Four days seemed like four years. I wondered about back and forth, recking my brain muscles, I couldn't help but worry. I never had the head for eating or sleeping.

I was worried sick, and I kept thinking if Delphina succeded or not. If she did, they were supposed to return two ago. I thought and thought and thought until a very sudden, disturbing yell brought me to an abrupt stop.

It was Perry yelling out my name.

Finally, he was back now. The question was, with whom? I was too anxious to think, so i went over to find out.

As I walked into the lounge, I found him wondering about and pacing back and forth, overly excited that his smile was reaching the back of his head.

"This is the one brother, this time around,  I am sure I've found the right woman for me," He said impatiently.

"Really? wow, I am happy for you, brother. So where excatly is she?" I asked with complete uneasiness.

He went over to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a glass of wine, and after swallowing a mouth full, he said, "She'll be comin. You will meet her soon." He replenished his glass and gulped a glass full. "Oh, and I proporsed to her three days ago, so we engaged, bro. You are going to like her she's very sweet, and I am certain she is the one, and all these failed past relationships were leading me to her." He said breathlessly.

Just then, a car pulled over, and a certain lady came out as Gorman opened the door for her. I was only able to see her back.

"She's here, bro. I am so excited. Wait till you meet her, then you will understand."

They took some time to get her bags out of the car, so I went over to the liquor cabinet.

I stood over by the cabinet gulping down the wine, I heard a sound behind me and I looked over my shoulder, as I turned right around I felt blood mount to my face as it ran cold through my body, she was standing in the doorway. She was staring curiously at me. It was her, Delphina.

She was wearing a crisp white dress, tight around her, and as she moved through the doorway, I could see she hadn't a stitch on under the dress.

She didn't say anything. We just stood there, looking at each other. Then Perry came in, smiling nervously, and introduced me.

She nodded at me, still saying nothing.

Perry stood awkwardly, rubbing his jaw, smiling at us.

"What a long ride that was, I could really use a bath." He said finally. "How about you, honey?"

"Her face was expressionless, has she said, "Sure."

They turned and walked away. I could see the outline of her heavy hips under the dress. They rolled sexually as she walked.

I picked up a paper napkin and wiped my face. Sweat was running of me.

"Pretty hot, huh?' Gorman said, widening his smile as he walked in with Delphina's suitcases.

"It's hot, all right," I said. My face felt stiff as I tried to match his smile.

It was now getting late, so I went across to my room, stripped off, and got into bed. My mind was too active for sleep. I kept thinking about Delphina.

I used to stay in a guest house. which was a few steps from the main house.
My bed was right by the window, and from where I lay, I could look directly at the window of Perry's room.

I was still trying to sleep an hour later when I saw a light go on in Perry's room.

I saw her standing in the middle of the room. She was smoking a cigarette, and for some moments, she just stood there, letting smoke drift from between her lips. Then, moving languidly, she stubbed out the cigarette, dropping the butt on the table.

She pulled out her ribbon, and the thick mass black hair came tumbling down to her waist.

By now, I was sitting up, leaning forward and staring; my heart thumping and my breathing was fast.

She sat on a chair in front of the dressing table mirror and began to brush her hair. She spent nearly five minutes stroking the black mass with the brush,then putting down the brush, she moved to the window and began to unfasten her dress.

As the dress swung open, she reached out and pulled down the curtain. With the light behind her, her shadow was sharp etched against the curtain. She took off the dress, letting it drop to the floor. Her naked outline against the curtain turned my mouth dry.

Perry walked up, hugged and kissed her, crossed over to the bed, and turned off the lights.

Long after they had turned off the lights, I still sat at the window, looking across at the mansion. I didn't sleep much that night.

When I walked into the house at ten forty-five the next morning, I couldn't see Delphina anyway. Maybe she's still sleeping, I thought and moved over across to the kitchen, I was really staving.

