want ...'

I was mesmerised by her ... although it all sounded nonsensical, it also seemed to make perfect sense ... how could that be ....?

As I mused on her words the quiet in the room was shattered by shouts and the noise of scuffling.

'Where is she ... Amanda are you all right ..?'

I turned to see Nico being held back by the night porter, he had obviously awoked and worried where I was.

Unfortunately he had left the room hurriedly with only a towel concealing his most initimate parts. During the scuffle the towel had fell and there he stood naked and harrassed.

I couldn't help but giggle ... glancing at Madam Zhou I was pleased to see a smile on her face too ....

HOW DO LIKE YOUR COFFEE?

The young waiter guided Madame Zhou and I to a quiet table in the corner of the restaurant and waited whilst we seated ourselves.

‘Coffee …?’ I could have done with a stiff Gin and Tonic but coffee would have to do….

‘Madame Zhou…? She nodded her head at me and I ordered coffee, croissants and a selection of Danish Pastries for the pair of us.

The old Lady slid her hand across the table and took mine in it, again I felt the strange electrical surge passing between us … it felt so good, almost sexual ….

‘Amanda, it is so nice to meet you in person at last, you have grown into a fine and beautiful woman, I am very proud of you …?

Like before on the telephone she was speaking to me as if she actually knew me … obsessive fans often do believe that they are intimate with the object of their affections … hell I once had a man who believed that he and I were married, that we had three children together …!

‘I know that it is hard for you to understand, to believe what I am about to tell you … but I do hope that you will try.’

The surge of energy passing from her hand into mine intensified, I felt alive, strong … yet powerless to object to what she had to say … I know that it sounds rather freakish to say this … considering that I was sitting in the company of an old Chinese Lady whom I had never met before … but it was as if I was about to experience the most amazing orgasm, I could fell the heat the power rising, I was welcoming it … I wanted it to happen.

‘Since your birth our destinies have been woven together …. The selection of the chosen ones is complex and unusual … I still do not understand it myself, I have asked the elders for an explaination but have never received a satisfactory answer.’

I felt myself smiling at her … I could do nothing else.

‘I have been angry, sometimes furious, as to why they picked me, why my life had to be so …. Sometimes I just wanted to be normal like everyone else.’

I knew what the old bird was saying, since I’d married Emmanuel my life could be described in the same way …

‘The good thing about you Amanda’, Madame Zhou continued, ‘ is that you live an extraordinary life already … you have already learned to be strong, to be tough, to stand apart from the crowd. Your life so far has probably been a test and you have tackled each challenge and won. I can see myself now I am with you that you are ready … and that is good.’

She let go of my hand and this point and I felt my body shudder, I gasped for breath … I felt myself flush … an old Chinese lady had just given me one of the most intense physical experiences I had ever had … I felt incredible, powerful, satisfied and, most of all …. Alive.

STATIC

As I took the Old Lady's hand in my own I felt what I can only describe as a surge of power passing from her to me ... it felt a little bit like static electricity ... only this wasn't unpleasant ... unlike static electricity I didn't want to pull my hand away, I wanted to hold on, I wanted to enjoy it ... I wanted it to last.

I looked down at the tiny hand encased in my own and suddenly felt myself pull back ... I wasn't sure what was going on but this wasn't a social visit ... a friendly ... this old woman had made some fairly distrubing statements about me and I wanted to know why.

I let go of her hand and looked down at her. In my flat shoes I stand at 5'9" tall ... this little Chinese lady would barely hit 4'10".

She looked ancient, her hair was grey and her face and hands a network of lines revealing a very long life - strange how things like this happen but as I looked at her one of my own Grandmother's favourite sayings popped into my head - 'what is the point in living your life with the intention of leaving it in a pristine, unlined carriage?' - a sentiment that I had always endorsed myself.

'Who are you ....?' the words fell from my lips as I stared at the other woman.

'My name is Madame Zhou', her voice was calm, quiet ... yet held authority.

Well Madame Zhou, what can I do for you?

'Please let us sit, can we take a table? What I have to tell may take some time and I need to make you listen, need to make you understand.'

There was something about her, something that I couldn't ignore, something inside me that knew I needed to listen to what she had to say.

'You've got half an hour'

. I turned and led her to the breakfast room. It was empty apart from a handsome young waiter who looked like one of the stars from some American drama that I couldn't quite recall.

'Half an hour Madame Zhou ... and it had better be good.'

A GREAT PLEASURE

I turned from the window and made my way back to the bedroom.

Nico was fast asleep on top of the bedclothes, his adonis like body sent a ripple of passion through me ... why couldn't my life be simple? Why couldn't I just lay down beside him and tease him awake with my hands, my mouth ...?

Why ...?

I passed him and grabbed my clothes from the floor, quickly slipping into them before splashing water onto my face, cleaning my teeth and pulling my hair back into a loose pony tail. Thank God I had inherited a face from my parents that didn't look too bad in a morning!

I leant and gently kissed Nico on the forehead as I passed, the touch of my lips on his brow causing him to sligthly stir before he fell back into his deep sleep.

The old lady would be in the hotel foyer by now and it was time that I put an end to this silliness.

If she was a deranged stalker then I would have to take the chance that the Porter and Reception Staff would be on help to help me out if the need arose.

I quietly clicked the bedroom door shut behind me and took the elevator to the ground floor.

As the pan pipes wafted the tunes of some '70's rock band who's name I couldn't quite remember around me my thoughts turned to my unwelcome visitor. Normally I would have had my staff sort out any unwelcome 'admirers' but, for some reason that i could not explain to myself, I was feeling a growing desire to see this lady in person. Something about her, about the way she spoke, was drawing me to her ......

The lift doors slid open and I stepped out from them.

The recption was quiet and empty apart from the receptionist, a bubbly young brunette who hailed from eastern Europe and the night Porter a surly middle aged Cockney. From the way they were slipping quiet word to each other I could only guess that within half an hour of them signing off from work they would be signing into an unused room and tearing each others clothes off.

I strode into the centre of the area and looked around, I didn't notice her at first,she was incredibly tiny, but there she sat, upright with her hands neatly folded on her lap, on one of the soft tan sofas against the far wall.

She stood and I approach, a welcoming smile illuminating her face ... I couldn't help but smile back.

'Amanda', she said as I took her outstretched hand and shook it, 'it is my great pleasure to finally meet you .....'

ROLL THE DICE

Fate, chance, kismet, destiny .... call this mysterious lady who comes calling on us all at some time or another what you like ... just hope and pray that when you do encounter her that she decides to smile on you.

Four friends, four bright, beautiful and exceptional young women were on the brink of discovering what she has in store for them ... would they, could they, rise to her challenge? Accept their place in the bigger picture, do what they had to do ....?

Amanda - strong, confident, and, already under threat, waiting for Madame Zhou ....

Cassie - Independent, maverick ... was she really in possession of the same gifts as her St. Lucian Grandmother?

Helen - Rational, logical and ambitious ... how could she equate this to the alcohol fuelled conversation with her beloved Aunt?

Millie - bohemian, loving and naive ... what does Marcus have to tell her?

The forces that are out there can be fickle mistresses ... why do they deign to select one person over another? Why do they relish in injecting the extraordinary into the ordinary ...? No one knows ....

Can religion give us the answers? Is faith the key ...? We all do what we must to answer these questions in our own ways.

Whatever conspired to make the situation thus could now oversee her plans falling into place .... four for good against one for bad ...

Let's roll the dice and see what happens.