Chapter Three: Part Two
After struggling his mouthful away, he said, ‘I would like you ladies to run a function for me every three weeks, starting on Saturday, a week from tomorrow. Most will be on about the same scale as the last, but with a slight amendment. Ms Danielle has already affirmed that the upcoming dates are available.’
Okay, this is a business meeting. A very small part of Kate was disappointed, but mostly she was relieved and thankful to have some measure of what was happening. He said, ‘I would like you to overstaff my functions by two every time. No guest has ever complained about being served too well…’ Kate nodded and tilted her head, inviting him to continue.
‘Catherine, your timely observation was extremely valuable to me, and by extension, to a great many people who rarely have a voice. I would ask that during my functions, you and Ms Danielle remain effectively free to circulate with open ears and eyes, just as you already do. Your roles make you occupationally invisible, allowing both of you a high level of discreet freedom. We know Ms Danielle picks up on a lot too. She reminds me of a shape shifter, physically fit and athletic, but only if you look closely; so front and centre one moment, and so ‘background’ the next. Edison thinks very highly of her as well.’
‘You want us to be your spies?’
‘That’s a fair question, but no. You already know that I know who is chatting to whom and, within reason, what they are chatting about. I simply want intelligent ears and eyes in the mix, alert to anything unusual or amiss. You have already demonstrated an excellent memory with near photographic recall. You have expert technical knowledge in many areas most would never suspect, especially of a beautiful woman serving them food and drinks. Edison says Ms Danielle reads people very accurately as well.’
Kate nodded, letting him go on.
‘You took effective and timely action when you accurately recognised something amiss. Your intelligent initiative negated a nasty plan by some now very lonely individuals who intended to reap personal gain from continuing the suffering of others. Aside from your observation, you all did an amazing job of the function. Ms Carina’s food is brilliant. If she had a restaurant, it would sport Michelin stars on the door. Your staff were possibly the best briefed I have seen.’
‘Thank you.’ Kate said, not wanting to interrupt his flow.
‘I am primarily offering a permanent booking under very favourable terms, in recognition of the professional excellence already demonstrated, and in expectation of its continuance. That you and Ms Danielle will be circulating with your ears and eyes open to the dynamics of the room is simply a value-added feature. I only want your relevant observations. You will know if something is not right. I trust your judgement.’
‘Is there any more?’ she asked.
‘I would have you and Ms Danielle familiar with the guest lists for certain functions so you might better understand the dynamics involved.’
Feeling more comfortable with his somewhat unusual proposition, Kate said light-heartedly, ‘Let me guess, Edison will have a bunch of files on everybody with coloured tape on its edges?’
‘Oh goodness, no. Rarely would he be so crass. I believe you made a first-approximation guess at his role on the way here. Close, but no cigar, as the saying goes.’
Kate knew that neither man had said a single word to each other until Edison wished them a wonderful lunch. There is a lot of sub-text in his world! her mind noted again, recognising both Dom’s challenge to her and his clear affirmation that Edison was far more than just a bodyguard or driver.
‘Unless you think we should know about something, you need not say a thing. My first priority and primary intent is to have beautiful events with wonderful food, drink and service.’
‘I’ll have to discuss this with Dee and Carrie,’ Kate said, knowing that it was already pretty much fait accompli.
‘I’d be surprised if you didn’t. I want you and your business partners to feel ethically solid at all times. If there is nothing to tell, then there is nothing to tell. More often than not, it may just be as simple as alerting us to potential or brewing discord or tension between guests within a group. I trust your decision-making ability and discernment.’
A dark look flashed over Kate’s face. ‘You know my discernment has not been that fantastic lately?’
‘Catherine, please allow me some disclosure. I have researched…’ He saw the cheeky and challenging look on Kate’s face before amending his statement with a grin. ‘I have reviewed some research, and I am familiar with the public record surrounding your recent personal and commercial history.’
Kate went to speak several times but was unable to find her words.
‘Silvio Schivello is a smooth and charming bastard. I am now aware of two other women who have been similarly injured by his lies. Kate, in my extensive and experienced opinion, you were blindsided by a very smooth, intelligent and clinically sociopathic con man. You loved him, and you had every right and reason to believe that he loved you back.
‘A very close friend is both a brilliant psychiatrist, and a gifted facial analysis and deception expert. During the course of her research, she profiled Silvio and found him to be a thankfully rare combination of high-level sociopath and self-gratifying narcissist. For the record, this was prior to our chance meeting in the city. The short version is that his pathology makes him incapable of disbelieving or feeling any remorse for whatever he says, no matter how outlandish or hurtful. That is why he is such an effective liar. She is citing him, and two others she’s found who share his specific pathologies, in an academic paper on undetectable conscious deception that should be accepted for publication this month. You are not mentioned beyond anonymous background.’
Moods, thoughts, memories and emotions all flashed over Kate’s face, reflecting her turmoil. Then something changed, making her feel quiet again. Kate looked down and realised that he was holding her hands from across the table, and looking into her eyes.
He said, ‘It is important that you understand this, Kate. Because of his specific mix of pathologies, in his private world, he is the only human being. He is incapable – not ignorant – but completely incapable of comprehending that anyone else on this planet has value, feelings, rights, or even meaningful opinions. Kate, you got hit by a bus you couldn’t see coming, so you were hit by a bus you couldn’t possibly avoid. Even the best deception experts in the world can’t tell when he is lying. His pathologies are why he can scheme so abhorrently, and lie without hesitation or remorse. He is a very high-level sociopath, bordering on psychopath, and is incapable of any level of genuine emotional empathy.
‘His self-gratifying narcissism makes him unable to doubt himself. He sees himself as the most valuable and wonderful thing in the whole world, and nobody else’s opinion has enough value to him to challenge that concept. That is why he acts with such overwhelming confidence but lacks the smugness that normally is the hallmark of a liar. You only made the mistake of loving the wrong person. That is something that can be said of many other intelligent people, the world over.
‘Your actual business decisions were all conservative and solid. Your own leadership demonstrated a rare and commendable balance of intelligence, courage and imagination. Your company was, until the time of your ex-husband’s rapine, a trusted benchmark renowned for integrity, innovation and quality. Since that time, you have joined your friends, and you have excelled again, demonstrating the same applications of intelligence and talents. Kate, that is a most enviable and honourable professional and personal reputation to have.’
After a long silent moment, he let go of her hands and grabbed his sandwich, taking an even bigger bite than before, nearly choking himself with his loudly exaggerated moans of gastronomic delight. As her laughter echoed under the bridge, he smiled at her, horseradish cream still smeared on his cheek.
With some happy chatter and a number of slightly risqué jokes, including one that had her snort – to her embarrassment and his delight – he steered her back into a world of happier thoughts and positive outlooks.
~~~~~