Perry was sitting at the table. There was a pile of money in bills and a small change in front of him. By his side was a cup of coffee, a used plate, and a knife and fork. He locked up, nodding at me "wow you certainly overslept most of your morning." he said, 'You want something?“

"Just coffee," I said, and went over to the pot standing on the hot plate, "so what's up with all the money?"

"Delphina and I are planning on getting married in a few days."

"Wow, big moves, you sure this time around it’s going to work you, huh?“ I asked, trying to act casual.

"Yes I’m positive about this one. She’s definitely the one. Moreover, that's the only way i can have full access to the inheritance funds, so it's a win-win." he said, got to his feet, and went away.

After having breakfast, I went down to the lily pond. That's where I met Delphina. She was sitting on the low wall surrounding the pond. Her feet in sandals hung a few inches above the water.

She wore a pair of yellow shorts, a white shirt cut high to her breasts, and her black hair hung loose to her shoulders, her face small and serious.

Plenty of girls have pretty faces and curves you can't improve upon. You look them over, get ideas about them, and forget them as soon as they're out of sight. But this girl you wouldn't forget and don't ask me why.

She had something, she was different as wine to water, I should have known from the way this girl made me feel that from now on I was going to have half my mind on the job, and when a guy gets that way he's leaving himself wide open for a sucker punch, I knew it and I didn't care.

"Hello," I said, "I have been waiting to talk to you."

She studied me thoughtfully. No welcome. No smile.

"Me too." she said.

That seemed to take care of that.

I looked down into the lily pond. I could see her reflection in the water. She looked good that way, too.

"Do you usually work that fast? I asked.

"It seemed the only thing to do," she said. "and your Perry was so easy to convince, I have to admit, just tell me what our next move is."

We looked at each other, I had the idea I was having the same effect on her as she was having on me.

I've been around a lot of women, and I've known a lot of women in my time. They've given me a lot of fun and a lot of grief. Now women are funny animals. You never know where you are with them: they don't often know where they are with themselves.

They have more moods than an army of cats have lives, and all you can hope for is to spot the mood you're after when it turns up and step in quickly. Hesitate, and you're a dead duck.

"Don't get any funny ideas, Mr Parker." she said and walked away.

"And where exactly are you going, Missy?"

"I've got a wedding to plan, see you soon, Mr Parker."

I watched her go. Her slim, seductive body was  upright and graceful, and she didn't look back. I watched her until she had disappeared into the house, then I sat on the wall and lit a cigarette.

For the rest of the afternoon, I stayed right there by the lilypond. Nothing happened. No one came near me. No one peered at me from the windows.

I had all the time in the world to think out what I was doing to do, how it's going to be with Delphina being marriage to Perry, how to get rid of the guards, how I was going to eliminate Perry and get his wealth. But I didn't think about any of that stuff. All I thought about was Delphina.

I was still thinking about her when Gorman came out of the house and down to the pond.   

I looked at him blankly because he had gone right out of my mind. It was as if he had  never existed. That was the effect she had on me, nowonder Perry was head over heels in love with her.

"You better come in now, sir." he said abruptly.

We went back into the house. There was no sign of Delphina and Perry in the hall  or the lounge. I kept listening for her sound, but the house was still and as quiet as a morgue. Too quiet than usual.

Something was wrong, For one thing, I couldn't see the savage guards anywhere, and that was weird.

"Where are the beasts?" I asked Gorman.

"Mr Cooper ordered them to stay off the job for some time." he said.

I was impressed she did exactly as I told her, she managed to convince Perry to get rid of the guards, she's working faster than I expected. This was as good as one point for me because with those guards wondering the premises, I stood no chance anywhere close to Perry.

We all sat down around the table for supper. The way they kept flirting and kissing each other irritated me that I even lost my appetite.

"Am not hungry, am off to bed. See you tomorrow morning." I said and got to my feet.

Without saying anything, they just watched me as I crossed over to the side board and  mixed myself a drink big enough to float a canoe and walked out of the house to my room.