A/N: I know I have no business starting another fic but this one is prewritten and just needs editing and is halfway done already so you're welcome!
1
Monte Carlo was much colder than Bonnie had expected. Only in the mornings though. In the afternoons the sunlight bathed the entire city, pouring onto the coast and causing the clear waters to shimmer. In the evening the air was heavy and salty from the sea but not unpleasantly so. Elena Gilbert, her best friend from college, had convinced her it was paradise all around. That she'd be able to sit on the balcony and listen to the waves crashing in peace. Her leather-bound notebook would be filled to the brim with outlines and inspired chapters. The perfect place for a burgeoning writer.
Somewhat artificial but that should be expected from a place dubbed the playground for the rich. When natural forces could not assure perfection then humans aided so with their hands. Nothing less could be enough for a place that housed royalty and the wealthiest people in the world.
She'd managed to write just a few pages in the two weeks since they arrived. Despite all her promises, Elena hadn't given Bonnie enough time to sit and write. Her concern was dragging her friend from one event or the other with fellow vacationers and ex-pats, integrating herself with Monaco high society. From dinners to charity events. Interacting with women and men who wore clothes & jewels that cost more than her grandmother's house in New York. They glanced over at her with disinterest until Elena happened to mention that Bonnie was a writer. Not a published one of course, which was much more interesting.
They oohed and ahh-ed about how romantic it must be to be a starving bohemian.Elena had good intentions wanting nothing more than to make her friend more sociable, but it was hard to perceive them when drowned with the judgment of the upper class.
All Bonnie ever did was smile demurely answering whatever questions thrown her way before the attention was lifted and she was free to sink once more into anonymity for the remainder of the event.
"The coffee here is just marvelous," Elena remarked. They both in the hotel dining room for breakfast before another shopping trip. "Unlike in England. Their tea is nothing to write home about either but they rave about it nonetheless. Keep in mind dear, if you're ever traveling once more through Europe, Italy is another fine spot for a good cappuccino. I nearly died of delight the first time I sipped some in Calabria. I was about 11 with my mother. We were visiting cousins I remember."
"Of course," Bonnie muttered. No use telling her that it's not like she'd get another chance to travel after this. Once they got back to Long Island it was likely that she would get a job of some sort like her grandmother had been hinting. A secretary or some type of apprentice. University didn't open the numerous doors she'd assumed it would. Women's work was still in limited supply and her true ambition held even less opportunity especially since you had no fine pedigree to push her up there.
Writing held the vaguest promise of professional success even for men not to talk of being a woman. Especially one who didn't have a rich family to hold open doors for her. Bonnie was a young woman who needed to adopt more worthwhile and acceptable passions according to Grams. No one was badgering her to get married. At least not yet. A small mercy for the moment.
"The French are particular about their meals, so I suppose we can forgive them for everything else. Capital of fashion but I've yet to be impressed by anything that isn't just low cuts and scandalous slits." Elena dipped a biscotti into her coffee.
Elena Gilbert's mother was one of her grandmother's customers. Miranda Gilbert was a demanding heiress who was married to a rich doctor. Grams was her personal seamstress which was how she first met the heiress. In college, Bonnie and Elena ran into one another then a friendship was struck. She could admit that it was more enthusiastic on Elena's part since Bonnie didn't feel particularly accepted by her already established crowd of friends. Her twin sister Katherine was the sharp sort who spoke in snarky quips, drank too much champagne, and allowed boys into her dormitory late in the night. Her wildness was far too much for Bonnie even if she was quite likable. Their little brother Jeremy went to a boarding school in Massachusetts. He was about seventeen and being groomed to become a doctor like his father. She'd never met him but from all the stories Elena told her he was a moody young man who daydreamed too much and smiled too little.
After graduation, jobs weren't as forthcoming as Bonnie would have liked so when Elena decided to go on a trip around Europe – Katherine decided to summer in Chicago with friends from her golf club – she offered Bonnie a spot as her chaperone since no young girl of good breeding would ever travel by herself.
