The Name's Oliver - Ben Oliver. Ch. 159: Duty vs Ethics, Pt. II

[Magz from Oz]

As with all great mystery writers, Schip will reveal with a delightful twist and we'll all go "doh, I should have seen that coming!"  Then we'll go back and re-read and see the clues we missed.

Excellent update Schip.

[Magpie2012]

As with all great mystery writers, Schip will reveal with a delightful twist and we'll all go "doh, I should have seen that coming!"  Then we'll go back and re-read and see the clues we missed.

Excellent update Schip.

Truer words have never been spoken! This is after all just one of the numerous reasons why we all adore Schips's stories and keep coming back for more!!! Heal wrist! Heal! *doing some weird cross-eyed concentration of healing energy trick*

[RainBeau]

True story. I haven't picked up a single clue yet, but I'm sure they're there!

I enjoyed the talent competition. I hope Constance is the next girl to go out with Ben!

[Audren]

I haven't even the slightest idea who the thief is, but I am eagerly swallowing up any new updates I can. 

[Louise56]

Awesome updates! I don't have a clue who the guilty party is. I'm glad your wrist is better.

[Schipperke]

Beauty and the Thief, Part VII

Diary Entry

The next event was the much-anticipated swimsuit contest, scheduled to start the next afternoon.  Time was running out for me to find the thief, so as soon as the girls had had breakfast I asked Constance if there was a particular Monte Vista landmark I could show her.

"The library!" she exclaimed, so off we went.



The minute we walked through the library doors, Constance's eyes lit up.  She sighed blissfully.  "So many books!  How much time do we have until the pageant resumes - 3 hours?  That should be long enough to read one of the shorter books."

It went against the grain for me to not even try to romance Constance, but I knew there would be no point.  Her eyes were gleaming with love and it wasn't for me, but for the shelves of books.  But I needed to search her purse.  I asked if she had a copy of her own book that I could look at.



"Yes, here in my bag," she said, thrusting her purse at me.  I blew her a kiss.



She giggled and gave me a big gorgeous grin before turning her back on me and hurrying over to pluck a book from the shelf. 



By the time I finished searching her purse she was completely engrossed in her book.  I made a mental note to return later to make sure she didn't miss the pageant.



Constance and I arrived at the hotel just in time for her to change into her bathing suit, and it was a good thing we were on time, because she was first up.  The judges asked each girl, "Why do you deserve to win?  What will you do if you win?"

Constance responded modestly, " Honestly, I don't know that I really deserve to win. I'm not a model or anything like that, I'm just a humble country girl and I'm pretty shy. If I did miraculously win, I think I would take a sabbatical from my job to work more on writing and hopefully achieve my dreams!"



I thought she was being excessively modest; from where I was sitting, the way she looked in her bathing suit, she more than deserved to win.  But I had no time to pursue that thought, for the next contestant was walking down the runway.

"Theodora, why do you deserve to win?  What will you do if you win?"

Theodora gave a brilliant smile and said, "I was entered in this pageant by a friend who thought me the perfect candidate for the crown.  If that's not a ringing endorsement, I'm not sure what is!  If I win, I'll use the opportunity to travel the world and spread the message of my education, which is equal love and peace for all!

I'm unflirty and childish, but I can still be beautiful, right?"



Beautiful?  She was drop-dead gorgeous.  And I'd be glad to explore equal love with her anytime, even if I had to push her on the swing.  Uhh - focus, Ben!  The next contestant was arriving.

"Jamie, why do you deserve to win?  What will you do if you win?"

Every eye was riveted to Jamie as she struck a pose and said, "I entered this contest because I wanted to do something for me.  I also wanted to meet people and make friends.  I deserve to win, not because I feel I am the prettiest or the smartest, but for what this would mean for my future.  I want to travel and become known for my skills all over the country.  If I do win, I want to share my experience with others and try and help other women to find their self worth.  Every woman needs to experience joy and satisfaction in knowing they have made a difference."



