PLEASE NOTE: This story takes place just prior to the first Blade movie. Also, I don't know the exact color of Deacon's eyes, I thought they were green but they could easily be blue. But I made them green because I wasn't sure. Also, I am basing this story entirely off of the first movie, I don't know anything else about the story or characters other then what is mentioned in the movie. So if certain facts are missing or whatever, take that into consideration before giving me a hard time. Thanks -Azure
Bound
Pt 1.
Early dawn has a way of being gray while appearing blue at the same time. Tendrils of thin cloud are scattered through the sky as the sun slowly breaks over the edge of the world. Somewhere in the distance a siren lets out a shrill cry as justice rushes to the scene of a crime. Below on the street trucks are beginning to deliver the goods required for another day. In the apartment four floors up just above the alley, a figure stirs from another night of nightmares.
Unwrapping herself from the twisted cocoon of cheap cotton, the girl staggers to the bathroom and leaves the light off as she stares at herself. Pale green eyes stare into the mirror as dark brown hair sticks up around her head.
"Morning to you too."
She grumbles to herself as she turns on the taps running warm water over her hands. "I had a great night, how was yours?" Splashing the water onto her face she rubs her eyes and soaks her hair. Taking a comb to it she tames the mass into something resembling order.
"You up yet?" A masculine voice calls from behind her bedroom door. "Yo, Dale, you awake?"
She sighs to herself as the door opens and a blonde head pokes in. He looks around, his gazing pausing on the rumpled mess of bedclothes. His dark blue eyes zero in on her and a grin dazzles across his face.
"You are early." She leans against the bathroom door and crosses her arms. "Why?"
"I need to head into work early so I thought I would stop by and see you first." He doesn't come into the room only looks at her. "Nice legs, have you been working out again?"
"What do you really want Brandon?"
He sighed. "I need someone to stay at my place today. I have a shipment coming and someone needs to be there to sign for it." He pauses. "Please Dale, I wouldn't ask if it was something I could do myself."
Dale watches his face for a moment, seriously considering saying no. "Oh fine. What time are you going to be home?"
"Sunset."
"Honestly Brandon, what do you do that is so long?"
He grins at her, "I would love to tell you but you wouldn't believe me."
"This coming from the guy who thinks I am normal." Dale shook her head at him.
"You are normal Dale." Brandon's serious tone makes her stare at him. "At least to me you are."
She rolls her eyes, "Okay now get out. I'll sign for your damn thing whatever the hell it is."
"Thanks D, I owe you." Brandon closes the door and a few moments later the apartment door closes behind him.
Dale stands in the washroom doorway staring at the spot where he had been a moment before. She had known Brandon for four years and every once in a while he asked her to do this. Not that it bothered as much as she let on. In truth she liked being in his apartment. Brandon had fascinating things that she had never seen anywhere else.
Dressing in jeans and a black sweater, Dale locks up her apartment and takes the elevator down to the main floor. Her building is connected to his by a corridor of pretty glass and marble floor panels. It's like crossing from old and crumbling to state of the art and flashy, just by going down a hall.
Her fingers play with a single key on her key ring as she crosses the foyer. There is a brass and granite desk to the left against one wall where two guards sit in uniform. They know her on sight now and nod to her as she crosses. Dale returns it as she makes her way to the bay of elevators. There are three in total and each one is a shining brass box of velvet and pearl buttons. According to Brandon they were taken out of a hotel in Europe and shipped over just for this building.
Dale takes up a place behind a couple as they wait for the elevator. Her fingers twirl the key against her skin. Dale looks down at her hand and watches as her fingers dance across it. She frowns at herself and looks up at the couple. Her eyes spot the markings and her hand goes still. On the back of their necks are identical tattoos. They are small, no bigger then two inches tall and an inch wide. But they are plenty big enough for Dale to recognize it, she knew someone else with that mark. Which consisted of three small lines then came two dots followed by a reversed D. That was Brandon's marking. She has seen it by accident once and asked him about it.
