Hey! So thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read the story, I hope you're liking it so far! Anyway, enjoy the chapter!
Geralyn went through three pen nubs before she was calm enough to write without destroying the metal tips with the pressure she put on them.
With nothing else to do after determining that one of the men must have taken her gun from her purse, the woman threw herself into her work.
Pulling up her long, silvery hair with a plastic clam clip, she treated herself to a long, thin cigarette and savored the nicotine buzz for a moment, blocking out everything else.
She knew that studies showed that the luxury smokes were going to kill her someday, science not publicly known when she first started her practice now told her that it would turn her lungs black and age her prematurely.
But if there was ever a time to consider breaking the habit, now was not it.
She set to work thinning out the large stack of paperwork on her desk and soon, thanks to her laser focus and anger driven determination, one pile grew larger than the other and within the next hour she ran out of work to keep her busy.
Next she neurotically organized and re organized her desk. Pausing only when she discovered a long, thin, silver letter opener in her drawer.
Pointed and shaped like a dagger.
She slipped the letter opener in her pocket, just in case.
She began pacing the office back and forth, kicking off her red stiletto heels and instantly losing about five inches.
There had to be a way to call for help.
Maybe if she could get on of the radios the men had, but she had no clue how to work one.
She suddenly found herself thinking about Holly, who most likely had taken over as unofficial leader of the hostages with Takagi now dead and Geralyn herself in no position to lead.
Holly, the natural leader, she would go far one day if they made it through this night. Geralyn had complete faith in her to keep everyone calm and steady until they were rescued.
If they were rescued.
Putting out her third cigarette, Geralyn's head snapped up when she heard a furious bellow down the hall and the crash of something heavy being knocked over.
Shooting for the door in her stockinged feet at the sound of a second crash she bolted out the exit, ignoring the protests of the guard stationed at her office door, and instantly entered Holly's office to find Hans had incapacitated the large, beefy, blonde man against the wall.
"Let Heinrich plant the detonators and Theo prepare the vault!" Hans barked "After we call the police, you can tear the building apart looking for this man but until then, do not alter the plan!"
"And if he alters it?" Karl hissed and Hans released him silently, turning to find Geralyn in the door way with an unconscious mask of concern on her face.
"Done sulking, are we?" Hans inquired and Geralyn, now sure that he was in no danger switched from a concerned frown to a disinterested smirk.
"I heard shouting, and I figured if someone was about to bash your head in I would want ring side seats." She said coolly and Hans rolled his eyes.
"Tell me Geralyn, is it rich despising me? Do you find it rewarding?"
"No" She growled with a dead, icy tone and Hans slammed his hand on the desk top. "Then Stop It!"
"Why?" the woman asked, storming up to him but failing to seem threatening as her former height had shrunk significantly. "It's what I live for!"
"My Lord…" Hans shook his head, looking down on her green eyes which seemed like those of a doll, beautiful, shining, and cold. "You are a hateful woman!"
He sneered at her, "Cold as ice, hard as stone, and as dull as plain song; forever on the same note, la la la. I've given many things up out of boredom my dear, and I can do the same with you."
"Then be rid of me!" She barked and pointed at the papers. "Sign and find someone less detestable than I!"
"No."
Trembling with fury Geralyn clenched her fists and Hans took a step back to eye her, smirking when he spotted the long, potentially dangerous letter opener clasped in her hand like knife.
"Go ahead." He hissed in a way that it was almost a whisper. "Stab me." He waited for her to catch on as she looked down in surprise and realized she was still wielding the tool.
"Do it." He took a step forward and even pushed back his suit coat a little bit to expose his chest, covered only by a white shirt and under shirt which could easily be torn through with the tip of the blade.
"Why settle for being a divorcee, when you could be a widow instead?"
Karl watched the quarreling couple anxiously as the woman paused a moment before raising the letter opened level to his chest, not taking her eyes off of his as she lined up the blade and held it there.
She wanted him to look at least a little scared that she might actually do it, that in a sudden fit of rage she might just decide to drive the blade of the metal strip into his heart and feel bad about it later, or maybe not feel bad at all.
But instead his eyes practically goaded her, daring her to do it.
After a full minute of holding the shiv at the ready she growled and drove it down, not into his chest, but into the wood the desk, letting it stand there freely embedded in the polished surface until it fell on its side and then on the floor with a metallic clatter.
At the last minute Hans flinched just a little bit, and it gave her a sort of sick satisfaction.
Yes, if only for a millisecond, he had been afraid.
They stood there in silence, staring at each other and ignoring the flimsy, wobbling blade that impaled the desk until Geralyn sighed and looked away slightly.
"It is a very nice suit." She muttered a feeble excuse, "I would hate to be the one to ruin it"
Hans stared down at her and couldn't help but smile a little fondly before reaching forward to cup her cheek with his large hand, which she allowed him to do, and stoked her pale cheek with his thumb slowly.
"Karl." He said finally, "Please, escort my wife back to her office, then come back here and we'll continue our talk."
Karl obeyed and took Geralyn by her arm and half dragged her to the office and left her there with the armed guard.
Geralyn stood in the middle of the room and was suddenly filled with regret.
She should have stabbed him.
Meanwhile Holly had watched the scene in the hallway with her heart in her throat.
Wringing her hands she watched her coworker and friend face down the gun toting stranger with open arms and what could either be described as mind boggling confidence or a death wish.
"Christ, she's going to get herself killed!" Ellis fretted and bit his nails to the nub, and for once Holly was in total agreement.
"You have to admit though, when she gets angry like that…" Ellis smirked despite their current situation. "It's kinda hot."
"Ellis!
"What?
Holly sighed and swallowed hard, wishing Geralyn was out here with them to help her keep control of the crowd, who was terrified.
Geralyn was always the one with the cool head, the type of person who could face down an angry gorilla without batting an eye.
But this was the first time she had ever seen the woman with the silvery blonde hair truly furious, so angry that it seemed to radiate off of her like heat waves.
Even from the distance she was at she could her green eyes flashing and the tense, drawn lines etched across her face.
Holly could only pray to God she didn't start smarting off, or else she could land them all in trouble.
"She'll be okay." Holly whispered, mostly to herself. "She's tough, she's the toughest person here."
"Yeah, Tough." Ellis agreed but winced. "But not bullet proof."