A magical chessboard part 01

Short story in two parts and this time written by one of you, namely Mei^^ She wanted to share this story with you so I hope you like it, for me it's clearly the case ^^ I wish you a good read and see you Saturday^^

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Dany didn't have the most incredible life, working for a boss who didn't respect him and for a pittance, he took advantage of under-the-table work to make ends meet by working as a waiter.

One day, he was hired for a private party in a huge mansion. He started his evening as a valet, driving cars that were so expensive he couldn't afford them.

Next, he worked as a waiter, bringing drinks to the guests, but at one point he lost his way in the mansion and found himself in a living room with a magnificent chessboard.

He couldn't resist staring at it for a moment, touching the piece in his pocket, a pawn he'd won at a prestigious chess tournament, where he'd finished in the top 30.

It was a time when he had the ambition to be a chess virtuoso, but that never happened, so he placed his piece on the chessboard, thinking about his past and what he had become.

It was then that he heard someone close the door behind him, he was startled, turned around and came face to face with a woman dressed in a magnificent mauve gown.

As she approached him, he felt uneasy, for he didn't know whether she was one of the guests or a member of the family who owned this mansion, but one thing was certain: she gave off an aura that made Dany feel he wasn't from the same world.

She looked at him without saying a word, then made the pawn on the chessboard, took the piece from her hand gloved with a beautiful mauve glove and clasped it between her fingers, then turned back to the young man.

- Hello there!
- Uh, hello, I'm sorry.
- Ah, you're sorry for what?

She sat down in the armchair opposite part of the tray and invited the young man to sit opposite, showing him the seat with the coin.

- I don't have to be here and I should be serving the guests.
- Oh, it's just that, you don't have to worry.
- I don't?
- Yes, I'm not your employer and what's more, you're busy serving me, a guest.

He was quite taken aback by this statement and ended up sitting down, thinking that the best thing to do was to obey the woman in front of him so that she wouldn't complain about his service.

- My name's Audrey.
- Oh, I'm Dany.
- Nice to meet you Dany, would you like to play a game?
- Uh, no, I think there's someone better than me to entertain you at a game of chess.
- I'm sure you're very keen.
- No, I'm just a waiter and I'll go back to the banquet if you don't mind.
- If you like, but he'll stay with me!
- Who are you talking about?
- The pawn, Mr. Non-Passionate.

He couldn't say a word in the face of this statement, he was looking at her, not at the woman, but at the coin she was holding, he had to get it back.

- Can I have my coin back?
- Let's play a game and whoever wins it gets to keep it!

He sat down and invited his opponent to start the game, as she had the white pieces, and began by blocking the pawn in front of the bishop.

- Oh, the English opening!
- You even know the name, not bad for a beginner.

As she finished her sentence, she winked at her opponent, who became disorientated, but slapped both hands over his face to clear his head, concentrated on the board and took his turn.

The game was so intense that he felt the world around him didn't exist - his opponent was so strong he didn't wonder if she wasn't one of the world's best players.

Time seemed to stand still, and for the first time in a long time, he felt alive in a way he hadn't felt in years.

But she finally made a mistake and he took advantage of it to win the game, a joy overtaking him that he couldn't resist shouting out.

- YES, I WON!
- A great victory.
- Thank you so much.

She looked at the pawn and then held it out to the young man, who took it and rose from his chair.

- You know, I've always loved pawns.

He sat back down, wondering why she'd just said that.

- Pawns are the only pieces that can change.

He looked at his piece with a look of tenderness and nostalgia, and she couldn't help smiling to see him so happy.

- What would you have changed it into?
- I've never thought about it.
- The pawn can be changed into a rook, knight, bishop and queen.
- I think I would have chosen queen.
- Ah, and why is that?
- For one thing, it's the strongest piece on the board.
- Is that the only reason?
- No, I think I'd have been more successful as a woman.

She laughed and snapped her fingers, at which point a man would come running into the living room, shouting at the top of his voice.

- Where's that good-for-nothing valet?

He wedged himself back in his chair, hoping he wouldn't notice, but was surprised when his chess piece turned into a queen.

Audrey rose from her seat and walked over to the man.

- Dear friend, are you looking for someone?