The Office Assistant

Ihop and Stalkers

Cal had driven Elise home after getting his nightly work done. After seeing her safely inside he set in his car watching her house until he absolutely had no choice but to leave. He felt something was off about the scent and look of the man at the office, yet he couldn't put his finger on what. He drove home with his thoughts on what it could be. Elise said he reminded her of her abuser, but as far as anyone knew he was in prison. Which as far as Cal was concerned was lucky for him because he'd take a slow pleasure in killing the bastard. No woman dissevered to be so scared of a man she froze in fear just because of a smell. 

He thought back to when Cassius had attempted to take his life and spread the rumors, after he'd been buried, that he'd been an abusive ruler who'd r***d and abused men, women, and children; his own late sister being one of them. Even thought many of his people had not believed it, even under the threat of death some of the royal scholars and artist refused to write or paint him in that light, it had still hurt him in a way he could put to words. He remembered seeing a man stoned and beheaded under his father command after he had struck his wife for no other reason than not bring him his food in time. There had been no reason to harm the woman and Cal had sworn then at the tender age of eight he'd never be reminded as an abuser.

Cal took a deep breath and pulled himself from the past. He parked in his normal spot and locked the doors. He smiled when he seen a NO SERVICE sign on the garage elevator's steel trap doors. He gladly climbed the stairs. 

"Good morning, sir." Travis Elroy, a part time security guard at his  condo building, greeted him as he came through the door some twenty minutes later. 

"Hello, Travis. Has anyone come looking for me or dropped off a package?" The young man shook his head. "Okay, thank you. Hold all guests please. Tell them I'm gone for the day."

"Bad date?"

Cal gave a short laugh, "something like that."

"In that case, sir, I'll tell whoever comes I haven't seen you and don't' expect to until next week."  

"Thanks."  Cal said as he pressed the call button for the elevator. He pressed it again but could feel the sun rising higher in the sky. Could see the colors of the sky lightening. Great all I need is to turn into a burnt pile of rubble. "I guess this one is out too, Travis."

"I'll make a note sir, sorry for the inconvenience." Travis remarked. 

Cal merely nodded as he headed for the stairs, time was running out, he had to be in his condo before the sun was on the horizon. Burning to death had never been on his bucket list. Cal flew into the door of the condo and slammed his hand into the panel that controlled the solar blinds. He hid by front door until they were all the way down and sealed. Moving into the dark living room he sighed. It'd been a long night. After a shower too hot for a normal person he tossed some kibble for the cat in a bowl and went to his office. After a quick internet search for a near by flower shop he bought a large bouquet of flowers he thought matched Elise's personality and a card. He also put in a voice mail to his assistant telling her to move Elise to assistant floor editor that morning. He knew he was supposed to ask her, but that had been out on a back burner so he was making an executive decision, he didn't think Elise would mind. With that he went to bed, hoping against all odds he'd sleep the day through. 

                                                                            *   *   *    *   *

Elise woke with the sun even though she'd only been asleep for four hours. "It's going to be a long day." She commented to Trash Kitty, who was sitting next to her head staring at her. "Hungry?" The cat blinked slowly. "Eggs and bacon sounds good to me."

She wondered to the kitchen and turned on the coffee pot. A knock on the door made her jump and since she wasn't expecting anyone or a package she refused to answer. Her first rule for a woman living alone was always never answer the door unless you're expecting someone or they call first. After a few more knocks the person left. Elise waited in the kitchen for almost ten minutes before she went to her front door, breakfast totally forgotten. She found a huge bouquet of multicolored peony, lilies, and roses in a beautiful crystal vase. The small card read: See you tonight? C. 

Elise smelled the flowers and smiled. She was happy even after her actions last night he still wanted to see her. She knew she could have handled it better and knew she should have, but hindsight is always twenty-twenty. She set the flowers on a table in front of her front window and opened the drapes sun light spilled into the room. Elise stood in the warm light soaking it in, allowing it to wash away the worry and stress from the night before. When her normal morning alarm went off she hopped in a quick shower. She brushed her hair out and styled it in a high twisted bun. After putting on a blue and yellow sundress, white tennis shoes and a white cardigan she called a cab. 

40 minutes later

"Where are my things?" Elise asked, Ally, confused.

Ally looked up, smiling, "you don't know?"

Elise shook her head. What was she supposed to know? Cal had said he'd been looking at her to ask her something last night but they'd never got back to that. Was she fired?  She couldn't think of any good things and just stood there.

"Girl!" You're our assistant editor!" Ally almost shouted. 

