The Office Assistant

Are You Afraid of the Dark

"Miss Myers?" 

Elise heard an elderly man's voice over the line. She remembered scammers were using the answer yes to make it sound as if you were agreeing to something you normally wouldn't. "This is she. Can I help you?"

"This is Mr. Smithton, I sent you an email about two months ago concerning Mr. Best."

"I remember. I also remember telling you to get lost." Elise hung up.

Cal tilted his head across and looked at her from across the car. She had told him about the email a few weeks ago. It had angered him beyond words. The way her heart pounded made his blood boil. How could that man think it was even remotely alright to contact her? He reached  across the seat for her hand; to calm himself more than her. 

"I'm sorry," she put her phone on silent. "Great start to a date."

"Oh, come now!" Cal pulled her into him. "Your ex shouldn't have asked him to contact you nor should he have even sent the email. That's bull s**t. And you are not at fault in any way, shape, or form"

Elise sighed and leaned into his side. Breathing in his otherworldly scent she changed the subject.  "You're right. So where are you taking me tonight?"

"It's just a hotel restaurant, but they have some of the best food."

"Are you planning to make me fat?"

Cal laughed and kissed the top of her head, "of course not. I just like good food."

"Would you like me to wait in the parking area, sir?" Cal's personal driver asked as he stepped back from opening the door.

"I'll call you, Tim. Go home and spend time with your girls before they go back to their mother's."

Tim smiled the biggest smile. "Thank you sir, I will."

Cal held his arm out and Elise laced her arm through his and they were escorted into the main lobby of the Colcord Hotel. It was like stepping back in time. She felt like she was in the nineteen twenties. Elise looked around in awe at the ornate gold moldings and art deco designs and marble flanking almost surface. Everything shone so brightly she could see their reflections. 

Cal pushed open one of the double doors to their left and she walked in ahead of him into the restaurant  that matched the hotel lobby in decoration. Elise smiled at the hostess as the teen walked up to them. She didn't miss the way the girl managed to see right through her and focused on Cal. Elise let it go after all she couldn't blame her and Cal did have a way of commanding attention. She wasn't sure if he even knew he did it.

"We have a reservation under Gaius." 

"Right this way, sir." Elise had to roll her eyes at the way the teen tried her hardest to sway her small hips to catch Cal's attention as she led them to their table. 

                                                                          *   *   *   *   *

Elise barely noticed men and women at the tables they passed. But Cal didn't. He watched as they stopped eating and drinking as they passed or how the men stared at her.  He put his hand on the small of her back and pressed himself into her side. The stance said mine to anyone who saw it. He seen a few men look away and heard a woman tell her husband she wished he'd treat her like that.

"Thank you." Cal told the hostess when she set their menus on a table next to the large bay window.

"Your server will be with you shortly." 

Elise looked around and Cal looked at her. She had on a soft green dress with cut out diamond designs on the neck line. He really didn't care about the dress it was the way it looked on her that made him notice the designs and color. He wanted to tell her she looked beautiful again or say he loved her. He couldn't count the times he'd almost said those words since meeting her and it was getting harder not to tell her. 

He tried to focus on the menu yet most of his attention on her. The way she pushed her hair back from her face and the way the street lights glinted in her eyes made it that much harder to read his menu. Cal was just skimmed the menu for something to do other than stare at Elise. He heard his cell phone go off the same time most in the restaurant did. 

"Oh that sucks." Elise commented as she looked at her phone. 

Cal looked at the alert going off around the room. TORNADO WATCH FOR OKLAHOMA CITY. SEEK SHELTER. "Well then."

The manager's voice came over the over head intercom. "Hi all. Please do not panic. If you would like to leave please be safe and ask the front desk of the hotel for public tornado shelters around the city. If you chose to stay and enjoy your meal we have a shelter in place if need be. I thank you for choosing our establishment and again please be safe."

"Do you want to leave?" Cal asked.

Elise shook her head, "I'm from Texas, Cal. We stand outside and watch tornados pass us. Only thing I don't like is when the power goes out. But if you want to..."

"...No. Trust me a storm doesn't scare me. Besides, when's the last time a tornado actually hit the heart of the city?"

"True." Elise smiled at him. 

Cal grinned back, happy she didn't want to go. They chatted about their day while they waited for their server. Mostly lies, Cal felt horrible about, on his end, but he couldn't actually say he'd slept the whole day. She'd managed to sign five clients all while showing another signee around the city and finalizing his deal; he was impressed . Her laughter filled the air around them as she recounted a funny story.

