A/N: alright, we're staying in the present for a couple of chapters to move the main plot a little bit.
I can't thank my beta, Cophine, enough for the great work she does.
The meeting with Daniel finishes shortly after the tall blonde leaves. Still a little dumbstruck, he hands me the company card and scribbles down on a yellow post-it the number for the taxi service they usually use, along with his personal phone number, although he advises me to use it only in emergencies when he's not around the estate.
When I step outside the library I catch a glimpse of Delphine going up the stairs that lead to the private living areas. She turns her head at the quiet sound of the door closing behind me, and a grim shadow closes her features as she continues to go up, just before she looks ahead again and disappears from my sight, turning the corner into the hall.
"Ms. Niehaus," the male voice with heavy British inflection grabs my attention and I find Alfred standing by the dining room; its big, glass double doors opened and right in front of the library entrance. "Perhaps you'd like to go back to your quarters and see if there's anything we've neglected," he offers in a formal tone, his eyes moving just for a brief moment to the top of the stairs.
I steel my mind not to dwell on how long he might have been standing there and what he made of my staring. "Oh, I'm sure we're well provided for," I take a few steps towards him and away from the office door.
"All the same, you should be sure," the chief of staff insists. "Joshua leaves early in the morning and he'll need a list before nine tonight."
"Actually I'm going into town in the morning," I inform him casually, "Mr. Webster wants me to get a new computer and I'll take the opportunity to get a few things we might need."
He frowns his brows, but nods slowly. "Very well," the man says curtly, "then I suggest you take the remainder of the day to rest or explore the estate," his tone acquiring an edge with each word he speaks, "outside." He finishes after a short, dramatic pause.
"I'm gonna take you up on that last one," I answer cheerfully and gracing him with a huge smile.
I leave him and his raised brow and walk briskly in the direction of the backdoor; the smile fading the instant I'm out of his sight. I sigh deeply when I step outside, a gloomy feeling capturing my mind while my eyes move up to the sky covered in thick, dark gray clouds, not a hint of blue. Next I look at the small cottage and think about heading there and flop myself on the comfortable bed which is probably calling my name. However the memory of Felix's earlier outburst guides me away and instead, I take a leisurely stroll in the direction of the pool. There's a small area where a couple of wooden garden tables, painted white, surrounded by matching chairs are covered by an equally white canopy. It's the perfect setting to provide some respite from the sun during the hot summer days, sipping a nice cocktail and getting pleasantly buzzed in the afternoon. But in the middle of a snowy and raining late autumn these chairs offer the only place to sit that's not wet and I take advantage of it.
I try to empty my mind, fully aware that I won't get many opportunities like this during my stay. Oddly, for that I'm thankful. Having my mind occupied with work prevents it from wandering in directions I have no right to take. As much as I hate to admit it, Sarah - and even Felix to some extent - are right to feel apprehensive. Even without knowing the depths with which Delphine, in the past, has influenced my life. Entertaining scenarios where the siblings would learn the entire story is something I hope to avoid.
With a foot I drag another chair until it's right in front of me and prop my feet on top; stretching my legs out for more a relaxed position. The air smells of rain and wet grass, and while I can hear a few birds chirp in the distance, there is also the rustle of leaves in the trees; indicating a slow breeze from the North, carrying heavy clouds and the subsequent rain. There's a sort of calmness in the air that anticipates an angry storm, and I have no doubts that tonight the sky will be brightened by lightning that will shake the earth beneath my feet. I close my eyes and bask in the quietness that surrounds me, leaning my head back and taking a few deep, calming breaths, thinking that the only thing missing for this to be perfect is a nice joint between my fingers. I can almost smell it, my brain tricks me into believing I can feel the earthy taste in my tongue.