"I'm sorry?" Did she hear that correctly? "What happened to Annie?"

Annie would have told her if she'd been fired. Or so she thought.

"She's the new floor editor." Annie said behind her.

Elise turned to see a huge smile across her friend's face. "How?"

"Come on there's cake in my  office. I'll explain on the way." Annie hooked arms with a very confused Elise and explained what happened at her meeting the day before and Georgia's argument with Grace as they walked to the office. "Grace said Mr. Gaius was supposed to ask you about taking my position last night. Didn't get time to, I suppose?" She gave Elise a wink.

Elise rolled her eyes. "He didn't actually and it wasn't like that. But, I'll tell you about that later."

They celebrated their new positions with their floor and then got to work. Elise was done with the work Annie would normally do by one pm. She wondered to Annie's new office and knocked on the door.

"What?"

Elise opened the door, "enter with caution?"

Looking up Annie replied, "this woman! I can't even! She has drafts and edits from two years ago. What the hell?"

She looked ready to cry or to murder someone, Elise wasn't sure which. She knew Georgia was a hot mess, but she didn't think she had anything older than a few months old. Her stomach grumbled, reminding her the reason she came in. 

"You want help? After lunch, of course, I'm starved." 

"Gosh yes!" Annie saved the file she was working on and stood. "You're already done?"

"With the things that came in over night. I also set up three contract meetings and rejected two people. which was fun, oddly. And already started today's things about an hour ago."

"Annie looked up and giggled. "How'd you manage that?"

Elise grinned, "Well, see, the girl who had my job before me was a total neat freak and likes everything perfect so there wasn't much for me to fix or redo."

"Yeah, I heard she was like that, but never believed it." Annie joked.

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Cal set up so quick he popped his neck. The smell of the man in his building smelled familiar. He had a name on the tip of his tongue, Cassius. The man had been drinking Cassius' blood. Why? How? He doubled back to why as he threw the blankets aside. He used vampire speed to dress and get through the rest of his house hold duties. Finally stopping at his laptop he sent a one sentence email to Harri; He's here.

He sped to the office as fast as he could in Oklahoma City eight p.m. traffic. "Come on! The light doesn't change to another shade of green people." 

Wind and rain smashed into his Porsche as if the weather was fighting against him going to the building as much as the traffic seemed to be. He managed to pull under the covered garage just as the hail hit. He cursed when he heard a few balls hit the back on the car. He parked and without waiting for the car to finish dying he jumped out and pocketed the keys and ran at human speed to the elevator. He waved at the camera knowing it wasn't time for floor to floor rounds yet. 

"Hello, Mr. Gaius. I'll check you in sir." James's voice sounded over the low Pop music that was playing in the elevator, confirming what he knew to be true. 

He tuned out the music and sounds of the elevator as he focused on finding the one person he wanted. Elise. Found her, Cal smiled, he was glad she'd stayed. To see him, he hoped. He heard her singing in the kitchen and hit the stop button the doors opened on the forth floor directly into the large kitchen. He had a full time chef incase his employees didn't want to or couldn't leave, but each floor had a key to the cupboards and refrigerator if they wanted something after hours. 

Cal spotted Elise, shaking her butt to whatever song was playing in her air pods, as she leaned into the large silver refrigerator. Knowing she was safe and not sensing another person besides James and himself he allowed himself to relax and leaned against the wall, to watch her. The smell of sizzling lemon pepper chicken she had on the stove top had him wishing he could eat human food without becoming deathly ill. While he could when he was a younger vampire the ability had slowly been lost thought he could still drink beverages. He'd never figured that one out.

"She wore a raspberry beret! The kind you find at a second hand store!" Elise sang as she danced to the stove. "I think I looove her!"

Cal couldn't help but laugh. He'd been scared half out of his mind Cassius already had his hands on Elise. But here she was dancing and singing like the night before didn't happen. The subtle hints of fear that still clung to her scent told him she was still shaken. He found it endearing she could dance and sing through her fears. 

She turned, "oh gees, Cal!" Elise took her air pods out and slipped them in the hidden pocket in her dress. "Hi." She offered weakly.

Cal didn't bother hiding his amusement, "hi. I didn't mean to scare you."

Elise turned back to the stove, "my fault. I shouldn't have had my music up so loud."

He hated when she did that. It had been a week since he met her and he'd noticed any time she was spooked or someone accidently did something to her she had a habit of taking the blame. He knew why she did it, victims of any type of abuse normally did, but that didn't mean he had to like it. It made him want to murder the bastard who had hurt even more. He'd never been able to stand abuse toward women, children, or animals and he always felt it in his heart when victims of the crime shied away or apologized for others behaviors or doings.  