His reply was cut short when a tall brunette swayed up to the table. "Hi! I'm Tiffany! I'll be your server for the evening! Can I start you with something off the bar list?"

Cal tilted his head toward Elise, "you?"

                                                                *   *   *   *   *

Elise looked up from the menus in front of her. "Um, I think I'll take a glass of Pinot Noir."

"You know what? Make that a bottle." Cal chimed in. 

Tiffany, their more than willing to ignore Elise server, brought their wine, two glasses and the crab corollas Cal had ordered first. They both ordered a lobster with garlic butter sauce and twice baked potato. Their plates came just as another alert lit phone up around the room. NORMAN TAKE COVER. LARGE WEDGE TORNADO LOCATED FOUR MILES OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS ON CR 12980. Four tables threw money on their tables and fled. County Road 12980 was just outside of the city.

Elise swallowed her last bite of potato. "Shoot that's where Annie lives. I hope they're okay."

"Me too. Finished?" 

As they walked outside Cal took her arm and pulled her to the covering of a small sitting area. Cal called Tim and after three tries gave up. Elise watched him as he looked down at her shoes. She c****d her head, wondering why.

"I didn't know you were a shoe guy."

Cal laughed as he looked back to her face, "while I'm great at shopping I was wondering how comfortable you are in those."

Elise looked down at her four inch light green suede heels. "I have worse. Why?"

"Because Tim must be having trouble or something he isn't answering and a cab in this weather is unlikely."

"I'm not walked all the way to my place." 

Cal tapped her lightly on the forehead. "No, Love. My place is just across the park."

Elise stepped out from under the covering of the awning as the first strike of lighting ripped across the sky. Cal looked up then at her. She didn't seem worried so he didn't say anything. They fell in step with each other; arm in arm, and walked through the cross walk into the park. They were a few miles into the park and Cal was telling her about his latest installment when a man walked up to Elise. 

"Elise!" 

The man's over excitement at seeing her made Cal grip her hand a little tighter. Elise looked up at him then back at the man. She held out her free hand and shook the hand the man suddenly offered. Cal fought the urgent rush to grab her hand away. The man's heart was racing and arousal was oozing out of his pores 

"Erick, its nice to see you. Cal this is Erick...I'm sorry I can't seem to remember your last name."

"George, " he reached for Cal's hand with less excitement.  

Cal shook the man's firmly, "Cal Gaius."

Funny how they're both trying for the top macho man tier. "Erick, Cal is the owner of EP. Erick is the man I was telling about at supper." 

She hoped he didn't ask about Erick's book because at that moment the uber protective air he had about him made her almost forget her own name. She'd never found over protective men sexy or even cute, but somehow Cal's protectiveness was making her hot. She looked at both men; Cal with his Roman god shaped face; all hard lines and that adorable chin dimple. Not to mention those grey eyes and almost too long dark blonde hair. Erick George was mid-forties at least a few inches shorter than Cal's six-foot, with light brown eyes, auburn burred hair, and a dad bod. Not bad, but still not Cal.

"Well I guess I'll let you continue your walk," Erick pulled her from her thoughts straight into a giant bear hug.

"Uh...um... okay then see you at the cover art finalization tomorrow." She patting his shoulder hopping he'd let go. 

Cal didn't give him the chance to take her hints. "Elise we need to go." He managed to pull her back forcefully without hurting her. He held out a hand which Erick looked annoyed at. "I look forward to reading your book."

                                                            *   *   *   *   *

Bert heard Ally screaming in the bed room. He'd knocked her out about an hour before because the b***h decided to talk back and not fix his supper. He noted the black trench style coat on the arm of the couch, Cassius. Better her than me, he thought as he set down in his favorite arm chair with his bag of Taco Bell and a beer. "Does she scream that loud for me?" He wondered out loud.

He scanned his camera footage of Elise's house and office. Changing placement in the building had been harder than he thought it would have been. It was his own fault, he shouldn't have gone to see her that night. He wondered if Elise had recognized him that night, he still wore the body spray she'd given him. He wanted to see her again. He went to live feed on his phone. He flipped through rooms in her house and in her office building. 

"Where the f**k is she?" He stood up so fast food spilled from his lap. 

"Is there a problem, Mr. Best." Cassius asked as he came from the room.

Bert looked at him. "I can't find that b***h anywhere."

"Who? Oh yes, your w***e. What does it matter?"

"If she's not here, "he whipped his phone around showing him thumbnail views of each camera, "then she's with that bastard."