She deserved to win because she was stunning!  These girls were all winners.  I was glad I didn't have the judges' job of picking just one.

Julienne had already written about why she deserved to win, in her introductory essay, so instead the judges asked her to talk about her life goals and why they were important.

Julienne's face was glowing as she said, “I want to expand my mum’s little diner into a world-class chain of restaurants, with me as the owner and face of the company of course. I believe strongly in the value of hard work, especially when it comes to promoting the majestic town of Twinbrook. You can read all about it on the Miss Sim Universe website and donate to the growing business at www dot-”

"Yes, yes, thank you, Julienne," Mayor Rossi said, cutting her off hastily.



I grinned to myself.  Julienne was very focused on her ambitions, no doubt about it.  But I was sure I could help her learn to have fun, when we got together ... I was so engrossed in my thoughts I almost missed the arrival of the next contestant.  Hearing my own name pulled me out of my daydreams.

"Gracie, why do you deserve to win?  What will you do if you win?"

Gracie was glowing as she replied, "I guess winning isn’t that important to me anymore. It’s enough that I made it this far. I... I haven’t really thought about what would happen if I did win. I suppose it would be a dream come true... But I don’t know... I mean... Maybe I’d do something for animals. I love animals. So if I won, I’d open a shelter or something. Maybe... Benny would like that, I guess. He always said I could do something handy if I won the pageant. He’s big on helping people. I don’t know if I deserve to win. I’d like to think so, but maybe others won’t see it that way, and I’m sure all the girls are deserving of a win."



I said she could do something handy if she won the pageant?  What on earth was the girl talking about?  She was beautiful, but I wondered if there was a touch of insanity there because I sure didn't remember ever saying anything like that.  But I'd have to think about that later, because the most important question was coming up, and I wanted to hear the answers.

"Ladies, who do you think is the sexiest male Sim alive?"

Constance:  "Ummmm...this is awkward...well...Sherman Bagley. I've run into him a few times in the library, and he's one of the few men I've ever actually talked to. I'm Neurotic and he's a Coward, I'm a Perfectionist and he's Neat, so we kind of have some things in common! But again, I'm not really looking for love, and I don't think I would have a chance anyway."



Theodora:  "Elaine Joy.  Oh … oh, he isn't?  How embarrassing.  Umm, I guess maybe I'd say Jack Bunch then.  What a spectacular caretaker that man is.  All those children!"



Jamie:  "Well, my answer would have to be Hank Goddard again.  To me, he is the sexiest and those muscles are to die for."



Julienne:  "Oh, it’s got to be Thornton Wolff. I like a man who knows what he wants, and the money and looks don’t hurt either.”



Gracie:  "Oh, don’t tell him I said so, but Benny is definitely sexy. He’s just deliciously handy, and a total flirt and heartbreaker. But he’s promised not to break mine.  "



My jaw dropped.  I had promised not to break her heart?  Either the girl was delusional, or I was having memory lapses (I was pretty sure that wasn't the case) or she was lying for some reason.  I had to find out what was going on.  Gracie, my girl, you got some 'splainin' to do.

[Magz from Oz]

A very interesting and delightfully engaging update.  I wonder why Ben Oliver thinks he's the only "Benny" in existance.  He's super sexy but he sure has tickets on himself doesn't he?

[Audren]

A very interesting and delightfully engaging update.  I wonder why Ben Oliver thinks he's the only "Benny" in existance.  He's super sexy but he sure has tickets on himself doesn't he?

Well, this is Ben we're talking about. I wouldn't call him egotistical by any means, but he does have that womanizing trait. Surely, any handsome Sim named Benny that the girls are swooning overmust be him, no? 

[ladybug53]

Oh, I'm starting to get a little suspicious now . This was such a great update . The Team did an awesome job for this chapter. I wonder if our Ben is starting to get a big head after those comments . 