"Don't be sorry, you were just having fun." He stepped up to her, "that is allowed. So did you stay just to see me?"

She shyly smiled up at him. "Well I could lie but only partly. Georgia left so many backlogged edits and drafts. And no meetings for contracts in over four months. So we don't even know if she's even contacted some of the authors.  Annie couldn't do it all herself. And since her husband got hurt and one of the kids is sick I volunteered to help. Then of course I needed a reason to stick around to see you."

Cal pulled her into him. His voice low he told her, "You don't need a reason to do anything."

Her mouth worked but with him so close words were beyond her. She'd wanted him to kiss her since the night in his office. When his hand came up to cup her cheek she released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. He looked like he was about to stop so she took the initiative and locked her hands around the back of his neck and stood on her tiptoes pressing her lips to his. His hands found their way to her bottom when he lifted her up to the counter she gasped. 

He broke the kiss, "This okay?"

Elise nodded and pulled him back to her. He grinned as he kissed her again. Elise moaned into his mouth when he positioned her head for better access. She ran her hands down his chest and rested them on his stomach. He leaned her back farther putting one hand behind her head and the other on the counter top to support his weight. 

He heard the alarm before he smelled the smoke. "Oh, s**t," he groaned and raised them both up. 

The kitchen was filled with smoke. Elise's forgotten supper was a black charcoal brick. She sighed as she slid off the counter to turn off the stove as Cal was turning on the overhead vent before the sprinkler system activated. Elise set pan and food in the sink and allowed cold water to cool the burnt mess before tossing them both in the trash. 

"I'm so not having any luck with food today." At Cal's confused look she explained, "You flowers, which are beautiful by the way and thank you, made me forget breakfast. Then at lunch we went to Brida's on Fiftieth street, just before I took a bit the health inspector came in and told everyone to leave, and now this. I should just starve I'm too chunky anyways." The last sentence was just a sarcastic afterthought.

Cal turned the vent off and turned to look at her, his expression unreadable. "Too chunky? I don't think so. And since it was my fault you didn't eat twice today not only am I taking you out tonight, but Friday night we're going on a real date."

"Oh?"

Cal nodded as he pressed the call button. It was too late to keep her out of Cassius' sights, but by keeping her close to him  might save her life. 

                                                                      *   *   *   *   *

"Is there anything more annoying than waiting?" Ally asked sitting on the side of the bed. 

She'd been working with Bert, spying on Elise for a month, she wanted action not recon work. What she ate, what she wore, was her hair up or down. Did it matter? No, not to Ally. She only liked Bert, but she had no idea why he was so into Elise. What made her so great? Ally thought her blonde hair and blue eyes were prettier than Elise's brown hair and hazel eyes. And she was much much thinner than her too. 

"Yes, you asking that over and over. I told you we can't make a move for a while. I almost got caught the last night. And the king wouldn't like if we messed up again."

"The king, huh? When am I going to meet this king. If I'm going to be sticking my neck out for him I think I should get to meet him."

Bert set up and grabbed Ally by the throat. "You are mine! Understand that? You don't need to meet him! he doesn't even know about you. And he never will. Got that?"

Tears welled in her eyes, she couldn't breath. She nodded instead and hopped he'd release her soon. She knew better than to ask about the king and she knew better than to anger Bert. When he pushed her away she fell onto the floor gasping for air. Why do I put up with this? Ally questioned as she rose to the bed again. She looked at the large man laying in front of her. He was built like a body builder from the last year in prison, tanned skin stretched across miles of hard coiled muscles. His black hair stood in a short spikey fashion that fit him. She looked at his face from the strong tight jaw line to deep dark eyes. He's handsome as sin and f***s like a sailor who's been to sea for years, that's why. After all everyone put up with something for their relationship, right?

"Did you hear me?" Bert asked annoyed.

"I'm yours and have no reason to meet him. I heard you, baby." She cuddled up to him, kissing his neck. 

"You know what you're supposed to do tomorrow?"

She kissed him and answered, "find out if Elise and Mr. Gaius are f*****g. I told you I got it, babe, don't worry."

                                                                *   *   *   * 

"You did what?" Ally asked as she moved closer in the elevator in the next day. 

"I almost burn down the kitchen."

Annie laughed, "I'd say so."

Elise punched her teasingly. She couldn't fault Annie it'd been a little steamy before they noticed the smoke. She blushed. 

