The tables are turned

 

Tonight, Eléonore is spending the evening alone at home. She prepares a meal and a glass of chardonnay. She settles into her gaming chair, facing her latest-generation computer, which lights up in multiple colors. From her window, she can see the lit street, her neighbor walking his dog, the neighbor across the street taking out her trash, and the couple upstairs still arguing as they get out of the car.

She signs up for a dating site that was recommended to her. She posts a photo of herself, a book in hand, her intellectual glasses, wearing a blouse that reveals the beginnings of her breasts. And there it is, it's posted! It doesn't take long for her to receive the first messages. Several profiles catch her eye. Good-looking guys, in their early forties, quite chic. Exactly the kind of man this 32-year-old woman appreciated. Eléonore uses the internet with disconcerting ease. She opens three conversations simultaneously. She quickly rules out a highly narcissistic man whose sole purpose was to take advantage of the young woman's charms. She liked the other two. One was a business owner, the other an oil rig boss. They seemed to meet her criteria.

The first, Julian, was divorced. He had 2 daughters whom he saw every other weekend. The second, Norbert, had preferred to break up with his partner, who had been unfaithful to him while he was at sea. He then decided to return to live with his ailing 75-year-old mother. She had a lady-in-waiting in her absence.

Although the former looked much more elegant in the photos, Eléonore fell for Norbert. She admired the fact that he was able to return to his mother's home to help her and look after her. She'd never imagined this possibility with her possessive, controlling mother.

The following week, Eléonore chose not to continue her conversations with Julian, and instead devoted herself to Norbert. Every evening, at the same time, they talked for long periods, sometimes all night. Eléonore had told him about her painful past, with men who had hurt her, betrayed her, lied to her... Norbert seemed to be taking such good care of her that Eléonore was beginning to enjoy all the compliments and attentions he lavished on her. He explained how much he would love to be able to cherish her and treat her like a princess.  He promised to send her a gift, if she would give him her address. Which she gladly did. The next day, he confirmed that he had dispatched the parcel, which she should receive within ten days. Eléonore couldn't wait to discover the surprise present Norbert had concocted for her.

Norbert wanted to exchange more photos with his beau. He appeared muscular on the platform, surrounded by his colleagues.  He looked different from photo to photo. As for Eléonore, she chose rather funny photos of herself getting out of the shower, squinting. Or with a stack of books on her head, on the verge of falling over. She liked to make all kinds of faces. This amused Norbert, who was under her spell.

One evening, Eléonore tried to reach him, but to no avail. She tried again the following night. Norbert had a small voice. His mother had succumbed to her illness. He seemed devastated. Eléonore tried to comfort him. He had to take care of the funeral expenses, but unfortunately the payment of his bonus had been delayed, due to computer problems. Almost all his salary was spent on hospital bills and paying the lady-in-waiting. He was distraught. He proposed that Eléonore advance him the sum of €1,500 to enable him to give his mother a dignified funeral. It was a large sum, and Eléonore hesitated. Then she asked him for a bank account number so she could make a transfer.

But Norbert insisted on receiving payment by money order to avoid part of it being absorbed by his overdraft. Eléonore then asked for more personal information. Strangely, the name was different from Norbert's. He claimed that Norbert was his middle name. He claimed that Norbert was his middle name, and that he preferred it to the first. The address also seemed strange. Norbert asked Eléonore why she needed to ask all those questions when he was so saddened by the death of his beloved mother. He re-explained that it was only a loan and that he would pay her back as soon as he got paid. Eléonore apologized, reminding him that it was a large sum of money. Norbert, a little annoyed, reminded her that a young woman of her type should have no problem performing this service. He made up for it immediately, telling her that he loved her with all his heart.  He promised to come and see her, to return her money. Eléonore told him that everything would be done in a few hours, while she made a few manipulations on her various accounts. A courier would come the next morning to hand-deliver the money order.

Norbert sent her a message filled with hearts and kisses.

In the early hours of the morning, just as Norbert was looking forward to receiving the big money order, the doorbell rang. He quickly placed his cup of coffee on the table, spilling half of it. A woman's voice urged him to open the damn door. To his surprise, two detectives specializing in cyber fraud were about to arrest him for fraud. His wife, who was present and doing the same with the men, was also arrested. “Eléonore” was immediately warned by her team that the two criminals were not about to do it again.