“Did you see it? Just yesterday I saw Monsieur Ray scrambling behind the counter to hide from some jealous husband. Oh yes, he did, I heard him mention a wife! Fortunately, Gavin covered for him while he cowered. That’s why he’s been doing the laundry. A small price to pay I suppose!” -Philippe Navarre

Philippe resides on the Seventh Floor Room: G2

The Vignettes

Into the Apartment Lobby slithered Phillippe Ray. His face covered in sweat and full of fear. Shouting gave way not far behind. The women of the Tavern cast no eye of sympathy and continued on their business. No sooner had Phillippe leaped behind the counter a bullish man burst through the doors. His eyes were cold and piercing that burned with a quiet rage. The man being tall in stature walked with a heavy foot towards the counter where Gavin stood, biting into his cigar.

Gavin could hear Philippe's whispered pleas. Gavin produced an expression of more annoyed than comfortable as he felt an arm wrap around in his leg.

“I'm looking for a weaselly looking fellow who I believe came running in here...”

“Is that so...?” Gavin gave a smile while holding his own cigar between his teeth. “Was he about... this tall..?” Gavin motioned with his hand and proceeded to describe Phillipe well enough to be his brother. The man behind the counters face twisted with rage, his large hands grabbing and pulling at the counter. Gavin could feel Phillipe's grip tightening around his leg trembling like a leaf.

“Well, if you see him, be sure to find me, I'd like to get a piece of the worm myself...” Gavin spoke assertively while wrestling his leg fee and slamming his foot down on Philippe's hand. Phillipe's mouth wrenched open to scream, but no sound came out as he endured the pain.

“Damn rats in here!” Gavin said dryly.

The large man sneered and quickly stormed out shouting. “I'll break every bone in his scrawny little body!”

Phillipe slowly rose above the counter clutching his hand. “If it were me, you'd be dead already ya know that...?” Gavin looked down at Phillipe, holding his cigar as he spoke. “I'd put some ice on that mate...” Philippe slowly staggered to his room living to slither another day.

One early evening Philippe Ray heard a slow knock on his door that stirred him from a champagne induced sleep. Waking up he saw the woman by his side, and quickly flipped through his mind a Rolodex of images. Her name, was she married, was she tied to a jealous lover, was she a client?

Looking suspiciously to her then his apartment door, he slowly got up from his bed, and navigated through his unkempt apartment, tripping over shoes and legal papers.

He almost reached for the knob before he realized he would be exposing himself, then promptly grabbed a coat off the rack, covering himself. His eyes got wide at the embarrassing thought of having Henrietta catch him in such a state. then opened the door.

Gustav stood on the other side, with his usual proper manner, as always well kept and professional in his appearance.

"Gustav, what an unlikely surprise..."

Philippe forced a smile on his face, as he hung mostly out of his door, not appearing all that welcome for guests.

"I have a personal favor to ask."

Raising his eyebrows to fain curiosity he simply asked.

"Which is?"

Gustav shifted his eyes uneasily, suggesting it was a sensitive matter, to which Philippe responded in kind by rolling his eyes.

"One moment!"

Philippe closed his apartment door abruptly in Gustav's face who did not flinch.

Meanwhile Philippe quickly navigated through his apartment, tripping over some rubbish or another towards his bed. Taking the blankets, he quickly covered his company for the evening before rushing back to the door, nearly falling into it as he reached for the knob. The door opened at last allowing Gustav to step through.

Philippe barely closed the door and rose to his feet when Gustav did not hesitate to ask.

"I hear you are a persuasive man when it comes to women..."

Philippe gave a nervous look to the pile of blankets on his bed that stirred ever so slightly.

"Whatever gave you that impression?"

He said with a cheeky smile, running his fingers through his hair nervously.

"Your veracious reputation proceeds you."

Folding his arms over his chest slowly stepping in front of Gustav's line of view with the bed.

"So, what is it you're asking?"

"I'm looking for a woman..."

"You seem to have women down there all the time, from what I hear... Not that I can hear.."

"I'm looking for someone different from the usual cad, someone with a unique passion and ferocity."

Philippe scratched his head and shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know if I could help you Gustav, I'm very busy I have several cases I'm working on, and I got bills to pay so..."

At that moment Gustav placed what amounted to one month’s rent in Philippe's gesticulating hand, causing him to pause and stare into his hand.

"Well... I.. uh suppose I can somehow.. with my project."

"What's time after all?!" Philippe laughed happily to Gustav who quietly took his leave. "I mean if you wait until the last minute it only takes a minute, I'm sure I can find a woman who's satisfactory!"

After the door closed Philippe braced his back up against the door and counted the money.

"I'm a procurer, a rich procurer."

"Philippe...?"

A feminine voice cried in the distance.

Philippe quickly stuffed the money in his coat.

"Nothing, it was nothing, just the wind!"

"Henrietta, it's me Philippe please open the door!"

Philippe Ray all but shouted pounding on Henrietta's door, hearing the man in pursuit rushing up the stairwell, coming up floor after floor.

"I'm a dead man if you don't open...!"

Philippe fell through the opening the moment the door was opened, collapsing to the floor in a heap.

"Quick close it..." He mustered out of his voice, breathing heavy from his panic attack.

Henrietta with a look, cross between concerned and frustrated closed the door and locked it. Her ear perked to the sound of a man screaming. "I'll break your neck, you no good weasel!"

"Caught fooling around with your clients again Philippe?"

Turning onto his back and sitting up to stare at her innocently. "It was only one..!"

Henrietta reached for her doorknob teasingly.

"And why shouldn't I just let him in?"

"Because, he was abusive, he beat her badly..."

"And you don't abuse?"

Philippe's eyes shifted quickly and spoke on the fly.

"Henrietta, I break hearts, not bodies..."

She unlocked the door, and slowly began to turn the knob.

"Or souls! She was a hard luck case, and my heart went out to her in the way it only knows how.."

Henrietta finished turning the knob, her eyes menacingly flared towards Philippe.

"Come Phillipe my sweet you know me better; bleeding hearts don’t pay the bills."

"Ok ok ok.. let me think..."

He brushed his hand over his chin in, and his hand over his tussled hair and pulled at it. He tried to reel the thoughts out from his mind in desperation.

"I have it!" He smiled deviously like a goblin.

Henrietta's hand eased on the nob and stated plainly.

I love that smile. it spells results. . . I'm listening..."

"Open the door, and kiss him, make love to him...!"

Henrietta smiled, arching her brow slowly.

"At that point I'll yell something to get his attention, at which point he'll throw you away, causing..." He motioned a quotation with his fingers. "Injury to you, and abuse! Which I will be a witness to no doubt, not to mention the other tenants of course!"

Henrietta looked up to make up her mind, and weighed the options then looked down to Philippe.

"What does he do?"

"Some Financier or another, his wife is loaded..."

Music to her ears, her complexion brightened to a broad smile.

"Why didn't you say so?!" She cried out.

She turned to pull back the door handle then hesitated.

"Why kiss him anyway?"

Philippe shrugged his shoulders. "Grounds for divorce on her part... Two birds with one stone."

Chiming her head to the air one more time as if to give it a final thought.

"I suppose I can feel a little generous!"

Henrietta smiled before throwing the door open, and her into his arms.