SM owns him but hes mine to play with a few moments. Italics are a different language (French, Romanian or Mandarin)
For my Jester.
By the time Vladimir and Scarlett got back to their suite, she was exhausted, and as soon as they were in bed she was cuddled into his side and fast asleep. Vladimir had wanted to go through the growing list in his head, to which a few more things had been added in the last few hours, but Scarlett wasn't going to make it. She and Liz were going out the following day and he wanted her to be well rested for that. He did explain what he meant to her when he said he felt like he could conquer Paris on the way to the little get together they were going to and that had sent Scarlett into a state of quietness. He mused that his want for more affection being hidden in his subtle compliments to her were reaching her heart. If she clearly objected to him, to what he was suggesting her to consider, she'd have left him by now or pulled away from him. She didn't. She never left his side the whole evening. When he needed to excuse himself to go 'talk' to someone privately as in go put a new set of contacts in and slip out to find a willing vein; she glued herself to Stephan until he returned. Her devotion to him and his brother was growing more evident. He was pleased that she dismissed Stephans earlier indications of what he had done to her attacker. She remained silent beside him the whole night and only spoke when asked a direct question by his partners; after it was translated for her. Vladimir noted that his partners wives separated from their husbands once they were introduced and that they kept to themselves to talk about him and his brother. It amused him that they thought he was the devil but there being two of them present before them was confounding them. They were immensely curious about Scarlett though; they kept referring to her as the angel. They, of course, didn't know what he or Stephan were other than unnatural and he did have to agree with them, she was an angel. He had picked out an outfit that muted out her beautiful lines and curves on purpose; the wispy material floated when she walked only to conceal most of her when she was still. His associates, as expected, were fixated on her and were constantly attempting to have her speak. It seemed the more they tried to interact with her the more she instinctively resisted. She also resisted taking any food or drink they offered. Scarlett only ate and drank from his hand. Perhaps in light of the previous attempt at drugging her she didn't trust anyone now, then again that could have only meant that she only trusted him he mused. The staff that were there were paying very close attention to her; noting how she looked so they could be sure to be at their best should they have the privilege of serving her. He'd let her sleep now, she was still tired from traveling the night before and he wanted her at her best. Her arm draped across his chest held him in place for now but he'd need to move it in a few hours when he had to get back to work; he dreaded that time. Scarlett hummed a few broken words beside him but he didn't respond. She quieted down much to his disappointment; asking her questions in her sleep was one of his favorite things to do while she slept. A list item. He shook his head, he would need to resolve, confess, all his actions to her before she figured them out on her own and would have reasons to be angry with him.
Morning came and Scarlett stretched out only to discover that V had already risen. She wanted to stay in bed but Liz would be there soon to take her out. The sound of fast typing from the other room brought a smile to her face and helped motivate her to rise from bed. She'd always go to the bathroom first to freshen up before she went out to him even though he'd of spent most of the night with her watching her sleep; she wanted to at least attempt to be at her best. More things came out of the gift basket now had been completely unwrapped. The cost of the thing was still boggling her mind but she decided the best compliment she could give them was to use the items. She also decided that she would leave them a note of thanks in a few days too. It didn't take long for her to peek out to see V alone at his desk and no one in the room before she entered. She still had her pajamas on and was still deciding on what to wear out with Liz. "Morning." V had been watching her the whole time.
"Rest well S?" She gave him a nod as she stopped at the tray of fruit that was set out and waiting for her. "I'd like you back here by dinner if you can manage and if you'd like you and Liz can dine downstairs, the staff are itching to put on a good show for you it seems." She rolled her eyes as a grape landed on her tongue. "They, and my associates were smitten with you last night." She gave a shrug. Of course she didn't care, he knew as much. "As was I." She glanced at him and he curled his finger to beckon her over. "I'm not so sure I should let you out of my sight around them because I'm sure it'd get violent." Her bottom was leaning up on his desk just then and he eased himself over to her. "Then I'd have to get violent.." he smirked when he didn't hear any rise in the rhythm of her heart. "I want you back here before nightfall so I can take you out for a little bit and then we can come back here and spend a quiet night together while you are awake."
Scarlett laughed out and nodded. "I'll do my best to get us back for dinner. I'd rather go out with you anyway, I'm dreading where Liz is planning on taking me today." V moved closer to her and nuzzled his way to her side; she didn't object. His tongue started gliding over her faded scars and she closed her eyes to focus on it. His hand found hers and he guided it to his head so she could run her fingers through his hair. This was their way now and she'd need to start talking about something, anything, so he wouldn't stop. The only thing she could think of when he had her like this was what else he could do with his tongue and her on his desk. "I enjoyed last night but if you or Stephan weren't there I'd be lost understanding them." There was an approving murmur. "They did seem curious about me more than I was expecting…" V slid his teeth across her skin that sent a shiver through her; he wanted her to expand on the thought. "...it was like they were waiting for me to do something like on that call but their wives were right there…" V started to stray from the scar and Scarlett eased her grip of his now fisted hair in her grasp. "...they'd start a lynch mob or something on me I thought…they were getting so close to..." Now Scarlett was clenching her eyes tightly closed and desperately trying to focus on what she didn't want to tell him; where she wanted him to move to next on her body but her slowly labouring voice was now too telling. "...if you were going to meet with them for something did you want me to be there to distract them?" Scarlett slapped herself mentally; she knew she needed to keep away from questions or he'd have to stop to answer her.
Vladimir pulled himself away from where she had allowed him to wander to; mid way between her scar and belly button. It was significant on how much she was allowing him to do, how much she enjoyed it it seemed. Time, he reasoned and trust would win her over. "I expect them to request such a meeting but I wasn't sure you'd be interested in attending it. I'm sure they'd enjoy your distractions." He certainly would but it wouldn't affect his focus completely as it would them. S was still fighting off his effect on her and her heart was still beating fast. "You will forgive my going off course just now h'm?" She nodded and he gave her a little grin that made her blush. Vladimir, wanting to move along his new agenda with her and taking into account how timid he thought she was around many people thought this was the best opportunity to bring one of the points he was going to tell her tonight. "When you and Liz go out today I want you to know that there will be security guards around you keeping you safe." Her slight frown and huff she gave him didn't deter him; it was for her protection. "Paris is a very big city and can be dangerous, I'd be very upset if anything happened to you. You recall your translator in Switzerland." She nodded but was now seeing where he was going with bringing it up. "She was also protecting you for me and had instructions to do so at all costs." She huffed again and shrugged.
