Disclaimer: I own nothing and am making no profit from this piece of fanfiction.
Feedback is grealty encouraged, good or bad or something in between - just leave it!
This story was driven into my head after I watched Obsessed with Ali Larter, I had to write it. If you haven't seen the movie - go rent it or something, seriously! At least youtube the trailer so you're not completly lost here.
And finally, I would be nowhere without my beta for this work - cantholdon, who may be the most awesome person ever (but I'm pretty sure they are). You rock!
Limerence – an involuntary state of mind resulting from a romantic attraction for another person combined with an overwhelming, obsessive need to have one's feelings reciprocated.
Chapter 1: Admiration
December 1, 2010
Beautiful. Amazing. Attractive. Wonderful. Breathtaking. Perfect. How else can I describe the Angel that walked into my life today? Or rather, I think I walked into hers, but does it matter? She's the one I've been waiting for.
The blare of an alarm threaded its way into Alice's dream and roused her. The black sheets shuffled as the man beside her rolled over in the expensive bed.
"Fuck. What time is it?" he asked drowsily.
"Hm, 5:00 a.m." The blonde woman yawned and smiled. "Same time the alarm always goes off."
"I hate your job."
Alice laughed as Spence climbed on top of her playfully. She brought her mouth up to his and bit his lower lip teasingly. When she rested her head back on the pillow he came down to claim her lips. The blonde loved passionate mornings like this, but it couldn't continue. Alice put an end to Spence's seduction with reluctance.
"Right now – I hate my job too, but you know I have to go do it."
Spence sighed in disappointment and moved off his wife.
The blonde woman took a fast shower and was out the door by 6:00. Out the door being: never leaving the mansion, but descending to the underground laboratory beneath it. She rarely wore her combat suit to the Hive anymore, thanks to her promotion to Head of Security. So today she was dressed in simple slacks and a dark jacket, however, she never went anywhere without her combat pistol. The most exciting part of her job these days was finding new places to conceal the weapon according to her outfit. She didn't regret her work though or the fat paycheck it provided.
The descent to the Hive by train took a little time, so she went over everything that needed to be accomplished in the day. First was a meeting with Wesker, then she had to interview a few replacements for her pregnant assistant who was about to go on leave, after that it was the run of the mill business that concluded every day.
Her office was on the lowest tier of the main facility, lower still were two other miniature hive complexes. Above her office were the majority of the labs, offices, and board rooms; beneath her was where the more top-secret experiments were conducted as well as the security systems core component, the hardware for the Red Queen, was located. The Red Queen was Alice's pride and joy. It was the artificial intelligence software she designed that got her promoted.
When Alice passed through multiple security checks, and finally got to tier eight she saw her assistant hang up the phone on her desk.
"Good morning Jill," Alice greeted.
"Good morning boss," the black-haired woman smiled as she spoke. "Chairman Wesker is waiting for you in your office."
The blonde sighed. Wesker was a tough leader; concerned only with progress and profit. Today's meeting was supposed to just be a standard check up, but if a projection of Wesker was waiting for her in her office instead of the boardroom, than the conversation they were about to have was likely not going to go well for Alice.
Before Alice approached the locked, shaded-glass door to her office she asked Jill, "how many temps am I interviewing today?"
"Well three, but I think you'll be sold on the woman I told you about last week," Jill said as she rose from the front desk with a manila folder in her hand destined for her boss. Alice couldn't help but look at her assistant's bulging belly. She was past eight months pregnant, and she looked like she was going to pop. The blonde walked towards Jill to keep her from going too far and took the folder.
"Your sister-in-law right?"
Jill smiled as she answered, "yes, you're going to love her. She's a hard worker."
"Well you know I trust your judgment, so consider her hired," Alice riffled through the contents of the file as she spoke, inside were papers on the applicants, "but we should probably go through the motions with them all anyways."
"Very good, Alice."
The papers on Jill's sister-in-law were the last in the file and as Alice studied the face she asked, "was she at your wedding?"
"No, and Chris was so disappointed," Jill smiled at the mention of her husband. "The two are pretty close. I'm kind of surprised now that you haven't met her yet."
Alice shrugged, and then grimaced as she said, "I suppose I shouldn't keep Wesker any longer." She walked over to her door as Jill spoke up.
"Don't forget on the 11th we're celebrating your birthday at the Arcadia."