"It's a family thing." He had responded dryly and that was the end of it.
At first she had accepted that but then she started seeing other people with that exact mark. Either Brandon had a huge family or he was lying to her. As much as she wanted the truth, Brandon's friendship meant more then she would ever admit. It was just a tattoo that a lot of people had, it didn't mean anything. Right?
Dale stepped into the elevator after the couple and hunched herself into a corner.
"What floor?" The man asked in a deep voice.
"Ah, top floor please." Dale caught the look the woman shot her and was suddenly aware of the corner she as in.
"You live here?" The woman asked dryly.
"No."
"What's on the top floor then?" She asked more forcefully.
Dale looked into her face and saw something under those pretty eyes. Dale watched as the woman went slightly pale and tore her eyes off of Dale.
"That's my business." Dale whispered and no one questioned her again.
Stepping off at the top floor she looked around. There was nothing fancy on the outside. There were exactly three doors to choose from and nothing separated one from the other. No numbers or anything. Just three off white doors with normal door handles. Dale remembered the first time she had shown up at Brandon's door, he had been dressed in black boxers which looked dark against his pale skin. His blonde hair had been tousled and he had been less then pleased to see her. Turns out he had his own company to attend to.
Dale went to the left and unlocked the door with the key she had and stepped into the cool darkness of his place. Just standing in the doorway and you got a sense of space, of comfort. Her right hand reached up and clicked on the lights. The light was a dim wattage bulb in a frosted glass casing, designed for light sensitive eyes. The carpet was a super plush gray color that was like walking on storm clouds. The hall was short and spilled into a sprawling living room with leather furniture and marble coffee tables. There were simple, yet expensive paintings on the wall that were cast in midnight shades. Brandon had installed curtains that were thick enough to be bullet proof and dark enough to eclipse the most determined of sunlight.
At one point she had joked about his curtains. "Why are they bullet proof?"
"It's a requirement." Had been the clipped and cold reply.
Tossing her keys to the silver dish on the couch side table, Dale crossed the living room to the kitchen. This too was spacious and incredible. Everything was state of the art and brand spanking new. Going to the huge refrigerator she pulled both doors open and they spread like wings. Leaving the bottom half closed. And locked. Brandon had warned her never to touch the bottom half and his tone had been enough determent. The top half was all she really wanted anyway. Even though Brandon was hardly ever home he kept a well stocked fridge which Dale had never understood. Everything a person could possibly want was stocked neatly and perfectly organized. She found her favorite choice tucked neatly near the back with her name written on it. That made her smile and then blush. Brandon had thought of her and that meant something to her. No one thought of Dale unless she made them. Most of the time it didn't bother her, but when she found things like this, with her name on it, it reminded her that most people didn't care.
Closing the doors she found a spoon and sat down at the island to eat. The rest of the kitchen was a perfectly neat and precisely organized collection of plates, cups, cooking utensils and beautiful cabinets. They were glass paneled doors with oak casings and brass hands. Bringing warmth to an otherwise cold gray and blue world of polished steel taps and metal drawers that made up the kitchen.
Dale washed her spoon when she was finished and put it back in the correct place. Heading back into the living room she flopped onto the couch and reached for the universal remote. Turning on the television she surfed all two hundred channels aimlessly before switching to the stereo and listening to the latest CD that Brandon had bought. If there was one thing they could agree on unanimously, was music. They both enjoyed the pounding speed of techno and the slow sounds of B.B. King and everything in between. Today he had in a mixed disc that was pleasant to listen to.
Just as she was drifting off into a light sleep her back pocket started to buzz. She twisted herself around and unclipped the pager. Looking at the number she cursed and shook her head. Rolling to her feet she picked up Brandon's phone and dialed her work.
"Dale?"
"Hey Corey, you paged me?"
"Yeah, Vick can't show for his shift tonight, we need someone to cover. Can you possibly come in for a few hours?"
