Hi everyone! Thanks for the reviews! They have been the perfect motivation to keep writing! This chapter is much, much much longer than the rest of the chapters…I hope you enjoy it! :) As always pretty please review!
She only drinks coffee at midnight
But the moment is not right
And the time is quite, unusual
You see her confidence is tragic
But her intuition magic
And the shape of her body, unusual
Meet Virgina, I can't wait to
Meet Virginia, yeah, yeah, hey, hey
Well, she wants to be the queen
Then she thinks about her scene
Well, she wants to live her life
Then she thinks about her life
Pulls her hair back as she screams
I don't really wanna be the queen, ah, ah
- Meet Virginia, Train
"I'll call you back later. Thank you. Yes, take care, good bye." Madeline added in French as she hung up her phone. Her right hand was damp from holding onto her mobile device tightly to her ear. She slowly lowered her phone and carefully placed it in her jacket pocket as if she was contemplating in running from the scene.
"His name is Eclair." The husky man told Madeline in German.
"Eclair?" Madeline asked in her French accent, her eyes still on the ball of fluff sitting next to the man. The canine's ear went up when his name was called as he waited for his next command.
I'm surprised its not named escargot or tiramisu. Madeline thought as she pressed her nude lips together.
The man nodded his head, "Yes…I believe that means lightening in French." The man replied still speaking in his native tongue.
Oh of course not eclair the pastry…ugh, what I would do for a chocolate eclair from Fauchon to be sent from France and not a…. Madeline thought as her eyes locked onto the black eyes of the canine. The fur on his back was dark as night, with his hind and front legs a deep mahogany color, his face was black around the muzzle but his cheeks were a lighter hue of mahogany, his eyes black and beady eyed, his tail wagging and mirroring the color of his back.
"He's about one years old and his been trained to protect and of course be a good companion." The man added in German as he studied Madeline's perplexed look.
"Oh good, thank you." Madeline spoke in German as she glanced up at the man, trying to keep her voice steady, not wanting to show any hesitation or trouble in her voice, planting her feet firmly on the hard floor.
Wendell stood by Madeline as he tried to decipher the events unfolding in front of him, but with the lack of direct conversation from Madeline in English, he was at a loss.
"Here." The man said as he extended the leash to Madeline. Eclair quickly stood up, ready to walk toward his new owner.
Eclair, hi… Madeline said with her eyes as she found her hands in her jacket pocket, her left thumb fidgeting with her ruby ring on her ring finger.
Eclair, the man and Wendell waited for Madeline to take the leash, but instead she glanced at Wendell unsure of what to do.
"Here…I'll take it." Wendell said as he extended his hand out, ready to take Eclair's leash.
The man glanced at Wendell for a second but then back at Madeline with his eyebrows furrowed hesitating in giving the dog someone other than Madeline.
"I guess not…" Wendell said as he embarrassingly placed his hand in his back pocket.
"Miss…" The German man said urgently, trying to get Madeline's attention.
"Ah yes, yes, yes…" Madeline quickly said, taking both of her hands out of her pocket and extending out her right manicured hand to take the dog's leash.
Eclair obediently walked toward Madeline and sat in front of her.
"Your family owns several German Shepherds…do you not like Eclair?" The man asked worriedly in French, hoping speaking in her native tongue would make Madeline at ease.
"No…no…" Madeline said with a smile as she held tightly onto Eclair's leash. "I just…wasn't expecting a dog…my place isn't really dog proof." Madeline said in German, making excuses in her odd behavior.
The man laughed, "Ah yes…well…" He started to say presuming that Madeline was worried in the expensive antique furniture he assumed decorated Madeline's apartment. "But do not worry, he's well trained, very well trained." The man said with a big smile, "You shouldn't worry about your things." He replied as he continued to speak in German. "He knows your scent." He added as he watched Eclair sniff Madeline's clothes.
"My scent?" Madeline asked confused.
"Yes, when we trained him we made sure he would be able to find you with his nose." The man said with a smile, trying to sell the idea of keeping Eclair would be beneficial to Madeline.
The man then taught Madeline the commands Eclair knew, trying his best to work with a client that seemed less than happy about her new companion. He studied her, she seemed distant to the dog, but he assumed that it was from the shock of not receiving something more to her fashionable tastes like a new designer handbag or diamond necklace.
Wendell stayed several steps away from Madeline and Eclair. He also picked up Madeline's emotional distance to Eclair as she hasn't even yet petted the German Shepherd in front of her. He wanted to step in, he longed to pet the soft fur as he loved dogs, but he waited unsure of his place in the current situation.
"Alright, well I should get going, if you have any more questions, you know who to call." The German man said as he smiled big, glancing at Madeline. He then got on his knees and petted the furry companion, "You be good for Miss Wertheimer." The man said in his broken English. He then stood up and shook Madeline's hand and gave a quick nod to Wendell who mirrored him back.
Hi Eclair…welcome to the family. Madeline thought as she stared back in the beady eyes of her new dog.
"So…" Wendell said as he stood next to her, still waiting for her to speak to him since their departure from the Ritz Carlton.
But before any response from Madeline the front desk attendant came back to the couple. "Ah and Miss Wertheimer"
"Yes?" Madeline asked as she acknowledged his presence.
"Your family also sent a kennel for him along with some other gifts, would you like me to have someone take them to your room?" The man in his work uniform asked.
"Yes, please." Madeline said with a half smile. She then smiled at Wendell, finally acknowledging him since the arrival of Madeline's new friend. "You want to hold this for me?" Madeline asked as she extended him Eclair's leash.
