Femme Fatale: The King's Deadly Temptress

Many decades ago…

To say that George Wyatt was elated with his booming career was an understatement. He was thrilled, excited, brimming with happiness that finally, his dreams were coming true. He and his brother were now renting a two-bedroom apartment in a luxury residential tower at twenty-eight stories. For $470 a month, that was a steal in the center of Harbor City. It was definitely a great improvement from their previous small dilapidated apartment.

"Is this really our home now, George?" Gerard asked as he examined the new place, his eyes laced with obvious merriment. He couldn't contain the huge smile on his face. "I get to have my own room?"

"Why yes, of course! This building is owned and built by Theodore's parents. Others would pay much more for this apartment, but I bargained a deal with them. Isn't it beautiful? Wall-to-wall carpeting, a fireplace, draperies, and new wallpaper. It also has sound conditioning material so our neighbors would not complain about us talking so loud anymore."

Gerard laughed. "If Mrs. Smith were next door, I am sure she would be pleased and would not have to report us to the landlord! I can't say I would miss that old woman!"

"Come, Gerard!" George waved his brother over to the window. Draping an arm around the other, he pointed at the whole of Harbor City from their apartment on the twenty-sixth floor. "We will own this city one day. State-of-the-art buildings by Young Wyatt Constructions will rise from here to there. Our names will be known. Today is just the beginning, brother."

"I want to work for you, George. I will help you build your dreams."

George shook his head. "You have your own dreams. Do what you want to do." He sighed with a smile on his face. "Yesterday, Theodore asked me why I am renting when I can build a house. But it is not yet time. I will let you finish your schooling first, and then I will build us a house that is much nicer than this."

Pressing his lips into a thin line, Gerard took a deep breath and told his brother, "Then I will finish my course so I can help you. It is time you meet a woman, too. You are getting old."

George did a double-take but he laughed at his brother's statement. "You rascal! I am not that old! And if you must know, I am seeing a lady."

"Can I meet her?"

Just then, there was a knock on the door, interrupting their conversation. George went to get it and found Theodore standing there with a bottle of wine, saying, "Am I late for the celebration? I got us the best wine from France."

The three men celebrated the day that was bookmarked in Gerard's memories. It was one of his fondest moments in life with his brother.

However, only several weeks later, the news about his brother's death at the construction site shattered his whole world. He lost the only family he got. Gerard had never felt so alone in his life after that tragedy. What would he do now that his brother was dead? What about their dreams? What about him? How could he live his life now?

A week after George's death, Theodore went to see Gerard. The latter felt like he was a living corpse, uncertain about what he would do after losing his brother. He hadn't slept more than two hours a day since the accident, and he barely ate because of depression. When he saw Theodore at the door, he broke down.

"How can I pay for this apartment? I do not have any money besides what he left me. It will cover the rest of the year's rent, but I do not know where I will get money after that. I do not have a job. I cannot keep this place on my own. Shall I start packing our things now?" he said between sobs.

"I am not here to drive you away, Gerard. You are like a brother to me now," Theodore reassured while squeezing the younger man's arms. He too was devastated at the tragedy of his friend's death.

"What am I going to do now, Theodore? I do not know how to live anymore."

With a somber expression, Theodore told Gerard, "George told me to take care of you if in any case something happened to him. I gave him my word. You can live with me in the big house. We have plenty of room—"

Gerard leaned away and stared at the other with furrowed brows. "I cannot do that, Theodore. I appreciate your offer, but I cannot live with your family for free. We are not blood. I know George would have not liked it if I did that."

"We may not share blood, but you are George's brother. He is…was my brother too. And I am most certain he would want me to take care of you. I know he set you up with a trust fund, but you would not be able to access that until you are twenty-one. That is nearly three years from now, Gerard. Let me help you."

Gerard was quiet for a moment, looking down at the floor as he considered this. When he looked up and met Theodore's eyes again, he said, "Let me work for you then."

"Work for me?"

"I want to return your help by working for you. Besides, I need the money to support my schooling and other expenses. Before George died, I was looking for a job but I found no one who wanted to hire a part-time worker. I do not want to burden you and your family. If you want to help me, Theodore, let me work for you."

Theodore paused and gave it a thought. After a few moments, he nodded. "All right. If that is what you want."

The next week, Gerard ended up working at the Youngs' Estate. Part of him wanted to work for the construction company but because his days were spent in school and nights were for studying, he didn't have time to commit. Working at the estate gave him flexible hours. The Youngs offered him a room in the mansion, but Gerard refused to stay with Theodore's family, so he slept in the cottage where the other workers stayed. He didn't mind this at all. In fact, he was grateful to the Youngs for taking him in.