Charitable notion

A tall athletic figure rested his elbow casually on the bar, his grey suit trousers and fitted white shirt were elegantly understated, his dark hair parted perfectly on the left, and sleeves rolled up to reveal a simple Omega Sea Master. He looked up from his IPhone, icy blue eyes,

“Sidecar please” he spoke with a public school accent despite never having been to one, flipping open his wallet and producing a red fifty dollar bill.

Alexander was using every excuse to avoid the ogre seated opposite him. The way his pudgy fingers held his wine glass like a hammer had been the first indication that this fat little oik was the embodiment of phrase ‘trash with cash’. He held his chunky gold Rolex out proudly in front of him as if he was trying to model it. A fat gold chain encircled his neck shown off by the lose collar of the orange Lamborghini logoed shirt.

“I was the largest donator last year” he boasted to the table before taking another slurp from his wine glass, “two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, got my name on the plaque to prove it”. He stabbed the index finger of his left hand towards the stage at grid of bronze plates lined up on a pine board.  

As the waiters cleared the desert plates most people stood to mingle and Alex found himself on the terrace talking to a pretty blonde in a light green dress.

“You were on Andrew Stevens table weren’t you?” she asked

“Yes, you know him?”

“We were on his table last year, my mom joined the committee so she could make sure we weren’t sat by him again”

“I can see why, he has a passion for the sound of his own voice that no one else shares” he said causing the blonde laughed gently. A waiter walked past and Alex swiftly plucked two glasses of white wine from the tray and offered one to the girl,

“I’m afraid I didn’t catch your name?” He inquired

“Jenna” she said confidently, offering a hand

“Alex, wonderful to meet you, and that is my friend Mike” he pointed through the crowd to a young man in Khaki trousers and a blue shirt.

“I know Mike, I met him here last year”

“Ah yes, I keep forgetting most of you would know each other”

Soon Mike was stood next to them peering over the crowd for the nearest waiter with glasses of wine.

“That guy on our table is so annoying” Mike insisted once he had a glass in his hand.

“Rather” agreed Alex “I think if you dyed him green and stretched his ear he would be the perfect likeness for Shrek” he said dryly. Jenna snorted and turned away, her body shaking with laughter. A couple that had over heard him burst out laughing with Mike while Alex stood calmly sipping his wine.

When they made their way back to the table Alex was sat by Mike and he could see Jenna on the other side of the room. Alex fumbled around in the jacket slung over the back of his chair until he found a business card and waved a waiter over,

“Could you give this to the blonde in the green dress on table seven please?”

He handed over the business card with ‘After party? Text me x’ scrawled on the back.

Andrew Stevens was still tipsily holding court about his charitable actions to some of the people on the table behind.

“How much did you give last year?” asked the fat man as Alex was looking over at the waiter handing Jenna his card. Alex looked back to the center of the table and saw the dark little eyes surrounded by Stevens fleshy face looking directly at him.

“I’m just here with some friends, I wasn’t at the function last year” he replied softly

“Oh right! How much do you think your going to give then? I’m thinking three hundred and seventy five thousand, fifty percent more!” he paused after the more,

“than last year.” Stevens announced smugly, pushing himself back in his chair.

“Not as much as that I don’t think. You are quite the philanthropist?” enunciated Alex, as he saw Jenna pulling a Blackberry out of her clutch.

“Yes, I suppose I am, I give away a few million every year”

“That is very impressive! Tell me, how long have you been a philanderer?” he asked as he felt Mikes elbow dig into his ribs. Mikes mothers lips press tightly together and she glowered at Alex, however he knew she was biting he tongue to stop herself from giggling.

“About fifteen years now!” responded Andrew proudly as Mikes mothers lips began to split,

“Philanthropy” boomed Stevens “life’s work of the Philander” he said to himself contently, at which point the table around him erupted in gales laughter. Several people on the surrounding tables were shaking with mirth as Andrews’s fat face began to redden. His trophy wife tugged at his sleeve obviously wishing to be included in the joke but saw her husbands exasperation and resigned to burying her face in her hands.

Calm slowly returned to the surrounding tables while Andrew sat trying to look comfortable. Alex looked over again and saw Jenna’s smiling in his direction. He felt a buzz in his pocket and slipped out his IPhone and read the text from the new number.

‘Love to where x’

he excused himself and tapped out a reply,

‘suprise x’.

Before he returned the phone to his pocket he sent a quick email to his PA and checked his online banking.

“And now for the speeches and presentations” boomed the master of ceremonies, a short man in a dark blue suit. He stood slightly on tiptoes behind the podium, obviously self-conscious about his diminutive stature as he introduced a doctor who had been working at Sick kids hospital. The doctor spoke solemnly about cancer treatments for a girl aged 14 and a Malaria charity he had worked with in Malawi. Alex followed the program carefully, noting down particular charities next to certain names, underlining and circling particular people if he felt moved by their speeches. His favorite was a female teacher who talked about the importance of education in African countries and of how important it was to empower youth and women. Equally a priest who preached the importance of bringing strict catholic virtues to Kenya got a swift line through his name.

Throughout the speeches Andrew Stevens occasionally got a nod and at one point got a brief applause followed by whispers and tittering in light of being a ‘philanthropist’. Soon his chest swelled and he was back to his boisterous self, even standing up and mock bowing at a mention of his name.

After the last speech the master of ceremonies walked onto the stage and began the final presentation.

“To conclude this evenings events we have one remaining special mention and this is to the most prolific donor. This mention has gone to the same kind hearted individual for the past five years.”

At this point Andrew Stevens chest began to swell. He sat up straight aware of all the eyes pointed in his direction.

“As is the case every year, the largest donation is often one lump sum at this event and it is no different this year and we are proud, gratefully and truly honored to announce…..”

The Master of ceremonies paused dramatically, Andrew began to rise from his chair smiling widely

“that the record breaking sum of….” Another pause, Andrew was practically standing,  a premature applause began

“Four Hundred Thousand Dollars!” Boomed the master of Ceremonies.

The room reverberated with thunderous applause, a few people cheered and whooped, all eyes fixed on Andrew Stevens.

Stevens stood fully, his eyes firmly fixed on the total that had just appeared on the on stage power point. From where Alex was sitting he could see the $400,000 reflected of the top of Stevens head, the red numbers flashing, mirrored on the hairless pate.

Flabbergasted, Andrew Stevens dropped heavily into his chair, mouth agape, face heavily flushed for the second time. His return to his seat ws followed by several quizzical looks,

“But who?” he mouthed, turning his look of astonishment to every one in the room rich enough to afford the donation.

As calm returned to the room the Master of ceremonies returned to the Mike

“The Donor….” Stevens ears perked up

“Has chosen to remain nameless…” Confused as he was, Stevens dazed look intensified. He couldn’t understand why anyone would make such a gesture and chose to remain nameless.

“Did you see that guys face?” enquired one voice

“He was so shocked” declared another as the guests filtered out of the room.

As the gossip spread Andrew Stevens clambered awkwardly into the passenger seat of his Lamborghini. The low car presented an awkward challenge for his flabby bulk. He looked miserable as the car pulled noisily out of the parking lot and roared off down Bayview Avenue.

As Alex opened the Limo door for Jenna he felt his phone buzz again. He swiped the bottom of the screen and punched in his passcode to reveal a menu screen.

“Confirm Transfer of $400,000CAD?”

He firmly pressed ‘accept’ and swung into the limo.


- Sequel!!! - http://james-s-watson.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/a-gentlemans-agreement-i.html

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