"Yeah sure." Wendell quickly said with a smile, he then naturally lowered his knees and gently petted Eclair. Eclair wagged his tail, happy in the attention as he gently licked Wendell's hand. But before Wendell could give Eclair more affection Madeline had already started walking further into the building, prompting Wendell to quickly follow.
His eyes wandered studying the ornately decorated Edgar-Monroe but his attention was on Eclair, who seemed to be in a hurry to catch up with Madeline.
"He really likes you." Wendell said as the two stood in front of the elevator.
Madeline smirked, "I don't think so." Madeline replied shaking her head as the two and the canine entered the elevator. Madeline then pressed the button to her floor and waited to be transported back to her place.
"So…you said you wanted to see my place, welcome." Madeline said with a half smile as she turned her head to Wendell.
"Thanks." Wendell said hoping she would at least explain the events that unfolded in front of him, even though he had a faint idea, he hoped she would tell him rather than him having to ask. But instead she was silent the rest of the ride up the elevator, her hands in her jacket pockets fidgeting with the jewelry ornamenting her hands.
The elevator finally stopped and Madeline walked out leading Wendell and Eclair to her residence. She walked the hallways, her hand in her Chanel bag, searching for her keys. Wendell walked the hallways imagining what Madeline's place would be like furnished with expensive modern yet fashionable furniture. Before he knew it Madeline had stopped in front of a door.
"Welcome to your new home Eclair." Madeline said as unlocked the door and opened the door for her and her companions.
"If you could remove your shoes." Madeline added as she walked into her apartment, quickly bending over to undo her boots.
"Yeah, sure." Wendell said as he quickly took off his shoes making him loosen the grip he had on Eclair's leash. To this Eclair left Wendell's side and moved his way next to Madeline. He then sat in front of Madeline and wagged his tail, waiting for her command.
"Ah yes, go." Madeline told Eclair, but before that she took off his leash and placed it on the ground. Once Eclair's restraint was taken off he quickly made his way inside the apartment, his nose to the ground, sniffing, making sure the place was safe for his owner.
"So…" Wendell said again, hoping Madeline would converse with him.
"Your jacket" Madeline said as she took off her own jacket and placed it inside the closet reached for her overnight bag to which Wendell quickly gave it to her so he could take off his jacket. Wendell followed Madeline's actions and placed it inside the other designer winter coats placed inside the closet. He looked down and saw the shoes he had seen Madeline previously walk in.
And now welcome to a place I'm sure surpasses the rooms I've stayed in at the Ritz Carlton with Madeline. Damn I still can't believe I've actually spent nights at the Ritz Carlton.
As he walked through the gallery that lead into the main rooms of Madeline's place his eyes studied the bare creme colored walls.
"So.." Wendell said as he walked passed the kitchen and made it into the living room where he saw Madeline from the corner of his eyes. His eyes studied the wine red sofa, the coffee colored coffee table in front of it, the fireplace that burned orange, red and yellow. He then looked out and saw the terrace that allowed him to see the city of DC. Her apartment looked like a page out of a catalog, warm and inviting yet unworn and unused.
"Nice place." Wendell quickly said out loud, his eyes now searching for Madeline. But he didn't hear anything back from her, "Madeline?" Wendell said worriedly as he walked through Madeline's living room, dining room and then walked through the kitchen, then back into the gallery.
"Madeline?" Wendell said again as he couldn't see either her or Eclair.
I'm getting lost in her apartment, I didn't think it would be possible to misplace someone in an apartment. Wendell thought as he sighed.
"In here." Madeline said with a cheery voice, noticing Wendell's anxiety.
Wendell followed Madeline's voice, passing through a library and finally making it into the master bedroom.
The bed welcomed Wendell with its plush comforter and pillow and a headboard that was ornately decorated.
"You found me." Madeline said teasingly appearing from her closet as she unpacked her overnight bag.
"Yeah…I did." Wendell said with a smile, he noticed Eclair's nose still to the ground as he also appeared from the closet.
"He really likes to smell, doesn't he?" Wendell teased.
"Well thats his job." Madeline said as she shrugged her shoulders.
"Yeah…I guess so." Wendell said with a smile.
A knock then resonated from the door. "Get that for me, please?" Madeline asked with a smile.
"Of course." Wendell said as he maneuvered his way to the door with Eclair by his side.
Wendell opened the door and saw a man dressed in a similar attire at the front desk with several boxes stacked up behind him along with a large bag of pet food and a plush dog bed.
"Hi." The man said his eyes studying Wendell, a bit surprised to see someone other than the female resident at the door.
"Hi." Wendell quickly said, opening the door wide for him.
"Thanks." The man said letting himself in as he pushed the cart inside the apartment. "Where should I place the boxes?" Eclair was already sniffing the boxes, trying to decipher the contents.
"Uh…" Wendell said unsure of the response.
"At the door will be fine." Madeline's voice rang out through the apartment.
"Are you sure? I don't mind." The man said worriedly.
"Yes, I'm sure." Madeline replied with a smile, standing next to Wendell who was looking at the several boxes being brought into the apartment.
Once the boxes and the contents of the luggage cart were all inside the man smiled, his eyes studying Madeline's bare legs, her body hugged by a soft sweater dress, her eyes smiling as she held a pair of scissors ready to open the contents of the boxes.
"When you're done with them, let us know, we can take the boxes downstairs." The man replied with a smile, he would have said this to any of the other tenants but he wouldn't be as willing to if it wasn't for a beautiful woman like Madeline.
"Okay." Madeline said with a smile her eyes on the boxes.
"Good day." The man said as he wheeled out the cart and closed the door after him.
"Lock it would you?" Madeline asked as her hands were already working on opening a box.
Wendell did as he was told and watched Madeline open the box.
