Some relationships fail because of incompatibilty or lack of attaction but that was not the case with Ari—I saw her as toxic.
I was drawn to Ari in the same the same way countless others were seduced before me, by succumbing to her dark looks and sylph-like grace—but I was also repulsed as well.
Ari’s full name, Ariadne, reminded me of Arachne in the Greek myth who defied the goddess Athena and was turned into a spider. Ari always struck me in that way—spider-like and devious—especially with men.
She was always spinning webs and hatching plots, and that was probably why although she and I dated briefly in college, I ended up choosing Meredith Lennox, her rival, instead.
Ari never forgave me, and saw my choice of Meredith as an unforgivable rejection of her.
Although we moved in the same social circles, I managed to avoid Ari’s simmering hatred and barbed comments, until my assignment editor insisted I obtain an interview with Victor Russet, the world-renowned illusionist, and coincidentally, Ari’s uncle.
“I don’t care how you do it, just do it,” the editor declared.
Interviewing Victor Russet would be an impossible task unless I had an inside track, and of course, that would mean going through Ari.
Under ordinary circumstances I would be delighted to meet Victor Russet. He had a distinguished career in the British army rising through the ranks from drill sergeant to attain the rank of colonel before he retired.
After retirement, he added to his mystique as the world’s most interesting man by making a name for himself as a spellbinding illusionist, often being mentioned in the same breath as David Copperfield or Houdini.
So, like it or not, the only way to interview Uncle Victor was to swallow my pride and grovel before his niece, Ari.
“I can’t believe you’re engaged to Meredith Lennox, Theo—I expected more from you.”
Ari’s bitterness was dripping from her lips like spider’s venom.
I invited her to play tennis as a gesture to break the ice between us, but so far my plan wasn’t working.
“Look, Ari, I invited you out today in the hope of ending our rift. Can’t we just put all this behind us and be friends?”
“We can,” she teased, with a sly gleam in her eye, “if you tell me what you really want. I know there’s something you haven’t told me.”
I was caught like a rat in a trap and there was nothing to do but come clean.
“I really do want to reconcile with you, Ari, but you’re right—there’s something else I need. I’d like you to arrange an interview with your uncle.”
I steeled myself for her backlash, but surprisingly, it didn’t come.
“See? I knew there was something more. Why are men so afraid to be direct?”
I hung my head in shame.
“You know, Theo, I ought to hate you, but I don’t. I’m over that now. I should scorn you and send you away, but we do move in the same social circles and we should be adult—even about this regrettable faux pas. To show there are no hard feelings, I’ll speak to Uncle Victor and contact you when I know his answer.”
I thanked her profusely, trying not to fawn or appease her too much—and I especially tried to hide my self-satisfied smile.
I feigned penitence, hung my head in shame and demurely muttered, “Thank you, Ari.”
Her smug smile told me I’d soon be interviewing Uncle Victor.