"It's fine I guess. Can I tell Liz so she doesn't get all paranoid on me?" V nodded to her and that made her feel better about it. "She notices everything about what people are wearing so she might see similarities." V was sadly done with her side now and Scarlett realized she had even less time to get ready so she pushed herself up to stand and go do just that. Liz was on time and they were off within the hour. V handed her two cards before she left; one was a room key and the other was a credit card with her name on it. She didn't have to ask, she had a similar one in Switzerland and knew he'd expect her to use it well. Scarlett did tell Liz about the security detail on them once they were in the elevator and before they hit the lobby. "Should I be mad?"
"Hell no." How that was even a question was beyond Liz's comprehension. "At this point I wished he had one on you that night you went missing…how can you even ask that?" She held up her friends hand with the bracelet on it. "Some, probably strung out junkie, was willing to kill you over this without even blinking and you ask if you should be mad that your boyfriend is making sure it doesn't happen again?" She shook her head.
"He's not my boyfriend Liz." Scarlett said before the elevator doors opened.
Liz leaned up close to her ear, "Yes he is so accept it." She was given an angry look by her friend but laughed it off as they approached the front desk. "Excuse me but has our taxi arrived?" The clerk called over the bellhop and she was told it was on its way. "Thank you" They went off to one side of the lobby to wait and within a moment someone had come over to offer them refreshments; they were turned away. It was all because of Scarlett, Liz didn't flatter herself thinking it was her or just their way here. They both saw Stephan come out of what looked like an office just then and approach them. Liz had accepted his invitation to go out with him later that night and to the event the following week so why he was coming over was a mystery to them; probably to say hello. Stephan was quick to take Scarlett's hand and place a kiss on the back of it. It seemed to Liz that both brothers adored her friend immensely.
"You two ladies do have a wonderful day out and don't worry about us men being back here slaving away." He chuckled as Scarlett snorted a giggle. "Liz my dear it's occurred to me that I have made an oversight on my request to you so I insist you allow me to make it right." Stephan pulled out a credit card from his pocket and several bills. "When you do find something for our dates I'd like you to use this to buy it with as I don't want to impose on your own funds for me and the money is for your meals today, snacks and tipping." He needed to fish up Liz's hand to place the items in it. He noted how reluctant she was in accepting his offering.
Scarlett had too noted how her friend was set back by the gesture. "Take it Liz, he won't take no for an answer or he will make me buy things for you and if that's the case then I'll have you explain to V why you didn't want to spend his brothers money." The threat stuck and Liz's fingers closed around the offering. How quickly things had turned into Scarlett's favor, first she was being teased and now she had the chance to get her friend back. She then noticed the bellhop looking as though he needed to pee which could have only meant that their taxi was waiting. "If you will excuse us our taxi is here and we need to be back in time to have dinner here." Stephan stepped aside and gave the two a nod. They were on their way to the place that Liz had told the driver to go when Scarlett spoke up, "If you don't want to upset your boyfriend you will do exactly what he asked you to do and no less." and then burst out laughing. Liz swatted her leg with the back of her hand and she was told to 'stop it' but there was no way that was going to happen. Their first stop was the salon and the dreaded the wax strips came out but rather than protest it Scarlett was vigilant that the lady got every hair off of her that needed to be. It had been nearly two months that she had gone without and she didn't know when her next visit would be. The two of them were set up side by side with only a little screen half screen separating them. "So where is Stephan taking you?"
Liz winced as she replied. "He said it was a show that his school was putting on, annual thing he goes to. Ouch. Said It'd be nice to bring a date that would actually appreciate it since I've been here before." How he assumed as much about her confused her somewhat but she wasn't going to miss the chance of having a night out with the man who had a very sexy voice and accent.
Scarlett had to think back to when she was with V, how he mentioned that his brother liked the theater and performing arts and it was another 'click' of two puzzle pieces connecting. "It's probably one of the schools he supports, V told me that he loves stuff like that." Liz looked over to her and then lay herself back down but Scarlett didn't think anything of it. Another strip came off the back of her leg and she swore bitterly.
"Beauty hurts S or have you forgotten?" Liz wanted to laugh but the tops of her legs and bikini area were next.
"I remember. Ouch." Scarlett grumbled. "IF that man would only let me have a razor I wouldn't be in this much pain though. I swear he has a phobia of me cutting myself or something ridiculous." Click. 'Idiot' She thought. Of course he would. He'd sooner let her look like a bear than risk herself accidentally cutting herself. Her finger on the glass, he told her and then when she mentioned having a razor when his hand was on her leg it didn't phase him one bit. Another deliciously warm wax strip was ripped from her leg and she grumbled again but it forced her to think of other things to resist the pain. He saw her bleeding to death, he was a mere few feet away from her and did nothing, nothing she'd expect from someone like him would do. He let her go but he also didn't attack her when she was covered in blood or when she was comatose. Another strip, the last one, and she was done. The girl that was working on her said a few words but there was zero understanding on Scarlett's part.
Liz spoke up, "She said it was good your hair was so long because it means she got them all and you won't need to be back for a few months."
"Is that the polite way of her saying I was as hairy as a bear Liz?"
Liz translated it for the girl and mortified her friend. The esthetician laughed and waved as she cleaned up her things and left. "How did you get an appointment on such short notice? This place is really nice." So far they had gotten tea, snacks and there was a tray of chocolates always within reach.
Liz's esthetician finished and left, instructing them they could put their robes back on."Cover up, our feet and nails are next. I called from the front desk of the hotel and the clerk was listening in as I was trying to make the appointment and getting nowhere. So she, quite forcefully took the phone off of me, and told the person here that the companion of hotel's owner and her friend were selecting THIS establishment to do business with and if they knew what was good for them they would get us in or we would have to go somewhere else." Liz laughed. "You should've heard her, she was so good that I was in awe. She then asked if there was anywhere else I wanted an appointment for...I figured she must've clearly loved doing that for me."
"Probably." Scarlett imagined that if she were another person that she'd be doing just that, ordering people around, but then, she figured that it might be just that quality that was absent in her that might be appealing to V. She couldn't be sure of anything anymore. They were escorted into another common room where there were rows of pedicure massaging chairs lined up and were brought to the end of the row where a screen separated two vacant chairs. All eyes were on them as they disappeared behind the screen. Just enough intrigue mixed in with exposure to get everyone talking. "Are they talking about us, can you tell?" She hated the not being able to understand people more and more, and a growing part of her wished V was there with her.
"The whole time. The girls here are being good though, they are saying we are important but not who we are or anything like that." Liz was liking the added attention somewhat but it was at the expense of her friend so she was trying to keep her own ego in check. "So then, what's been going on these last few weeks, anything memorable?"