"Sorry Corey, I am in the middle of something pretty important. Besides I'm on vacation, remember?"
"Yeah, but it's really serious. Vick was supposed to do a private party tonight. We need someone experienced to do it." Corey was interrupted by someone.
Dale didn't listen as he talked to them, instead she thought over his offer. "Hey Corey, is it after sunset?"
"Huh? Oh, ah, yeah it is. Why?"
"I might be able to work it in that case."
"Oh great Dale! This would really boost you with the boss." Corey gushed in a lively tone.
Dale bit back her response to that one and said she would do her best to be there. Sinking back into the couch once the call was over she closed her eyes and let herself go.
**
Jerking herself out of another nightmare, Dale looked around frantically at the unfamiliar surroundings. Reality came to her in pieces and she rubbed her face to clear away the remains of the dream. Standing up she looked at her watch and frowned. Sunset was two hours away and that thing had come yet.
As she yawned and stretched out her kinks there came a knock at the door. She stood still and listened carefully. There was a rule against answering the door so she listened again. The knock came again and was repeated in a pattern. Her shoulders relaxed and she moved to open the door. Peeking out first at who was there; a huge black man in complete black and cornrows. She arched a brow at that but unlocked the door. The man paused when he saw her and looked around the place.
"Brandon authorized me to sign." She said and waved him in.
The guy looked at her again before entering and he went straight to the kitchen. Dale didn't follow him, she lingered by the door and listened to sounds of something moving and lifting, the sounds a lock clicking and then a snapping sound. The man made his way back to her and handed her a clipboard with the receipt to sign. She did and he ripped off a copy of it.
'Thanks." She said and closed the door behind.
Locking it she went to the kitchen placed the receipt on the island along with a note she scribbled to Brandon. Grabbing her keys she left the apartment and waited for the elevator. Her foot tapped quickly against the black stone floor as she stared at the elevator door. There came a ding and she stepped in. Pressing the pearl buttons she felt herself drop to the main floor where she stepped out and waved to the guards as she left.
Slamming her door shut she hurried to her room and jumped in the shower. Her place by comparison to Brandon was small, old and pathetic. Her living room was part of her kitchen and her bathroom was half of her bedroom. She didn't have a vista view of anything but the alley and that was less then charming. There were no shining silver taps or pearl buttons here. Just thread bare carpets and creaky faucets. But it was home and that was all that mattered most days. Brandon may have the gold but he didn't have a home like she did.
Her work uniform consisted of black skirt, white blouse, black tie and black shoes. Being that tonight she was doing a private party she added the rest of her regalia. Cufflinks, tie tack, black vest with the company crest and pocket watch. Each piece had come over the years as she was promoted through the ranks. Starting at server, then waitress, then up to hostess, then shift manager, floor manager and now she was room manager. There were three rooms at the country club where she worked. She was the manager of the second most coveted room in the club. Shrugging on a light coat she pocketed her keys and swept out of the apartment. This time she bypassed the hall and stepped right out onto the street. She hailed a cab and away she went.
Dale stepped out at the employee entrance of the club and swiped her pass key through the lock. The door popped and she pulled it open. There was a rush of activity around her she made her way to the 'check-in booth'. She paused at the entrance when she saw Corey shouting into his headset.
"Someone get over to the Oak floor and help Melanie with the Kramer table." Corey scribbled something on the clipboard that was permanently attached to his hand. "No! We need the Kennedy table clothes in the Silver room for the Pearson party."
Dale grinned despite herself. "I leave you alone for two days and this place is already falling apart."
Corey spun around and practically fell at her feet. "Oh thank God! This is just insane. It's like everyone has forgotten how to do their jobs."
Dale took the clip board from him and flipped through it. "Well no wonder, you have all the rookies on the same floor." She eyed him. "Maybe it's you that's forgotten Corey." She teased him lightly and he smiled at her. "Give me that thing." She took Corey's headset and clipped it to her belt as she shrugged off her coat.