[Beezy]

Yet another lady now has my suspicions.  *faints from so much thinking*

[Dextra2]

Ahhh, good ol, Benjamin Schmidt. What a man! And he's is handy, smexy, and a heartbreaker.

[RainBeau]

Constance for the win! I have much more confidence in her than she has in herself. I love how she reacted to the library, that's just so her. Thank you Schip. I like all the responses to the questions, and Ben is just too funny to think he's the "Benny" she's talking about.

[Sherry]

hmm... I think this 'Benny' is Benjamin Schmidt 

btw the last picture -the Gracie one- is totally looked creepy. How she-or you- made the smile soooo creepy looking is beyond me. But, cool snapshot.
You gotta have fast eye and reaction to get that.

Really good update... 
(can't believe I've missed so much)

[Schipperke]

Beauty and the Thief, Part VIII

Diary Entry

Gracie wanted to visit the cat jungle, so off we went.  It was as good a place as any for me to get to the bottom of Gracie's mysterious comments.



But first, I had a job to do.  How to persuade Gracie to let me inspect her purse?  I remembered a suggestion I had read on the Spies-R-Us forum,

Next time Ben gets caught rummaging through a purse, have him say he saw a cockroach crawl in, and he was trying to get it out. Unless the lady's an entomologist, she'll be happy to have him go through it, preferably somewhere else.

  Why not try it.  "Gracie, I think I saw a couple of giant cat-attacking fleas burrowing into your bag.  You wouldn't want to have them breeding in there!  Would you like me to remove them?"

"Oh, yes, please, Ben!  I wouldn't want to take fleas home to attack my darling Babycakes!"



"I'll just take the purse over there, away from all the people and kitties."

Mission accomplished.  And now, Gracie dear, as a reward for being the only contestant clever enough to know who's really the sexiest male Sim in all creation -





But her reaction wasn't quite what I expected.



"Ok, Gracie, what's up?  You want to tell me why you keep making all these enigmatic comments about "Benny" but when I try to kiss you, you're more horrified than you were by the cat-attacking fleas in your purse?"



"Oh ... all right, Ben.  You caught me.  I'll explain.  Let's go inside, where there aren't as many people."
She pulled out a snapshot and handed it to me.



"That's my Benny.  Ben Schmidt.  I just wanted to find that one perfect man. My dream man.  And I found him.  Benny's always accepted me for who I am.  Benny, he used to tell me that heartbreakers have an ability to make sims feel good with just one great kiss!  And he's a heartbreaker who makes me feel great!"



I had the feeling there was more to the story.  Why had she been so mysterious about all this?

"... Because I really wanted to be part of the pageant!"  she exclaimed.  "And they wouldn't have let me enter if they'd known."

Known what?

"That Benny and I are married!"



Married?  Well, that put somewhat of a damper on my plans for romance, but I couldn't see what it had to do with the pageant.



Gracie rolled her eyes.  "Ben, the pageant is for single women!  It's Miss Simverse, remember?  If they knew I was married I'd be disqualified!  That's why I've been trying to keep it a secret!  Now that the secret's out I'll be sent home in disgrace!  I'll never be able to hold my head up in Appaloosa Plains again!"

Oh.  So that's what this was all about.  Well, I might have to search women's handbags in the line of duty, but I was pretty sure it wasn't part of my job to snitch on the contestants.  I was looking for a thief and traitor, not someone who was secretly married.  I told her that her secret was safe with me.



And then I told her that if anyone asked what we had done, she should show them the flowers I gave her.  "People won't be thinking of you being married, they'll be too busy wondering what else you and I got up to," I said.



And then it was time for us to leave for the next pageant event.

Diary Entry Ends.

Thanks to Rhapsody for coming up with the idea for the Ben-and-Gracie secret marriage!  I love how it fits with the rest of the story, and the picture Rhapsody supplied is great too.

[Magz from Oz]

Terrific update.  I loved this twist.  I had a hunch Gracie was in love with Benjamin Schmidt but not the secret marriage.