Taunting

This is an excerpt from the novel Consequence: Importance of the Spirit:

The waiter delivered the pizzas and sodas to the men on the security team and Lilia. She said, "Let's pray," and the men linked hands.

Jim, Chief of Security, and Lilia's bodyguard boyfriend piped up, "I'll pray. Dear Father, we ask you to bless this food to our use and us to your service. May this trip to Boston be a blessing to you, Lord, and let those around us increase in knowledge of you through our actions, words, and deeds. All God's people said . . . " They all said together, "Amen."

"Jim, that was really nice," Lilia said sincerely and smiled engagingly up at him. The men dug into their food. They watched with curiosity as Lilia peeled the topping off her pizza and plopped it on her salad.

Bill grinned and asked, "What are you doing, Lilia?"

Lilia snickered and replied, "This is my favorite food, pizza topping on green salad. I don't need the carbohydrates in the crust if I'm going to stay slender, but I like the topping." She giggled and said, "I know what you're thinking, Bill. Don't say it. Let me eat in peace."

Jim threw Bill a warning look, and then put in, "Men, when we go the Boston Symphony Hall tomorrow night, we'll need to be on our toes. It's a live performance. We can't let anyone approach Lilia on the stage until the performance ends, and the red recording light goes off. We need to be firm, but kind: an example of our beliefs." Lilia stared up at Jim admiringly and squeezed his arm to show him.

The group finished their meal. Lilia stood up and said, "Men, please excuse me. I'm going to the ladies' room. Will one of you pay? I'm really getting tired and I have a big day tomorrow." Lilia smiled pleasantly and knowingly at the security team.

"Sure sweetie," Jim replied with a handsome smile. "We'll take care of it" This ought to be good, thought Lilia.

Lilia rolled to the ladies' room in her special shoes. All five men watched the action it created. "Okay men, cut the gawking," Jim said as he chuckled and reached for his wallet. "My wallet's gone, oh man that creates a problem. I'll have to call all the credit card companies, as soon as we get back to the room. That really stinks! Bill, do you have enough money to pay for us?" Jim looked anxiously to Bill to bail them out.

"Sure," Bill said agreeably and reached for his wallet. "Mine's gone too, Jim," said Bill and turned red with acute embarrassment. Kimo, Jeremy, and Dennis quickly checked their pockets.

"Oh no!" cried Kimo.

"What the heck?" Dennis yelled.

"Good grief!" Jeremy hollered.

The security team looked at each other, nonplussed, and wondered when such a thing could have happened. All they had done is walk around the Boston Common. Bill turned to Jim, and asked, "What now, Chief?"

"We've got a lot of phone calls to make. We should have listened to Mr. Rim and bought travel wallets. I'm so disgusted with this situation. We have so many events ahead of us. I don't know how we're going to get this straightened out fast enough." Jim held his head with his hands and heaved a deep sigh. Bill felt glad that he wasn't the Chief of Security.

Lilia rolled back from the ladies' room., and asked "Are we all set?" She smiled sweetly at the security team. Let's see what they have to say for themselves now, she thought.

"Little Lils," Jim stammered, "We, we, we seem to have lost our wallets. I know that sounds bad. I'm sorry. We'll get it straightened out as soon as we get back to our rooms. Tell your dad not to worry. In the meantime, do you have enough money to pay for all of us?" He frowned at her with pleading eyes. Not so high and mighty now, are you,big man? Lilia thought as she smiled at him.

"I have lots of money!" She cried with a mischievous giggle.

"Well, you don't have to get all cocky about it," said Jim tersely. She doesn't have to rub it in even though she warned us, thought Jim. The situation is already bad enough as it is. He threw her an angry glare.

Lilia opened her shoulder bag and slammed five wallets down on the table. One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Jim and the security team stared at her in stupefaction.

"Where did you get our wallets?" demanded Jim, who felt completely ambushed.

"I lifted them off you, men, in the Boston Common," Lilia cackled with superiority. "And I'm not even a professional pickpocket. Now, maybe you'll all shell-out for travel wallets. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!" Bill threw his head back and burst forth in a laugh attack. Dennis, Kimo, and Jeremy joined him. 

Jim felt shellacked with embarrassment in front of his men. He stood to his full height and towered over Lilia. She stared up at him impudently. "So what are you going to do about it?" Lilia taunted him, as her dander rose too.

The other men laughed at her a cacophony of cackles, which lit up the entire restaurant. Lilia stared Jim down. Jim stared back wrathfully at her beauty. He knew if he challenged her that they would have another episode on their hands and Lilia did have a big day tomorrow. Jim pulled Lilia to him and translated the heat of the moment into a passionate embrace. He covered her lips with his and pulled her closer into his powerful arms. Lilia calmed down as she clung to him and returned his kiss.

Bill collapsed with laughter," Well, Jim, I guess you really showed her!"