Love. Part three.

The next day, Adelard was busy with the work of the factory from the very morning.  Numerous documents, calculations of goods, profits, negotiations, all this was just a light veil that separated him from that very beautiful girl.  Trying not to think about her, he tried to immerse himself in work, but today it was more difficult for him than ever.

"Monsieur, what about Monsieur Jean?  How to deal with him?" asked the young man in round glasses.

Adelard directed his attention towards the young man in front of him.

"Are you a new employee?  You were sent to me to be my personal assistant, right?  Remind me of your name?"

"Theo.  My name is Theo, Monsieur."

"Theo,"  Adelard whispered and continued, "And so Theo, since you are my new assistant, then here is what you should do today." Getting up from his chair, he went to the door and closed it.

Young Theo watched him intently.

Approaching him, Adelard said, "We live in a small town, this is not Paris.  And so I think it won't be unreasonable if I ask you to find someone."

"I will do everything in my power," he answered.

"Well, I need to find one girl. don't know where she lives or what her name is.  But one thing I can say for sure, she lives not far from the coast and possibly behind a small forest.  She has snow-white golden hair just below the shoulders and unusually bright green eyes.  No one has such eyes.  Find her and find out where she lives.  If you see her then do not approach her. Is everything clear?"

"Yes, Monsieur," Theo said and immediately left the office.

Returning to his business, Adelard smiled.  Remembering Jean, his only best friend, Adelard picked up the phone and dialed the number.

Playing with the pen, he looked out the window and then a woman's voice was heard in the receiver, "Monsieur Jean's office."

"Good day.  I want to talk to Monsieur Jean.  I'm Adelard.  Tell him."

"Wait a minute."

As she said a minute later, Adelard heard the voice of his old acquaintance, "Ah, Adelard, and here is your voice.  I haven't heard you for a long time. Where were you?"

"I had a lot to do."

"As always, business.  How hard it is for a person in this world.  Business, work, and no time for yourself."

"Well, at least I'm doing this job for myself."

"And that's true," answered the voice in the phone. "I think we should meet and spend time as before.  Girls, cards, you know.  What do you think?"

“For me, most likely just cards will do."

"You are still the same Adelard. I thought that during this period you have changed. Became more mature. And you are still the same gentle romantic. You're just a princess," there was a hoarse laughter and then a slight cough.

"I've always been more mature than necessary.  Maybe that's why I'm so boring," Adelard answered.

"Well yes."

“That's why I'm calling you.  Do you remember that contract that I signed with your brother for the supply of soap to his store?  Well, I have a new contract here and I need his signature. No, this is the same contract, only improved version. You see, my business is booming like never before and I want to make your brother's business even more profitable."

"You are just as generous and kind. Tell me, does this contract give full authority over half of your proceeds to our family?"

“No, but with my business flourishing, I can thereby improve your brother’s business.  Maybe even open another store for him."

"Why are you so generous?"

"I am very grateful to you and your family.  Your father helped my father once.  And so I will never forget this kindness."

“My father didn’t help yours at all.  He only donated his vacant lands when your father needed them so badly.  This is not help.  It is a brotherly duty."

"But still. And so, Jean, tonight, in the same old place.  I will wait for you and your brother.  Don't be late."

"See you."

Looking at his wristwatch, Adelard once again straightened his unruly hair and, noticing the coffee stain on his jacket, he grunted and quickly left the office.

Completely captivated by the beauty of small town, he often stumbled along the way.  Fixing his gaze on the roofs of houses, on the gardens, on the paths that led to no one knows where, in the sun and how it decorates every corner with a golden color, he could hear the eternal youth and purity.

Walking past the crowd of people that stood in line, he immediately became the center of everyone's attention.  The girls who were holding baskets full of flowers smiled at him, and some even waved as if they knew him, but he, in turn, did not pay any attention to them.  Zero emotion and zero attention.

Perhaps the female part of this world remained a mystery to him, which he was in no hurry to reveal.  Well, of course not counting the girl he met yesterday.  Holding her image in front of him, she suddenly became an imaginary friend and he didn't want to part with her.

And so, passing by the crowd and entering a narrow stone path that led a little down the slope, he rushed with a light gait towards a small house.

When he reached the house, he took off his jacket and threw it a little casually on a chair and solemnly declared, "I need a new suit.  Perhaps black and not too wide.  In a wide suit, I seem to be a little thin."

"Yes, Monsieur.  In the meantime, would you like some tea and biscuits?" asked a kind old man in an ideal tuxedo.

"Perhaps a glass of water will be just right," Adelard answered, sitting down on a soft chair by the window.  Meanwhile, the cat that was lying on the windowsill suddenly jumped onto his lap and purred loudly.

"Matilda don't bother Monsieur."

"She does not bother me. I love cats."

The old man smiled and looked at Adelard.  Looking at him from head to toe, he suddenly said, "Monsieur Adelard when was the last time you came to me? I even forgot your face and how you look."

"I hope I haven't gained weight."

