Maistas
by xXFoodForThoughtXx
-H-
Irena sat in the waiting room of Dr. Hannibal Lector's office. It was immaculately decorated, she has been told the man had miraculous taste but, wow, just wow. She had dressed her best, hoping to be impressive to the good doctor. She was wearing a white, tight fitted, strapless dress with silver accents along the top chest area. Her bright, platinum blonde hair was pulled back in a tight bun and her bangs were poofed up high, her lips were colored red, she had lined the top and bottom of her eyelids and wore a ton of mascara to extend her lashes sky high. She inhaled and exhaled deeply, tapping her silver 6 inch pumps anxiously on the floor. She couldn't take this anymore.
The blonde woman stood up and began to walk round the room, she traded tapping her feet for tapping the left side of her collarbone with her right hand. An old nervous habit. She was thankful none of Dr. Lector's patients were around, they would have probably thought she was more insane then more most them. Mean. Irena sighed, she couldn't think that way if she was to get a job here.
She heard the click of a door unlocking and then heard the door swing open behind her, snapping her out of her self-chastising. She turned to see, who she could only assume to be, Dr. Hannibal Lector. They had never met in person but what he had heard about him was true. He was quite a few years older than herself, probably about 10 years give or take. He was handsome regardless and well dressed. He wore a black suit with wine red pinstripes on it, under his suit jacked was a matching vest, and under hat was a red silk shirt that matched his silk pocket square, he also threw in a black, red and silver paisley tie. Everything matched perfectly. Irena could tell this man was a perfectionist, she hoped she could live up to his immaculate standards.
"Miss Irena Pierce?" he called. He had an accent, Lithuanian from what she had heard from the clucks of other woman who had been sitting in the waiting room earlier, waiting to be interview for the position of being the prestigious Dr. Lector's secretary. She had manged to miss the other 5 times he'd called someone into his office. She had either been in the bathroom double or triple checking her make, or outside, trying to clear her head and get rid of her nerves. They hadn't gone anywhere and now they were worse ow that she had seen the good doctor.
She nodded and then a shakey 'yes' stumbled out of her mouth. Her face flushed, and she smiled at him. He smiled back a reassuring smile, making her feel much less embarrassed. Be yourself.
"Well then Miss Pierce, come in," he gestured for her to come into his office. She glanced around at all the books, the art work, the way the room was decorated. He gestured for her to sit in one of the black lather chairs he used for patients. He went over to his desk and shuffled through some paper work.
"I'm sorry to inform you miss pierce but I've misplaced some of your paper work, I believe is upstairs tucked in one of my books. Feel free to look around if you wish." and with that he quickly ascended his rolling ladder to search the in his books.
Irena couldn't help but wonder if it was a bad thing that he was using her resume and application as a book mark. She tried to shrug it off and got out of her chair and glanced around the room. She walked around, starting at the tomes and books of medicine, the sculptures but then something caught her eye. Something on Dr. Lector's desk.
It was a newspaper, but the article on the front was quite gruesome and also currently on the front page of every news paper in America. The story was about girls being abducted by a serial killer, so far he was known as the 'Minnesota Shrike' and all the girls he took all fit a similar profile. Irena had been so enthralled by reading the articled she was actually bent over the psychiatrists desk, resting her hand under her chin while reading.
Hannibal observed the young woman from the second story of his study. He had actually left all the candidates information up there today and observed what they did while they waited for him. Some had poked around his office, one or two had opened books, one had even peaked inside his desk but this one's interested in the paper on his desk. That made him smile, this Irena had an interest not only in being his secretary but also seemed to be enthralled by the criminally insane. A small crooked smile came across his face.
What a surprise this woman, who liked little more than a Marilyn Monroe double, would be the one to take interest in the newspaper with a serial killer splashed across the front page in all its black and white glory. It made him wonder what Miss Irena Sophia Pierce had in that little blonde head of hers.
He made his way down the ladder and snuck up, not unintentionally, on his last candidate for the day. He cleared his throat, loudly, and she jumped up and gasped, grabbing her chest where her heart would be. She was scared, frightened of how he was perceiving her at this moment.
"I am so, sorry," she began but he held up his hand is a 'stop' motion. She started at him like a deer in headlights.
"No need to apologize Miss Pierce. I'm happy you were only reading a newspaper on my desk. Unfortunately, one of you peers decided it was good form for an interview to go through my desk while I was away for a moment."
Irena breathed a bit easier knowing that. She was pretty sure he could physically see herself becoming more calm with the awkward situation she was put in.
"I can't believe she did that." was all Irena managed to say about the comment he made. Hannibal said nothing more but gestured for the young lady to sit in one of his black chairs, he sat in the one opposite her with her papers on his lap.
"So, Miss Pierce-" he was cut off before he could even finish his sentence
"You may call me Irena, Dr. Lector."
He cleared his throat, "Well then, Irena," he paused a moment quickly glancing over her paper work. One thing particularly caught his eyes.
"This says you have your Bachelors degree in psychology."
He said it as a fact, a statement. Irena was quite sure how to react.
"Yes, I do Dr. Lector."
"Why didn't you purse it further?"
Irena began to fidget with her hands. Feeling uncomfortable with the subject. With what had happened. "I had originally planned on it but I had a bad experience at college and I never ended up returning."
Hannibal merely nodded, not wanting to push the young lady anymore. They idly chatted together for about 15 more minutes. He asked all the appropriate questions a future employer would ask a potential employee but Hannibal Lector had already made up his mind. This young woman would be his secretary. She was an interesting specimen and if she proved not to be or troublesome in anyway, well, at least she would make a lovely meal.
"So then Miss Irena, I would like you to start on Monday if you thats aright with you" Dr Lector said as he stood up from his chair.
"Yes, I would love to, that's wonderful! Thank you Doctor." She said, extended her hand for a handshake. He took her hand and grasped it firmly.
"You may call me Hannibal, Irena." he said as he shook her hand.
Doctor Lector then grabbed his coat from the back of his desk chair. "Come with me, I will show you the back way out." He said.
"Actually, I had someone who was going to pick me up out front, if you don't mind."
"Of course not. Boyfriend?" he asked as he opened the door back to the waiting room, and contiuned escorting her to the front door.
She laughed, as though her having a boyfriend was a bad joke. "No Doctor L-"
"Hannibal, Irena, please I insist."
"Hannibal," she corrected herself. "It actually my brother and my little niece Maria."
He nodded and opened the door and saw a silver minivan with a little blonde haired girl with curly locks in the back seat and a man with slicked back, black hair. The only similarly he would see between the man and Irena was the eye color, bright blue.
"Is he your half or step brother?" Hannibal asked offhandedly as she walked out the door.
"Uh, half" she said slightly uncomfortable that he noticed they had no psychically similarities. Our father led an active social life. But, have yo get going Do- Hannibal. Have a nice night." she said as she walked out to the van, her high heels hitting the pavement rhythmically as she walked away.
"I will Miss Pierce." He said simply, but she was already out of hearing range.