"Tony" drabbles by Frenchie

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The Blind Date (17/17)

Tony #17

*Epilogue*

Tony was found a few months later. Feet encased in cement and quite bloated. A submarine got lost somewhere in the Caspian Sea and bumped into his black Ferrari (which was a rental).

Alas, Tony was the mastermind behind the whole plot. He escaped to the continent in-extremis.

But he was never safe.

Not only Daddy is an oligarch but also well connected to, let's say, less savory members of the Russian public.

They found Tony and they conveyed my displeasure perfectly.

So, my Nan was right all along after all. Never trust rich, handsome guys called Tony.

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The Blind Date (16/ 17)

Tony #16

The officers led Gina and whatshisname away, not too gently.
They also advised me to press charges. I didn't really want to do that but I did anyway.
After all, why should I let them get away with it?
But I know what you really want to know. What happened to Tony?
It seemed Tony vanished into thin air. Gina refused to talk and didn't give up his location.
I felt bad, I didn't want him to die of hunger just because he had a blind date with me.
After three days, I made an appointment with a private detective.

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The Blind Date (15/17)

Tony #15

Gina on the other side of the door went strangely quiet. Disturbing.
I checked my phone. The battery has died and I wasn't sure if 999 received my call, listened to it or dismissed it as a prank.
The glass of my window shattered. I turned around. To my horror, Gina was there with a hammer and, surprise surprise, that guy she used to date, remember, the one with the voice changer?
I froze where I was.
This was becoming the most ridiculous story in history.
In the distance, you could hear police sirens. I just wanted this to end.

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The Blind Date (14/17)

Tony #14

I grabbed my phone. Dialled 999. My hands were trembling so much. How did a promising relaxing weekend descend into such a nightmare?
Gina was pounding at my door. We don't have locks in this house. I wedged a chair under the handle.
-'I'll give you the money you want, Gina. Just snap out of this. Now.'
-'You gonna pay anyway. You lied all these years, pretending to be one of us.'
-'I never lied. I'm one of us. Snap out this stupid behaviour. Wake up, for God's sake!'
Yeah, I sounded confident but my knees were all jelly wobbly.

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The Blind Date (13/17)

Tony #13

'I hate you. I'll hate you, like, forever.'
She started crying.
-'Listen, I'm sorry but I promised Dad I'd never say who I am.'
She looked at me. For the first time, I really saw her hatred.
-'What about Tony? is he your accomplice?' my voice was barely more than a whisper.
She laughed.
-'Tony is a fool. He saw your pic and it was love at first sight. Pay up, bitch or he'll rot where we've put him.'
-'Who, 'we'?'
She surreptitiously moved towards the working top where the kitchen knives were.
I made a dash for my room.

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The Blind Date (12/17)

Tony #12

Yes, I am rich. As a matter of fact so immensely rich that my father changed my name by deed poll to protect me. I was sent to live with my aunt and only saw my parents for the holidays. Everyone thought I was their niece, not their daughter.
-'How...did...you...know?'
-'Two years back. An article in Trash about the rich and famous mentioned how much your dad protects his family's privacy. How no one had seen his only daughter in public, Pics were taken with long lenses. You were in the background. I just knew then and I hated you.'

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The Blind Date (11/17)

Tony #11

'Hey, remember, that guy you used to go out with, he had a thingy like a voice changer, sounded just like this. Remember? we used to call people when we were sloshed?''
Gina shifted uncomfortably.
-'I haven't seen him in, like, years.'
-'I am not saying he has anything to do with that, unless he is a pal of Tony.'
--Why do you think it's Tony doing this?'
-'Because if someone kidnapped him, they would go to his family, he is mega rich, not us!'
-'You are filthy rich too.'
-'Yeah but..what..what did you say?'

I froze on the spot.

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The Blind Date (10/17)

Tony #10

As soon as Gina entered the flat, I sat her down.
-'Gina, where have you been? Someone called. Three times. They want money. Listen to that.
We need to go to the Police. I don't care, joke or not, this is crazy. Why they contact us? why? We are not family.'

I pressed the REPLAY button on the phone. We listened to the robotic voice asking for £350,000, Monday, 11.30pm. In front of the Sheraton Park Lane there is an old red telephone box. Put the money in a gym bag and leave it there.

Suddenly, something jogged my memory.

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The Blind Date (9/17)

Tony #9

'Because the moment he saw your pic, he wouldn't let go until I promised to fix a date with you.'

-'I'm sorry. If you fancied him, you could have said I'm a lesbian or something like that. I don't really care.'