"Okay everyone listen up." Dale looked once more at the clipboard. "Jeffery and Alice move to Oak floor, Martin and Scott take the reins on the White floor. All of you that have yet to complete your orientation listen closely: The managers are there to help you with things so don't argue with them."
Corey would have kissed her had she let him but instead she shoved the clipboard in his face. "Thanks again." He said.
"Yeah, yeah."
Dale took her coat from him and stepped into the employee room. Hanging her coat up and resetting the headset for her room she adjusted it to fit her head. Gathering up her personal clipboard and punching in, Dale left the room and used the back halls to quickly find her way to the room she managed.
It was peaceful and quiet as the party had yet to arrive. The floor was a silver carpet that accented the light colored wood on the walls. Double chandeliers glittered from the ceiling and two dozen tables sat waiting for her. Through the main doors her team came to muster and she inspected each one. Setting them to their tasks she checked over the bar, the sound system and the work of each table.
"Dale, this is Corey." Corey's voice filled her ears. "I have a call for you from Brandon."
"Put him through." Dale paused as the line hissed and then was quiet. "Hi."
"Hey, thanks so much. I owe you big time D." Brandon's voice was sexy over the phone and this was no exception. "I heard you met someone in the elevator today."
"How....oh never mind you probably wouldn't tell me anyway." That earned a laugh from him.
"It's a small building Dale."
"Yeah okay. Why'd you call?"
"I want to thank you by taking you out to dinner after work. You up for that?"
Dale stomped on the sudden urge to giggle and jump up and down. "I think it could be arranged. I am working a private party so I might be a little longer then usual tonight."
"No problem, I'll wait." Brandon's tone was purring into her brain and making her turn red. "By the way, what did you do in the elevator today? I mean it must have been something to spook Clair like that."
"I just....looked at her." Dale fibbed and Brandon was quiet for a moment.
"See you tonight then." Brandon hung up and Dale stood staring at her clipboard.
He had known she was lying and that bothered her, a lot. But what was she supposed to say? The truth? No way, Brandon would never understand that, at least not this truth.
"Dale?" A voice called to her from across the room. "I need help with something."
Dale shook off her thoughts and refused to think of it again.
Bound
Pt 1.
Early dawn has a way of being gray while appearing blue at the same time. Tendrils of thin cloud are scattered through the sky as the sun slowly breaks over the edge of the world. Somewhere in the distance a siren lets out a shrill cry as justice rushes to the scene of a crime. Below on the street trucks are beginning to deliver the goods required for another day. In the apartment four floors up just above the alley, a figure stirs from another night of nightmares.
Unwrapping herself from the twisted cocoon of cheap cotton, the girl staggers to the bathroom and leaves the light off as she stares at herself. Pale green eyes stare into the mirror as dark brown hair sticks up around her head.
"Morning to you too."
She grumbles to herself as she turns on the taps running warm water over her hands. "I had a great night, how was yours?" Splashing the water onto her face she rubs her eyes and soaks her hair. Taking a comb to it she tames the mass into something resembling order.
"You up yet?" A masculine voice calls from behind her bedroom door. "Yo, Dale, you awake?"
She sighs to herself as the door opens and a blonde head pokes in. He looks around, his gazing pausing on the rumpled mess of bedclothes. His dark blue eyes zero in on her and a grin dazzles across his face.
"You are early." She leans against the bathroom door and crosses her arms. "Why?"
"I need to head into work early so I thought I would stop by and see you first." He doesn't come into the room only looks at her. "Nice legs, have you been working out again?"
"What do you really want Brandon?"
He sighed. "I need someone to stay at my place today. I have a shipment coming and someone needs to be there to sign for it." He pauses. "Please Dale, I wouldn't ask if it was something I could do myself."
Dale watches his face for a moment, seriously considering saying no. "Oh fine. What time are you going to be home?"
"Sunset."
"Honestly Brandon, what do you do that is so long?"