"Well," Scarlett knew she needed to filter out a lot of information and extraordinary things V had shown her that he could do. "he had me sedated for a while, while I healed, said something about not wanting me to be in any pain so," She shrugged. "I woke up just stiff and rather pissed off being in another country. I spent most of the time sleeping and eating, getting my strength back. When I was strong enough he sent me to the nearby town with a translator who turns out was a bodyguard." She paused, then said quietly. "He said if I wanted to go back home that I could and he wouldn't follow or try to get me back. I seriously debated doing it you know, but now I'm glad that I didn't." She just then in that moment regretted running off on him on the night she was attacked. There was no reason for doing it she thought, it wasn't like she was in any danger from him. What did she feel in that moment, she tried to recall what it was more than the fear. She then recalled how he looked at her, it was more than one of being concerned about her telling his secret; he looked as if he was sorry. He let her go that awful night after Jenna and then came after her at the party only to end up saving her. She, now knowing him better, wondered what he wanted to tell her. Liz's clearing her throat brought her back. "Oh and let's see. He kept sending me out because I'm not a good shopper." She shrugged. "He asked me if I wanted to come here because of that thing and here we are." Liz's unimpressed expression made Scarlett roll her eyes. "He's really nice, I mean, he's different than how I knew him before, he's more fun and less formal and I'm finding it's easier to talk to him. I don't see him like you do I guess, that business person you know, he's just a guy."
Liz's puffed a breath at her friend and fumbled with her seat controls to turn on the soothing vibrations in her chair. Liz knew better than what Scarlett had told her, the looks between him and her friend; how S was under his watchful eye even when there was no reason for her to be in a room of friends. She could tell he was being very protective of her and she was somewhat attached to him because of the trauma she had been though. "So where does he sleep, there was only one bedroom and bed?"
Scarlett's cheeks flushed at what her friend was insinuating. "With me." Liz's brows rose. "And that's it." Each of their nail attendants had continued to work on their hands and feet without missing a beat so Scarlett was fairly confident they weren't understanding a word of their conversation. Perhaps them not speaking the language was a great thing after all but she was glad they had left them alone to talk just the same. "He's with me. I fall asleep in his arms and he's still there when I wake up. He doesn't snore and he sometimes gets up way before I do to do what he does for work. It's a nice arrangement and no if you're wondering, it's complicated."
"You're not on the clock now, so what's complicated? My god how can you not? I'm needing to keep myself from permanently affixing myself to the other one. I need to keep reminding myself how I -just- met him but you've been living with him, in the same bed." Liz gave her an exasperated sigh. "There are some women who would kill to be where you are. You've seen them, the independents, at parties. They would risk getting arrested by sneaking into those things to find exactly what you have." Another sigh. "Give the guy a chance. If he was after an easy score with a pretty girl I'm sure he's more than capable of finding just that. You have to consider that men like them live a solitary existence and I'm pretty sure he's figured out that you're not a gold digger. Hell I'd even tell him if he didn't already know." Liz was about to go into another round of trying to convince her friend but then she noticed look of sadness on her friends face; one of torn emotion. "You're in love with him. Horribly in love."
Scarlett pulled the plush robe around her protectively to cover up any exposed skin. What Liz said didn't shock her as much as it did startle her into fearing that it was that obvious. "Yeah. A while now. Like I said, it's complicated. Guys like that like new models every few years and I'm not a rental." In V's case every night or two from what's she's noticed. At last he wasn't bringing them within earshot anymore but still, when he was out for several hours and then he returned she did get the feeling that he not only had 'nourished' himself but was a lot calmer too. It was just that she was trying to avoid; not becoming his nourishment.
Liz took note of who was around them and took her tone and volume down. "You haven't told him. I know for a fact that men are stupid, you have to tell them or they will say you're playing games so they can excuse themselves from actually coming out to ask or tell you how they feel back." Liz had seen it so many times that it was like a bad TV rerun. "I'm going to bet that he likes you more than you're picking up on S" Her friend just nodded at her and got up to go get dressed.
Scarlett knew what Liz was telling her, she wasn't that oblivious to how things worked and from V's behavior she suspected that he was getting attached to her too. A click. 'try not feeling like that person who's being used' Did he tell her he wasn't going to use her. Scarlett shook her head; enough she thought. "We've got a lot of ground to cover and we need to find something decent for you to wear for your date." She slipped into the change room and put her clothes back on.
"It's not a date it's a favor and they are covering my stay so it's the least I can do" Liz mumbled, "and he's giving me a free pass to buy anything I'd be an idiot not to accept." She understood where her friend was at, it was reasonable; one wrong step and no one would give her the time of day. It was one of the many reasons she herself steered clear of men or any relationships now. Once they were dressed they heading to their next stop. Liz wanted to get everything done in time so they could enjoy a nice dinner together without being rushed. First it was to an out-of-the-way shop where she found what she wanted to wear to hers and Stephens date. She kept watching for the security that Scarlett said was following them and started to notice a few faces repeating themselves. It made her feel very safe instead of paranoid; it took a bit of stress off of her too. Scarlett was important to a very affluent man and if anything happened to her on her watch only she would be to blame. By early afternoon Liz had found everything she needed and they had stopped at a very quaint cafe. She ordered them espressos and a sliver of cheesecake. "Could you see yourself living like this?" Liz looked around to look at all the men looking at them; at Scarlett.
"No. You know this is not my style Liz. It's nice but," Scarlett shrugged. "it's excessive. Tell me, do they actually think we are going to run up to them and screw their brains out if they just whistle at us? That's like the fourth one just now." Scarlett hated the unwanted attention.
Liz nearly spit up her espresso in an attempt to not inhale it as she suppressed a laugh. "No, you're not easy are you…" She laughed out. "that poor man of yours. That is just what they do here, ignore it. You can look once but not twice. Three looks and they'll think you're interested and if they come over and start talking it's a good ten minutes or more to shake them off. None of them are worth a second look, I can tell you that now because if they aren't off working to afford a girl then they certainly don't deserve to have one." Liz looked about and finished off her desert. "So, what do you have planned tonight?"
Scarlett didn't think of herself as being difficult before but realized she was now. It wasn't out of wanting to be superior than anyone but rather to fulfill a need of self preservation and not to be used again. "He wanted to go out to do some sight seeing for a little bit and get back early so we could have a quiet evening. It'll be nice. It's been a hectic week getting ready to come here and traveling and then meeting his business partners." Scarlett then wanted to say, 'I missed just being quietly with him without any distractions in Switzerland'. "I don't think I have any other set plans yet other than that thing we are going to. He'll probably want me to go out a few times more with you, so I'm not cooped up, but still have a security detail on us. Like that guy in the dark green coat on his phone," She looked directly at him and he knew he was found out and walked away abruptly. " he's been on us since the salon." She shook her head and sipped her espresso; it's been ages since she's had any caffeine so this was a treat. Being out around people was a nice change but it brought on its own issues. Scarlett thought back to when she went home after spending her first month with V; how every out of place sound made her scared, how little she slept. She was feeling more on edge the longer they were out but when she thought about it, the security, it didn't stress her as much as she thought it might now. "Where to next?"