Alice smiled good-naturedly, "I won't." She swiped her security card and then entered the five-digit code to gain access to her office. As Jill had promised, Wesker's projection was sitting in her seat, impatiently tapping his fingers on her desk. Alice found it off-putting; he must have had his own desk in front of him that was the exact same height as hers.
"Good morning Chairman Wesker," she greeted with proper courtesy.
"Mrs. Parks," Wesker nodded his head and Alice watched as the light from his own office shifted on the reflective surface of his dark sunglasses. She hated conferring with people this way; she would much prefer meeting with someone face to face and in the flesh. "Let's get down to business shall we? The Science Division in Death Valley is sending over a lab group to see what they can make of Progenitor virus."
The Progenitor virus – invented at her facility by Dr. Ashford. It had huge potential for the medical field with its regenerative properties, but had yet to be applied to that discipline or any discipline for that matter. It was too new, and too untested.
"It is your objective to make sure the team arrives to the Hive safely. Dr. Isaacs is the number one priority. Confirm," Wesker commanded.
"Understood sir."
"I'll send over the details soon." The projection of her boss faded away quickly and Alice breathed a sigh of relief. They hadn't gone through their normal meeting protocol, but the blonde had nothing new to report anyways.
Alice threw the file onto her organized desk, and went back into the foyer where Jill awaited her.
"Was it bad?" Jill asked sincerely.
Alice shook her head. "Wesker is going to be sending over some information soon," she mocked and Jill grinned. The two always made of fun of Wesker to relieve some of the tension working with him created. "Just send in the first temp when they arrive. Confirm," Alice jeered again.
"Understood ma'am," Jill mock saluted and Alice chuckled.
The first temp entered promptly at 10:00 a.m. Alice was sitting at her desk typing furiously at her laptop when a blonde – the epitome of her stereotype – walked in her office. She certainly looked the part; she was young with big boobs, long hair, and a perky stride. This temp wasn't going to last minute. The interview went just as the Head of Security had predicted – to shit, and it even made her regret the decision to dye her hair from its natural brown.
The next temp was even worse. Alice had absolutely nothing against gay men, but this one was way too energetic and loud. The Head of Security didn't do noise and she didn't do gossip, which was all the man wanted to discuss. She thanked him for his interview, and followed him through the door to approach Jill. She walked behind the black-haired woman and whispered into her ear so the gay temp couldn't hear as he paraded out.
"I'm beginning to wonder if you sent me these…people, so I'd be forced to pick your sister-in-law as your replacement." Alice pulled back as Jill looked absolutely appalled and put a hand on her chest dramatically.
"Are you accusing me of abusing my powers to further the career a family member?"
The blonde woman folded her arms as she raised an eyebrow and Jill laughed.
"That is exactly what I am accusing you of Valentine. You better hope she isn't better at your job than you are," Alice teased, "or I may just make her your permanent…"
The blonde didn't finish her statement because just then the next temp had arrived. She was something else. Her red hair was pulled back into a ponytail and she wore a simple blouse, dark skirt, and heels. But what Alice liked most was that the temp didn't seem like she could chat her ear off, in fact, she looked rather smart and sophisticated.
Jill spoke to her in-law first, "hi Claire," then turned to Alice. "Mrs. Parks this is Ms. Redfield."
The redhead walked up to Alice and held out her hand; the blonde shook it with due formality and said, "why don't we talk in my office."
The two women stepped into the space; Alice sat at her chair and motioned for the temp to sit in the one across from her desk.
"Thank you for taking the time to see me Mrs. Parks," the redhead said.
Alice waved the procedures off, "you can just call me Alice. Jill speaks very highly of you."
Claire looked surprised. "She does? Oh, I hope I don't let her down. I mean that is assuming I even get the job, and if I keep talking like this I certainly won't…"
The blonde ginned and said reassuringly, "I'm sure you won't let her down."
"So I'm hired?"
Alice nodded, and Claire's smile glowed with radiance. The blonde rose from her chair and the redhead copied her.
"Now let's go talk to that sister-in-law of yours and work out the details."
"Yes, Mrs-"
Alice raised a playful eyebrow at the temp.
"I mean – yes, Alice." The two shared another smile and left the room.
As the women exited Alice's office, Jill got up from her seat careful not to jar her pregnant belly too much. She looked at Claire and saw the woman's bright mood.
"She's hired," Alice said though she was certain Jill didn't need the clarification. "I want Claire to shadow you for the rest of the week," she turned to the redhead suddenly, "that is if you can start right away?"
"Of course," Claire replied.
"Excellent."