Master of the Game

On Friday morning, Eve telephoned to invite Alexandra to lunch. "There’s a new French restaurant that just opened. I hear the food is marvelous."

Alexandra was delighted to hear from her sister. She was concerned about Eve. Alexandra telephoned her two or three times a week, but Eve was either out or too busy to see her. So now, even though Alexandra had an engagement, she said, "I’d love to have lunch with you."

The restaurant was chic and expensive, and the bar was filled with patrons waiting for tables. Eve had had to use her grandmother’s name in order to get a reservation. It galled her, and she thought, Just wait. One day you’ll be begging me to eat at your crummy restaurant. Eve was already seated when Alexandra arrived. She watched Alexandra as the maitre d’ escorted her to the table, and she had the odd sensation she was watching herself approach the table.

Eve greeted her sister with a kiss on the cheek. "You look absolutely marvelous, Alex. Work must agree with you."

They ordered, and then caught up with each other’s lives.

"How’s the job going?" Eve asked.

Alexandra told Eve everything that was happening to her, and Eve gave Alexandra a carefully edited version of her own life. In the midst of their conversation, Eve glanced up. George Mellis was standing there. He was looking at the two of them, momentarily confused. My God, Eve realized, he doesn’t know which one I am!

"George!" she said.

He turned to her in relief. "Eve!"

Eve said, "What a pleasant surprise." She nodded toward Alexandra. "I don’t believe you’ve met my sister. Alex, may I present George Mellis."

George took Alexandra’s hand and said, "Enchanted." Eve had mentioned that her sister was a twin, but it had not occurred to him that they would be identical twins.

Alexandra was staring at George, fascinated.

Eve said, "Won’t you join us?"

"I wish I could. I’m afraid I’m late for an appointment. Another time, perhaps." He looked at Alexandra. "And soon, I hope."

They watched him leave. "Good heavens!" Alexandra said. "Who was that?"

"Oh, he’s a friend of Nita Ludwig. I met him at her house party."

"Am I crazy, or is he as stunning as I think he is?"

Eve laughed. "He’s not my type, but women seem to find him attractive."

"I would think so! Is he married?"

"No. But it’s not because they aren’t out there trying, darling. George is very rich. You might say he has everything: looks, money, social background." And Eve skillfully changed the subject.

When Eve asked for the check, the captain told her it had been taken care of by Mr. Mellis.

Alexandra was unable to stop thinking about George Mellis.

On Monday afternoon, Eve called Alexandra and said, "Well, it looks like you made a hit, darling. George Mellis called me and asked for your telephone number. Is it all right to give it to him?"

Alexandra was surprised to find that she was smiling. "If you’re sure you’re not interested in – "

"I told you, Alex, he’s not my type."

"Then I don’t mind if you give him my number."

They chatted a few minutes more, and Eve hung up. She replaced the receiver and looked up at George, who was lying next to her on the bed, naked. "The lady said yes."

"How soon?"

"When I tell you."

Alexandra tried to forget that George Mellis was going to telephone her, but the more she tried to put him out of her mind, the more she thought about him. She had never been particularly attracted to handsome men, for she had found that most of them were self-centered. But George Mellis, Alexandra thought, seemed different. There was an overpowering quality about him. The mere touch of his hand had stirred her. You’re crazy, she told herself. You’ve only seen the man for two minutes.

He did not call all that week, and Alexandra’s emotions went from impatience to frustration to anger. To hell with him, she thought. He’s found someone else. Good!

When the phone rang at the end of the following week and Alexandra heard his deep, husky voice, her anger dissipated as if by magic.

"This is George Mellis," he said. "We met briefly when you and your sister were having lunch. Eve said you wouldn’t mind if I telephoned you."

"She did mention that you might call," Alexandra said casually. "By the way, thank you for the lunch."

"You deserve a feast. You deserve a monument."

Alexandra laughed, enjoying his extravagance.

"I wonder if you would care to have dinner with me one evening?"

"Why – I – yes. That would be nice."

"Wonderful. If you had said no, I should have killed myself."

"Please don’t," Alexandra said. "I hate eating alone."

"So do I. I know a little restaurant on Mulberry Street: Matoon’s. It’s very obscure, but the food is – "

"Matoon’s! I love it!" Alexandra exclaimed. "It’s my favorite."

"You know it?" There was surprise in his voice.

"Oh, yes."

George looked over at Eve and grinned. He had to admire her ingenuity. She had briefed him on all of Alexandra’s likes and dislikes. George Mellis knew everything there was to know about Eve’s sister.

When George finally replaced the receiver, Eve thought, It’s started.

It was the most enchanting evening of Alexandra’s life. One hour before George Mellis was due, a dozen pink balloons arrived, with an orchid attached. Alexandra had been filled with a fear that her imagination might have led her to expect too much, but the moment she saw George Mellis again, all her doubts were swept away. She felt once again his overpowering magnetism.