Freddie enjoyed surprising her, probably always would. It would just be a throwaway comment. Something unexpected, and he'd have her swooning. He knew this woman better than he figured anyone did, knew her ambition, her hopes, dreams. She just wanted to be cared about. And she'd told him he hadn't been doing that for her. The Russian had, he'd given her apparently what she'd needed for as long as he'd been there to do it. But then with a win Freddie himself had edged him towards he'd walked away from Florence leaving her alone, again. And it might have even stayed like that but for the seal and the changes in his own character. This place had definitely caused Freddie to grow up. Not that he was all that different. He still demanded a certain level of respect for his achievements. He would brighten up her apartment for the little time she would spend there. She'd be with him, staying with him. And sooner rather than later.
The kiss had helped, he knew that too. She'd have pressed for more if she weren't so damned British all the time. Or maybe it was the other thing, and she was waiting to see what he'd do. What moves he'd make. And he had a couple more lined up so she needen't have worried. Even if knowing her she'd worry anyway. She'd got this planned out in her head too. He knew that. He knew her. And he wasn't gonna let it go the way he had once. Whatever it took, he'd be the nice guy she so obviously wanted. He could do that for her.
Well not too nice. If she'd wanted too nice she'd be with Brent. If she wanted nice she'd never have taken up with him.
"Brent" he repeated the smug creeping back into his voice as he remembered. He couldn't help it. It had been hilarious. He'd gone up. Pointed out exactly why Brent was talking out his ass. Then pointed out he was taking out his ass. And Brent had ranted, a lot, about bringing shame to a game with as proud as history as Chess, about it not being a sport for arrogance and glory hounds and then he'd actually sworn rather impressively when Freddie had ended their practice match in three moves. "You could never have stuck it out with him, no passion for the game. He played cause he was taught to play not cause he had any love for it. You'd have gone nuts. But me, It was that night wasn't it. You let me step right into Bland Brent's place and seven years later..."
He shook his head and took her arm again leading her out the door. They'd go for dinner and what had happened in Merano could stay there. "We had some good times though huh? You and me. I wasn't kidding, Golden Era. The game was ours, we had money, fame and we had Chess. I even occasionally let you win." he said teasingly. Truth was she was good, not as good as him but good, and she could win on occasion if she was lucky. But there was no one that could predict him. Not even Florence Vassy. And he'd always liked it that way. "Maybe tonight I pay" he said finally, throwing a new play into the game. He'd been known to flash the cash in the past but never unless he had something to gain. And he'd left it at a simple kiss. He wasn't trying to win her right back. He knew he had to do this right.
"So, speaking of people from your past, how's your Mom? Does she still hate me?"