Free A Sordid Situation by Vivian Kees Page A

House.
    Of course, this meant evicting the widow of William Wareham, a
man so dim-witted, he’d gambled away his entire fortune in less than two years,
whilst taking out loans along the way in a half-assed attempt to cover himself.
The widow, apparently, was clueless in regard to her husband's proclivities in
the gambling world, or so people claimed.
    Business is business.

    He’d present her with the eviction papers, after all, one year
had passed since William’s death, and he allowed that given the circumstances
surrounding the whole affair. But the grace period was up, and now it was time
for him to take possession of what was rightfully his by law.
    The land was worth more than the house, and being in a prime
location, he figured it would sell quickly once placed on the open market. In
the past couple of years, new money flooded the city, and real estate had risen
with the demand.
    It was all legal and while many despised both him and his
business, he was doing nothing wrong.
    Cal
stood up from the desk and stretched, before opening the top drawer in the desk.
He withdrew the brown folder and thumbed through the papers. Everything was in
order, perfectly organized with copies not only for him but also for the Widow
Wareham.
    He tossed the folder back into the desk and locked the drawer,
tucking the key into his left vest pocket. Done for the day, tomorrow would
come soon enough and he needed his rest. He’d avoid the halls tonight in favor
of his bed. A tinge of emotion fluttered through his heart, and something from
deep within warned him, he was going to need all the rest he could get.

     
    * * * *

     
    Relaxation found Eugenia that night in the form of whiskey. After
a few too many, she was ready to slip into bed.
    In the darkness, the silvery glow from the moonlight filtered in
through the window, bathing her in an ethereal glow. Finally, she was able to
breathe, relaxed and shamelessly intoxicated from the alcohol. It was an
indescribable feeling. She wanted to laugh, just burst out with it, like some
madwoman. Yet, she fought the desire and let her thoughts drift elsewhere.
    “William,” she whispered, “how could you?” Yet, try as she might,
she couldn’t despise or hate him. He’d rescued her. How could she dare feel
anything other than respect for him?
    “Don’t be like me, girl,”
her mother had said over and over. “You don’t want this life of hardship. Do
whatever you have to do to get yourself out of the gutter.” And she did,
taking that advice to heart.
    At sixteen she was an orphan and soon after she’d found a way to
survive, it was far from respectable, but she did what was needed to get by.
    Never again. She turned
onto her right side. I’ll die first…
    It was a living, a way to earn her keep. The hall, the men, the
many men…. It was just a job, nothing more.
    Eugenia closed her eyes. She wouldn’t think about that now. If she
did, sleep would never find her.

     
    * * * *

     
    Imposing came to
Cal
’s mind as he stood
on the front steps of Collingwood House.
    It was a grandiose old structure, built more with yesteryear in
mind and keeping with the rich decadent style of the area.
    He rang the doorbell once, waited a minute and when no one
answered, rang it once more. The loud iron bell resounded from within.
    A severe-looking creature of advanced years, which he guessed was
a maid, peered at him through a minuscule crack in the door as she opened it.
“Yes? Can I help you, sir?”
    “I’m here to see Mrs. Wareham. We have important business to
discuss.”
    “Well, I can assure you, she isn’t expecting you or anyone else
today.” She opened the door and directed him to step inside. “I’ll tell her
you’re here. Do you have a name?”
    “Yes. Mr. Cal Hawthorne.”
    She raised a brow. “Just a moment. I’ll see if she’s available.”
    The chilly woman stalked off with her back so impeccably
straight, he couldn’t imagine her bending for anything. A moment