"Oh?" Ally asked. Bert had told her to get closer to Elise so that's what she would do. Anything to keep him happy. 

"It's just a little office romance, no big." Elise found it odd the girl who always refused lunch and break invites was suddenly so interested in her personal life, but she'd been the awkward new girl not that long ago so she understood. Or so she thought. "He did take me to Ihop last night and we're going on an actual date Friday. But he didn't tell me where he's taking me."

"Just a little office romance, huh?" Ally bumped Annie on the arm. "With who?"

"Someone from the upper offices." Elise commented and shared why-does-it-matter look with Annie.  

Annie was thinking the same thing so she changed the subjects, "So, Girly, you going to church tonight? I need help in the nursery."

"Oh, I love babies!" Ally tried to be back in the conversation. 

"That's great. But you can only do the small kids if you have a degree or some type of child care experience." Annie informed her. 

"Oh." She did actually have a degree in early childhood education, but she couldn't really say that since Annie had hired her and she'd lied like a mad woman on her application and employee information packet.  

Elise chimed in, "But you are still invited to church. It's East Hill Church on Sunset. Services start at seven."

"Thanks," Ally headed to the restroom while the other two went on into the office. 

Annie grabbed Elise's arm as she went to go to her office and pulled the smaller woman into her office. From the look on her face, Elise figured Annie thought Ally suddenly being interested in them was odd too. As the new girl it was hard for Elise to find a foot hold too, but they'd offered her friendship time after time. some people took some time to warm up to others she guessed. Zero to a hundred was just very weird. 

"Yes?" 

"That's it? You're going to leave me hanging?"

"Hanging? This isn't about Ally?"

"Ally? I found the elevator thing weird, but no I want to know about last night."

Elise laughed and took a seat by the window. "Okay, okay. We kissed, almost burnt the building down, and went to Ihop. You know that part. But the best part was at my door. I invited him in and he said no."

"Him turning a booty call down was the best part? Am I missing something?" 

Elise rolled her eyes. "yes you are, now shut up so I can tell you. So we're at the door just kissing nothing heavy just little flirty kisses. I asked 'so you want to come in?' he goes 'No. Not yet. It wouldn't be proper, after all we haven't had a real date yet.' I was like 'it's ok, I don't mind'. But he shook his head, looked me right in the eyes and said 'Elise, you're more than a one night stand type of girl..."

"...OMG! That's so sweet and really hot."

Elise raised her eyebrows and nodded. "It was, I wanted to drag him in. I said 'well in that case I guess good night.' Before I had the door unlocked he grabbed me, spun me around and planted the best kiss I've ever had on me and while I'm trying to remember my name he said 'until Friday.' and winked after one more soft kiss. Girl I could have died right there and been happy."

"I remember those kisses. Four kids ago." Annie joked. "Well I guess date recap is over let's get to work."

"Yeah I'm so sure Mark just ignores you now." Elise had another thought with her hand on the door she said. "Hey Ann? Do you find it weird that after Monday night Ally has started being concerned with me?"

"As I said this morning was weird, but surely not. Do you still think it was Bert? I know you said the tornado hit the prison and screwed with the phone lines, but have you tried calling again."

"I do. I know it sounds stupid, but Erin, Barb's husband was best friends with him and we all know how he feels about me he'd tell him where I was. Hell, my own stepdad would tell him if he asked. No I haven't I will after work."

"Good. maybe put your mind at ease. Do you want to come stay with me for a few days?"

Elise shook her head, "no, I'll be okay."

"Alright, well, if you change your mind just yell. Also I have major dead lines to hit before Friday, so I'll eat here if you want to join me."

They agreed on lunch and Elise walked out. She almost ran into Ally. She apologized and continued on her way. She did not miss the odd way Ally's behavior changed. Had she heard the talk she just had with Annie? Elise worked until two then she went to track down the chef to get her lunch order along with Annie's. She found him a horrible mood. 

"Whoever was in here last night left marks on my counter and burnt one of my best pans." Chef Lear growled at her when she greeted him.

"I'm sorry. Just send it up to Ca...um, Mr. Gaius I'm sure he will buy you another pan." It was technically his fault. Wait, marks on the counter? My butt! She felt her cheeks glowing red. "Well, um, I'm here for my lunch order."

"Over there. Just got them cooked too." He pointed behind him.

Elise thanked him and picked up the two to-go boxes with two bottles of water. Once on the elevator she let out a breath. The bell dinged at her floor and once again there was Ally, almost as if she were waiting for her. She didn't look happy.