"The Chanel store." Liz was getting excited now. When she was in Paris last time she could never afford anything from the place and she even recalled how they looked down on her for even 'looking' poor when she made it past the front door. "I just want to walk in, get them all excited about seeing two very well to do women and then buy nothing." She laughed. "Payback is a bitch." Liz hailed a taxi and they were on their way. "If you can look like you're a snob that'd be good."
Scarlett was a little bit shocked seeing her friend this way, it was so different from when they were at home, but her want for 'payback' made sense. They arrived and the driver made a point of racing around to open the door for them and help them with their bags as they stepped out. The doorman to the store watched them and it was then when Scarlett noticed the line. Liz saw it too but wasn't phased. They approached the doorman who made no motion to open the door for them.
"We are much too important to be made to wait in a line. I suggest you let us in." He didn't budge. "Very well. When you realize whom you've turned away," She glanced at his name tag. "Marc, I'll be sure to tell the manager when he calls it was you who disrespected us." Liz hooked her arm around Scarletts and started to walk away slowly only to stop at the shop next door to glance into the window. "That didn't go as I'd have liked it to go but oh well."
Scarlett kept looking over to see if anyone else attempted to jump the line and be successful; she was genuinely curious. She did see a fella, who looked oddly familiar, approach the doorman and say a few words to him. Both men looked over to where she and Liz were standing. "Let's get moving Liz." She pulled her friend to the next shop window down the line of stores. The doorman talked into his collar and then touch his ear as if to listen to a hidden earpiece. "You didn't get into any trouble last time you were in there Liz did you?" Liz shook her head oblivious to what Scarlett was observing. She then observed another man, an extremely well dressed one, exiting the store and walk directly towards them. "Liz. Uhm something is up here." When he reached them he started talking, but it was was all beautiful gibberish to her. When Liz tugged on her arm to follow him back to the store and inside Scarlett started piecing it all together. "What just happened…? Liz?" It was no good, her friend was spacing out. They were greeted by by an exquisitely dressed attendant and brought to a sectioned off area of the store. When Liz clicked back into reality she started speaking in a string of French. It was hopeless so Scarlett started looking around and ignoring the sales people that approached her wanting to spray her down or try something on. When she looked over to her friend she couldn't help but break her snobby stone composure and smirk; Liz was loving the attention. As much as she wanted to buy something she didn't; because of her friend and because of how they were turned away. She guessed it was the manager who came out for them and also guessed it was one of their security people who tipped off the doorman. It was the manager who seeked her out now and who she was face to face with. He pointed out several things in the display case to which Scarlett shook her head at. He said a few words to her to which she shook her head to.
Liz noticed her friend had been approached by the manager who brought them in and went to her. "He wants to know if there is anything you'd like as a peace offering."
Scarlett shook her head and frowned a little; her approval wasn't going to be bought. Click. "I don't want anything. Are you done? I don't want to be late getting back." She gathered the few bags she had back up in hands and headed for the door without waiting to hear Liz's reply. She was upset. Liz was hot on her heels and by the time she was back on the sidewalk and hailing a taxi, so was the manager.
"S," Liz was beyond impressed with her friend now. "he wants to know if we'd like a private car to take us back." Liz watched her friend turn and snarl a 'NO' at the man and nearly missed jumping into the taxi behind her because of the expression of complete devastation on his face. Once they were off in the taxi Liz broke out into a fit of laughter that spread to her friend.
Scarlett was still giggling when they entered the hotel. The clerk at the desk gathered their bags for them and had them sent up to their rooms so they could go sit down in the dining room. They were ready to sit down with the few that had gathered in the dining room but were escorted to a private area that was near the windows with the best view. Scarlett felt odd suddenly, she hadn't had an evening meal without V in what felt like months and after her breakfast meeting with chef that morning she was worried that he'd be confused as to where she was. The waiter who had sat them down said a few words to them and then left.
"He said chef has our meals almost ready and they will be out shortly. It seems they've been told what we are having?"
Scarlett shrugged as if it were nothing unusual, it wasn't. "It'll be fish tonight with veggies. V insists I eat a balanced diet so I hope you're hungry." Liz looked concerned, Scarlett smirked. "If he left it up to me I'd end up 'starving myself' and he's probably right. Don't worry, I'm sure your boyfriend will put you through your paces tonight and help you burn it off." Two glasses of lemonade, in champagne flutes, were set on the table. Scarlett picked the glass up and started sipping it without even needing to see the look on Liz's face. "You'll be up late too." Scarlett glanced over; Liz looked concerned. "They like staying up late. Don't worry about it, yawn twice and he'll get you back here and say goodnight, they're good that way."
Liz was still worried; she'd sent enough girls off on dates that she should know what to expect but she herself hadn't been on one in ages. Stephens accent was one thing but having spent a few moments with him as he helped her sort out her stay there and insist on covering her costs for their outings was another; it had impressed her even though she didn't let on that it did. "I'm sure I'll be fine, he seems nicer than most of the men I've met like him."
Liz didn't see Scarlett rolling her eyes, 'like him', she was itching to tell her about the men but knew it wasn't her place. "You're nervous? Pfft I'm so nervous, I mean V's associates think we are together and with that they think I'm up to par with him. You know I'm nowhere even close to that level sophistication. I was on edge all last night and that was an informal gathering." Scarlett noticed a few of them, his partners, wander into the dining area; she also noticed how no one was being allowed to sit near them despite asking to be so. "I might just die of embarrassment if I even stumble in front of him or any of them." Liz noticed to where her friend was pointing with her eyes. "They are worse than any of the dates I've ever been on, so nosy, wanting to be near me to touch me, and that's even with their wives watching them. It's disgusting." Their meals arrived and their napkins were removed from their water glasses and placed on their laps. As expected the dinner was fish, salmon to be exact and an assortment of vegetables; all prepared perfectly.
"This is how you eat, I mean meals like this?" Scarlett nodded and shrugged at her. It wasn't a bad way to be treated at all; it was something a girl could be spoiled rotten to death with Liz thought. "I don't get it. What's the catch? There's always a catch?" Liz could understand if V and S were a couple but having S admit what was between them as complicated and that they weren't together she was confused.
"As far as I can figure he wants company. You're right about the alone part, it's just him and his brother, no real family. He said we could have an adventure together, so I figured why not. He did save my life so letting him shuffle me around isn't much to ask, and I'd be an idiot not to accept." There was more to it, she knew there was far much more but Liz didn't need to know. She took several bites of her supper. "I need his company too." Liz looked at her. "It's one thing to be out all the time, with people and all that but I can't tell you how nice it's been not doing any of that."