Grams instantly told her to agree thinking it would be a fine opportunity to network with people of fine breeding.
The rest was history.
Little did Grams know that people of fine breeding weren't interested in a girl like Bonnie. Educated yes but that mattered very little to them if your last name was not attached to a dynastic family with traces to the Mayflower.
"Finish up your toast. We have a long day ahead of us and I refuse to wait while those flighty sales girls chat around instead of working," Elena scolded rather effectively.
"Can you blame them? It's so boring watching people change clothes." Bonnie retorted biting into the strawberry jam smeared toast.
"Yes, well they're paid generously so the least they can do is work smart," Elena sniffed.
"If you say so." She took another bite of her toast. "Is there anything else you want to do apart from shopping?" The novelty of watching her friend mix and match clothes with shoes wore off on the first day.
"I wanted to rent a boat for sailing but it's so cold. It'll be terrible at sea. We could settle for tea in the summer room at the hotel. Yesterday I spied some gentlemen there having coffee." The sparkle in her eye made a groan escape from Bonnie's lips.
That was the downside to this. While Bonnie was in constant melancholy about her inability to find a job or means of income, Elena had a different reason for sulking. Her sister Katherine had just gotten engaged to a millionaire from a rather aristocratic family. Elijah Mikaelson, a man whom Bonnie might have lived her entire life not knowing a lick about if not for Elena screeching his name every, time she recalled her sister's smirk and the haughty announcement of their engagement after a whirlwind courtship of six months. The Mikaelsons emigrated from England years ago when their father wanted to try his hand at an American market. He succeeded and their department store dynasty flourished over the years making every one of the Mikaelson boys a very eligible bachelor.
Katherine managed to snag one and now her sister was determined to one-up her by getting a richer and more handsome preferably European husband even if it killed her. Unfortunately, that meant Bonnie was along for the ride even if she didn't want to.
"Why not!? It'll be perfect to meet some new gentlemen!" Elena squealed in excitement.
Bonnie made a face. "Haven't we seen enough already?"
"If the goal is to get married by the end of the summer, then I'm already behind." She explained as though Bonnie was the dumb one for not getting it yet.
"Isn't that quick?"
She shrugged. "Quick enough to beat Katherine."
Bonnie suppressed the urge to laugh. She truly didn't understand twins at all. She sipped her tea wondering if there would ever come a point she'd feel just as frantic for a relationship. That time felt far away and she didn't think she was missing anything.
The trip wasn't all unpleasant. Bonnie just wished there was more time to devote to enjoying the Monte Carlo landscape without having to dodge a clumsy setup. And more time to devote to her notebook.
It was a trade-off. Beautiful scenery mixed with unflattering yammering and complaints about how the sun was too hot or the staff were too rude or the company was too boring. One couldn't very well have everything. Elena was a nice enough girl but she had not a drop of self-awareness.
Bonnie wished for a cigarette but Elena claimed they hurt her throat to inhale so you'd have to wait until much later.
"One would expect a woman our age to entertain a multitude of suitors by now but I suppose it's no harm to allow you indulge your interests for a short while longer." Elena took a delicate bite out of a croissant.That was hilarious since Bonnie didn't have any interest in any men for now.
"Women aren't in a rush to marry these days," She spoke without really thinking.
Elena widened her eyes seemingly offended at the very notion.
Bonnie bit her lip to keep from laughing.
"Heed my words, these so-called modern women will be the downfall of society. Don't lump yourself in with them," she warned.
Chewing the last piece of toast, Bonnie's attention was caught by a man just entering the dining area. He wore a fitted grey suit, expensive of course. The man seemed to glide in rather than walk, a lovely polished cane accompanying him although it appeared more accessory than the utility. He had brown hair styled with a generous helping of gel and a trimmed mustache that was a lot more appealing than she'd ever realized on a man. By her estimation, he was about ten years her senior at about thirty. He seemed to be waiting for someone judging by how he took out his pocket watch and glanced at it impatiently. The sight of him took her breath away for a second. He was gorgeous and completely out of her league. Out of her stratosphere in fact.