"All from…home?" Wendell asked.
Madeline nodded her head, "Yes, my grandparents thought a dog would be good for a single woman living in DC." Madeline said with a smirk, her eyes studying the plush dog bed on the floor as Eclair smelled it with a wagging tail. "I didn't mean to make you drive, I just…they wanted me to stay on the phone and be there when I first met…Eclair." Madeline said as she glanced at the dog.
"Oh." Wendell said with a smile, relieved that Madeline finally explained the events that unfolded this morning.
"Do your grandparents own dogs?" Wendell asked curiously as he petted Eclair.
"They…well there are several dogs on their property. I personally grew up with a beagle…perfect hunting dog." Madeline said as she scrunched her face trying to decide the placement of the dog bed.
"You want me to take that somewhere?" Wendell asked as he noticed Madeline's attention on the dog bed.
Madeline nodded her head, "Yes…ummm lets for now leave that in the living room, nearby the fireplace." Madeline said with a smile. Wendell did as he was asked and placed it in the living room. Eclair instead of following the dog bed stayed next to Madeline, laying on the floor, wanting to keep company of his new owner. To this Madeline smiled and finally petted Eclair's furry head. Wendell smiled when he saw Madeline petting her new dog.
"Your grandparents really thought ahead, eh?" Wendell said with a smile as he glanced at the big bag of dog food and the parts for a kennel neatly stacked.
Madeline smirked as she took out a water bowl and a dog food bowl from the box, she unwrapped the bubble wraps and smiled as she looked at Eclair's name engraved on it.
"Thats my grandmother for you" Madeline said with a smile, "That woman is prepared for anything and can plan any gala or banquet with a snap of a finger." Madeline replied her English accent that was absent earlier back in her speech. "Put these by the balcony next to the fireplace, please?" Madeline asked Wendell, "Unless you have something…you said you had work to do, I should let you go." Madeline said on her knees as she looked up at Wendell.
Wendell quickly shook his head regretting bringing up his plans to spend the day at the library to Madeline, "No, I can stay and help unpack those boxes." Wendell said with a smile.
"Thanks." Madeline said as Wendell took Eclair's bowls from Madeline. "Where do you want the dog food?" Wendell asked as he returned back to Madeline's side.
"Theres an empty closet in the hallway." Madeline said as she sighed, looking through a folder that included Eclair's pedigree as well as his health information. "Perfect." Madeline said with a smirk.
"What?" Wendell asked curiously.
"My grandparents already picked out Eclair's vet and doggy day care for me." Madeline said smiling as she walked passed him and placed the folder on the dining room table. Eclair obediently followed Madeline's side as she walked to the dining room and then back to the boxes.
Wendell smiled, "They really do plan ahead and he really likes you."
"He's been trained." Madeline said with a smile.
"Trained?" Wendell asked as he cocked his head to the side.
"Yes, he can smell bomb, gas leaks, anything that can cause harm to someone…with one command from me I'm sure he can cause quite some damage to you." Madeline replied raising her eyebrows.
"Wait, is that what he was doing earlier?" Wendell asked remembering how Eclair was sniffing the apartment earlier.
Madeline nodded her head, "I think so." Her hands were rummaging through the toys and random goods her grandparents had sent over for Eclair.
She then put that box to the side and opened a second box. "Thank you, thank you." Madeline said as her eyes greeted the bottles of wine carefully placed in the box.
"Something you actually wanted in there now?" Wendell asked peering his head inside the box.
"Oui, le vin." Madeline said with a big smile.
"Le what?" Wendell asked his eyebrows furrowed.
"You're dating a girl whose family owns a winery, you're going to have to learn the word wine in French." Madeline said with a smile as she grabbed a bottle of wine, her eyes studying the label.
She said that we're dating…. A smile grew on Wendell's face, it was the first time Madeline verbally acknowledged their relationship.
"Whats with the silly smile?" Madeline asked as she handed two bottles of wine to Wendell.
"Nothing." Wendell said quickly, "Where do you want this?"
"In the living room, theres a wine rack, there should be space in there, if not theres a cabinet in the library." Madeline told Wendell with a smile, her face absent from any makeup, her eyes twinkling at him as she knew the reason for his silly smile.
"Sounds good." Wendell said as he went along his assigned task. There were several more bottles waiting for him when he returned and he diligently put those away in the wine rack. He smiled at Eclair who stayed by Madeline's side.
"So if no space, you said cabinet in the library, right?" Wendell asked Madeline who was opening the third box.
"Yes please." Madeline said with a smile.
"You have a lot of wine." Wendell added surprised that he filled the rack in the living room.
"Well the one in the living room only holds 36 bottles." Madeline replied back.
Only 36? Wendell thought as he walked passed Madeline and into the library. His eyes studied the room, an antique cherry wood colored bookcase greeted him with fashion books, magazines, travel books, encyclopedias, books about museums and places of the world. He wanted to look more in the bookshelf, but he knew better than to keep Madeline waiting. He turned his back to the bookshelf and found the cabinet on the opposite wall. He opened it and saw the bottles of high end cognac, whiskey and brandy that occupied the cabinet.
Someone likes to stock up. Wendell thought as he placed the last two bottles of wine in the cabinet.
He then walked out of the library, hoping to find Madeline nearby the entrance, but she and Eclair were gone. He heard a sound from the kitchen and found Madeline opening the freezer.
"Best thing about packages from France, I usually don't have to go grocery shopping for about a week." Madeline said with a smile. Wendell then saw the box of frozen food on the tile floor.
"Henri finally remembered that I don't like lamb or goat and only sent me beef steaks." Madeline said with a big smile.
