Nicola Maria Vitola - The Geese That Lay The Golden Eggs

The woman’s resistance to Henry is effective, however her slightly veiled initial interest increases day by day. After all it’s unusual to be the object of so much attention and affection. There is reason enough to be flattered.

One evening Henry writes to her that the following day he will fly to Ivory Coast, where his family has a real estate business. Silvia wishes him a pleasant journey.

For two days she hears nothing from him. Then he starts writing to her again spending time chatting online to her. He tells her that those moments are the only peaceful ones of his day. He isn’t happy in the environment around him. In fact, he doesn’t go out at night, he doesn’t mix with anyone and above all he doesn’t trust anyone because he’s in a dangerous place. The roads are lined with prostitutes, robbers, pickpockets.

One evening he tells her he’s chatted to his daughter. She’s sent him a kiss writing: “SMACK!” in large letters. Silvia is moved by this and smiles. She tells him it’s beautiful having such affectionate children.

Contact between Henry and Silvia is interrupted for about ten days. She doesn’t get in touch with him. After all, apart from the flattering declarations of love, she’s not really interested in him. Or at least, she’s not interested enough to go looking for him or get worried about his absence.

Henry suddenly gets in touch again, telling her he’s been mugged shortly before returning home. Without beating about the bush, he asks her to help him out with some money, because he’s been left high and dry. He has nothing. He tells her the details of the armed robbery that he’s suffered at the hands of two thugs. Frightened of being killed Henry gave them everything he had on him: his wallet, his credit card, his gold watch.

Silvia answers that she is sorry. Henry insists on asking her to send him money. She doesn’t have money and tells him so, but Henry continues to describe all his trials and tribulations. He says he has nothing, not even the minimum to be able to eat. Silvia advises him to make a complaint to the police. He answers he’s already done that, but all the same, he’s still without any resources. Only she can help him.

«No.» replies Silvia. «I don’t have money to give to anyone. I can barely cover my own expenses!»

«You’re heartless!» the man rants, «I need the money for my children!»

So, she starts questioning him. The usual questions that would come to mind to anyone. She asks him where his relatives in the real estate business are. She wants him to explain why his children are in Ivory Coast and not in France.

Henry gets cross, he tells her she hasn’t understood a thing of what he’s told her. He makes excuses for his contradictions. Then he changes tone and asks her for a lower figure. A thousand euros will suffice. «Can she send whatever she can! He’ll pay back every cent.»

Silvia interrupts the conversation. Embittered she does some research and discovers he’s a scammer.

She was about to fall for it too, but in this case, she’s always kept a level head. She didn’t let herself be enchanted, a little thanks to her personality, a little because basically that unknown man never really seemed completely convincing to her. To be precise, let’s say the romantic talk on his part was fake, there never was any on her part.

« It happened to me as well. Two months of really loving letters and sweet words that any woman would love to hear ».

This is how Daria’s story begins; she calls the person who scammed her a shady individual. She says she used to think these things happened to old-age pensioners or to little naïve, lonely women, and she specifically uses derogatory phrases to define the individuals in this story, because she’s full of contempt for herself. She feels stupid, with no excuse, just a poor, weak woman. Daria tells her story on Massimo Cappanera’s blog, the clinical psychologist who is an expert on web scams and invites people to tell their stories of what happened to them, so those reading are warned and don’t fall into the same trap. 7

Marcello says he’s Italian when he approaches Daria. But from how he expresses himself, it’s clear that he’s not. She points out that his written Italian is not very good, and he justifies it by explaining that he was born in Italy, but his mother is German. His father died when he was a child, and on the death of his father, his mother decided to relocate to Great Britain where they lived for many years.

Daria speaks several languages and she tells him to choose whichever he prefers: Spanish, English, German.

«I’m a widower, and I have a twelve-year-old daughter - he explains - I travel a lot on international business. I take my little girl and the baby sitter with me because I don’t like leaving my daughter alone. It’s just the two of us all alone in the world.»

At this, Daria starts to nourish compassion and understanding for this widowed man with his sweet daughter always at his side.

«I’m based in Bristol for work - continues Marcello - but my business takes me everywhere. I organise big expensive tenders.»

«That’s quite a demanding job!», observes Daria.

«Yes, but I’m used to the work and to travelling. I’m happy with the way business is going. The only thing missing in my life is a woman to sweep me off my feet. I’m happy because I’ve found her now, but my happiness will only be complete when I can embrace you.»

«Will that day be soon?»

«Sooner than you think!», Marcello assures her emphatically.

«When?»

«I hate talking about money, but I can tell you. I chose a tender for 7.5 million instead of 12, because the first is shorter and we can see each other sooner. I can’t wait to meet you. You’re so beautiful, lovable (the man starts to list her qualities and the feelings he has for her). Sweet Daria I do nothing but think of you!»

Marcello goes on to explain his plans for their meeting which will take place on his return from a trip by ship to Cyprus where he’s about to go to buy equipment that will be used for the construction of a bridge.

« Everything was going marvellously well - says Daria - even if there were a few small contradictions in his words which however, having decidedly thrown caution to the wind, I didn’t pick up on ».

Marcello often speaks of the mystical dimension of their meeting, it was without doubt God’s work. It’s the fate of two hearts which resemble one another and seek each other to achieve happiness. They meet with divine intervention and love each other for life.

All fine, then! But here too - as in a tried and tested screenplay - a catastrophe occurs. Daria is informed of something unexpected and unusual. Marcello is in the port of Cyprus when pirates storm a ship that left before theirs. The captain is dead, having been killed, while shots ring out wildly, and blood flows everywhere. The pirates take some hostages. Marcello has a container full of cash and the precious documents for his tender.

«My darling - he tells her - you know I’m alone in the world without you. You’re the only person I trust. Do me the immense favour of looking after the package I managed to hide, until I arrive in Italy. »

«Okay,» replies Daria.