Magpie Tales #33 - Something Stinks in Portofino - September 28, 2010
Stephanie had spent the past month on the Italian Riviera. Somehow, the lifestyles of
the rich and famous seemed aberrant to her after the two months of summer vacation
she had spent volunteering in the refugee camps in Darfur. She wished she had stayed
there for her final month before returning to her senior year of medical school at Harvard.
Her mother had insisted, however, that she "have a little fun" and had arranged for her
to see family friends who owned a villa halfway between Portofino and Santa Margherita.
She had finally acquiesced when her parents agreed to let her take a week long seminar
at the International Institute of Humanitarian Law in San Remo. The class, which dealt
with refugees and international law fueled her desire to continue providing medical
services to the victims of the genocide in Darfur and the Sudan.
She glanced up from her book as Luigi approached the pool. He looked like a model and
had, in fact, appeared several times in photo shoots for Pal Zaleri. They were about the
same age and had spent a good deal of time together since they were toddlers and
their fathers, famous cardiologists, first met at an international summit. Over the years,
he had become a pompous, spoiled young man, who had little regard for others. It was
clear that Luigi was used to getting whatever he wanted. This past month, it seemed
he wanted her.
"We're taking the yacht and sailing over to Monte Carlo, then on to Barcelona," he
announced. "There will be about ten of us. You know everyone. We'll be back in time
for your farewell party before you return to America." Stephanie really did not feel like
a jet set party but she finally agreed. She would be headed back to school in less than
a week and she was very happy to be leaving. She was tired of fighting off Luigi's
advances.
The group aboard The Portofino Princesa was in high spirits. The chef prepared exquisite
meals and bottles of Barolo poured freely. Luigi constantly tried to drag Stephanie to the
owner's cabin on board the yacht. "You are leaving and we have not even had a chance
to be alone," he pouted. "Precisely," she responded, slipping away from his drunken
embrace. "You are like a brother to me, Luigi! I'm not interested!" She finally managed
to pull away and went to her cabin.
About 3AM, she awakened to find Luigi standing over her, holding two glasses of wine.
He was wearing a bathing suit and his usual fragrance, Acqua Di Parma. He leered at
her as he set the wine on the dresser. He bent over and tried to kiss her, fumbling
under the coverlet to touch her breasts. "For God's sakes, Luigi, get away from me,"
she hissed. "Get out of here now." As she struggled to move away from him, Luigi
grabbed her wrists, pulling her toward his cabin. "You know you want me." In a fury,
Stephanie went with him. Before he threw her down on the bed, her hand grasped
the bottle on the dresser and squeezed tightly. It was the Acqua Di Parma. She
moved swiftly. It made contact with his head, giving a resounding, "thump,"
shattering and spilling perfume everywhere. She ran from the cabin and dove
into the Mediterranean waters off the coast of Nice. As she swam she thought, "I
hope I never smell that stuff again."
Carmen Henesy
Copyright © 2010 Carmen Henesy.