"So find him. I thought I told you to find his place of rest."

"I've been looking, Master, but it's not easy. He doesn't even use his real name as the front of his business. The guy isn't stupid, sir."

"Are you saying I am?" Cassius growled. 

"No! Oh, Master no! You are much wiser than he is." Bert back tracked quickly. "I just meant he is also smart, but not as much as you." 

They heard moaning coming from the room. Cassius glared toward the door. "Little w***e did not hold up very well."

Don't say you want it from me.

Cassius turned his nose up at Bert. "I'll need another w***e. If you are to serve my other needs I will need another one."

Bert looked shocked. He was off the hook? Well off that hook anyways. He looked into the room, "is she dead?"

"No, i***t. But she might need a hospital."

Bert remembered the abused he'd been dishing out to her and thought better of that idea. "If she dies she dies. I'm a handsome man I can get another bitch."

Cassius nodded. "very well then. I must leave now I have other business to attend. Find Gaius."

                                              *   *   *   *   *

"Oye vie!" Elise leaned into Cal.

"What was that about?" 

They were far enough away from Erick that the man wouldn't hear their conversation. Cal had wanted to rip the man's head from his body as soon as he walked up to them. After he grabbed Elise the way he had he had wanted to rip every limb off his body. When Cal had heard Elise's heart start to beat faster and her breathing catch he knew he had to pull her away. He wrapped an arm loosely around her shoulders. 

"I have no clue. I keep a professional and friendly attitude with clients. I have never..."

Cal stopped and turned her toward him. "I never thought you were anything else, but your normal sweet, adorable self."

Elise grinned up at him then started to walk the path again, "thank you."

"It's not your fault that you're also a complete bomb shell s*x queen." 

She stopped and turned to see him grinning like a fool, "You, sir, are an ass."

He winked at her before catching up. He was joking of course but nothing he said wasn't true. They crossed the path near a group of teen girls. One complemented Elise's dress and she thanked her. As they kept walking he heard another say something about him. Elise giggled.

"What?"

"They have good fashion sense and a good eye for sexy men too."

Cal shook his head, "Unfortunately for them I'm all yours."

Elise rose up and pressed a quick kiss to his jaw. "Yes you are."

They crossed the intersection at 50th street and Raven Avenue when the first thunder rolled across the sky. Cal looked up just as lightening cracked above them. Elise jumped a little and he took her hand. It wasn't far only two more blocks to his building. He felt a drop of rain as they crossed the last intersection to his block. A strong blast of cold wind hit them and he felt Elise shiver beside him. Cal let go of her hand to take off his jacket and laid it across her shoulders.

"Only a few more minutes."

Elise pulled the jacket closer around her, "I don't think the storm cares."

The rain pounded around them just before they reached the building before his. Elise shrieked as she was pelted by hard drops of rain and little bits of hail and Cal drew her into his body using his arm and hand to shield her neck and hand. He rushed her to his building as lightening crashed into something behind them. He ducked out of way by instinct putting them under the awning of his building just as the block went black. 

Elise shivered, "I hate the dark."

Cal hugged her close. "You're safe with me. I have perfect night vision." He used his key to unlock the main door just as Amish was opening the lobby door. "Amish, when will the backup generators start up?"

"Mr. Gaius, I'm not sure. I sent the new guy down to the basement to start them while I man the door, but I will radio him in a moment. Good news is the elevators are still online."

"Oh joy, " Cal muttered. "Thank you Amish. Come on , I've got to go get my keys but then I'll take you home."

                                                *   *   *  *  

Elise followed Cal onto the elevator and prayed it wouldn't stop. She still wasn't good in small spaces and she didn't think that would change at that moment. They stayed quiet for the first two floors both hoping the same thing without the other knowing; that the power wouldn't go out. Elise sighed deciding it was stupid to think on it for so long.

"Which floor is yours?" She moved closer without realizing it. 

"Fourteen. Are you okay?"

Had he noticed she was shivering? "Fine. Cold," it came out more as a question than a statement.

Cal pulled her into him. "Better?"

She nodding weakly. What was it about him being so close that made her almost lose her mind. She looked up into his grey eyes. Without another thought she closed the distance between his lips and hers. Elise wrapped her arms around his neck just as he turned her back to the wall. Cal pressed her into the wall and deepened the kiss.  They were lost in each other when the elevator slammed to a stop and the doors opened. Elise was tempted to close the doors again until she noticed the older lady staring slag jawed at them in a bright hallway, the generators must have been turned on.