As if enlightened to the fact that he was being watched, his eyes turned to Bonnie and she quickly looked away heart pounding from getting caught. Gram's voice scolded her in the distance about how it was so rude to stare.
Elena turned to look at what caused her abrupt action. No doubt she was going to scold you again for staring which was one of the many ladylike lessons she'd taught her but her face brightened up.
"Oh my gosh! Such a coincidence. That happens to be Mr. Parker!"
"Mr. Parker?" She was confused. Bonnie knew no one by that name.
She frowned unimpressed by her friend's ignorance. "Mr. Malachi Parker is one of the richest men in Long Island. Does everything fly over your head, Bonnie?" Bonnie held her tongue to keep from telling her that you were much busier trying to figure out how to earn a living rather than memorizing all the members of high society.
"He's just recently become a bachelor again. His wife died about two years ago leaving him all alone with his siblings. They live in Rosewood House if you can believe it." The word alone was whispered to convey how notable it was. Rosewood House sounded more familiar though. It was likely Grams said something about it from the society pages she was so fond of reading from. Following the lives of the rich and famous was a favorite pastime of hers her granddaughter didn't share so no doubt whatever pivotal information slipped past Bonnie's hearing at the time. "The poor thing has been seen in very few events ever since. If he's traveling about then perhaps, he's in better spirits – oh he's coming this way!"
He was? Bonnie braved a look and truly the man was walking towards their table. Her body stiffened and her eyes remained trained on the teacup. This Malachi just saw her gawking at him like a painting and would not be impressed by her actions.
"Oh, Mr. Parker what a wonderful coincidence," she trilled like a peacock making an elegant display. "The last time we spoke was years ago and now here you are. Fate works in strange ways, no?"
"The strangest and the darndest ways. I always find it a pleasure to encounter other Americans in my travels," he replied in a deep baritone flavored by a melodious posh accent. He sounded was probably from Long Island.
"Ms.?"
"Miss Elena Gilbert." she purred, stretching out her hand. "We met about three years ago at the Opera remember? It was the enchanting performance of La sonnambula."
Mr. Parker politely pecked her hand. "Ah, of course, Miss. Elena Gilbert. Sorry, my memory is spotty these days. It takes a while for me to put certain things together. Must be my old age." He winked making Elena giggle and Bonnie fight to warm feeling settling in her belly.
"How's your sister Katherine? I heard about her engagement and wanted to offer my congratulations."
"She is busy as ever," Elena it waved off hiding her displeasure at Katherine's name. "I was so sorry to hear of Mrs. Parker's passing."
Mr. Parker's expression darkened momentarily. A sight Bonnie barely caught but her friend missed entirely. His attention turned towards her and she shrunk inside. Was it possible for a dark gaze to have warmth? There was something otherworldly swimming behind those eyes for certain, but she felt more enticed than repulsed. Like a moth drawn to a strange bright light. One that seemed to reflect back at her with criminal intensity. It made her feel so conscious.
"I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting your acquaintance. You are?"
"Oh, this is Bonnie. She's my companion for this trip," Elena rushed to speak.
"Forgive me but I would prefer to make the introduction from my lips to hers," he remarked coolly. Elena was taken aback but said nothing. She shyly managed to look up. He was much handsome in close quarters. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Parker."
"Call me Kai, please," he corrected with a smile. He reached for her hand and placed a long, lingering kiss. The soft press of his lips on Bonnie's skin sent shivers down her spine. His dark brown eyes shimmered with many emotions unplaced, pulling hers in. For a moment she felt recognition but it passed just as swift. That was his effect on people. To invoke a feeling of remembrance for a wonderful thing not yet experienced. Déjà vu for strictly pleasant things. "I am very pleased to make your acquaintance Miss Bennett."
"The pleasure is mine," Bonnie breathed.This reaction was so unlike her. Men in general never impressed her and were more menacing than charming. Mr. Parker – Kai – was more than charming.