"Henri?" Wendell asked not familiar with the name.
"My grandparent's assistant…butler." Madeline said as she reached for another frozen steak.
"Butler?" Wendell said trying his best to hide his surprise.
I'm forgetting this girl drives a Range Rover, lives at the Edgar-Monroe, has a bomb sniffing guard dog as a present, comes from the family that owns Chanel and a winery, of course they have a butler. Wendell thought as he glanced at Madeline.
But then…how did this girl get from living the countryside life in Europe to going to law school, then working at Interpol and the CIA? Wendell thought as he studied Madeline walking back and forth from the freezer to the box.
"Yes both of my grandparents have their own valet, butler, whatever you want to call it, but then the household has like a main assistant that takes care of household things…Henri." Madeline said with a smile.
"You grew up having servants in your house?" Wendell said his eyebrows raised, being reminded again of their difference in social status.
Madeline shrugged her shoulders, "But no father and no mother, don't worry my life isn't all perfect." Madeline said coldly as she left the kitchen and went back to the entrance of her apartment where the last unopened box waited for her.
And shit…I screwed that up. Wendell thought as he quickly followed Eclair who was walking next to Madeline.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to say that." Wendell quickly apologized, taking the empty box from the kitchen with him and placing it by the entrance.
Madeline sighed, "Don't apologize, its the truth." Madeline said as she opened the last box.
Yup I grew up with servants, butlers, chefs, maids, people who took care of all my needs, but my parents…both were absent from my life. And siblings? Yeah nonexistent, I don't care how much Seeley says we're family, we're not family at all. Madeline thought as she bit the inside of her mouth. She harbored a negative attitude towards him even though he had no fault in the absence of her father in her life.
Wendell stood next to the kneeling Madeline. "Even if it was, I…" Wendell started to say but he was at a loss of words.
Just keep your mouth shut, please keep your mouth shut. Madeline thought as she opened her mouth before Wendell could say anymore, "And macaron from Laduree." Madeline said as she passed the box to Wendell.
"Macaron?" Wendell asked his eyebrows furrowed, unfamiliar with the word.
"And even better canele!" Madeline said as she handed another box to him.
"Yay." Wendell said with a smile, trying to sound excited.
"And chocolate truffles!" Madeline said with an ever bigger smile, "And even the ones thats been infused with ma familie's liquor." Madeline said with a big smile as she handed Wendell another box.
"Now that is something to be excited about." Wendell added as he was familiar with the word 'chocolate truffles'.
"Now lets open a bottle of wine, indulge in some sweets and maybe you and I can get acquainted a bit with my sofa…" Madeline said seductively as she slowly stood up, her hands going up Wendell's khaki pants, all the way up his sweater and then gently caressing his scruffy cheek.
Wendell smiled big, his hands full with the boxes of sweets. "I would like that mademoiselle." Wendell said with a big smile, disappointed that his hands were full. But then his eyes went to Eclair who seemed to be glaring at Wendell.
"Maybe the bedroom would be better." Wendell quickly added as his eyes couldn't leave Eclair's.
Madeline turned her head and met Eclair's stare. "What you don't like having an audience?" Madeline teased as she lead Wendell to the living room.
"I…uhhhh." Wendell said unsure of how to respond, placing the ornately decorated boxes down on the coffee table.
"Well you're gonna have to get used to Eclair staring at you since he most likely won't like it when I do this…" Madeline said as she quickly stood in front of Wendell, her lips touching his, kissing him passionately as she wrapped her arms around him. Wendell immediately kissed her back, parting his lips so his tongue could part open Madeline's lips, allowing their two tongues to play with one another, his arms quickly on her hips, touching the soft fabric of her dress. Madeline then softly sucked on his bottom lip as she slowly moved her head away from Wendell.
"Damn you're a good kisser." Wendell mumbled as he felt Madeline's lips move away from his moist lips.
"Just a good kisser?" Madeline asked with a wink. This wasn't the first time Wendell had been in the company of Madeline sans makeup but it intrigued him that she didn't even attempt to put on any makeup before their departure from the Ritz. Granted she was occupied with the phone call, but he remembered how Kelly always needed to have her face painted with cosmetics and disliked it when she was without it.
"No, not just." Wendell said with a smirk, "But ummm you might need to refresh my memory." Wendell teased as his hands stayed on her hips.
"Oh do I?" Madeline teased as her eyes glanced at Eclair who was laying on the ground right next to her feet. Wendell also noticed Eclair and uneasily looked at the canine who seemed ready to attack him at any moment.
"It's okay, I'm okay." Madeline said as she quickly leaned down and gently patted Eclair, "You can sleep." Madeline added as she pointed to the dog bed. Eclair obediently walked over to his bed, brushing alongside Wendell's legs as he walked by as if to remind him his presence.
"I guess this means no more rendezvous to the Ritz Carlton." Madeline said as she left Wendell's hold on her hips and walked to her wine rack.
"I mean you have a perfectly good place here, I mean I don't see why in the first…" Wendell started to say out loud realizing he was about to criticize her money spending ways. "I mean…I…" Wendell said trying to figure out what would be the best way to finish his sentence.
Madeline glanced at Wendell with a bottle of light pink wine and her eyes on Wendell who had both of his hands in his pockets and was looking down at his feet. She sighed loudly, she wanted to just kiss him again, wanting to distract the both of them but she knew that would not solve anything.
"Finish your sentence." Madeline said as she walked to the kitchen, hoping Wendell would follow.
"Its okay." Wendell quickly said as she followed her footsteps.
"Either tell me what you were going to say, or you can leave." Madeline said as she placed the bottle of wine onto her kitchen counter and searched for her wine opener. She felt awkward in threatening him but she knew very well that the last thing Wendell would want to do is leave.
