The Hellman

Chapter 8

Elaine paced nervously as she stood in the lobby of the building she had used as her address when she was applying for her job. She had come there fifteen minutes early to stage a meeting with Alexander. She had paid the doorman, Thomas, to accept mail for her and warn her if anyone had come looking for her. Today, he smiled at her as she paced nervously.

“Is everything alright?” he asked

“Yes,” she replied

“You sure look fancy.” He said flashing her a grin.

She smiled back awkwardly and turned to look outside to see if Alexander had arrived. He had texted her earlier to dress formally. Immediately she had gone to the store and purchased a glittering baby blue dress as there was nothing formal in her closet. Her hair, she had curled and pinned away from her face. She had spent ten minutes looking at the woman on the other side of the mirror wondering who she was. She looked nothing like Elaine but this as what she had to do to maintain her ruse, she was Michelle now.

Her phone rang, and she almost jumped. Picking it up and noticed Alexander’s number.

“I’m outside.” He said, “should I come up?”

“No, I’m on my way down now.” She replied

She walked over to Thomas and thanked him before leaving the building. She walked out to see Alexander clad in a well-fitting tuxedo.

“You look so beautiful,” he said.

“Thanks” she replied shyly, “You don’t look so bad yourself.”

“Thank you.” He replied,

He helped her into his car and together they drove off into the night. The drive was silent and she took it as an opportunity to watch him as he drove.

“Where are we going?” she asked

“A nice restaurant.” He replied, “I thought you might like a quiet night under the stars with some good food.”

She smiled but said nothing. If only he knew that this as actually the first date she had ever been on and that a night under the stars meant nothing to her. The rest of the drive was quiet. The restaurant was much fancier than she had imagined it would be.

“We’re here.” He said coming around the car to open her door.

They walked into the restaurant and she was blown away by how beautiful it was on the inside.

“Table for Alexander Hellman,” Alexander said when they approached the receptionist.

“Right this way.” The woman replied.

They were led to the very back of the restaurant. She looked around expecting to see their table but then a door appeared seemingly out of nowhere and they were led out to a balcony. She looked around and realized that they were seated by a lake on a balcony that was filled with candles. For someone who wasn’t interested in dating, he knew how to plan a romantic date.

“This is us.” He said looking over at her nervously.

She felt a bit sorry for him and so she smiled.

“It’s beautiful,” she said, “truly, I would accuse you of being good at dating, but I know how you feel about that.”

With a slight chuckle, she saw him relax. She was about to take her seat when he rushed around the table and helped her into her chair.

“Are you alright Alexander?” she asked noting how out of character he was behaving.

“Everything is fine.” He said, “I have no idea why I’m behaving so uncoordinated tonight.”

“I see.” She replied,

He took his seat and she watched as he finally began to relax.

“What should I get?” she asked

“Anything you like.” He replied,

She smiled at his brash answer and decided to try again.

“What would you recommend?” she asked

“Well, I usually have a whole steak but I,” he started

“I’ll have that too and some red wine,” she said before he could finish.

He looked over at her and smiled.

“Yes, we’ll both have that.” He said before handing the waitress their menus.

The woman walked away, and Elaine used it as an opportunity to take a better look around her. the candles around them let off a soft light but the sun was barely going down so they still had a bit of daylight left. The sun was about to go down and it lit up the horizon with shades of pink, orange, and purple. There was something so beautiful about watching the sunset that she allowed herself to view since she came into the states.

“What are you thinking about?”

She turned to look at Alexander who was watching her intently.

“I just think it’s so beautiful” she replied, “thank you for taking me here. It means a lot.”

He smiled and she could tell he was pleased with himself.

“Tell me about yourself,” he said, “I hardly know you.”

“What do you want to know?” she asked

“Are you originally from here?” he asked, “what was your childhood like, what’s your favorite color, your favorite flower?”

“Those sound like really date-worthy questions” she teased

“And yet I still want to know” he replied giving her a smile.

“Alright, I’m originally from New York” she lied effortlessly. It was a backstory she had devised with the help of Charlie when she just arrived. She had gone over it so many times and so often that she sometimes wondered if that was how her life had actually happened.

“Really?” he asked, “I didn’t take you for a big city girl”

“I was” she replied, “I didn’t like it there, I prefer warmth to the cold.”

“I agree” he replied,

“What about you?” she asked, “are you from here?”

