Into the Lion's Den (71 page)

We went to the bloody comic store and I returned with a book about Ralph Mc Quarrie's Art concepts for
the films.

I will start to work in the illustrations Coco van Breda, one of Meister Ostermann's students. She wants,
and Ostermann is thinking about me, to publish a book of classical children stories illustrated by me. I'm supposed to
make some drawings for Cinderella, located in Louis XIV court.

Frankfurt am Main.

A visit from Konrad von Lintorff himself was a reason of concern for the one hundred seventy-eight employees working in the six stores of the large crystal building in Taunusstrasse. Since 8 a.m. from the CEO to the last coffee boy had been running to have everything perfect shining and in order for his arrival at 11 a.m.

It was a bad omen that his only planned activity was a meeting at 3:00 with the CEO of TransCaucasus, therefore he should have time to make one of his inspections.

Upon his arrival, the Duke had locked himself in his office with Ferdinand von Kleist and Goran Pavicevic, ignoring the rest of the world and shouting with his own CEO, Martin Weiss, for daring to interrupt him.

It was a matter of time that the storm would explode all over their heads if the Duke was in such a bad mood and locked up in his office.

“My Duke, I have removed several of our agents in Russia, but not all of them. Many of our associates have business there and have no time to leave their companies if he sabotages them. Only Fortingeray has invested three billion euros in steel and trains,” Goran added.

“So I should give him Guntram back? Is that your conclusion, gentlemen?”

“Never!” Goran shouted. “He stays here!”

“What kind of life would you give to the lad? Trapped forever in your house because the minute he sets foot out, Repin will jump to his throat? Remember Rome!” Ferdinand almost shouted and took a long sip of his coffee to release the tension.

“I can protect Guntram, Milan and Ratko will stay with him!” Goran said.

“Do you plan to sleep with him too?” Ferdinand asked and immediately regretted his choice of words when he saw the fire in the Serb's eyes. “I'm sorry Goran, I didn't mean to be disrespectful to you.”

“Watch your tongue if you want to keep it,” he only growled and focused his attention on the silent Konrad.

The Duke had not spoken a single word since the morning too focused on his thinking. He had only briefly talked with Guntram, when the boy was still partly asleep in bed. 'No one has ever been so generous to me ever,' he mused as he remembered his previous night’s kisses and tender words. 'Goran is right; I will never let him go.

He's my children's tutor and my only love.' “Gentlemen, I have to speak with Oblomov as he's the only person who can convince Repin to drop this,” Konrad said finally.

“Oblomov wanted the boy back too! It seems he keeps Repin happy and off their necks!” Ferdinand shouted.

“Ferdinand, Oblomov is more reasonable than his boss and willing to take over. A war with us will be more costly for him than for me.”

“If we get a single trouble because of Guntram, the associates will kick you out!”

“And they will learn the same lesson the de Lisles learned in 1989! The Council is on my side and they named him Consort! He got an ample majority!”

“The-boy-is-not-the-problem-but-his-former-lover!” Ferdinand shouted irritated.

“Any suggestions?”

“No, just don't charge like a raging bull!”

“Ferdinand, I'll make an offer and if they refuse it, we will proceed to the next level. Do I have your support Goran?”

“As always my Griffin. The
Komturen
are upset at the Russians' penetration of our territories and would like to settle the score once and for all. It's impossible to walk in the south of Spain without crossing them!”

“Has the issue in Madrid been solved?”

“Uncle Mladic is very pleased with my cousin, Slobodan Majardze performance.”

“Excellent. Shall we have lunch, gentlemen? There was this place near the ECB where I used to go with my father and they serve—”

“Not again
Rouladen
!” Ferdinand whined.

“There are other things too and the wine list is from is from Franken.”

“Ever heard of trying new things? There's a whole new world out there, Konrad.”

“No, why? If something is good, stick to it.”

