Chapter 3
Kylo cleared his throat in irritation to get the attention of his new keeper "Well let's see the place." He said shrugging.
Colby's eyes darted to him, she'd been standing outside the door, hand on the knob, deep in thought. She stood up straight, shoulder's back. I'm not about to make a fool of myself in front of my boss's very handsome son she thought to herself.
"Okay well, as you can see there's really not that much to see." Colby said, gesturing to the relatively bare open office. By then most of the staffers had filtered out and only a handful of people were still at their desks. Colby pointed towards the back "There's the kitchen, my office is by the back door over there. Mar, the campaign manager, her office is next to your mother's. Other than us everybody else works out here." She finished, gesturing to the mass of desk space currently occupied by a few interns and reporters from the press pool working late into the evening.
"Your press guy doesn't have an office?" Kylo said in surprise. Colby looked up at him quizzically "No uh, Mr. Dameron is usually traveling so he let me use his old space actually. Not like it matters though, we'll be out of here soon enough." She finished with hopeful satisfaction.
"I take it you're not a huge fan of Des Moines?" Kylo asked, moving to face her. Colby arched an eyebrow and began to walk Kylo around the admittedly bare office space "are you a fan of Des Moines?" she responded caustically. Kylo gave a light chuckle "I'm not, no. You're right, who is?" he answered. "It's a shame the campaigns have to stay here for so long." He said, pausing to look out the wide windows in the front which showed only a strip mall parking lot and a passable view of Downtown Des Moines.
"You're telling me." Colby huffed "I've been living out of Holiday Inns for the better part of a year."
Kylo gave her a sympathetic look as they passed Colby's office where she grabbed her coat, and by then they'd come full circle, both standing by the front doors. "Well if that's all..?" Kylo asked looking as though he was ready to leave. Colby nodded, disappointed that their time together had been so short. Before she could stop herself she blurted out a question.
"Look I don't want to pry but I have to know what's going on." She said quickly.
"What do you mean?" Kylo asked tightly, taken aback by the audacity of auburn haired busybody he was looking down at.
Colby started fiddling with a petite crescent moon charm on her wrist before mustering the courage to continue her questioning "Okay so, I understand keeping a son hidden from the media would be a big deal right? What I don't understand is why you need supervision? Why you changed your name, and why you and Secretary Solo seem to be at each other's throats? Maybe it's none of my business, no it really isn't any of my business, but I I'd like to know what I'm dealing with if I'm supposed to have the ridiculous title of 'Kylo Liaison' on top of all the other work I'm doing." Colby felt a blush rise to her face as she realized how far she'd just overstepped.
Kylo looked at her incredulously until she stammered out "Uh-uh I'm so sorry, that was totally inappropriate. I can't believe I just..."
Before she finished Kylo threw back his head in a fit of light laughter "look," he said, composing himself and moving to open the door "I get why you're asking, my mother and I clearly don't get along. Step outside with me." Kylo motioned for her to exit with him and her blush deepened.
They both stepped into the frigid air of a January evening, Colby pulled her jacket around her tightly and looked up in concern at Kylo, dressed in only a slim charcoal suit. "You must be freezing…" she said.
Kylo looked at her reproachfully "I'll be fine." he said, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his pocket. Hands cupped at his cheeks, the glow of lighter illuminating him, he lit his cigarette. Exhaling smoke with a sigh of relief, he looked down at her "I'll tell you want you what's going on if you really want to know but not until I know you better." Colby half potatoed at his words and his smoking. As if I have the time to gain his trust when in his own words he'll barely be around.
"Well what do you suggest?" she asked, almost going full potato.
Kylo laughed with mirth in his eyes "Why don't we start with a drink?" he asked. "As long as you stop making that face."
"Oh, um," she stammered, not expecting an invitation like that "tonight?" she questioned in disbelief.
"I don't see why not." He answered with a lazy smirk, taking a long draw from his cigarette.
Colby was taken aback by his forwardness but, determined to know more she forged on.
"Well there aren't many great bars open in Des Moines on a Sunday evening, but there's a 24 hour diner a short walk from here?" She suggested.
"Lead the way." He responded, tossing his cigarette and offering her his arm.