And then I open my eyes and realize it's not an illusion, I can actually smell it. I turn my head around, slightly disoriented, until my eyes land on a tall young man, standing near the other table. The black, thick hair and small dark eyes, rimmed red, leaves me no doubts about who it is. Mr. Webster's youngest son has the same characteristics of the other males in the family, yet somehow, those same genes compose pleasant features. He's, most likely, considered a handsome man; the weak chin of his brother is absent and in its place a strong jawline is drawn. Broad shoulders and a well defined chest can be seen under his tight brown shirt, and worn jeans cover his legs.
After a moment I start to quickly fumble, lowering my legs and straightening my back, I begin to push myself up.
"Oh, no, no… please," he waves his free hand and gets closer to me, placing that same hand on top of my shoulder. "Don't get up," he moves back and takes an empty chair on the other side of the table, while using another chair to rest his feet, much as I've done.
Silently, I watch him bring the weed to his lips and release the cloud of white smoke with a joyful grin on his lips. Speechless, I observe as he moves his red eyes to me, the same dopey smile on his features and extends the joint over the table between us. I frown in confusion, my gaze dancing between his extended hand and his face.
"No, thank you," I decline in a small voice; not because I don't want it but because I don't think it's good to get high with the son of my new boss on the first day.
He shrugs and gives me a short nod, retrieving his hand for another drag. "I don't think we've been introduced," his words forming a cloud of smoke, "but I assume you're one of my brother's new minions." He finishes with a small giggle.
I grin at him. "Yeah... Cosima," I say, my feet moving back to the top of the chair and allowing my body to loosen up again.
"William or Will," he says in a husky voice, "Will, really... my brother likes to call me Willy to piss me off, but I rather you didn't." The young man talks fast, obviously already well buzzed.
"Don't worry, I won't," I chuckle.
"I thought the new security team was arriving today," he points out after another drag, "but you seem too small for that."
"I'm the IT," I explain.
"Oh… I see," Will opens his eyes and gives me a once over. "Well, you've got the whole hot geek thing going on, so I guess that makes sense."
"Hmm… yeah… thanks," I answer awkwardly, nodding a few times.
He laughs heartily. "Relax! You aren't my type," he says dragging his gaze away from me and rests it on a distant point in the horizon. "I like my women straight or at least going both ways and I don't think you fall in either category."
I arch my brow at him, but if he notices my mild discomfort he pays it no mind. Instead his eyes pass right by me, to focus somewhere behind me and he waves his hand with a big smile on his lips. For a moment I think he's miscalculated the amount of weed in his spliff, but then I hear footsteps getting closer, then stopping behind me. I don't really understand how I know who it is even before I turn my head around, although I suspect it's because William maintains his relaxed posture.
"Delphine, why don't you join us?" He says cheerfully. "Cosima and I are having a very interesting conversation."
"You don't say," I'm surprised to see a easy smile on her lips. Even the tone of her voice is smooth, and her steps are light as she crosses the space to claim one of the chairs by the other table and drag it to ours. "And what are you discussing?" Delphine asks with humor, positioning herself in the space between the chairs where we have our feet.
I observe her with undisguised curiosity as she reveals a cigarette in the palm of her hand while the other gestures in Will's direction, who without a word hands her his lighter. Every move Delphine makes is marked by her innate sensuality; the way she lights her cigarette and closes her eyes while she takes the first drag and expertly exhales a tendril of smoke. It all seems so effortless for the gorgeous woman; leaving the cigarette between her lips and reaching behind her head for the wild, curly hair, pulling it up and fastening it sloppily with a band she slips off her wrist.
"We're talking about what we look for in a woman," Will's answer makes me snap my head to him, a murderous glare in my stare.
But all Delphine does is laugh, a deep throaty sound that I vaguely remember from the past, but that was so rare, that its memory had faded until now. "I don't know you as being too picky," the blonde says, aiming the free hand at him.