December 16th

I never thought that Armin and Marie Amélie could make so much trouble in so little time. I know they're
sweethearts for some time and I'm glad for them, but today was too much for my taste. As they had still finals, till the
19th, both were coming here daily.

In the morning, I was ready to go to the studio to paint the whole day the in peace, but no, Friederich—

in league with Heindrik, had other ideas. Both caught me at the old Guards Hall where bodyguards, and sometimes
Friederich, when he's not in his office, hang around. The Swedish was looking very comfy and immovable. “No,
Guntram, it's too cold to be outside and it's snowing. Stay at home today and rest. You were running too much
yesterday,” the House Manager told me. Is it my fault that Konrad came back from a long trip and wanted to spend
some time with me and we were up till three or four a.m.? OK, we also celebrated my grades and according to him,

“you're very funny after two champagne glasses.”

“I'm going to the studio! I'll be back at 5:00,’ I said, but once Friederich has an idea, he has it and he's
very stubborn.

“Miss von Kleist will be here at eleven for lunch and studying with young Armin. It would be very kind
of you to accompany her.”

Heindrik snorted without lifting his gaze from his laptop's screen, checking who knows which figures.

“Can Armin not look after her? I'm in holidays! I don't want to see more books around!”

“It would be better if you are present, Guntram.” Yes, of course. I have to chaperone little Armin
because he will jump to her bones and I don't think she will run away. For Christ sake! They're twenty-two years old
and I'm twenty-three since October. What am I supposed to do? Pour a jar of ice water over Armin if he sits next to
her? Come to think, maybe that's the idea because there's always one jar or water over the table; I hate this
chaperone job!

“I don't want to look after a brat!” I complained

“Welcome to my life, Guntram,” Heindrik, the Wise smirked without raising his eyes from his work. I did
want to show him the finger but Friederich was in the room

“You're so funny Holgersen,” I answered back, truly upset with him.

“It's not funny. It's the tragedy of my life. Make an effort and be nice for once. Stay here, warm and
quiet. I'll take you for a round of chocolate and cherry cake to that place you like so much. I have to finish these
reports or I'll get trouble with Dähler.”

“All right. Make it two pieces and we're in peace, Heindrik.”

“Fine, two. Now, get your dog too and let her loose in there. She's a better chaperone than you.” Sure,
the minute one of them gets funny idea, Mopsi barks. I guess we should get her a husband soon. Defeated, I went to
my studio to get my watercolours, pencils and black ink to work with the illustrations so it's not a total waste of time.

“Don't look so sad. I'll bake that apple cake you like so much for tea,” Jean Jacques told me when I
passed next to him and I smiled.

As announced, Marie Amélie arrived at 11 a.m.—snotty as usual. I don't know what's her problem with
me? Before, she ignored me and that was great, but since I'm with Konrad, she likes to be nasty to me and I have to
put my best face as she's a lady… and I'm being very generous with the definition. Her mother also dislikes me. All
right, Konrad should have gotten someone much better than me, but we are happy together as we are and I have
never interfered with their business. It's not like I'm going to run away with his money and leave her penniless.

Both children behaved reasonably well and I only got one jibe: “Oh, that's the Cinderella story! Mama
and I visited the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg and I believe that would be an incredible set for it. You can feel very
related to it, right Guntram?” I only smirked because pouring the whole ink on top of her head would be a waste of
materials and I could ruin the carpet too.

“You're absolutely right, Marie Amélie. Your face would be perfect for Cinderella. She made a fantastic
job with the prince,” I answered and she had the good grace to keep quiet for some time… till lunch. Armin, the
charming prince, was too busy drooling over her to hear our exchange.

We ate in peace as both lovebirds were busy with each other, chatting in German and for some reason,
Dieter, the butler seemed very uncomfortable with their talk. Once the table was cleared, we all returned to study and
I forgot about the world as I was working. Mopsi barked once or twice but I shushed her because I wanted my peace
to focus on what I was doing. I will shout with a clear conscience: “it's not mine!” if something happens.