Wendell's blue eyes grew large, taken aback by her threat. "Uh…" Wendell said as he took his hand out of his pant pockets.
"I have a box of the finest macarons and chocolate in the world in the next room…and an amazing bottle of wine I'm about to open…" Madeline said as she expertly used the wine opener to open the bottle of wine. "Just say whats on your mind, I won't get upset." Madeline added as she grabbed two wine glasses from her cabinet.
"Okay…" Wendell replied as he watched Madeline slowly pour the wine into the wine glasses. "I…" Wendell started to say as he walked up to Madeline as he offered to carry his own glass and the wine bottle. Madeline then took her own wine glass and walked toward back into the living room.
"I just don't understand why you preferred the Ritz Carlton than to your place…this place is amazing." Wendell said as he followed Madeline, watching her hips sway as she walked in front of him.
"As I said yesterday…I like room service." Madeline said as she sat on her sofa, her free hand reaching for the box of macarons.
"But I'm sure if you totaled the amount of money you've spent at the Ritz since…since we met…I'm sure it would be over five grand." Wendell said as he sat on the sofa next to Madeline. "I mean I know you're rich and all." Wendell said as he quickly regretted his words and took a big sip of the wine in his glass wanting to wash away the words he just said.
"Yes…my family comes from money…." Madeline replied sighing, opening the pastel colored box and taking out a pastel pink colored macaron. "And I guess I could have used the money for something else…but…" Madeline said shrugging her shoulder, placing the macaron in her mouth and taking a bite of it.
Wendell studied Madeline, as she sat on the plush wine red sofa. She sat comfortably in the sofa, allowing her body to be enveloped in it. Her face was fresh and made Wendell want to see her first thing every morning he woke up. She still exuded the same intelligence and beauty that first attracted him to Madeline but he picked up on something more, something less tangible and less showy but more organic, more alluring.
Madeline finished the macaron in her hand and pushed the box of macaron to Wendell. Wendell accepted this gesture and took a lime green macaron and placed a bite in his mouth. He felt his teeth sink into the crisp outside of the macron and then the more softer inside. He couldn't say that he was a fan of the macaron to which Madeline quickly recognized.
"Here…" Madeline said as she took the rest of the macaron he held in his hand and placed it in her mouth. "I think you'll like this more." Madeline said as she opened a second box. Wendell peered inside of it and saw several striated cylinder donut like pastry with a caramelized crust.
"They're a specialty of Bordeaux." Madeline said as she watched Wendell take a sip of his wine, clearing his palate from the macaron he had just ate.
"You're from Bordeaux?" Wendell asked as he took a canele from the box, his eyes studying the pastry.
Madeline smirked, "Maybe." Madeline replied fluttering her eyelashes.
"Maybe?" Wendell replied with a smirk as he took a bite of the pastry, the outside was a bit hard but the inside was soft and almost custard-like. "Not bad." Wendell said with a satisfied smile.
"My family owns a villa nearby Bordeaux, if thats what you're asking." Madeline replied.
"But ummm…" Madeline said as she took a canele and devoured it. "Mmmm, c'est parfait." Madeleine replied as she savored the sweet dough in her mouth.
Wendell recognized Madeline's hesitation in continuing their earlier conversation, but he had an inkling that she was going to finish her earlier thought.
"At first the reason why I invited you to the Ritz was because this place was…really just boxes." Madeline said as she watched Wendell take another bite of his canele.
"But later…it became more of a…" Madeline started to say as she took a sip of her wine,trying to gain some liquid courage. "I didn't know how long this was going to last." Madeline quickly said as she took placed another macaron in her mouth.
"How long this…as in…this?" Wendell asked as he pointed at her and then at himself.
Madeline nodded her head, "Yes…I mean we met at a bar, we bonded over hockey."
"The best sport in the world." Wendell commented with a smirk.
"So very true." Madeline said with a happy smile, "But we had sex the first night we met." Madeline quickly added. "I mean if it wasn't for all the drinks I had I think I would have kept my legs closed at least well couple more dates…although…" Madeline started to say.
"I find you attractive. Your aggressive moves toward me…indicate that you feel the same way. But still, ritual requires that we continue with a number of platonic activities…before we have sex. I am proceeding with these activities, but in point of actual fact…" Wendell started to say in his best English accent, wanting to impress Madeline with his own quote from a movie.
"All I really want to do is have intercourse with you as soon as possible." Madeline said with a big smile on her face, finishing off Wendell's quote from the film a Beautiful Mind.
Wendell's face lit up brightly as he finished off the quote with her. "Thats a really good movie, a bit sad for the guy….but…an excellent movie." Madeline added with a smile.
"Yeah…Russell Crowe's character kinda reminds me of…" Wendell started to say but he stopped himself from finishing his sentence.
"Of Dr. Temperance Brennan?" Madeline asked pouring more wine for herself and Wendell.
Wendell smirked as he finished the canele in front of him. "Yeah…I mean I'm not saying I think that she's schizophrenic or has some kind of mental…" Wendell started to say, wanting to cover his tracks.
"But…she's…" Madeline said wanting Wendell to know that she understood what he was trying to relay but she herself also unsure of the right words to finish her thought.
"She's different." Wendell said shrugging his shoulders as he was at a loss of words.
"I guess you sort of have to be to…well be that smart." Madeline said as she finished her third macaron.
"She is a genius, but ummm as Angela once told me…she's ummm…she's very straight forward and yeah different." Wendell said finishing his sentence.
Madeline nodded her head, "But as I was saying…I didn't think this, we would…actually last this long…" Madeline said looking at Wendell who was caressing her cheek.