"Oh, you didn't go to lunch today?"

Elise scrunched eyebrows, "no, Annie and I both have too much work to catch up on, so we just ordered in today." as an after thought she added, "why?"

Ally tried to changed her tone, "I thought I'd join you today."

"Oh. Well maybe tomorrow." Elise maneuvered around her. "That was weird." she said as she walked into Annie's office.

"Huh?" Annie said as her fingers typed to a fast tempo. 

"Ally was basically waiting at the elevator for me when I came back up and said she'd wanted to go to lunch with us. And this morning she was right at your door when I came out."

"You have a fan." Annie teased as she saved her document. "Give me food. My brain needs power."

                                                                        *   *   *   *   *

Ally walked into the tiny rented apartment. "Baby? You here?" A a shorter, almost paper thin older man stood from the couch, "oh, hi. Who are you?"

His accent was thick, "I am Cassius Chaerea. But you may call me John."

Ally c****d her head, "Bert's friend?"

"Hardly, young lady." The older man replied harshly. "I am his king and soon to be maker."

"Um, okay, so where is he?" Ally stood stiff. This man was the one Bert didn't want her to know. He was going to be so angry, but she had no way of knowing he was going to be there. 

Ally moved slightly toward the door. She had a sickening feeling she was in danger. She wanted to puke and run at the same time. Was something wrong with his eyes? The more she looked at them the more they changed colors like the pupil had swallowed the iris. Ally's whole body to shake when he stepped closer and ripped the small scarf she wore to hide Bert's hand print, off her neck.

This isn't right. Ally thought just as his teeth torn into her.

Cassius patted the young woman's hand as she moaned back into consciousness moments later. "There, my dear. You're going to tell our Mr. Best, this was his warning. I'll take you instead of him."

"Take me?" Ally asked weakly.

"Oh, yes dear." Cassius stood. "Now remember that, yes?"

Ally nodded and closed her eyes. When she opened them again he was gone and Bert was holding a towel to her seeping neck. She gasped when she seen him. Everything came back at once.

"I didn't know he was here." Bert gave her a confused look, "Cassius...no, John, no. Oh, I don't know. I didn't know he was here."

"I told you, you were not to ever meet him."

His anger confused her. She tried to tell him, but the words didn't want to come out and her head swam. Ally felt the bile rise in her throat almost in time to move away from Bert. She vomited. He slapped her making her head hurt worse. After demanding she clean it up and something about pictures he walked out.

"Who did you think had attacked me?" She asked the closing door. Oh, I didn't give him the message. She ran to the door, but the elevator was already moving down. He couldn't here her.

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Cal held a brush in one hand and a glass of bourbon in the other. He tilted his head staring at the painting he was working on. He'd finished the last edit of his latest book: Aries' Last Rider  a few hours ago and sent it to Grace's work email. It was done and so was he for a while. It was time to turn his attentions to his art work.

He had decided to enter the gallery showing and entered two works. The one Grace liked Broken Angel, the one he had done after the first time he seen Elise and this one. He'd wanted it to be Lydia, his wife, but every time he finished a stroke it looked like Elise. He'd erased and started over so many times he'd went through his last pencil and sketch book. Cal decided to just paint it. He had a rule about starting over on canvas. He didn't. What was there is what got put out.

Cal took a long sip of bourbon as he swiped black across the canvas. At the last minute he changed directions of the style. It went from traditional and classic to warrior woman. He leaned against his desk and dropped the brush onto the pallet. He stared at the painting while he still needed to add colors and more background details it might have been his best work to date. 

When he finished early in the morning just before dawn a woman that looked remarkably like Elise stared back at him.  stood slightly to her left in a fighter's stance her bow and arrow drawn, a sword strapped to her hip and a shield not far to her left leaned against a large boulder.Her hair was in braids much like Viking Shieldmaidens wore. Her expression was fierce and determined, yet still held a sexy and mysterious small smirk. A huge crow flew behind her while wolves lined the cliffs and hid among the trees behind her. Her clothes were mix of Roman and Viking with a sexy flair. Soft brown leather knee high low heel boots covered her lower legs while a shorter  bright red Romanesque skirt protected her thighs. A top of sliver chain mail and the same type of leather as her boots covered her beasts and shoulders and sliver fur lined red cloak fell to her knees. A gold cuff around her right upper read For the Empire in Ancient Roman text. Other than the cuff she worn no other jewelry.  He scribbled his name and The warrior in the bottom right corner.