Liz got it, it made complete sense to her. "You got to tell him, go out on a limb. Risk it?" A waiter came by and asked if everything was alright; observing their serious facial expressions on both of them. She told them all was well, the food was impeccable, and that they were just very tired. Liz was hoping that Scarlett was just teasing about what she should expect tonight, she would need to rest up a little before her and Stephan went out. She thought the man was adorable as well as have a sexy accent. It was the let down that would eventually come to pass that was haunting her.
Scarlett considered what V would do if she did tell him; there were too many possible outcomes at present. She was scared. It was fair for her to be so, so she decided that she'd wait until after the big party. She would at least be there with him there to help him out with the 'show' and then if he left her it'd be easier to say that they 'broke up'. There was no doubt in her mind that he would bring her back home to live in peace. "I'll tell him, before we leave, I'll tell him. Then at least I'll know and be able to deal with how I feel. I'm like in limbo now and it's worse having to hide it." She finished up her meal and crossed her fork and knife on her plate so the waiters knew she was done. Picking up on little signals such like that was what she was working on in Switzerland with her translator; it was helping her break the language barrier or at least not forcing her to speak at all. Desert came soon after and their plates were
taken. The business associates had left them alone for their meals so she was happy about that. Liz and her were heading back to their perspective rooms soon after. Scarlett wondered what V would say at seeing what she bought but when she entered the suite he was nowhere to be found. Her shopping bags were waiting for her on the little desk in the bedroom, undisturbed. She still looked around for any traces of V but she only found a note for her on his desk indicating he'd be back by sundown so they could go out. It was still light out and it would be for for a little while longer. What to do she thought; Scarlett considered what would be best. Rest.
His thoughts were of her the entire day. He hated, with every fiber of his being, being away from her. He managed her absence in Switzerland, it was a small town and he could have single handdly taken it out if she was harmed in any way but Paris had millions of people; it wouldn't go unnoticed. It was only the little bud tucked in his ear that kept him calm; he listened to the entire security detail around the two women the entire day. If he even focused, if one of them got close enough, he could hear the women talking. He'd tell her tonight he was listening; he felt the need to tell her everything becoming more persistent as the hours passed. He didn't hear them speaking about anything of substance, at least nothing about him but he wondered how much Stephan was intrigued over the few lingerie stores that Liz insisted on them going in to. He heard it all as well, very little escaped their notice as far a listening was involved. Once he heard the security team confirm that she was back at the hotel he felt like he could breath again; if it were a necessity. His staff would see to her comfort. He noticed, shortly after her return, his phone alert him that she was safely back inside their suite; all was now well in the world. The link he felt with this mortal was solidified in him; Stephan had even realized it too and was suggesting he write it in stone and bring her over. Vladimir didn't want to be the source of the pain of her transformation though but he didn't want anyone else's venom in her veins ether. There was only torment in his mind and only Scarlett's softly beating heart could help him sort through it it seemed. "I'll take them all and return what my companion dislikes." It was settled and there wasn't going to be any difficulties in returning any or all the items ether. Anyone who dealt with the brothers quickly discovered that giving them any grief over any transactions resulted in not only being blacklisted by them but by everyone that was in good standings with them. The clerk's set to packaging all the different sets of jewelry up so they could be transported upstairs securely. Vladimir went over to where his brother was inspecting the custom broach he had commissioned not even twenty four hours prior; it was splendid by every standard. "You missed your calling in life brother. If only designing trinkets was more financially rewarding h'm?" Without knowing what Liz was going to be wearing only diamonds were used and Stephan had one made in platinum and one in gold.
"I should have asked last night when I was helping her find a room but I'm sure even she wasn't sure what she was going to wear." One of his many interests and artistic outlets was design but it wasn't one he wished to be known for. His brother always trusted his taste in all such things; down to having him decide what would look best on his Scarlett's wrist. He would need to slightly alter the piece once it was in his possession before he gifted it to Liz; their coven crest needed to be engraved on it much like the one on the bracelet. "Tighten up the stones and make the few modifications as I've outlined and have them back to me in three days." The craftsman looked relieved that he didn't need it the following day and gave him a nod.
They all proceeded out of the safe room back up to Vladimir's suite. A small fortune was on the move but there wasn't anything any human could do to take it from the brothers. Once the elevator doors opened on his floor he noted that his prize was in the adjoining room and asleep and turned to the men with him to press his forefinger to his lips. Only he would have the privilege of waking his prize. The men left what they needed to and quickly vacated the suite. "You should go and get ready for your date brother, you do remember what they are I presume?" Vladimir chuckled softly as his brother left. He found Scarlett strewn across their bed, completely unaware of what had transpired in the main room. Vladimir crept in behind her and held her for a few precious moments before he let his fingers wander over her side an nudge her onto her back. He noticed her nails polished to a high gloss and lacquered with a clear polish. He liked how she opted for a more natural look. With some more slight nudging she awoke.
"Please tell me I didn't oversleep." Scarlett mentally shook the remaining sleep from her and edged herself up. V looked good laying beside her that she was tempted to lay back down so he could hold her but she needed to go to the bathroom and it wasn't going to wait.
"I've just returned, we have the whole evening." Vladimir got himself up and went to the main room to give the woman more privacy to prepare herself for their outing. By human standards Scarlett tended not to take too long, she was efficient. She appeared in a few moments wearing a much heavier outfit and had found her coat. He was pleased that she was taking her health, for his sake, more seriously. "Your day went well?" She grinned at him.
"Very well and I hear you two didn't cause too much trouble." He raised his brow in question but didn't give her a chance to explain. "I got a frantic phone call from the manager of
Chanel insisting he apologize for any wrongdoing?" He waited to see what she would say, there was more he knew but this was a first for him; catching her in a situation. He watched her posture soften and a certain coyness come over her.
"Well, you see Liz had wanted to go in the place and there was a line and she didn't want to wait and I don't blame her because I didn't want to waste time in a line when we were on a schedule to get back here. So when we were turned away I thought that was it, but then, I think, one of the security people must have tipped them off or something and the manager came out and escorted us in and then they were all nice to us." Scarlett edged closer. V didn't look mad, more curious really. "I wasn't impressed that we got in ahead of everyone else and when we were in there it was nearly empty and there were clerks that weren't doing anything. He tried to buy me off, I think, but yeah…" She didn't think she did anything wrong but she thought she might have been nicer to the manager.