"But we have." Wendell said with a big smile on his face, his blue eyes looking deeply into Madeline's. Although neither of them at first thought a bet on a hockey game would lead to anything more than just a fun night with an attractive member of the opposite sex, both recognized that their relationship was not just based on the fact they can satisfy each other sexually. Madeline then leaned in and placed a wine and sugar laced kiss on Wendell's lips. And that cued Wendell's lust for Madeline as he kissed her passionately and deeply, his tongue dancing with hers, his hands touching, caressing, and feeling her body over her sweater dress. He then opened his eye for a second and saw Eclair from the corner of his eye. Although Eclair's head was down, his black beady eyes were straight on Wendell, letting him know that Eclair was keeping a close eye on him.
"Here we go babe." Wendell playfully said as he grabbed Madeline by the hips and had her wrap her legs around him as he stood up.
Madeline giggled, "Where you gonna take me?" Madeline asked as her chestnut eyes looked playfully at Wendell.
Wendell cocked his head to side, gesturing to Eclair. To this Madeline giggled again, "Fine." Madeline said as she wrapped her arms around Wendell's shoulders, "To the bedroom please." Maideline said in English accent laced heavily in her speech.
"As you wish Mademoiselle." Wendell replied with his best French accent, already taking steps to Madeline's bedroom.
Eclair lifted his head up a bit unsure of what he should do, he wanted to be by his owner's side but the international flight had taken a lot out of him. He could tell how happy his owner was with this companion and took solace in knowing that if he wanted to harm the man, he could with one bite. So instead of following the couple he slowly closed his eyes, letting sleep take over him.
The next time Eclair opened his eyes he was awoken with the gentle laugh from his owner.
"I mean its up to you." Madeline said as she walked into her living room, her hair in a messy bun, her legs were covered with black tights and she had just pulled her sweater dress over her head.
"I said yes." Wendell said following Madeline, buttoning up his khaki pants.
"But you hesitated." Madeline said turning around and standing in front of Wendell as she smoothed out her dress.
"I…I didn't." Wendell said shaking his head, his fingers brushing away a strand of hair from her flushed face. "I just…I didn't know that a CIA liaison knows how to cook." Wendell said teasingly.
"Oh yes, especially because I grew up with maids and servants and chefs and valets." Madeline said teasingly as she smiled big. Her lips now stained red with lipstick, her face giving a polished look as she applied a coat of foundation and black eyeliner to outline her eyes. She then noticed that Eclair was off from his bed and sitting next to Madeline, rubbing his furry coat alongside Madeline's black tights.
"Hey boy." Madeline said as she petted her furry friend.
"I didn't think you actually liked dogs at first." Wendell commented as he petted Eclair alongside Madeline.
"Its not that I don't like dogs…its that I didn't expect one…I mean, I can barely take care of myself, how am I going to take care of a dog too?" Madeline teasingly said as she stood up. "Ready to go?" Madeline asked Wendell as she walked over to her Chanel bag and placed it over her shoulder. Wendell nodded his head as the couple put on their winter coats again. Eclair walked to the entrance with them, wagging his tail, hoping he wouldn't be left alone.
"Would you like to come along too?" Madeline asked as she reached for his leash and hooked it with his collar. Eclair happily wagged his tail and he along with the duo made their way out of Madeline's apartment and back to her Range Rover. Once Madeline unlocked the doors to her car she handed the keys to Wendell.
"You sure?" Wendell asked as he took the keys in his hand.
Madeline nodded her head, "Of course, unless you don't want to drive."
Wendell quickly shook his head as he opened the driver's seat while Madeline opened the back seat for Eclair who quickly jumped into the car and sat comfortably in the back seat. Madeline then got inside the passenger's seat and got comfortable as she turned her head to see Eclair, wagging his tail happy that he wasn't left alone. Madeline turned on a local sports radio discussing about the upcoming hockey games later this week which prompted the couple to converse about the sport that first drew them together.
"I'll be back in like 10 minutes." Wendell said as he parked the car on a street nearby his apartment. Madeline nodded her head and placed a kiss on his scruffy cheeks. "Sounds good, we'll be waiting." Wendell then went out into the sunny winter day and got his belongings.
While Madeline waited she got out her phone and turned around to take pictures of her new furry friend. At first she saw Eclair as a nuisance, she was still a work in progress and still needed the help of pharmaceuticals to keep her mind at ease every so often. But now as she took pictures of her dog she couldn't help but be thankful to her grandfather who was the mastermind behind this plan. She was never close with her grandmother who was more than ashamed of Madeline's mother for getting pregnant out of wedlock. Madeline knew very well that if it wasn't for her mother's untimely death that her relationship with her grandparents could be all but just a trust fund and nothing more. She motioned Eclair to come close to her and she took a picture of her and Eclair. Once Madeline took a picture that didn't make it look like her smile was forced she sent the picture as a text message to her grandfather.
"Sorry it took so long." Wendell said as he opened the front door, letting Madeline know that he was back. He carried a sports duffel bag on his shoulder and a messenger bag.
"Mind if I open the trunk?" Wendell asked.
Madeline shook her head. "No, of course not." Madeline said as she watched Wendell disappear into the back. Wendell opened the back and quickly found Eclair's nose sniffing the outside air.
"You want to smell these too?" Wendell asked as he put his hockey bag and messenger bag in reach of Eclair's nose. Eclair quickly smelled the two bags, inspecting them with his nose. Once he was done he turned around again, facing the front of the car as he sat back down in his seat letting Madeline know that the new luggage was safe. Wendell smirked as he put his bags down and closed the trunk.
