Red Rainbow by G Johanson

Author:G Johanson [Johanson, G]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-04-07T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

A Charmed Life

The Love Phantom’s power had always been there. It was a passive ability which he could not turn on or off, nor could he amplify or reduce it no matter how hard he tried. He could turn on the charm, as anyone could, and had developed a mellifluous persona partly as a means of explaining his popularity and why people fell for his charms. He could also be rude to discourage attentions, but these actions were not related to his ability which was always there at the same level. Those that felt it felt it at the same level according to their own disposition in the moment, their own levels of weakness.

He was his mother’s favourite, his father’s too. They didn’t bother to disguise it, not that his siblings resented it because they understood why. He was their favourite member of the family too. He was always picked first at school, was always put in the lead role, was always graded higher by teachers who knew him – and much worse by independent markers who’d never met him. It was like a red carpet was laid out in front of him wherever he walked.

And it was all a lie.

His name was not supposed to be César. His parents had a set name for him and then abandoned it as not sounding grand enough for the baby in their arms. Whatever he was exuding, they were awed from the start. With almost everyone loving him, it felt meaningless, fraudulent. They were bewitched, nothing more. The only love he trusted as genuine was that of his family, and even that existing love they felt for him as kin was amplified too much – it was not normal to be the extended family lynchpin at seven years old.

If only it had never been this way. That way, all of his achievements would be on his own merit, his failures too. Now he couldn’t even wish it away. That was one of his fears, that the collective brain fog could clear and they’d all see him for the unremarkable man that he was. They would instantly hate him for having thought so highly of him.

Even the school bullies loved him. One used to beat up other kids to try and impress him before César convinced him not to. They were talking bad about you. Bullshit. Their targets were just as gooey-eyed as the bullies.

He should never have accepted all of the promotions. The first position he held at Escolico, general office clerk, was adequate. The sales team was where he really shone, his ability making him the perfect salesman. Whatever he was selling, they were buying. Yes, St Agnes’ Convent will take the truckload of contraceptive sheaths. An exaggeration, but he could probably make it reality. The travelling aspect of the job was enjoyable even if he did feel like he was exploiting his customers’ desire to please him. To offset these feelings, César made sure that he negotiated a good deal for both parties, his company and his customers.

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