Dressed in an obvious short black wig, a too small red dress with a slit to her hip, red glittered pumps, and makeup much too dark for her age, Mrs. Mansly looked like a p********e who'd seen too many days on the streets. "Well well. And here I thought this building was a respectable place to live, but some rich young brat buys over half the floor and brings in tramps."

"Tramp? Now listen here, you..."

Cal put an hand on her arm, "Mrs. Mansly the only tramp I see is you and my dear I didn't bring you in from the cold even though you've asked many times."

"Well I never!" 

Mrs. Mansly shoved her way passed them into the elevator. Cal pulled Elise out just before the door slammed shut. Cal shook his head and started down the hall. There was a clap of thunder so loud they both jumped. 

Cal laughed, "I guess that was a warning for being rude."

"You weren't wrong though. Where is she going dressed like that at her age any ways?"

Outside the window a flash of lightening hit something causing a crash and a loud pop. Elise jumped away from the noise but felt stupid they were still several feet away from the floor to ceiling window at the end of the hall. The hall lights flashed, grew too bright then died. She forced a scream back down but that didn't stop the reaction to grab for Cal's arm.

"You're alright, love. Remember I said I have perfect night vision. Come on we aren't far from my door."

She followed too close and smashed her face into his back when he stopped suddenly. Ow, gees Elise stop being a freak already. Her thoughts were just a reaction from the embarrassment she felt. Didn't mean they were wrong though, she was acting like a scared child and it was annoying. She rubbed her face. 

"You okay?"

"Yeah, you have a hard back, but I'll..." her words were cut short by an unusual silver flash in his eyes as he turned back to his task. 

Cal opened his door and led her in to a small entrance. "Stay here for a minute. I'll go get some candles."

How can he see to get around, she wondered as she struggled through her weak eyes to see anything but shadows in the room in front of her. Even in my house I wouldn't be able to move around without breaking something or damaging my own body. She was still straining to see when a large lightening bolt lite the room for a brief moment but long enough for her to see a large seating area and art scattered around the room. She heard Cal or who she hoped was Cal in another area of the condo moving around. Elise allowed her fear from the other night rise to the surface. What if the person from the office the other night had broke in and...

"I'll be right there. I forgot where I put the lighter." Cal called from another room. "Ha! Found it."

Elise seen a glow from a flame coming around the corner of the far right side of the room. Cal came around the corner as well and hurried to her side. He handed her a large candelabra. It was too heavy for her to carry in one hand but she wasn't going to complain, it was lighting after all. Cal started to walk away. 

"I'll go go grab the keys and be right back."

Elise found herself not wanting to leave. What could I use for an excuse? "Bathroom?" She smiled shyly, "I'm a little wet."

"Of course." He pointed to a door he'd just walked by. "Towel are on the top shelf of the linen cabinet."

She wanted to ask for spare clothes, but she hated to know if he'd kept other women's clothes in his home. Elise walked carefully to the door. She hefted the candelabra in her left hand and opened the door with her right. She was grateful the counter was close to the door. Setting the holder down she turned and closed the door shrouding the small space in even more darkness than it had been. Elise turned back to the darkness. Hello darkness, my old friend, she thought sarcastically. Her eyes quickly adjusted and she found the towels exactly where Cal said they'd be. 

She laid the towel on the counter next to her light source and leaned down to unbuckle her shoes. Wiggling her toes in the plush rug she unzipped her dress; she wished she had brought her larger bag with a spare set of clothes. She hung the dress over the shower stall door and dried as much of her hair and body as she could. Times like this is when I hate my hair the most. She felt odd taking so much time so she slipped her dress back on and wrapped her hair around it's self to make a knot. Elise walked out and was met with bright over head lights. 

"Oh goodness." She shielded her eyes until they could adjust to the brightness. "Cal?"

"In my bed room," she heard him call from a door across the room.

After blinking a few times she found a table near her and set the candelabra on it but left the candles lit just in case she needed them again. Walking toward a knob close to the entry way she hoped it was the light switch. On a guess she turned it to the left and the lights dimmed to a soft glow. She could see just fine so she pushed her glasses up her nose and looked around. She was studying a painting of what looked like an orgy in, what she thought was an ancient Roman bath house or on a river walk type of area. The more she studied it the more she blushed there was s*x happening or half naked women in over half the picture. Not to mention the few well endowed men in a few areas that deepened her blush. 

But the one person that drew her attention the most was the man in front with a man and a few women. He was dressed in a deep blue rope open to his stomach with a crown of golden leaves around his head. His hair was just slightly shorter than Cal's but the face was the exact same. Dead on. 