She opened the door.
-'Be safe,' I called after her, relieved. Petty woman rivalry is not my cup of tea.
Just a few minutes after she left, the landline rang. I let it go to voicemail.
The voice was robotic but clear.
-'If you want to save Tony's life, you'll answer the phone.''

Rolling eyes to ceiling once more.

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The Blind Date (8/17)

Tony #8

I fixed breakfast for Gina but she barely ate.
At that moment, I hated Tony.
I suspected he is was a naughty little boy who would turn up later begging for a spanking with a paddle.
-'Listen, Gina, we'll get to the bottom of this.''
-'I am going for a walk..'
-'OK, it will do you good.'
She looks at me again, reproachful.
-'Why aren't you more upset?'
-'I don't know the guy, you introduced us, remember? Yeah, he is rich, cute, smart but why are you so upset? did you fancy him? so why pushing him my way?'
Sigh.

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The Blind Date (7/17)

Tony #7

Gina put a hand on my wrist.

-'Noooo. Don't. We need to wait.' She looked at me with pleading eyes. 'Please?'
I sighed. Gina has been my best friend since year 5. She is a bit like my little sister.

I studied the note again. Plain A4 paper. An anonymous note written with letters cut from a newspaper.
Seven words.

WE HAVE TONY
WAIT FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.

I shook my head. A five year old would have done better. Someone has been watching too many bad films.

Despite Gina's tears, I don't buy it. I believe Tony is behind it.

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The Blind Date (6/17)

Tony #6

Yes, I care very much about money. Especially when it is mine.

I kept looking at the note, thinking. My gaze returned to Gina, still sobbing.
Our eyes met.

-'So, what's the deal with you and Tony, anyway?' I casually asked.

-'Nothing, he's just a guy I met through work. Because I always talk about you, he wanted to meet you. I showed him our last holiday pics, you know.'

Yeah, I know. The wet T-shirt contest. Great.

Still, something is not adding up.

-'I'm calling 999, this doesn't make sense at all.'

I reached for my phone but..

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The Blind Date (5/17)

Tony #5

I took the note, perplexed.

Then I laughed.

-'Come on, Gina, this is a joke. The little punk probably made it himself. Where did you find him, anyway? Look Gina, no offense, but please, don't fix me with no more guys, OK?'

She looked at me, hurt. And cried some more.

-'How can you be so cold-hearted?' she asked accusingly.

I shrugged.

-'He left me in the middle of diner last night? So embarrassing. Not to mention, I had to pay.'

-'It's all what you can thing of, money? what about him?'

I rolled my eyes to the ceiling.

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The Blind Date (4/17)

Tony #4

The sun shining through my half opened curtains woke me.

It took me a while to recall last night events. Too much champagne, I guess.
Lazily, I reached for my phone but no text from Tony. I frowned. Strange.

I decided there and then to have 'the' talk with Gina. No more lousy dates. I don't appreciate being stitched for a £351.25p bill.

I found Gina sat at the kitchen table, holding a piece of paper, crying.
Her mascara was making black rivulets under her eyes. She handed me the paper.
-'I found this through the letter box,' she sobbed.

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The Blind Date (3/17)

Tony #3

Tony had various projects around the world but his headquarters in Mayfair, London, of course.
Being curious, I asked what kind of projects. He became vague, hinting about government projects, top secret and all.
He preferred talking about me. He found me fascinating, he said.
Towards the end of the meal, his phone rang. I must have looked displeased because he sought permission to answer. A business associate, he explained.
He left our table, went to the back to answer.
Two hours later, he had not come back. I paid the hefty bill, wondering what could have happened to him.

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The Blind Date (2/17)

Tony #2

My Nana has always warned me against the Tonys of the world. She never said why, though.

I told Gina, 'Not interested,' but she said I should give him a try.

OK.

When I first met him, I understood what Nana meant. Tony was dangerously good looking and driving a black Ferrari. Lethal combination but I am quite a level headed girl. I have an inborn distrust of handsome guys with flashy cars.

As it turned out, Tony was the perfect gentleman. Too perfect. You know, attentive, funny, complete with a little dimple when he smiled.

I don't do perfect.

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The Blind Date (1/17)

Tony #1

My friend Gina has been trying to fix me with 'eligible' men since... forever. She is such a sweetheart that I could never tell her to stop!

So, I have been on interesting dates, on boring dates and on definitely creepy dates! Expensive dates and some so cheap that I wondered how Gina checked their 'eligibility.'

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a material girl but I'd rather not go on a date with the equivalent of Mr. Curry from Windsor Gardens.

Honestly, I never enjoyed blind dates. I was seriously considering moving to Darkest Peru until I met... Tony.