He grins at her, "I would love to tell you but you wouldn't believe me."
"This coming from the guy who thinks I am normal." Dale shook her head at him.
"You are normal Dale." Brandon's serious tone makes her stare at him. "At least to me you are."
She rolls her eyes, "Okay now get out. I'll sign for your damn thing whatever the hell it is."
"Thanks D, I owe you." Brandon closes the door and a few moments later the apartment door closes behind him.
Dale stands in the washroom doorway staring at the spot where he had been a moment before. She had known Brandon for four years and every once in a while he asked her to do this. Not that it bothered as much as she let on. In truth she liked being in his apartment. Brandon had fascinating things that she had never seen anywhere else.
Dressing in jeans and a black sweater, Dale locks up her apartment and takes the elevator down to the main floor. Her building is connected to his by a corridor of pretty glass and marble floor panels. It's like crossing from old and crumbling to state of the art and flashy, just by going down a hall.
Her fingers play with a single key on her key ring as she crosses the foyer. There is a brass and granite desk to the left against one wall where two guards sit in uniform. They know her on sight now and nod to her as she crosses. Dale returns it as she makes her way to the bay of elevators. There are three in total and each one is a shining brass box of velvet and pearl buttons. According to Brandon they were taken out of a hotel in Europe and shipped over just for this building.
Dale takes up a place behind a couple as they wait for the elevator. Her fingers twirl the key against her skin. Dale looks down at her hand and watches as her fingers dance across it. She frowns at herself and looks up at the couple. Her eyes spot the markings and her hand goes still. On the back of their necks are identical tattoos. They are small, no bigger then two inches tall and an inch wide. But they are plenty big enough for Dale to recognize it, she knew someone else with that mark. Which consisted of three small lines then came two dots followed by a reversed D. That was Brandon's marking. She has seen it by accident once and asked him about it.
"It's a family thing." He had responded dryly and that was the end of it.
At first she had accepted that but then she started seeing other people with that exact mark. Either Brandon had a huge family or he was lying to her. As much as she wanted the truth, Brandon's friendship meant more then she would ever admit. It was just a tattoo that a lot of people had, it didn't mean anything. Right?
Dale stepped into the elevator after the couple and hunched herself into a corner.
"What floor?" The man asked in a deep voice.
"Ah, top floor please." Dale caught the look the woman shot her and was suddenly aware of the corner she as in.
"You live here?" The woman asked dryly.
"No."
"What's on the top floor then?" She asked more forcefully.
Dale looked into her face and saw something under those pretty eyes. Dale watched as the woman went slightly pale and tore her eyes off of Dale.
"That's my business." Dale whispered and no one questioned her again.
Stepping off at the top floor she looked around. There was nothing fancy on the outside. There were exactly three doors to choose from and nothing separated one from the other. No numbers or anything. Just three off white doors with normal door handles. Dale remembered the first time she had shown up at Brandon's door, he had been dressed in black boxers which looked dark against his pale skin. His blonde hair had been tousled and he had been less then pleased to see her. Turns out he had his own company to attend to.
Dale went to the left and unlocked the door with the key she had and stepped into the cool darkness of his place. Just standing in the doorway and you got a sense of space, of comfort. Her right hand reached up and clicked on the lights. The light was a dim wattage bulb in a frosted glass casing, designed for light sensitive eyes. The carpet was a super plush gray color that was like walking on storm clouds. The hall was short and spilled into a sprawling living room with leather furniture and marble coffee tables. There were simple, yet expensive paintings on the wall that were cast in midnight shades. Brandon had installed curtains that were thick enough to be bullet proof and dark enough to eclipse the most determined of sunlight.
At one point she had joked about his curtains. "Why are they bullet proof?"
"It's a requirement." Had been the clipped and cold reply.