He laughs with her. "True, true…"
The entire situation feels oddly comfortable and I have the clear impression that Delphine and Will often meet outside for easy conversation, seeming at ease with each other, much more than with her own fiancé. The couple of times I've seen them together, Delphine appeared to have a sort of stiffness to her, like she was holding back something. Not now. As she sinks deeper into the chair, raising her elbow to the top of its back and bringing the cigarette to her lips once more, the frenchwoman seems completely laid back. It reminds me of the few times we met by the lake and a few times after, when the young blonde adopted a completely different posture than when we were surrounded by others.
I know this is dangerous territory, not that it makes me stop. I can't seem to silence the memories that continue to come back to me, especially when I notice Delphine's gaze shifting to me in a sideways glance. The corner of her lips seductively curling, just before she turns her head to me and pins me with her impossibly gorgeous golden eyes.
"What about you, Cosima?" She asks in a voice that I just know is meant to tease me, but I can't help the coil it causes in the apex of my thighs. "What are you looking for in a woman these days?"
It's those last two words that stick with me. I return her daring gaze, but my brain is in a knot and nothing useful comes out of it. The silence lasts for too long, and Delphine's eyes don't waver; the understanding that she's absolutely aware of what she's doing growing in my mind. Her small grin doesn't begin to cover her intentions; her eyes sparkling with an unwarranted victory. Why she's so pleased with this accomplishment, I don't comprehend. The only justification I find for it it's the fact that she's obviously able to manipulate me in the same way she apparently does everyone else.
Briefly, I glance at Will, worried that even in his state he could sense the rising tension between the two of us, but the young Webster is barely in this world: his head thrown back, his eyes closed and a stupid grin on his lips, clearly enjoying his high.
"I'm looking for the exact same thing," my brain finally restarts to work, "not that you've ever known what that was." I answer in a low voice, setting my feet down and leaning forward.
Delphine doesn't back down at my attempt to goad her. In fact, her smile loses its slight easiness, and becomes something taunting. "Oh… I think I knew what you wanted, even back then," she assures me, equally quiet and leaning in my direction as well. "And I'd be very disappointed if, after all this time, you were still looking for the same thing," her eyes narrow just for a moment, an appraising stare moves over my body. "But I pretty much doubt that's true."
I feel myself swallow the lump in my throat, my body gains a mind of its own and finds a way to get closer to hers, sitting on the edge of the chair. "Why would that be disappointing?" I ask in a voice that borders a whisper.
Delphine gives me an enigmatic smile, pulling the last drag from her cigarette before she stubs it in the ashtray sitting on top of the table. She won't answer me, my eyes waiting too eagerly a response as she gets to her feet. Her gaze is trained on me, the same grin gracing her lips, and I feel a shiver run down my spine, which I wish I could blame on the late afternoon breeze, but the fact that I am unable to stop staring doesn't allow me such a shameless lie. In fact, my eyes don't abandon her until she passes beyond my sight and is moving behind me. Fully convinced she would walk away, the hand that Delphine places on the skin of my neck surprises me; my body in total shock when I feel her cool hand slip further and barely pass the upper seam of shirt to softly graze my collarbone, lowering herself until I feel a warmth brushing my ear.
"You were always too coy, Cosima," my name rolls out of her tongue in a low alluring tone, as her fingertips dip along my skin, just shy of stroking the top of my breast. "I was hoping that had changed."
As quickly as her touch came, it was gone. My heart is pounding and the cold air does nothing to cool my overheated skin.
"Don't come inside until the high goes away, Will," I register Delphine's voice at my side, sounding much louder and completely casual, "you know Daniel doesn't like that."
My eyes go to her just in time to see her remove her hand from the top of Will's shoulder, who rolls his head to the side and mumbles something incoherent. As I watch her leave, Delphine manages to surprise me once again when she looks back over her shoulder and throws a wink at me; obviously having noticed my unabashed stare move along the sinful sway of her hips.
"Shit!" I say loud, startling the man enjoying his buzz.
"What?" He asks lazily.
"Nothing, Will, nothing…" I answer getting up and walking in the direction of the cottage, feeling too worked up to say anything useful or to worry about the consequences of what just happened.