Unbelievable : Love?

With the intention of cleaning out whatever drafts I have, this one's on top. The prompt goes:

(Prompt was from this link: https://writingexercises.co.uk/plotgenerator.php)

Except that, instead of doing what the prompt says, I get distracted by a similar story I recently watched. So I get a different story in my head. It is something that I found myself saying "Unbelievable.. is it really love?" So let's mesh it up a bit.

Or let me mess it up a bit.

Alex. Not his real name. A con artist. But he does not know he is a con artist. Is that possible? Maybe? So let us make him the dishonest character from the prompt. No, he is not in his seventies. Let us put him in his late thirties.

Ruth. Not her real name. Successful. Thriving with her business. Achiever of dreams. Was able to make a huge businessman and investor bet on her instead of her other partner in keeping a business he supported. But a little unsuccessful on the side of love. Rebellious? At some point, socially she can be tagged as one. What with not following school's mandate about no hair dyes, skirt lengths, gum-chewing, etcetera? Traditionally, she will be called a rebel of some sort. Then again that kind of thing gets easily overlooked once a person starts presenting herself "normal". Dresses normally for occasions, not-so-anti-social, not goth, etcetera. No, she is not in her sixties either. Let us put her near Alex's age. Thirties as well.

How do people get conned? The main weapon would always be: words.

How do people fall for another person? The main ingredient would be : words.

Yes, yes. Some may argue that they look for actions. Ok but words do come out first. But how does one get convinced over and over, right? Words.

Alex and Ruth met on social media. See there is not much of an action there except that the words that get exchanged need to be - attentive to details. Eventually, this story about friendship catches or tugs Ruth with the feeling that she is falling in love to which Alex reciprocated. Things were fun. Ruth was drawn to Alex because of his sweet assurances. Ruth loves a dog and Alex loves what Ruth loves. The dog loves Alex, too. Alex knows how make Ruth feel he is game with supporting her career.

Career. Alex never really gave Ruth any story about what he does for living. He is rather flashy. he has posts in social media of meeting up with some celebrities, he wears Rolex, he has a driver, he has a beamer, so from surface, he is quite rich. So what does he do for a living? Black ops. Special agent of some sort. To which Ruth did not dare ask for further explanation. Besides secrecy will protect both of them in that line of duty, right? Nothing suspicious there, right? Kind of exciting, actually. Imagine Tom Cruise. Mission Impossible.

Then he is this ideal guy who says, money is not super important over their love for each other. Red flag starts though was when he tests her that she is on the same page - money is not super important - by making her wire him some money. To me, a spectator of their story, that is one hint already. Well, aside from the fact that I am pre-briefed that the story was about getting conned. Maybe if I was not, maybe if it is just the usual story, then maybe I would even think that the "test" was a valid call. Gradually, things get more serious between them. And the guy was supportive of her dreams. She has a debt that he is willing to fish her out of and promised to give her the money to pay off the debt. Some side joke from her colleague led her to marry Alex so that the money he would be giving her will not get taxed.

Fast forward, the money never came. Alex just started to ask her for more money. When confronted, Alex would go on and on about money is not a big thing and that it should not be an issue between them, etcetera. It was crazy. What's crazier is that even though she sounded suspicious, she still buys everything he says. She follows every instruction . And believes that after whatever Alex was trying to finish, they will get a huge amount of dollars from it. There is also the part where Alex says if she does not give him money, he will be in some sort of danger.

Maybe for Ruth, that was part of an adventure, yeah? Finding the one who knows the right words to say when you need it. A little conflict on the side. A "mature" test of whether the relationship is more important over money - something she is game for as to why I am not sure. Some sort of financial security with some project that he needs to pull off clean and they are secured.

In fairness to Alex, he knows how to go about his con business. He had Ruth go some place under the threat that they are in danger, while he does a dirty work with her business. He was cleaning out the money from Ruth's business. All the while, Ruth was out somewhere in Europe "in hiding" but not quite. So her business suffers, her husband cleans her out. Her friends and colleagues are telling her what's happening and she just keeps mum about it.

And oh there was an inheritance at some point. It was a story Alex sold her ex-wife. Yes, he used to be married and same con thing happened.

I am not sure how their story ends but I am still wrapping my head around the story. Why not put your feet down hard already and call it quits?

Was it really love? - Believing every single story the other was saying? Turning a blind eye despite the red flags and the warnings and the news from what friends, family and colleagues gathered?

or was it really love? - for her self because she has waited a long time for this type of romantic relationship. She got assurances. Big words like : destiny and fated to be together. For herself because she cannot believe she picked the wrong choice?

Words. Powerful. That sometimes even actions get ignored.

Was it love?

My mind keeps saying it is Thursday. And I wish to tell it it's right but only after some thirty minutes more. . .

By the time I hit the Publish button, it is already Thursday.

Brain spill.. Stay chill...don't get conned ! :)

© Pichi28 | #ClubBrokeBCH

All Original Content

Unless specified otherwise...