Emmerson & The Guardian

Little Miss Brown Eyes

        We wait at the reception desk for a table.  The waitress cannot stop gawking at Blaze.  I can feel the red-hot aura of infatuation exuding off her.  I have a sudden pang of jealousy wash over me.  “Back off b***h!” almost escapes my gritted teeth with a hiss, but my subconscious saves the young brown eyed girl from my outburst.  We follow the brown eyed girl to our table, and she hands Blaze his menu first- then flops mine down on the table.  I almost stand up and knock her into the middle of next week, but refrain.  Why do I feel so protective over this man?

The waitress is pretty though.  She is short, slim, and had alluring chocolate eyes.  Her brown curly hair cascades down her shoulders and bounces with every step she takes.  She has a lot of pep in her step and she looks like she could be a cheerleader.  “Probably the ‘head’ cheerleader my subconscious“ says.  Though she's far too young for blaze.  She couldn't be more than 18 years old.  And looks far too innocent for someone like him.  He needs a woman.  Someone who can take charge... "And I suppose that's you?  You can't even take 'charge' with Freddie..."  I groan because I know she's, well I'm right.  I have to stifle a giggle because I'm having a full conversation with my inner-self.

"What would you like to drink, Siiiiirrr?”  She holds onto the last word for a bit too long with her sing song voice.“I’ll have coffee.  Black.”

“That’ll be my pleasure…Sugar.”  She bats her long eyelashes, and only half turns to me without taking her eyes off Blaze.  “And for you?”

“Bloody Mary.  Extra bloody.”  I say almost too forcefully.   She looks at me horror struck- opens her mouth to speak- but decides to retreat to the back instead.  I’m a bit ashamed of my behavior to be honest.  I really don’t know what has come over me.

“Extra bloody?  If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were trying to frighten that poor girl.”

“Me?  I would never.”  I say in a playful tone while batting my eyelashes mocking Little Miss Brown Eyes.  We sit at the table staring at one another and I finally ask, “Where are we going, Blaze?”

“To my company.” 

“Oh.  Is that where Freddie is?”

“Hmmmmm.”  He sighs while picking at an invisible piece of lint on his jeans.  “Freddie will be there to meet us when we get to my office.”

“Did someone abduct him?”  I ask more concerned than I actually am.

“No, Em.  It’s more complicated than that.  Or less complicated, I suppose.  It depends on how you look at it."  Blaze eyes me with worry in his eyes.  "He is works for me…”

“What the do you mean ‘he works for you’? He owns the photography studio…” 

He leans on the table and looks up at me from under his eyelashes…

I fidget with my wedding band like I always do when I’m deep in thought.  “Freddie has FFP…why would he need to work for you, too?”  I finally rasp as little Miss Brown Eyes skips back to our table to take our orders.

“I’ll have eggs over easy, and a short stack.”

“Of course.”  She smiles too sweetly.

“I’ll have the Bloody Mary I asked for 10 minutes ago.”

“Oh!  Yes mam.”  She blushes and backs away while biting her lip.  A nervous habit perhaps. 

My eyes dart back to Blaze and I begin again.  “Explain.”  My fist hits the table making the seniors from the bus tun and stare at us for a moment before going back to their meals and chatter. 

“He has the photography business as an extended arm for my company.  He is – for lack of a better word – a P.I.  He takes photos of persons of interest while he is vetting them out. Then he will secure the target and bring them to the facility for the rest if it doesn’t get messy in the field.  It is a side bit that my business has.  My fathers’ fathers’ father started Valkyrie Financial in 1860- we assist in different aspects of financial consulting for ultra affluent individuals, but it's to help finance the private investigations.”

“Freddie took photography at UNLV.  He always intended to start a photography business.”

“Yes.  He did.  But when you have someone offering to be a silent benefactor that want’s none of the proceeds you usually take the deal.”

“But why would you do that?  Did you know him before?”

“No I didn't.  We became fast friends at a chance meeting while I was vacationing in Las Vegas.  We were playing Craps at the ARIA hotel.  After talking, we found we had a lot in common.  He told me of his intentions to begin his business but was having trouble coming up with the funds, and that's why he was at the casino- trying to win his start up monies.  It just so happened I was looking for a good photographer.  So, we struck a deal.  I pay for a studio, equipment, and spending money, and he will work for me.”

“If he’s just been working… why haven’t I heard from him for the better part of three weeks?!” I say through gritted teeth.

“We ask him to go undercover frequently.  He has been working for me for a long time Emmerson.  He thought it would be better if he explained it to you in person.  His whereabouts that is.  He said he's tired of keeping[ing secrets from you.”

“So, he’s hiding behind your company logo in hopes I don’t get angry with him?!”  I’m almost shouting, and other diners are starting to look at us again. 

Miss Brown Eyes places his food, and my drink on the table and saunters off without a word.  I take a huge gulp of my bloody marry.  Or pure Clamato juice on ice.  'yuck' I should have known Ihop would not serve alcohol, and though I don’t require sustenance I could really use a stiff drink right about now.  I recollect my wits, and ask “How long has he been working for you?”

“For about 10 years.”

I can feel the bile rising from the depths of my stomach.  I have never been as mad as I am right now.  Blazing heat seeping out of every pore on my body.  I have a lot of control for a vampire- my mother always said it was a gift – though I always thought she was simply being a proud mom.  This conversation, however; is fully testing my abilities.  

“If you two have known each other for so long – why have I never heard him speak of you?” 

“Listen, Em, don’t over complicate things.  He had a job to do, and he has done exceptionally well at it.  My job is to get you from Vegas to South Carolina.  I intend to do that.  I hope you come willingly.”

“OR WHAT?!” I hiss.  “You’ll tie me up and throw me in your trunk?!”  I also give an internal sigh of relief now that I know where I am going, but that soon passes as my rage is about to explode.

“…yes.”

I gasp and can feel he’s being completely honest with me.  This man – beautiful as he may be- was fully intending to drag me out of my apartment bound and gagged.  I can see him shift uneasy in his chair.  He is anxious…I can feel it.  I cannot believe Freddie would send someone to “fetch” me.  Like I’m some sort of possession.  He drove halfway across the country to hog-tie me and throw me in a trunk for Christ’s sake!  

“Why are we driving if it’s so imperative that we get back to your facility in a timely fashion?  Shouldn’t we be flying?” I ask.

He looks at me with wide eyes, and then I feel a wave of embarrassment wash over him.  “I…well. I’m…I don’t like heights.”

“Oh.”  I say as a slight chuckle escapes my throat.

“That, and I have a few stops to make along the way.  I don’t normally take the Aston Martin on such long road trips- but I wanted you to be comfortable.  Anyways, I think it’s time to go.  Come on.”

            He stands throws $25 on the table and stalks towards the door.  He stops just outside gazing into the distance for a bit.  I soften a bit knowing this little insight to this mysterious yet beautiful man.  I cannot blame Blaze for Freddie’s shortcomings.  I stand and glare at Little Miss Brown Eyes before I follow the path he took.  Once we are in the parking lot I decide to make peace with Blaze.  

“I want you to take me to South Carolina.  I’ll even go willingly.  Once we get there- no one should be within a mile radius of my vicinity when I see my husband.”  I scurry to the car and wait for him to press the unlock button on the key fob, but he instead comes to my side and opens the door for me.  He ushers me inside the vehicle by placing his hand gently on the small of my back…  I feel the electric current resonate all the way down my spine.  I notice his mood has relaxed since I told him I wouldn’t fight him on South Carolina anymore.  Possibly because he knows my anger is not directed towards him.