"You have become even more beautiful.  I'll tell you a secret, throughout the city, I don't know a single gentleman who would be more handsome than you,"  the old man laughed, pointing towards the door.

A short woman in a fluffy dress entered the room and quietly said, "Let me take your measurements."

Despite the fact that Adelard was known throughout the country, he still did not know many people. Perhaps this was due to the fact that he badly wanted to get to know people, and not those people from his many books, but those who actually existed and exist. The main thing is that with them he could be convinced that in this world there is good and evil, beauty and ugliness, love and hate, black and white.  He wanted to know where are the borders that divide the whole world into two parts.  And people were the best books for him.  But alas, the people who were around knew him, were too pretentious. After all, before him, any human sincerity became nothing more than "respect" or excitement.  And so far, he has not seen a single honest and sincere emotion in his address.  And even those girls who stared at him, and they, too, were ready to give him their hearts because he was handsome and rich.  But who in the whole wide world was ready to recognize his soul?  That was what worried him the most.

He desperately wanted to see the soul of a stranger, but all he saw was insincerity.

"Monsieur, you can drink your tea now," the woman said and writing something on a piece of paper went into another room where there were many jackets and trousers.

Taking a small sip of tea that gave off the aroma of strawberries, Adelard looked out the window.  The sea that bathed in the sun's rays now reminded him of the girl. Now, remembering his harsh act, he felt shame and the desire to see her again and apologize for his sudden, awkward confession.

"Monsieur today you look happier than ever. Is it because of the girl?" the old man asked sharply, and with such a tone as if he were his best friend.

Adelard gave him a slightly surprised look then slowly replied by simply shaking his head, "Maybe or maybe not."

"Do not worry, Monsieur, you are a very handsome and intelligent person, you will definitely find your happiness.  Do not doubt it.  For people like you, luck is everywhere."

Looking out the window, the old man suddenly exclaimed, “Oh my God, this is Monsieur Jonathan himself!"

Hurrying to the door, the old man put on a smile on his face and at the same moment his hands caught someone's hands.  There was a voice outside.  As Adelard noted, it was that Jonathan who came from America and has been living in this town for the second year now.

Looking out the window, Adelard was about to look at the foreigner, but sensing the presence behind him, he turned and saw a young man with long hair gathered in a neat ponytail.  A young man with small eyes was staring at him, biting his lip.  Despite his slightly lost appearance, this man possessed a certain charm that would make him wonder.

“Monsieur Adelard, this is Monsieur Jonathan.  He is a frequent customer in my store," the old man said solemnly pointing to the young man.

Monsieur Jonathan bowed his head slightly and said, “Monsieur Adelard, I've heard a lot about you. I must admit I am very glad to see you.  Since childhood I have been reading books about your family. All travels, scientific discoveries. This is a great honor for me."

Adelard stood up happily, smiling like a child, said, "Your French is impeccable."

"Oh thank you. I put in a lot of effort to speak like this. Although it still seems to me as if I do not know this language,"  tilting his head to one side, the young man seemed to look at him playfully, but Adelard did not notice it.

"Your French is probably better than mine."

The young man just smiled.  His incomprehensible gaze froze on him as if asking him to look and read a certain message in his eyes.  But Adelard was preoccupied with his own thoughts.

Sitting next to him, Jonathan was about to say something, but noticing that Adelard was already far from here, he did not bother him.

And only when the dressmaker returned with a new suit, Adelard abruptly got up and grabbing the suit went to the room that served as a fitting room.

"Monsieur, how do you like it? I hope it is not too small. You said that it should be a little fitted and not wide."

A minute later, Adelarde replied,  "It fits perfectly."

A black velvet jacket with a slightly reddish tint enveloped Adelard's slim body as if he were some kind of work of art and every line, every bend and every movement of his body resembled a masterpiece.  Straightening the bow tie, Adelard turned to look at his back.  And then at trousers, which perfectly showed his long legs. With a light movement of his hand, he raised his right hand and straightened the disobedient lock that covered one of his eyes.

Then, turning quickly, he gracefully put his hands into his pockets.

Watching him, the dressmaker could not contain her admiration, and this admiration was reflected on her plump cheeks with a red blush.

"Oh, Monsieur, how handsome you are," noticed the old man taking measurements from the young man.

Without answering, Adelard looked at his watch and, widening his eyes with surprise, quickly put a considerable amount of money on the counter and ran out of this small, cozy house.

"Monsieur you forgot your old suit. Monsieur!"  the old man shouted after him.

Heading with a brisk pace towards his house, Adelard suddenly stopped noticing his carriage not far from him.

"Monsieur, sit down.  You shouldn't walk in this heat.  And besides, it will be raining soon."

"Did Nicholas send you?"

"Yes, Monsieur."

Straightening his hair again, Adelard took a deep breath and a few beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.  After wiping them with a handkerchief, he relaxed, sat down more comfortably and closed his eyes.

The sun's rays touched his face through the thin curtain of the carriage.

"Monsieur, we are here."

Waking up after a short nap, Adelard opened the door and saw a restaurant called "Moonlight".

"Have a nice time, Monsieur."