"Buy you off. Fool." Vladimir laughed out and went to get his coat on. Scarlett looked relieved and it might of bothered him somewhat if she thought he even cared what she did. "We could have some real fun and show up there tonight to provoke him further if you like?" She shook her head. "He did sound sorry so perhaps let's not. Let's see if he calls again tomorrow or has called Stephan to offer the same regrets." He took Scarlett's arm and out they went into the vestibule and down the elevator. The staff, once the door opened and they were noticed, stood at attention and some even bowed.
Scarlett mumbled, "They must really like you or are afraid of you." She knew she would never get accustom to the recognition that they were receiving and a small part of her hoped that she never would. Money and power were as intoxicating as alcohol or as addictive as drugs. She didn't want any of this to ever change her. They stopped at the front desk so V could check if there were any messages and what sounded like instructions. She didn't ask, she was just happy to be have him to herself for the night. The lady behind the counter gave her a polite nod and she returned it with a small smile. V had them on their way in moments and she wondered what and where they were going and she did hope there would be a bit of walking involved so she could burn off a good chunk of the dinner she ate.
"From their whispers they like me because they recognize that I want to run the best and the most prestigious hotel in Paris. They on the other hand only fear me when that's being threatened. I can't charge top dollar for substandard services." The car was waiting for them as they exited and he gave the driver instructions on where to drop them off once they got in. Scarlett huddled into his side instantly and he allowed himself to hope a little bit more. "I don't want you ever needing to fear me S, or going against your nature to please me." She gave him a questioning look. "Like today, he said you were quite angered with him and he didn't know why. I'd like to think that even if you'd of known that it would of gotten back to me that you'd still have had the same response." He could see what he said making sense to her before she gave him a nod. The car pulled around to where he wanted it to be and stopped; the driver stepped out and opened the door for them. It didn't look like much than a walkway beside a river lined with trees but the location was a strategic one. They started walking quietly along the water along the dimly lit path to their destination. "What else did you do today? I was listening to the security detail "
Scarlett was relieved he wasn't upset but decided she'd still be cautious; she wasn't quite yet thinking she had a free pass. She also dismissed him mentioning that he was listening in to those that were around them that day. Of course he was. "Well we started at the salon, then we went to where Liz wanted to find her dress for tonight, stopped for a very quick soup lunch. Found a few stores that Liz had been wanting to go to from when she was last here, stopped for a coffee and cake. Then Chanel." She smirked. "Liz wanted them to fall all over us and then walk out so I guess that worked out well. We came back to the hotel and the clerk at the front desk took our bags so we could get to our dinner. I saw some of your partners from last night but I didn't say hi." She thought of anything else she could tell him. "I'll need to show you what I bought when we get back." She held on to his arm a little more tightly as a couple passed them.
"I'd very much like to see what you bought too." On her if it was lingerie he thought but it wasn't as if he had to ask; she was still quite comfortable, confident enough, trotting around him in very little clothing much to his contentment. He had only his self restraint to thank for nurturing that tendency within her. They walked for several moments in silence, he watched her looking around to the things around them, the water rushing by beside them, people as they passed and various vending carts. She was perfectly content and calm. "I spent some time today picking out the jewelry you're going to wear on our date. I found myself perplexed over what I thought would look best on you so when we get back I'll be trying it on you." There were a few held breaths.
Scarlett couldn't imagine V being indecisive on any decision he needed to make. "Is this not a date now? I think it is." He was smirking down at her and then she noticed he hadn't put his contacts in yet. They weren't in any company at all and those that they passed didn't seem to notice; they were paying more attention to their partners or her than they were to him she imagined.
"It can be. Yes. I do like the sound of that." A kiss goodnight wouldn't be too much to ask if that were the case he thought. He was considering asking her for a kiss after the gala but then again, he'd selfishly get as many as he could. "No one has noticed, not many do if you were wondering. It's in your nature of self preservation to not notice most of the dangerous things around you. Such as the vampires approaching us now."
Scarlett's eyes grew as her fingers tightened around V's arm. His expression didn't change, not even slightly. She trusted him not to lie to her about such things but deep down she sensed she wasn't in any danger. "Are they friendly?"
He gave her a nod and brought them to a stop. "Yvette. Henry. We are honored that you have taken the time to find us and say hello." The two that were with them were strangers to him; they must have been new creations. Vladimir had to push aside his usual tone around S and return to his more arrogant vampire self. "This is my human, Scarlett, I had hoped to introduce you to her at the party when she would be more appropriately dressed to meet you."
Yvette spoke for all of them; including her mate Henry. "We just happened to be out, feeding." Motioning to her two new creations. "The two newest members of our coven, George and Philip, needed to meet one of our oldest and most valued friends and his human so we thought to halt our meals to say hello." Yvette knew enough not to offend her mentor because she didn't know if the female of his was a passing fancy or if he intended to change her. "Out to see the sights are we?"
Scarlett just kept her eyes lowered, instinct was telling her that it was the safest course of action given the present company. She didn't like the reference of 'human' but seeing as they did interrupt their feeding, she felt herself shudder, she decided that she not mention it at all. She was just glad that they weren't speaking French so she couldn't understand them.
Vladimir guided Scarlett's chin up. "This one has never been to your fair city and we are very grateful that you are allowing us, and my brother and his human, passage." Scarlett's grip on his arm and her general composure relaxed for just a moment. He watched her glancing to all of the vampires and then settling her gaze on Yvette. He was infinitely curious at what she thought of the first female immortal she'd met. He suspected that they were all curious about the mortal company they were keeping, after all there were rules that they needed to adhere to. "Our business dealings at present require in person meetings and social events, the females were needed." He added to his list of items he wished to talk to her about tonight. It would, he hoped the explanation of his behaviour, would alleviate all future need to explain his actions.
"I see. We will look for her at the party and make a point of saying hello." Yvette credited herself to being a very sharp, thoughtful immortal. She looked directly at Scarlett; a very attractive human that was worthy of standing beside her friend. "Her name human, so there is no misunderstanding should I get hungry at the gala?"
Scarlett felt herself freeze for a moment; she reminded herself she had nothing to fear, she hoped. "Her name is Liz and she has no idea of what you are…." She froze again. " I'm sorry I don't know your proper title madam."
"Well Vladimir, she's as sweet as she smells and I don't know how you can stand it." She gave her companions a nod, "Go find something to consume gentlemen, you must be famished by now." They sped away and Yvette noticed Scarlett didn't even blink. "I do hope your little one is more talkative at the party Vladimir."
Yvette and Henry sped off quickly. "You did well S. Not being jumpy around my kind is an asset to you." Her grip loosened slightly and he resumed their slow pace. "What did you think of them?" He hoped she wasn't too shaken by the experience.
Scarlett wasn't sure what V wanted to hear but it would need to be an honest reply. "They were all very lovely to look at. She was stunning." For a moment Scarlett wondered why he wasn't with a vampire woman of his own, but then again the one she just had met was very authoritative. "She's the leader?"
