Fantasy Susan Takes Charge by TMaskedWriter

[Ramesh_Rocky]

"Lucy, dear!" I said with a smile as I blindsided her from the crowd. Hey, I've told the bitch she can call me Sue, let's see how she like Lucy. "I thought you'd never make it."

"Lucinda." She immediately let me know that she didn't. "Of La Familia de San Finzione," she continued in Italian. "Founding familia of the Sovereign County and Independent Nation-State of San Finzione. Remind me, Susan, dear. What are the Baileys known for again?"

"Irish Cream." I responded in the same tongue. "Also a song about a guy who got out of a bad relationship and needs to tell the singer who keeps promising him the world to come back to fuck off, because people like her never learn anything. We didn't feel the need to put our name on everything. There's also a porn actress whom I'm told I kind of look like that uses the name; but if she's any relation, my parents didn't tell me before they died."

"Why, I'm so sorry." Lucinda said in a tone that made it clear that she wasn't. "I was unaware you were an orphan. It must be horrible not knowing where you are from."

"It can be hard." I answered. "Having no storied family history of great achievements that I personally had nothing to do with to take undue pride in forces me to make my own."

"I'm certain you're used to having to make your own things in this world."

"Well," I replied with a sweet smile. "Not all of us can just look at what Helen does and copy her, Lucinda."

"Yes, a nice one there." Lucinda acknowledged. "If that were truly La Contessa and not the actress she pays to fill in for her at events, it would have been more embarrassing."

"I'm not sure what you're talking about, Lucinda." I lied. I figured it was time to start doing that with her.

"We both know that La Contessa is in Paris, fucking and sucking that Greek pimp and his other whore? Did you truly think the ruler of San Finzione could vanish for a month and no one would notice? Of course I knew. Why do you think this is all happening tonight?"

"The only reason I can think that your mind might make that paranoid leap, Lucinda, is that you were hoping that if Helen DOES have a double, and that's not an admission of anything; the double wouldn't have known better than to accept the poisoned apple you've brought for the twins. Or to refuse in a way that you can use to score points with your church group. On that note, and in case you thought I missed the 'other whore' dig back there; I have more respect for a woman who goes down on her knees in an alley for money than I do for one who does the same in church for the sake of being seen doing it."

Lucinda gave a smile at that, opened her purse, and produced a sealed envelope wrapped with a red ribbon.

"My concern is the future of San Finzione. For the souls of the heirs and the nation!"

"Based on how you've fucked up having one of your own, Lucinda, I'm not letting you anywhere near theirs." The crowd started murmuring and turning toward the podium. "Now if you'll excuse me, Lucinda, a CONTESSA is about to speak."

"Evening, everyone. I see some of you have found the bar already." She said, looking out at La Familia. "I know we're pressed for time tonight, so the chefs are bringing the dessert trolleys out now. I haven't seen many of you since before the boys were born, and I know how grateful most of you are for that fact." She gave a pause. There was a nervous laugh in the crowd. She accepted it and moved on.

"And, of course, I have to thank dear Lucinda for orchestrating all of this. It was her insistence that made this whole evening possible. Let's hear it for Lucinda de San Finzione, everyone!"