Just before tea, at 4:00, I was expecting to get the cake; they decided to go out for a walk to the old
hunting lodge four kilometres away. It's a small house, now with some sofas and chairs and very nice because it's by
the stream and Konrad and I like to go there in the summer to read under the old trees. The grass around it is more or
less destroyed because a mole lives there and it makes holes everywhere. Perhaps the animal is trying to dig out its
own Pompeii. “It's a lost battle with them,” according to Konrad.

Of course, I protested against their crazy idea because walking under the snow for four kilometres is too
much for me. She called me sissy and Armin, the idiot (hey, that's a good name for a future Hochmeister. If the
Spanish had Carlos, el hechizado, we can have Armin, the mutton-headed) only laughed with her “joke”. “Come on,
Guntram, don't be a grandpa or is the Duke already turning you into one?”

“No, dear. Uncle Konrad, is funnier than Guntram,” Armin commented. “It's just a walk!”

Sure!. Under the snow, at 2º C, with a heart condition. Totally forbidden to be in the cold as your body
increases your blood pressure to fight against the cold. When I came here, Konrad or Alexei where taking me out for
small rounds and only if it was sunny. In St. Petersburg, I was almost never out. “No, thank you, Armin. I'm not
supposed to be out for so long in the cold.”

“Nonsense, Guntram. Get a good coat and come with us!” she ordered me like a real Lintorff.

“Why don't you go alone? It would be better.”

“Guntram, don't be dense. Join us. Friederich will never let us go by ourselves,” she told me. Great, you
need me to cover your rubbish. “Pretty please?” she added and made her puppy eyes which are very impressive and
moving.

“All right,” I gave up because I didn't want to have Romeo complaining and accusing me of being

“uncooperative” or a “minion” of Konrad (hey asshole, that's my boyfriend!) or a “sissy” (I wonder if you would
dare to repeat that word to uncle Konrad or to Constantin)

I went for my coat and when I returned to the library, they both were ready. I decided to leave Mopsi and
she was immediately running to complain to Friederich, who caught us by the foyer. “Guntram, outside is very cold
for you.”

“It's only for an hour, Friederich. It's not snowing any longer. We're going to the lodge and back.”

“Take your mobile with you. If it starts to snow call Holgersen.”

“Perhaps it would be a good idea if we take the lodge's key with us, Mr. Elssässer,” Marie Amélie
suggested. “If it's too cold for Guntram, we can wait there.”

Reluctantly, well, with a face that Ratko and Milan would love to have, Friederich got his keys out and
gave me one. Wow, I was promoted to adulthood. I have my own key now. “All right, Guntram. Get some snow boots.”

No, adulthood can wait for me. Under the snickering faces of the other two adults, Armin and Marie
Amélie, I went back for the bloody things.

We walked down the main road and it was truly cold, freezing and they took great pleasure in asking me
if I had my snow boots, the overcoat, the gloves, the underwear, etc., with me. Back to high school, but in the Beverly
Hills 90210 version. I was stuck with Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Wonder Boy! I started to walk faster to leave
them to their own devices and I must have done it very fast because I left them behind after some minutes. Almost a
full hour later, I reached the small house almost breathless because of the effort. Yes, I'm not so fitted as before and it
was starting to snow again. I opened the house and switched on the heating, making a hot tea for me while I waited
for them. Some fifteen minutes later, they arrived in good condition. Just when I was starting to worry because maybe
they took that shortcut and with the snow you could easily loose the track.

But they were almost on fire. Really. I had to move aside when I opened the door so they wouldn't crush
me in their haste to reach to the wall. Fuck, Konrad and I wait to be alone to make our own porn home movie and
Constantin never did more than a few touches or a kiss in public (well, Ivan Ivanovich or Boris Malchenko) I felt truly
uncomfortable and went back to the kitchen, closing the door behind me. When I was drinking my tea in peace,
Armin, partly dressed, came in and told me to go home because he and she wanted to do it.