"She is. She was the first in this area and no one questions her abilities. Her husband Henry is completely devoted to her as you saw. The beauty is part of who we are but not all are as lovely, as you put it, to look at." They were almost to the highlight of their destination, the lights from the tower were getting brighter to him. He stopped them for a moment to put his contacts in; there would be more humans about and he wanted to be careful. He then wondered what she thought of him, the first time she gazed on him but then thought it would be best not to bring up such a still delicate subject. "I hope they didn't upset or scare you?"
Scarlett watched V disguise his eyes; she didn't care for the deception but knew that once they were alone again the mask would be lifted. "They would of scared me more if I wasn't with you." She sighed. "She expects me to be able to talk to her at the party...I think, if I had to I could, but I don't think I'll warm up to her, it's not an easy thing to do." Scarlett expected Yvette to find her boring so she was getting herself settled with the thought.
"She's a lovely person S, outside of the diet, she's quite caring and loves beautiful things and places. I'd tell you her story but to deprive her of telling it, if she chooses, to you is entirely her choice. Now close your eyes while I put you in the best spot to see what I have brought us here to show you." She gave him a nod and promptly closed her eyes obediently. He took her hand and slowly lead them the rest of the way; taking care not to go too fast or over uneven surfaces. At the time the Eiffel tower was built it was considered an eyesore, none of the Parisians liked it and there was a time when they rallied to have the blasted thing torn down. The government, not willing to throw away such a lofty investment in communications technology, sought to keep it and decided to put electric lights on the steel structure to help beautify it. Overnight the attitudes of the people changed as did the reputation of the city. Vladimir stopped their slow pace and posed Scarlett so she had the best view and he could see her first reaction to it up close. "Open." As her eyes opened the look of wonder and pure amazement took over her looks. Her heart raced momentarily as her eyes danced around the lofty structure and then came the gasp of air she needed because of her held breath.
"Incredible! Just wow." V never let go of her and it was a good thing because just as she was looking up the lofty heights she took a step and nearly tripped. He caught her; she knew he'd never let her fall, and held her closely in his arms. It was then she could feel her heart racing like mad. "Thank you for bringing me, showing me like this. I'll never forget this Vladimir." As close as they were she desperately wanted to kiss him but could only manage to bring herself to press her lips at the side of his mouth. It was V who moved ever so slightly that their lips touched and she tasted him again. Every sweet delicious feeling she recalled from kissing him the first time returned in full force and enveloped her. She was his again, only his and where they were, who was watching them, none of it mattered but the moment was gone far too soon as he pulled himself away from her. She was left gasping as he continued to hold her tightly.
"Forgive my arrogant assumption S, it was just too tempting even for me to resist." Vladimir hated himself for pulling away from her lips. He couldn't risk his kiss going too far and having her faint and also in light of what he wanted to tell her when they got back, he didn't want her to harbour any regrets about him should she choose to leave him over what he was wanting to tell her. "I wish to earn such indulgences from you properly my dearest." Her head nodded as her tight grip of him loosened slightly. They would stand there in the shadow of the great monument to love for several more moments or as long as it took for either of them to let go. Therein lay the problem, he'd hold on to her for as long as she would let him; he felt deeply within himself that he never wanted to let this woman go. Another list item; for another time he thought.
"No." Scarlett shifted her hold of the man to look up into his eyes. "Every girl deserves a kiss beside the Eiffel Tower, including me." Where the courage to say such a thing to V astounded her slightly but he did encourage her to speak freely when they were alone and she did feel strongly about this. "I'm getting cold though." She was also suddenly feeling very exposed and wanted away from the bright lights and people.
Vladimir fished his phone from his pocket and said a few words into it before putting it away. He reluctantly let his hold of the woman go enough that she let hers go so they could take a few paces to the road. Scarlett was back into his arms as they waited for a few moments for their car to pull up and she returned to his hold once they were inside the warmth of the vehicle. How could she be upset with him he reasoned and with one simple glance to her face he saw her that her eyes were now closed and she was smiling softly. Perfectly content just to be near him. The feeling of hope bubbled back up in him as the car moved swiftly along the streets back to his hotel. Once through the lobby and into the elevator it was only then her hold of him let go, just slightly. "Better now?"
Scarlett's smile grew a little, she couldn't erase it even if she tried. V's kiss was far more uplifting than any piece of metal with lights on it ever could be. As much as she liked the kiss she loved that he still didn't assume any of his actions on her. He respected her space. "Much. If we go out again I'll be sure to dress more warmly." She scrunched her nose at him in protest of the layers. The elevator doors opened and the room attendant had their suit doors opened as they stepped off the lift. Scarlett whispered a very quiet 'Merci'' to the man and he lit up in pride as they passed.
"The staff are taking far too much of a liking to you my dear." Vladimir stripped off his coat and layers down to his dress shirt and pants as soon as the door closed behind them and promptly helped Scarlett out of her coat and outerwear; tossing it down with his things. He wished he could help her out of more clothing but stopped himself from following her into their bedroom where she was headed to change. Life is too cruel he felt, he would see her in less later on when they were in bed so why not help her strip down to that point now he reasoned. She was out soon enough with her hair pinned up and wearing a very low top and her pajama shorts. It took him less than a split second to realize she recalled him wanting to try on jewelry so he fished them out of the bureau near his desk and opened all the boxes. "Your dress will be that champagne color I know that suits you perfectly but I was curious as to what you would prefer to wear?"
Scarlett felt an odd feeling creep over her as she gazed down at the jewels. She recalled witnessing the phenomenon on Liz when they were out and her friend saw something so beautiful there was a moment where the object needed to be reflected on. She had never felt that herself until now. Perhaps, she reasoned, before, there was no point in wasting any of her substance over something so purely materialistic when it wasn't achievable. That day, even with the buying power of V's money in hand she still didn't feel it over anything she saw or bought but this, this felt entirely different. One of these stunning items she'd be allowed to touch and wear for their date. "I don't know, they are all so stunning." She noted how there were no sets in gold, all silver but then recalled who she was with...they would be all platinum. "Um I like the ruby, it matches your eyes but no one will see them." Her eyes bounced around. "The emeralds are lovely." She pointed to a set of deep blue gems, 'Tanzanite.' Vladimir whispered. "Liz is wearing a deep blue so no to that one even though they are very pretty." Scarlett felt the anxiety of the decision was setting in; this was going to be too hard.