Tossing her keys to the silver dish on the couch side table, Dale crossed the living room to the kitchen. This too was spacious and incredible. Everything was state of the art and brand spanking new. Going to the huge refrigerator she pulled both doors open and they spread like wings. Leaving the bottom half closed. And locked. Brandon had warned her never to touch the bottom half and his tone had been enough determent. The top half was all she really wanted anyway. Even though Brandon was hardly ever home he kept a well stocked fridge which Dale had never understood. Everything a person could possibly want was stocked neatly and perfectly organized. She found her favorite choice tucked neatly near the back with her name written on it. That made her smile and then blush. Brandon had thought of her and that meant something to her. No one thought of Dale unless she made them. Most of the time it didn't bother her, but when she found things like this, with her name on it, it reminded her that most people didn't care.
Closing the doors she found a spoon and sat down at the island to eat. The rest of the kitchen was a perfectly neat and precisely organized collection of plates, cups, cooking utensils and beautiful cabinets. They were glass paneled doors with oak casings and brass hands. Bringing warmth to an otherwise cold gray and blue world of polished steel taps and metal drawers that made up the kitchen.
Dale washed her spoon when she was finished and put it back in the correct place. Heading back into the living room she flopped onto the couch and reached for the universal remote. Turning on the television she surfed all two hundred channels aimlessly before switching to the stereo and listening to the latest CD that Brandon had bought. If there was one thing they could agree on unanimously, was music. They both enjoyed the pounding speed of techno and the slow sounds of B.B. King and everything in between. Today he had in a mixed disc that was pleasant to listen to.
Just as she was drifting off into a light sleep her back pocket started to buzz. She twisted herself around and unclipped the pager. Looking at the number she cursed and shook her head. Rolling to her feet she picked up Brandon's phone and dialed her work.
"Dale?"
"Hey Corey, you paged me?"
"Yeah, Vick can't show for his shift tonight, we need someone to cover. Can you possibly come in for a few hours?"
"Sorry Corey, I am in the middle of something pretty important. Besides I'm on vacation, remember?"
"Yeah, but it's really serious. Vick was supposed to do a private party tonight. We need someone experienced to do it." Corey was interrupted by someone.
Dale didn't listen as he talked to them, instead she thought over his offer. "Hey Corey, is it after sunset?"
"Huh? Oh, ah, yeah it is. Why?"
"I might be able to work it in that case."
"Oh great Dale! This would really boost you with the boss." Corey gushed in a lively tone.
Dale bit back her response to that one and said she would do her best to be there. Sinking back into the couch once the call was over she closed her eyes and let herself go.
**
Jerking herself out of another nightmare, Dale looked around frantically at the unfamiliar surroundings. Reality came to her in pieces and she rubbed her face to clear away the remains of the dream. Standing up she looked at her watch and frowned. Sunset was two hours away and that thing had come yet.
As she yawned and stretched out her kinks there came a knock at the door. She stood still and listened carefully. There was a rule against answering the door so she listened again. The knock came again and was repeated in a pattern. Her shoulders relaxed and she moved to open the door. Peeking out first at who was there; a huge black man in complete black and cornrows. She arched a brow at that but unlocked the door. The man paused when he saw her and looked around the place.
"Brandon authorized me to sign." She said and waved him in.
The guy looked at her again before entering and he went straight to the kitchen. Dale didn't follow him, she lingered by the door and listened to sounds of something moving and lifting, the sounds a lock clicking and then a snapping sound. The man made his way back to her and handed her a clipboard with the receipt to sign. She did and he ripped off a copy of it.
'Thanks." She said and closed the door behind.
Locking it she went to the kitchen placed the receipt on the island along with a note she scribbled to Brandon. Grabbing her keys she left the apartment and waited for the elevator. Her foot tapped quickly against the black stone floor as she stared at the elevator door. There came a ding and she stepped in. Pressing the pearl buttons she felt herself drop to the main floor where she stepped out and waved to the guards as she left.