“I’ve lived here all my life.” He replied, “it’s a big city but it’s not as detached as New York”

“I like it here too” she replied,

“Are your parents still in New York?” he asked

“Yes, they still live there,” she replied, “but I haven’t spoken to them in years”

“Why not?” he asked

“We just drifted apart,” she replied

She felt a sudden urge to cry when she thought about her parents, but she held it back. It had been so long since she had seen them, or held them, or even heard their voices. It had destroyed her to be torn from her family at such a young age but she had followed their warning to be brave. She would continue t be brave until she saw them again.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly

“Don’t be” she replied,

“What about your siblings, are you guys close?” he asked

“I’m an only child.” She replied

“So, you’re technically almost all alone in this world.” He said looking at her with more concern than she appreciated.

“I’m not alone.” She replied, “I have great friends and people who are looking out for me.”

“And now you have the entire Hellman team.” He said reaching out to touch her hand, “we’ll be there for you too.”

She was so overcome with emotion that she almost cried.

“Thank you.” She replied,

Their dinner came not long after and Elaine ate slowly but when she finished her steak she knew Alexander was surprised.

“I’ve never seen a woman eat a full steak.” He said giving her the brightest smile she had ever gotten from him, “and I’ve been in the army.”

“I don’t know what to say to you Alexander” she replied, “I love steak.”

The sun had fully gone down and now the candles were the only light by which they were able to see each other. She loved the way the soft light washed over him.

“Do you dance?” he asked

“I have a confession to make.” She replied,

“What’s that?” he asked

“I’ve only ever danced with my father.” She replied, “and that was back when I could stand on his toes.”

“I don’t mind if you step on mine.” He said

“Alright,” she said.

She was surprised however to see him produce a stereo from beneath the table and set it in front of her.

“A guy has to come prepared.” He said

“If I didn’t know better I would say you wanted this date to go well.” She teased

“Is it going well?” he asked coming to stand next to her.

“It is.” She replied as she stood

“Let’s dance,” he said leading her to the empty space on the balcony.

He held out his hand and she took it.

“You know where the hands go right?” he teased

“Do you think it’s wise to tease me when I’m about to be stomping all over your toes?” she asked

Their bodies were now molded together as he held her against him.

“I’ll take anything you want to do right now.” He replied, “it’s worth it.”

She rested her head against his chest and smiled as they swayed to the soft music. As she listened to the soft beat of his heart, she began to feel a sudden sense of something familiar. She had never dated, never been with a man before, yet she had no idea why this felt so familiar. It was then that she realized what it was; she felt safe. She hadn’t felt safe for so long that she had almost forgotten what it was like. Here she was, being held in the arms of a man who could destroy her and she felt as safe as she had when her father had held her in his arms and danced her across the living room of their home. She shut her eyes for a moment and let the memories fill her.

“Michelle,” Alexander said,

“Yes,” she replied opening her eyes and looking up at him.

“I know this is pretty high school-like but would it be weird if I told you that I like you?” he asked

She smiled and looked away. How could she do this? In the normal world, this would have been perfect. She would have just accepted his attention and returned it. But this was not the normal world and she was not a normal person.

“No,” she replied, “it’s not weird.”

“I’d like to do this again.” He said, “I’ve tried to deny my feelings for you, but I don’t want to anymore. I want this to be more.”

“That wouldn’t be a good idea.” She replied, “we’re both so different.”

“Well, how do you feel right now?” he asked, “if it’s anything like I feel I know you want this to be more.”

She let out a tortured sigh and closed her eyes.

“It wouldn’t work.” She said as she looked up at him.

Instead of answering, he lowered his head and kissed her. it was a soft, slow kiss that made her toes curl. Inside, she was dying to let go and give in to what she knew they both wanted but she couldn’t. she wouldn’t dare. For the sake of her safety and her peace of mind, she didn’t want to do anything that would put her too close to Alexander.

It was then that the idea struck. Maybe she didn’t have to reject him. Maybe she could do this and keep her distance. Maybe she could get close to him. Maybe he would protect her if things went wrong. Who knew, he could be the one to save her if anything happened. She so desperately wanted it to be true.

“Give us a chance.” He said pulling away.

“Alright.” She replied, “but, we should take it slow.”

“I have no problem with that.” He replied

She rested her face against this chest as they once again began swaying to the music. She was happy and safe for the time being, there was nothing wrong with enjoying the feeling while she still could.