"Are you by yourself, Kai?" Elena chimed in breaking the moment between them.
He released her hand with a clearing of his throat. "Yes. I came on short business which concluded moments ago and decided to spend the rest of my days here leisurely."
"How wonderful. Perhaps you'd be open to dinner later tonight once we've returned from our shopping excursion?" she asked hopefully.
Kai shook his head. "Unfortunately, tonight I am quite occupied. A meeting with some gentlemen I encountered at the golf club. Another time perhaps?"
Elena was disappointed but curbed it with a smile. "The invitation remains open, Mr. Parker. I do hope we will encounter another time."
His eyes flitted over Bonnie. "A chance I shall fastidiously hope for myself. Have a good morning Miss Gilbert, Miss. Bennett." With a clipped smile he bid the two of them farewell taking the stairs to the upper levels of the dining area. Her eyes followed each step until his figure disappeared completely.
Elena huffed. "He's ruder than I remember. Can you believe how he pretty much ignored me when I was just trying to make conversation? His focus seemed to be all on you." That felt a lot like an accusation.
"He was talking to me. What was I supposed to do, ignore him?" Bonnie defended.
Elena huffed again knowing she was correct. "I understand that he's a widower but it would not kill the man to be more open. I could feel nothing but chill from him. It's the problem with all these new money types – no eye for social graces or etiquette. He's not even really old money. His dad made a fortune during the gold rush but they aren't even from the Mayflower. Everyone just thinks you can buy a mansion in Newport and have an in."
Her abrasiveness was obviously because he paid little attention to her but Bonnie didn't mind. In another moment she'd be troubled by that very classist display from her friend but for now, her mind was occupied with other things.
Her hand still tingled from where his lips touched and her heart still raced from the look he gave her. Elena's words washed away in the wake of that experience. It wouldn't be such a bad thing if they happened to bump into Mr. Malachi Parker again, would it?
…...
Later that evening Elena retired to her hotel room after a long shopping trip. Sitting around watching her order around the sales girls and stylists all afternoon was not Bonnie's idea of entertainment but she got a lovely maroon dress out of it at least. Bonnie carried her notebook along but got very little written down. A high-class boutique happened to be less of an inspiration than she'd hoped.
After a satisfying dinner, Bonnie decided to take a walk outside the hotel to enjoy some fresh breeze. It was situated on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The tangy smell wafted beneath her nostrils and the sounds of crashing waves were oddly harmonic. The bright lights from the seemingly nocturnal city entranced her on the other side of the water. There she stood with a cigarette lit between her fingers sans the holder when a voice startled her from behind. "Wonderful evening, isn't it?"
She jumped turning back then sighed in great relief to see it was Kai walking with his cane. "Oh! Mr. Parker, you scared me!"
"I apologize. That was not my intention," he did appear sorry.
Bonnie breathed. "No worries. I just came out for the fresh air and solitude."
"Solitude I am intruding on. Perhaps I should take my leave."
"No," she spoke quickly. "No, it's alright. I don't mind your company." That slipped out without her knowledge. Kai didn't acknowledge it.
"The pleasure would truly be mine to be graced with yours," his deep voice rumbled pleasantly. "The city is wonderful during the day but I find it takes an incandescent quality at night."
"I agree." She inhaled a drag. "It's so different from New York. The sky has stars for one."
He laughed stuffing one hand in his pocket. "Pollution ruins an otherwise bustling metropolis. One might wonder if it is the price we have to pay for the speed with which we embraced industrialization."
"There's always a price for everything," you braved a glance at his profile.
"Quite correct. The trick is deciding whether the price for what you want is worth it." His voice took a distant quality. One marred with a memory of decisions and perhaps some regrets. He shook it off. "How long since you arrived?"
"Two weeks now. Elena wants to visit Spain next, then stop in England where she has some distant relatives." Bonnie relayed the entirety of their travel plans to him.
"Is this your first time being a travel companion?" the gravel crushed under his shoes.
