Bella Lisa & Her Beast

Chapter One-2

That’s where she got those stunning looks from.

Williamson never felt his cold heart pound so powerfully in his chest. Though he was immensely successful in all facets of his professional life, he still felt empty inside and alone. He smiled, looking down at his feet, chuckling out loud at his folly, as if he had cast himself in some seedy romance novel in the role of the dashing rich entrepreneur who had found everything he wanted in life, except love. He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the effects of the champagne.

There’s no way a woman of her age would want anything to do with me. What do I have to offer, other than money? I’m just another one of the desperate sharks, circling the waters.

Glancing through the trees at his limo, idling in the parking area, Williamson fought the instinct to slip through the grove and disappear. He would’ve gone off to his club to try to forget her, but he knew the Artistic Director expected him to make a fundraising pitch in a few moments.

As Williamson remained cloaked in darkness, he saw Bella Lisa sidle through the crowd to stand in the front row as the Artistic Director of Seaside City Playhouse began his speech to the assembled crowd of donors and media, introducing the playwright, director and actors. As the Director spoke, Williamson’s mind wandered back to the moment he gained access to the theater’s inner circle. It was his good fortune that he answered his phone when the telemarketer called his condo, asking for a donation to the year-end fundraising drive. The theater got his private number when he bought tickets to support a wealthy client whose stock portfolio he managed, whose son was cast in a show. Williamson was reading the earning results of the fourth quarter when the phone rang. The combined net profit from Williamson Investments, Inc., Williamson Real Estate Holdings, Inc. and the A and E Club had risen over 25 percent, reaching the fifty million dollar mark for the first time. He answered the phone as he was going over the numbers. After listening patiently to the earnest young man’s long monotonous scripted pitch asking for a $150 dollar donation, Williamson spoke up.

“Excuse me for interrupting, I know what you’re doing is tough. I started out as a telemarketer, just like you.”

“You did, sir?”

“Yes. And I understand what it feels like, people hardly listening to you, saying rude things, hanging up on you all the time.”

“You got that right, sir. You’re the first person all night that’s even talked to me.”

“Is that right? Well, you gave a very convincing presentation and because of you I want to help support the Arts. I’d like to donate $25,000…”

“Wh… What did you say, sir?”

“$25,000 dollars. You get roughly 10 percent, I would guess? That’s $2,500 in your pocket. Not bad for a two minute phone call. Merry Christmas.”

“I… I can’t believe it! That’s so generous of you, Mr. Williamson.”

“Are you ready to write down my Amex number?”

The impulsive donation turned out to be one of the best business decisions Williamson had ever made. It put him on the Board of the theater and gave him instant access to a new potential pool of wealthy patrons of the arts, their families and their friends who may be in need of his investment and real estate services. The donation also allowed him to sponsor one show per year out of the season. When Williamson found out the wealthy actor, Marc Mauricio, had been cast in the show he was assigned to sponsor, he tried to get to know him by attending a few rehearsals and giving him encouraging comments. One evening they decided to meet for a drink to get to know one another. When Mauricio told him that he dappled in the market, Williamson offered to do an analysis of his investment portfolio. The subject also came up that Mauricio was looking to move away from the noise and traffic of Los Angeles, so Williamson showed him a few days later a three bedroom condo with wrap around views that was currently on the market in the oceanfront building Williamson owned and lived in. Williamson closed him on the deal that day.

The escrow period passed smoothly and his home loan was approved easily. The key exchange was scheduled in two days for Sunday afternoon. His assistants usually did such menial tasks, but perhaps he could shift some appointments around and do it himself. Williamson wondered if Mauricio’s daughter would be there when he dropped off the keys.

As if on cue, Williamson stepped out of the shadows just as the Artistic Director looked in his direction and continued his speech.

“Ah, there he is, always lurking in the shadows, watching us, behind the scenes, like the Phantom of the Opera, pulling all the strings! So at last but certainly not least we wish to give a big shout out to our board member, successful entrepreneur and philanthropist, Phillipe Williamson, for underwriting this production. Without his generosity, all this would not have been possible. He’s notoriously shy and elusive, hiding over there in the trees, the handsome devil, and by the way ladies, Seaside City’s most eligible bachelor, but maybe if we put our hands together we can encourage him to come up here and say a few words.”

The audience applauded warmly as Williamson made his way to the platform. As he passed through the crowd he playfully arched an eyebrow at Bella Lisa, observing her surprised expression with a half-smile meant only for her

Bella Lisa watched Williamson stepped up on the platform, greet the Artistic Director, shake his hand and put his arm around the shoulder of her father. The three men posed for a photograph and the light flashed, momentarily blinding Bella Lisa.

Who is he? And how does he know my father?

Williamson looked out at the crowd and made his speech.

“Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen. Thank you for coming tonight to attend the opening of “The Last Petal of the Rose”. I won’t keep you from enjoying the buffet table, catered by Wolfgang Puck. Just one thing. There was an envelope placed in your program this evening. As you leave the opening night party I ask each one of you to consider making a donation to help Seaside City Playhouse continue its mission of premiering original and audacious new plays and musicals, as well as to support the theater’s education programs for our Seaside City schools. There is a box on the pathway leading to the parking area you can drop your donation in. Now let’s raise our glass to the success of our play!”