Slamming her door shut she hurried to her room and jumped in the shower. Her place by comparison to Brandon was small, old and pathetic. Her living room was part of her kitchen and her bathroom was half of her bedroom. She didn't have a vista view of anything but the alley and that was less then charming. There were no shining silver taps or pearl buttons here. Just thread bare carpets and creaky faucets. But it was home and that was all that mattered most days. Brandon may have the gold but he didn't have a home like she did.
Her work uniform consisted of black skirt, white blouse, black tie and black shoes. Being that tonight she was doing a private party she added the rest of her regalia. Cufflinks, tie tack, black vest with the company crest and pocket watch. Each piece had come over the years as she was promoted through the ranks. Starting at server, then waitress, then up to hostess, then shift manager, floor manager and now she was room manager. There were three rooms at the country club where she worked. She was the manager of the second most coveted room in the club. Shrugging on a light coat she pocketed her keys and swept out of the apartment. This time she bypassed the hall and stepped right out onto the street. She hailed a cab and away she went.
Dale stepped out at the employee entrance of the club and swiped her pass key through the lock. The door popped and she pulled it open. There was a rush of activity around her she made her way to the 'check-in booth'. She paused at the entrance when she saw Corey shouting into his headset.
"Someone get over to the Oak floor and help Melanie with the Kramer table." Corey scribbled something on the clipboard that was permanently attached to his hand. "No! We need the Kennedy table clothes in the Silver room for the Pearson party."
Dale grinned despite herself. "I leave you alone for two days and this place is already falling apart."
Corey spun around and practically fell at her feet. "Oh thank God! This is just insane. It's like everyone has forgotten how to do their jobs."
Dale took the clip board from him and flipped through it. "Well no wonder, you have all the rookies on the same floor." She eyed him. "Maybe it's you that's forgotten Corey." She teased him lightly and he smiled at her. "Give me that thing." She took Corey's headset and clipped it to her belt as she shrugged off her coat.
"Okay everyone listen up." Dale looked once more at the clipboard. "Jeffery and Alice move to Oak floor, Martin and Scott take the reins on the White floor. All of you that have yet to complete your orientation listen closely: The managers are there to help you with things so don't argue with them."
Corey would have kissed her had she let him but instead she shoved the clipboard in his face. "Thanks again." He said.
"Yeah, yeah."
Dale took her coat from him and stepped into the employee room. Hanging her coat up and resetting the headset for her room she adjusted it to fit her head. Gathering up her personal clipboard and punching in, Dale left the room and used the back halls to quickly find her way to the room she managed.
It was peaceful and quiet as the party had yet to arrive. The floor was a silver carpet that accented the light colored wood on the walls. Double chandeliers glittered from the ceiling and two dozen tables sat waiting for her. Through the main doors her team came to muster and she inspected each one. Setting them to their tasks she checked over the bar, the sound system and the work of each table.
"Dale, this is Corey." Corey's voice filled her ears. "I have a call for you from Brandon."
"Put him through." Dale paused as the line hissed and then was quiet. "Hi."
"Hey, thanks so much. I owe you big time D." Brandon's voice was sexy over the phone and this was no exception. "I heard you met someone in the elevator today."
"How....oh never mind you probably wouldn't tell me anyway." That earned a laugh from him.
"It's a small building Dale."
"Yeah okay. Why'd you call?"
"I want to thank you by taking you out to dinner after work. You up for that?"
Dale stomped on the sudden urge to giggle and jump up and down. "I think it could be arranged. I am working a private party so I might be a little longer then usual tonight."
"No problem, I'll wait." Brandon's tone was purring into her brain and making her turn red. "By the way, what did you do in the elevator today? I mean it must have been something to spook Clair like that."
"I just....looked at her." Dale fibbed and Brandon was quiet for a moment.
"See you tonight then." Brandon hung up and Dale stood staring at her clipboard.
He had known she was lying and that bothered her, a lot. But what was she supposed to say? The truth? No way, Brandon would never understand that, at least not this truth.
"Dale?" A voice called to her from across the room. "I need help with something."
Dale shook off her thoughts and refused to think of it again.