"You like it?"

Elise spun around, "You scared me."

Cal grinned apologetically, " I'm sorry."

"It's fine," she furrowed her eye brows and looked from the man in front of her to the one in the painting. "You had yourself painted in the painting?"

She watched Cal studying the painting. "You think one of them looks like me?"

Elise pointed barely inches away from the man in the painting. "Yes I do."

Cal made a face, "Well it is a very old family painting so it's possible I'm related to him."

"Or you're vampire," she giggled as she wondered off. 

                                                  *   *   *   *  * 

Cal almost chocked when Elise joked about him being a vampire. Watching her roam his living room made something inside him unraveled, the secret he cling to so desperately wanted to coming spilling out of his mouth like an avalanche hurling toward the ground. He fought to keep the words back. Not wanting to terrify her when he had to protect her from Cassius and his lacky. 

You can not tell her. No matter what, she mustn't know. His thought rang true, but the more he looked at the small brunette girl in his living room the more his heart said his mind was ignorant and he could trust her. She wouldn't be fearful of him after he told her the truth. Oh, please! She'd run screaming into the night and right into Cassius's waiting snare, no doubt. 

"Your lip is bleeding." 

Wasn't she just across the room? She messed with his head and that wasn't a good thing. He watched as Elise lifted her thumb to his bottom lip and wiped a drop or of blood. Cal took her hand and wiped her thumb off on his shirt. She gave him an odd look, but to his relief did not say anything about his reaction. He was certain it would take more than a drop to do her any effects yet he seen no reason to risk it. He was about to ask if she wanted to go home when a crash and a large explosion shook the building and sent several of his less expensive pieces hurling to the floor; some cracked and others shattered. Elise screamed as the lights went out and a siren blared in the hallway.  

"It's okay. It's probably nothing." Elise leaned into him. He led her to the intercom. "Hello, this is Cal Gaius in fourteen-twenty. What is going on?"

"Yes, sir. We're workin' on getting the electricity back on and getting the sirens off. But there is no real danger to the building. We think a tree hit the main box that controls the generators and electrical."

"Thank you." 

His head was attempting murder to him as he collected Saint and a bag. There was a hotel not far from Elise's that catered to his kind. By the time he was through, Elise collected her purse and shoes, he was ready to go. He grabbed the keys to his old Chevy and locked up the condo. 

"You alright?" 

He could hear her heart pounding harder and hard each flight of stairs they walked down. There were dim yellow security lights every ten feet, but those were surely not enough to ease her fear of the dark. They reached the last flight she was shaking; and not from the activity. He was hopping for her sake the rest of the city had power. 

Elise giggled when he pointed out his old red Chevy, "this is yours?"

"Yes. I bought it after I move here. I realized my nicer cars and SUVs weren't built for all the weather in Oklahoma. So I bought the Chevy just for this type of weather and it handles the random snow storms."

Elise made a sound of agreement as she jumped into the cap. 

The drive was easy going as most people were stranded or staying wherever they were. Cal handled the soaked roads without a hitch. By the time they pulled up to her house the storm still hadn't let up, but at least her lights were on. Cal walked her to the door and a dingy wet cat ran up to meet them. Elise swooped up the cat.

"Oh, Trashy Boy! I forgot you'd gone out this am. Cal, this is the other man in my life," she joked, "This is Trashy."

The big black and tan cat looked up at him with his large green eyes. He rubbed his ear as Elise unlocked her door. The cat batted his hand away with an annoying look and Cal grinned. The lighting cracked across the sky and Elise sighed as she walked in. He followed listening for signs of anyone else.  

"It's going to be a long night."

"Want me to stay?"

"No! I'll be fine. Not my first storm."

"Okay," Cal leaned in and kissed her. He walked back into the rain, "good night."

The lights flared and popped as the went out. "Ok I lied. Stay?" 

"Of course."

                                    *   *   *   *   *

Elise showed him the guest room where he could change out of his jeans then went to get dressed for bed. Saint and Cal made themselves comfortable on her couch as he waited for her. Her cat grumbled and growled about Saint being in his space. Cal shook his head and grinned at the two as he opened his senses allowing the house to tell him things Elise hadn't. He heard her coming into the room and opened his eyes. The street lights were back on and she stood in front of him in a skimpy leopard print number. 

"It's new. You like?"

Do I like it? f**k, I like it so much I think it'd look good on the floor. He nodded, "I do." 

"Good."