Astrid and her boyfriend, Pieter lived clearly delineated, almost separate lives in Amsterdam. This was partly due to Pieter’s work as a DJ. Often he was away doing the club circuit; Astrid herself had grown tired of clubs and yearned for more aesthetic things.
Be that as it may, Astrid was not unhappy with this arrangement. It enabled her to pursue her own interests and career as an architect.
One week, when Pieter was away, Astrid had organized a trip to see a villa designed by a little-known exponent of Bauhaus, who went by the nom de plume, Cornielle.
Cornielle’s Villa, which was known simple as Quinze, was situated in a Parisian suburb. Astrid arrived in a taxi to find the front garden quite overgrown and the clean lines of the structure she had read about obscured from view.
She rang the doorbell.
The custodian answered; he was wearing an unusual black and white geometric suit.
The custodian took her for a tour of the villa. “As you see,” he said, “we need to raise a lot of money if we are to keep faith with Cornielle’s original intention.”
The custodian was passionate about the building. Astrid was beginning, however, to wonder what he saw in it. Finally, he said:
“There is one more room to see. However, Cornielle left a specific warning which I have to give to you if you wish to enter.”
“What do I need to beware of?”
“You may see something in here which you will not like and once you have seen it, it will remain with you,” said the custodian.
Astrid was bemused.
“My curiosity has got the better of me,” she said
The custodian unlocked door and Astrid entered.
To her amazement, everywhere she looked, she was surrounded by her own reflection. Then she looked down and saw Pieter kissing someone else.