She hugged her arms around herself. "Yes. My first time traveling at all in fact. My grandmother made an offer to Elena's mother so now I'm here. She's been generous enough to accommodate me."
"Indeed." His eyes were now boring into hers. "Do you work in New York?"
"Not currently," Bonnie chuckled embarrassedly. "I went to college to study writing but it's been difficult finding work that relates to my profession. The workforce is still limited to women it seems."
"Regrettably so." That was a surprise. Most men tended to see it as an advantage. The fact that women could now go to school was one thing but to work was seen as a dangerous affair. Many did but it was not still such a popular thing outside of secretarial and teaching jobs. She couldn't even get those jobs.
"Writing is an admirable profession. I'll admit that I can barely stand to string up a few words for a telegram but I admire those who can," he admitted.
"I love it actually," she blurted.
Kai smiled. "Good to know. My sisters share the same sentiment. They were actually meant to accompany me on this trip but some stuff came up."
"How old is are they?" Bonnie flicked the cigarette butt over the ground.
"Jo is my twin so she's thirty and Liz is about twenty-one and a perpetual pain in my ass. Already a bold and uncompromising young woman. Don't tell her I said that though," he said fondly. It was obvious he cared deeply for both of them. It was pleasant to witness."Books are her companions and she guards them viciously."
Bonnie laughed. "I can understand that. Normally I'm known to walk around carrying at least one of my favorite books around. Haven't had much of a chance lately though." It was considered rude to read during dinners and such was the reason.
"What is your favorite book?" He asked.
"Frankenstein," she replied.
"An interesting choice. The folly of a creator and the tragedy of his creation." The waves crashed loudly.
"I also find it to be the beauty of things humans have taken for granted leaving the so-called godless and soulless creatures of our own making to appreciate them in our stead thereby becoming more human than we are," Bonnie spoke with passion as she summoned every time she was given the chance to talk about the masterpiece.
Kai blinked. "That is an eye-opening perspective."
"Why do you like it then?"
"I can sort of empathize with the perspective of a misunderstood creature." He used the tip of his cane to push some gravel down the cliff.
"You don't strike me as the same league with the monster." Bonnie folded her arms across her chest.
He smirked taking a step closer. Those dark swirls were active once more. "Can you tell if you're seeing any monster up close?"
"I can see you just fine." Her own answer took her off guard but Kai was more intrigued than upset.
She saved her hand dismissively. "Ignore me. Sometimes my mouth runs on its own and I forget to control it."
"But I rather like your runaway tongue," he grinned mischievously.
His words made her face feel hot. "Mr. Parker."The embarrassment made her feel formal all of a sudden.
"Kai is my name," he corrected. "I prefer when my friends use my name instead."
"Are we now friends?" she raised an eyebrow.
He shrugged. "A friendship is forged by two people of like minds. I perceive our minds are very much alike."
"That is.. bold of you. We've only just met. Don't friendships take longer to form?"
"You'll find I am a man of many risks." He took a step to you. Her breathing hitched ever so slightly. "Time is a mere illusion in my opinion. Things take as long or as little as they require. No one standard for them all."
"Good to know," She licked her lips looking down at her shoes.
"Would you like to join me for dinner tomorrow night?" he asked suddenly.
"Um sure. I'll ask Elena –,"
"Just you alone I mean."
"Oh." Her heart was racing. "Just me?"
"I enjoy your company it seems and I would like the opportunity to get to know you better," Kai explained patiently. "Unless it's not something you'd like."
Elena was definitely going to throw a goat about this. But she couldn't stop Bonnie if she had no idea. After all the boring dinners she'd been to, she deserved one with a man whose company she actually liked. Bonnie had earned that at least.
"I would love to," She wrung her hands.
Kai grinned widely. "I look forward to seeing you tomorrow night then." He grabbed her right hand and placed another soft kiss and she felt herself almost melting once more.
"Goodnight," he murmured.
"Goodnight Kai." She breathed as he walked away back to the hotel. Silhouette disappearing into the overwhelming darkness of the night.