He then walked back to the driver's seat and started the car again, taking them to their next destination; Whole Foods Market.
Once at Whole Foods, Madeline and Wendell shopped for their impromptu dinner date. Wendell pushed the cart along, watching it get filled up with the ingredients necessary for the beef stew she planned on making for Wendell. She also stocked up on necessities as she rarely made her way to the grocery store.
"Do you need to shop for anything?" Madeline asked as the duo walked through the dairy section.
As if I have the money to purchase groceries at Whole Foods. Wendell thought as he shook his head.
How do I tell him that I don't mind buying it for him without sounding too… Madeline thought as they made their way to the deli. The two grabbed a sandwich to share and then headed their way to the cash registers. Wendell stood next to Madeline who was occupied with her phone while Wendell watched the cash register his eyes studying the total of Madeline's purchase.
"And that will be $120.24" The woman told Wendell. Wendell panicked as he glanced at Madeline. "Oh yes, here." Madeline said as she got out her debit card.
"Would you like to donate to…" The woman started to say, "Sure ummm twenty dollars." Madeline said interrupting the woman before hearing the cause she was donating to.
"Thank you m'am." The woman at the register said as she watched Madeline punch in her pin number.
"Have a good day." The woman said as she handed Madeline the receipt.
"You too." Madeline and Wendell said in unison. Wendell then pushed the cart back to her car and helped her unload their purchases into her car. Eclair happily wagged his tail when the duo returned from their shopping trip.
Wendell drove them back to the Edgar-Monroe, his taste buds excited to taste the dinner Madeline would be cooking for him.
"So you have hockey practice tomorrow?" Madeline asked as Wendell stopped at a red light.
Wendell nodded his head as he glanced at Madeline. "Yeah, tomorrow morning."
And yes I'll be seeing Booth there… Wendell thought as he put his attention back on the road as the light turned green.
"That sounds like fun." Madeline said as she looked out the window.
"Yeah." Wendell added, he wanted to invite Madeline to their upcoming game, but he knew better than inviting her to something where Seeley would also be attending.
"You're more than welcome to use the table at the dining room." Madeline added, wanting to change the subject.
"To ummm do your readings." Madeline quickly added.
"Oh, yeah that would be nice." Wendell said with a smile, his hand gripping tightly onto the steering wheel. He wanted to tell Madeline that Seeley is a great guy and that the two would get along. He even thought that they would be good for each other, especially for Booth who recently ended his relationship with Hannah. He also thought it would help her resolve any issues she has with her past, which even if she wanted to ignore them he knew plagued her whole well being.
"You know…" Wendell started to say, trying to formulate his next sentence.
"It's snowing." Madeline said as her eyes spotted a snowflake that landed on her window and was slowly melting.
"Yeah, it is." Wendell said with a smile, taking this as a cue to continue in keeping his mouth shut regarding Seeley. Madeline watched the snow fall onto her car and the ground the rest of the car ride while her left hand rested on Wendell's thigh.
Once the couple arrived back at the Edgar-Monroe, the two filled their hands with the groceries along with Wendell carrying his belongings and Madeline holding onto Eclair. As he entered into the Edgar- Monroe for the second time, he felt more comfortable as he found himself less out of place in Madeline's life. Madeline happily entered back into her apartment for the first time since she arrived to D.C. Usually she would just go back home because she had no place to go or she had to go back home to take a shower or to change. But right now she wasn't going to be alone in her apartment and she would never be alone again as she now had Eclair by her side.
"I'll make us some peppermint mocha and you can finish up your studies." Madeline said as the two put down the paper bags down on the tile floor. Eclair quickly found his way inside the kitchen and found a spot for him to keep an eye on his owner.
"Sounds good." Wendell said as he placed a kiss on her cheek. Madeline didn't expect the kiss and smiled big. Wendell then took her jacket and hung his with hers back in her closet.
After Madeline finished putting away her purchases at Whole Foods she made the warm caffeinated drinks she promised to Wendell who was sitting at the dining room table.
"Thanks." Wendell said as he took a sip of the warm beverage.
"You're welcome." Madeline said as she sat down in the chair next to him.
"This is good…did you use the espresso machine that you have in your kitchen?" Wendell asked still a bit surprised that she owned one.
"Yes…" Madeline said with a smile as she took another sip of her own drink.
"Impressive." Wendell said with a big smile, appreciative of Madeline's hospitality.
"Well I'm going to start dinner, good luck with your reading." Madeline said as she placed a kiss on his right cheek.
Wendell blushed, all he wanted to do was pick her up and make love to her on her dining room table, but he was behind on his readings and needed to concentrate. He watched Madeline stand up again and walk back to the kitchen. His eyes watching and studying her perfectly toned body.
Who would have ever thought the day would come when she is making me dinner. Wendell thought as he concentrated back on his work.
The rest of Sunday went perfectly as planned. Wendell completed his readings and Madeline made him beef stew, a salad nicoise and freshly toasted garlic bread. The two happily ate the meal as they watched the hockey game against the Captials and the Penguins on Madeline's sofa. They ended the night with the two tangled back in Madeline's sheets, wrapped in each other's arms.
The next morning Wendell was sorry to leave the warmth and the hospitality of Madeline's apartment.
"Thanks for the ride." Wendell said as he unbuckled his seat belt as Madeline's Range Rover came to a stop.
"Of course." Madeline said with a smile, she then leaned in and placed a kiss on his cheek. "Have a good day."
"Yeah, you too." Wendell said blushing. "I'll call you after work today?" Wendell said wanting to get Madeline's approval.
Madeline nodded her head, "Yes, sounds good."