Williamson raised his champagne with the crowd and took a sip, staring at Bella Lisa and smiling. Bella Lisa responded with a quizzical little smile of her own and tentatively joined him in the toast. As the crowd started lining up at the buffet tables, Mauricio touched Williamson on the elbow and spoke to him. Bella Lisa tried to listen in on the conversation.

“Phillipe, there are a few people here I’d like to introduce you to.”

“Thanks, Mark. Maybe next time. I’ve got to be at the office early. I wanted to mention to you that the real estate agent that’s been handling your transaction is busy this weekend so I’ll be meeting you instead on Sunday afternoon at 3 to transfer the keys for your new condo.”

“Great, Phillipe. Sunday at 3 is perfect. I can’t wait to move in.”

“You’ll love living in Seaside City.”

“Thanks for setting it all up.”

“It was my pleasure. Also I took a quick look at your stocks. Your holdings are kind of risky. You’re overexposed in the Health Care Sector.”

“I’ve done pretty well by them so far. High risk, high return, right?”

“Yes, but listen, Marc. More often than not I’ve seen Health Care stocks drop quickly in the wrong direction. After the corporate officers and institutional investors sell off their shares, if you’re not paying close attention, individual investors like yourself are left holding the bag. They have a saying in this business, “You can’t catch a falling knife.” I should know. I’ve tried and gotten cut. More than once. When things go bad, they can go bad in a hurry. I’d like to talk to you at a better time about diversifying your portfolio.”

“Sure, Phillipe. Sure.”

Mauricio seemed distracted, looking for someone in the crowd. Williamson took that as his cue to leave.

“Anyway, Marc, I’ve got to go. You go enjoy the party. Congratulations on a great opening. See you Sunday.”

“See you then.”

As Mauricio and his daughter walked over to the buffet table, Williamson disappeared through the eucalyptus grove.

“Have you seen my agent, Bella?” Mauricio asked.

“I forgot what he looks like Daddy.”

“That’s OK. Did you like the show?”

“I loved it! You were great in it. I bet you’re going to get glowing reviews.”

“I don’t read reviews.”

Bella Lisa grabbed a plate and looked to see a tall man in a clearing between the trees, standing beside a black shiny limousine, looking in her direction. As soon as she noticed him, he turned away. Another man opened the door for him, he got in and the limo sped away.

When Williamson had returned to his penthouse condo, he dismissed his private security team, Cogworthy and Luman, for the night. He went to his bedroom, stripped off his clothes and looked once again at the peculiar and tender veins bulging from the skin of his pelvis. He got out some lubricant and rubbed the sore spots, deciding to have his assistant Firmin call his physician first thing in the morning to see if he could set up an appointment, after the market closed at 1PM, to see him.

Williamson could not stop thinking of Ms. Mauricio. He wished he knew her first name. The more he thought of her, the more his groin ached. It had been a long day and he was exhausted. He got into bed and fell asleep thinking of her chatting with a gentleman in the courtyard of the theater. The man had made a joke and her body shook with girlish laughter. As she leaned forward, her arms wrapped around herself, her rounded pert breasts bounced with each laugh, nearly falling completely out of her dress, her light brown aureoles clearly peeking out from under the red fabric. He slept fitfully.

At one point in the early morning hours, he woke up in the middle of a wet dream, grinding his painful pelvis into his soaked bed sheets, imagining the sexy young woman below him. She looked innocently into his eyes, turned out her wrists and stretched her arms over her head, offering herself to be bound…

On Sunday afternoon he met Mauricio to sign the final documents, officially transferring ownership of the condo to him and to hand over the keys. Williamson bought Mauricio an expensive bottle of French wine and four crystal glasses as a housewarming present.

“You mentioned you were driving your daughter to college next weekend,” Williamson said as the crystal glasses clinked together.

“Oh yes. Bella Lisa got accepted at Stanford University. We always provided her with private tutoring and she did exceptionally well on her SAT’s. She’s an excellent student. Her Mother and I are really proud of her,” Mauricio boasted.

Bella Lisa. So that was her name. Williamson wished he were alone to say her beautiful name out loud. Bella Lisa Mauricio.

“Stanford. That’s really impressive. She must be a very bright young woman. What’s her major?” Williamson asked.

“I think she said Sociology or Social Work, something like that,” Mauricio said, swallowing the rest of his wine.

Mauricio was in a rush to attend a meeting across town and left soon after finishing the wine. Even though he was disappointed Mauricio’s daughter had not shown up for the appointment, Williamson felt the meeting was a success. He learned her first name, her area of interest and where she was going to be for the next four years.

From Sunday evening until Tuesday morning Bella Lisa was occupied helping her Father move into and decorate his fancy new beachfront condo. It was modern and chic inside, renovated with marble countertops and wood flooring. The kitchen had brand new stainless steel appliances. Each large bedroom had floor to ceiling glass windows and balconies with tremendous views overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the skyline of downtown Seaside City. The place must’ve cost a fortune. It was so luxurious that she wished she had more time to enjoy it, but she had to leave for college in just a few days.