House of Stone

Episode 2~The Beautiful People

Josie

I sat across the table from the hottest man I had seen in my life and pulled a face. ‘I’m really sorry.’ I said for about the fifth time. ‘I’m sure they will be back soon.’ My glance darted past him towards the door that led to the vault.

He shrugged his broad shoulders indifferently.

Shelly had taken the man he had arrived with down to the vaults to access a safety deposit box they had there, leaving me with his companion. I am not totally sure why I had to wait with him. They didn’t usually provide company for lonely customers, yet here I was, sitting by the front doors on one of those low faux leather chairs places like this like to provide. The ones that look really comfortable but aren’t. The ones they hope that no one ever sits on.

Truth be told I am not used to being this close to something so perfect. He was tall and broad with dark blond hair and eyes so brown I could easily drown in them. I’m not sure I would call him handsome, perhaps more commanding. Rugged. But his body was perfect. I could tell even through the perfectly tailored suit and shirt that was open at the neck. Clothes that fitted so well they must be made to measure. On a scale of one to ten he was close to twelve. He was far too large to fit into the chair, he looked out of place while at the same time totally comfortable. His legs were spread, large hands resting on the curved arms with the confidence of someone who knew they had every right to be there.

I, on the other hand, a lowly employee, was crammed into the corner of my chair with my knees very firmly pressed together and my hands clasped in front of me leaning forward slightly, feeling totally buttoned up and frumpy.

‘Can I get you a coffee or something?’ The bank didn’t provide coffee for customers but the silence was killing me and he was staring at me now. How long was Shelly going to be? I could just leave him, pretend I had been called away, he looked as though he was more than capable of taking care of himself.

‘No. Thank you.’ The thank you was an after thought but at least it had been there. He had a deep, gruff voice. He was probably one of those silent types who wasn’t used to speaking. In fact he probably didn’t have to because people just threw themselves at him. And he was still staring at me. It was a relief that I didn’t have to try and find drinkable coffee though. It certainly wasn’t something I would be able to acquire inside the bank.

More on the curvy side than slim, I could definitely not be described as tall or long legged and I refused to dye my brown hair blond to fit into the required norm. It did it’s own thing anyway and never conformed to any kind of style so I didn’t generally bother much with it. I’m not pretty. Just normal. There was no reason for the hottest man in the room to be paying the slightest bit of attention to me. By rights I should be staring at him. I wasn’t. I didn’t dare, but I could see him out of the corner of my eye.

‘I’m Josephine by the way but people call me Josie or Jo.’ I said. Something else to fill the silence.

‘No.’ The word was barked out.

It made me jump slightly. ‘No what? No, you don’t want to know my name, no, you don’t want to make small talk?’

‘No. You don’t look like a Josie, certainly not a Jo. Josephine? I am going to call you Sephie.’ He leaned back studying me. His face was deadly serious but there was something in those brown eyes made me narrow mine suspiciously. Was he flirting with me? I couldn’t tell. I wasn’t very good at picking up cues like that.

But once he left the bank I would never see him again so there was nothing to lose. I shrugged and let my tongue take charge. ‘You can call me whatever you want.’

‘Really?’ He lent forward with a predatory look on his face, his fingers laced together.

He was quick. I liked it. He reminded me of my brother. I rolled my eyes at the blatant comment. ‘Honestly is that the best you can do? Are you going to tell me your name? It doesn’t even have to be your real name.’ I raised my eyebrows. I imagine most people call him sir.

‘Laszlo, and people usually call me boss.’

I had almost been right. I started laughing at that and then shook my head. So much for playing it cool. ‘No. Not Laszlo. You suit Laz much better. I am going to call you Laz. It would take very special circumstances for me to call you boss.’ I winked at him and there was a ghost of a smile on his lips.

‘I look forward to you screaming either when you are lying under me in bed.’ He was leaning towards me, his elbows resting on his thighs and his voice was very quiet, which was lucky because it meant that no one else could hear him.

I sat back with a jerk, the smile leaving my lips as they formed into a ‘o’. I could feel the heat rushing into my cheeks. ‘OK. That escalated really quickly.’

He didn’t miss a beat. ‘I am a fast mover.’

I gave a nervous laugh, but I had no quick comeback, so I just said. ‘I can tell. Unlike like your friend who is really taking his time.’

There wasn't the slightest pause before he said. ‘Oh do not be mistaken Sephie, when the need arises, I can take my time.’

My breath hitched in my throat and I bit the end of thumb out of nerves. There was nothing fun about this man, he was dangerous. His pupils dilated and I wasn’t even trying to be cute now.

‘Are you flirting with me Sephie?’ He raised a lazy eyebrow, but I could see the tension in the set of his shoulders. It was like a big cat getting ready to pounce on it’s prey.

I wasn’t totally sure what was happening but I shook my head solemnly. ‘No, don’t worry Laz.’ I used the name on purpose just like he had used mine. ‘I can see how very, very far out of my league you are and while you seem to be an expert, flirting is not one of my specialities. I prefer sarcasm.’ I picked up a leaflet from the low round table that was separating us and fanned myself. I hoped he thought it was for show. It wasn’t.

‘I think you may be a natural.’

A natural at flirting or a natural at sarcasm? ‘Coming from one of the beautiful people I shall take that as a compliment.’ I bowed towards him.

He did laugh then. ‘The beautiful people?’

‘It’s what the general population call people like you.’ I lent forward and whispered. ‘Don’t worry, that’s a compliment as well.’ Then I patted his knee.

Oh my god what was I thinking? I patted his knee. I touched a customer. I had never touched a customer before. And to make everything worse it felt as though I had been given an electric shock and I pulled my hand back quickly looking down at my palm for a second before curling my fingers in to scratch it.

What was that? Static? It didn’t look as though he was wearing anything that could create that. He wasn’t a nylon sort of person.

I didn’t look at him again, I looked over his shoulder and as though by some miracle Shelly was emerging from the door to the vaults and I surged to my feet with my hands clasped in front of me. I could still feel the tingling.

There was nothing awkward about him, he rose smoothly and I took a step to the side so we didn’t accidently touch.

‘Done?’ He asked the man who was accompanying Shelly and he nodded his head. I keep my eyes very firmly forward, relieved that his attention was no longer on me. This other man looked a bit like Laszlo, only not at hard, not as frightening, not as hot. Maybe they were related.

Then the man himself spoke to me. ‘Thank you for entertaining me Sephie. Are you coming now or shall I expect you later?’

I shook my head. ‘Coming?’

‘So you can scream my name.’ Other than raising an eyebrow his face was completely expressionless. He reached out and ran his thumb over my wrist and I pulled it away, putting both hands behind my back. His touch sent tingles all through my body. He gave a nod and a smile. He knew exactly what he had just done.

Shelly looked from me with my bright red cheeks to Laszlo with an arrogant glint in his eyes and her lips formed into a tight line.

Great. What was I supposed to do now? I gave what I hoped was a cheery smile. ‘Thank you so much for the offer, but I have to go and finish my shift.’ And then I scuttled away feeling like a total i***t.

Oh my god.

Laughter bubbled up and escaped from my mouth as I hurried down the corridor behind the cashier desks until I found the one I was supposed to be serving at. I had touched a twelve, had flirted with a twelve. What did I think I was playing at?

I was still laughing with burning red cheeks as I sat down. This was going to be a long afternoon.