Wendell then opened the car door and made his way inside the Potomac Ice Arena. Practice was uneventful as he skated on the ice with his teammates. He tried to avoid Seeley as much as possible since he still hadn't figured out exactly how to act in front of him. But he knew that he would soon have to talk to him since Seeley was his ride to the Jeffersonian.
At the end of practice Wendell made his way to the locker room to get ready for the day at Jeffersonian. "Hey man, ready to go?" Seeley asked as he got out his car key, all suited up for work.
"Yeah, I am." Wendell said with a smile. The two then departed the ice rink and got inside Seeley's car.
"So how have you been?" Seeley asked, trying to make small talk with Wendell, as he started driving.
"Good." Wendell said trying to get comfortable in Seeley's car.
"Thats good." Seeley quickly added.
"And how are you?" Wendell asked as he glanced at Seeley.
"Not bad." Seeley replied, lying through his teeth.
"Good, good." Wendell replied, he opened his messenger bag as he searched for his cell phone. When he opened his bag he was greeted with two nicely wrapped caneles and a sticky note from Madeline.
Have a good Monday :) xoxo M
Wendell smiled as he read Madeline's slanted and perfectly curled handwriting. Seeley noticed Wendell's smile and knew his smile was due to Madeline.
"How is she?" Seeley asked, unable to stop himself.
"She's good." Wendell said his hand holding onto the two caneles.
"Good." Seeley said nodding his head as he kept on driving. The car was silent for a while until Seeley reached a red light.
"You uhhh…want one?" Wendell asked as he handed a canele to Seeley.
"Thanks…what is this?" Seeley asked, his eyebrows furrowed, unfamiliar with a canele.
"It's a canele." Wendell said trying his best imitating Madeline's French accent.
"A what?" Booth asked, his eyebrows even more furrowed, his face giving a puzzled look.
"Just eat it, its pretty good…its like a donut…but I dunno French." Wendell tried to explain but at a loss of words.
Seeley smiled big and placed the canele in his cup holder, "Thanks man…" Seeley had a feeling that it was from Madeline and Wendell sharing it with Seeley meant a lot to him.
The light turned green and Seeley started driving again.
"Her grandparents sent her a care package and it arrived yesterday." Wendell added.
"Oh, thats nice of them." Seeley commented.
"Yeah and they also sent a dog…a German Shepherd named Eclair." Wendell added, still surprised in the lavish present Madeline's grandparents sent to her.
"Eclair like that French pastry thats covered in chocolate and has custard inside?" Seeley asked a bit surprised in the name.
Wendell quickly shook his head, "No…I guess it means lightening in French."
"Ohhhhhh." Seeley said with a smile on his face. "Huh, so its still a puppy?
"No, I think he's at least a year old…but he's been trained to protect Madeline." Wendell informed Seeley, "He's a bomb sniffing dog and smells everything that comes near Madeline." He felt he talked too much as he knew Madeline wanted Seeley out of her life, but he saw the smile on Seeley's face as Wendell told him about Madeline's life.
"A bomb sniffing dog?" Seeley asked with a smile on his face. "For real?" He asked.
Wendell nodded his head. "Yup. But a good dog, he seems to really you know care about Madeline and she at first was kinda freaked out about it, but I think she likes him."
"Thats good." Seeley said with a big smile on his face, happy to hear that his half sister was doing well.
"Yeah." Wendell added, he wanted to tell Seeley more knowing that he longed for a relationship with his half sister.
"Well…" Seeley started to say unsure of how to keep the conversation going.
"She likes the Flyers." Wendell added as he pressed his lips together, knowing he was going to regret the conversation he was having with Seeley.
"Yeah?" Seeley said with a big smile on his face, "We are related." He added with a quick laugh.
"Yeah, tell me about it, I don't think I've ever met a girl thats as into of hockey as she is…" Wendell added.
"She's sound perfect." Seeley added as he sighed, disappointed that he lacked a relationship with his half sister and had to use Wendell as a means to learn more about her.
Wendell glanced at Seeley as he nodded his head, "Give her some time, she's getting adjusted to her life in DC and I think she was involved in some kind of major accident last year…give her some time." Wendell added as he sighed, remembering the scars on her hips and the way she held her gun at him the first night they spent at the Ritz Carlton.
Seeley nodded his head, optimistic that he would one day have a relationship with his half sister and be a family together.
While Seeley and Wendell were making their way to the Jeffersonian, Madeline was in her office at Interpol behind her desk getting herself ready for her full week ahead.
Madeline heard a knock on her door and she quickly glanced up from her computer screen.
"Yes?" Madeline asked, making sure her English accent was absent from her speech.
Then a suited man opened the door. Madeline cringed as she recognized the person, not because they had met previously but because she had heard of him and knew of him well.
"Hi, Miss Wertheimer, I'm Doctor Lance Sweets of the FBI and I would like to talk to you." Lance said confidently making sure any sign of nervousness was gone from his voice.
"Well how can I help the FBI?" Madeline asked as she slowly stood from her armed chair. Her navy blue blouse and black skirt coming in view from behind her computer.
"Well I wanted to talk to you about…" Lance started to say, looking for the courage to finish his sentence, as he walked into Madeline's office.
Please don't say his name, please don't say his name. Madeline prayed as she watched the distance between her and Lance get smaller and smaller.
"About your half-brother, Agent Seeley Booth." Lance said as he sat in the chair before Madeline's desk.
Oh fuck… Madeline thought as she felt a bomb blow up inside her head. Oh fuck.
I hope you enjoyed the latest update to my story! Pretty please review and tell me what you think! :)
UPDATED 12/3: I'm a bit disappointed with the lack of review for this new chapter :(