Vladimir picked up the ruby necklace and fastened it on her neck then walked her to the mirror. His contacts had been removed when they came back so as they peered into the mirror to see their reflection the gems glimmered just like his eyes. "I do like them. I'll find another occasion for it to be worn h'm?" He removed it from her and instantly returned with the emeralds and set them around her neck.. "These do bring out the subtle highlights in your eyes but their boldness may compete with the dress." He returned with the blue set. "Tanzanite is a rare gem only found in one place in the world; it's a rare beauty much like yourself." Her heart didn't fail to beat a few times more strongly. "It certainly does accentuate your eyes but as you say if there will be a source of that color near you then let's not compete with it." Liz would already be at a disadvantage standing beside her friend he thought. Vladimir dismissed the rose and yellow sets, they would bring nothing of value to his beauties neck. He then picked up the diamond necklace and had it in place on a very still Scarlett who seemed to be more relaxed. "Now diamonds not only go with everything they are timeless like myself." He watched her eyes light up and sparkle. The setting was much simpler than the others with its delicate lines but in its simplicity was the most flattering thing she could wear.
Scarlett never thought she'd see something so perfectly beautiful let alone be allowed to wear it. The stones made her feel grand even if it was for a moment. "If I wasn't excited enough to go before I am now V." She was excited but also more nervous about making a mistake around him and possibly embarrassing him.
"As am I my dear." Vladimir let her enjoy the treasure for a few more moments before removing it and setting it aside along with the ruby set. He'd have the others returned in the morning. He watched Scarlett wander over to the windows and look out into the night as he turned off many of the lights in the place so she could see into the darkness without too much interference. From her outing that day he noticed how tender and still slightly rose her legs were from what she had done. He preferred her legs smooth to the touch and thought back to what she requested in Switzerland; there was no way he would risk any sharp items around her in that situation where he didn't know where her mind was. Vladimir hovered around his desk a little more to watch his beauty wander over to where her food was always set out for her to snack on and then to the couch nearest to the previous window. How simple this kind of existence was for him, he debated not telling her all the things he wished to say but it was just that that was still bothering him and interfering with the perfect serenity he was desiring with this woman. "S, did you want something more to eat brought up?"
"No thank you, the fruit is plenty." She was still full from supper and had to remind herself to do a few more exercises in the morning to make up for it. The earlier walk helped out a great deal and she wished that she didn't get cold when she did so they could have stayed out a little longer and walk a bit more. It didn't take much for her to recall the kiss they had; it did more things to her than the previous one even though it was too short. She didn't want to dismiss it so quickly but they were out in public and it was a private matter. The more she thought of his reasons for breaking the kiss off the more she started to like him. 'Indulgence' he called kissing her and that did more for her ego than she initially felt now that she thought about it. "Are there any galleries open in the evenings V?" Scarlett propped herself up on the couch to look back to where V was still hovering; she considered looking at some great work of art he liked might prompt another kiss, at least she'd be in a better position to offer one without looking so desperate.
Thoughtful he thought, and very mindful of her. She was still wanting to please him and using what little she knew of him to do so. "There are, a few. We can certainly go if you like."
"I thought you might. We are here and I know there's a lot you're busy doing but I'd like to see what your favorites are. I'd be a shame to have traveled all this way and not go the little bit further to see them." V was turning his screens off and the absence of light made him almost vanish from Scarlett's view. If he wasn't moving she would have lost him in the shadows. It fascinated her into just watching him come over and sit beside her.
As Vladimir sat he thought he should get right down to business. "You will have to forgive me for how I referred to you this evening as 'my human'. Our kind, even the lowest of the low, considers ourselves superior to yours. It wasn't so much for Yvette's or Henry's sake but for the new ones they had with them. There is a certain code of conduct, if you will, that requires me to show not only my respect to my hosts but dominance over you." There was silence but not one negative reaction.
"I thought as much." Scarlett settled herself into V's side. "I saw it enough at parties. My dates always loved waiting for the richest guy in the room to notice them and ask to be introduced to me for them only to dismiss me an old friend or a cousin. I liked the ones who played me up a little… the most noble lie told about me had me as an old friend from school working as a boutique manager in some remote place." Scarlett smirked. "I was terrified that they would know the place and I'd have to make up stuff."
Vladimir snorted. "The Asians know you as an independent self exploring living artist and that I'm supporting your work. I had to go with something similar in their culture that they couldn't refute as a nothing occupation." Vladimir swallowed hard. "They asked how much I was paying you," Scarlett frowned ever so slightly. "I told them nothing. I said you inherited a great fortune and because of it you are doing what makes you happy, including being with me. I'm supporting you by giving you a stage to explore on."
Scarlett burst into a little laughter beside him; it was the most outrageous lie she'd ever heard told about her. "That's too funny. Here I thought when you called me your 'living art' that was the end of it. That's quite the lie V." He had a serious look still and she was concerned; had her outburst insulted him she thought.
"It's not all a lie S, there is a little bit of truth to it," He shrugged. "I had to be sure that they didn't check me on it so I got rid of one of my aliases and passed all those assets over to you so if they first figured out who you were and checked they would find it. I have your account flagged so if they did look at it or even inquire about it I'd know who didn't take me on my word." Scarlett grew ever so still and silent beside him. "Had you checked your accounts in Switzerland you would have also seen it."
A numb feeling passed over Scarlett and the only thing she could do was let it. "Okay, so, when do you want it back? I mean it's not mine and I don't want it." Scarlett imagined Liz would have knocked her out at such a statement but she didn't care, she never was one who was about the money, at least not with V.
"I don't want it back S, it's yours. I figured you could live very well off the interest and never need to work again if you decided to leave my company." Vladimir watched her expressions go into several different stages of thought. "I wanted to give you a way out that suited me, one that would give you options outside of going back to work with Liz." In truth, at the heart of it, he didn't want her to have a need to ever be with another man unless she wanted to be.
Why would she leave him, Scarlett thought, unless he got bored with her. She didn't want to be anywhere else, with anyone else, she loved him and that wasn't something that was going to go away easily. She tried to do just that when she discovered what he was but even the memory of that night was so faded and overwritten with how much she's gotten to know and trust him now that it hardly seemed relevant. "It's fine I guess, if that's what you want and if it helps your cover then I'm alright to go along with it"
Vladimir was relieved, of the many serious things he needed to tell her she accepted the one that, for him, was the gravest. What struck him the most though was that she didn't ask how much was in her possession. He had suspected as much about her and this confirmed it. She never wanted more from him that second month and she had never asked for more money for her services when Liz was sending her out afterwards when she went back. "Tell me S, what is it you wanted to do in life, accomplish, become?" She was more of a mystery now than she ever was and he needed to know more so he could proceed.
Scarlett shrugged. "I didn't see myself being anything more than a waitress to tell you the truth. Even after my first few weeks with Liz I never really looked ahead. I did know I didn't want to be like my mother." She frowned. "I remember listening to the other kids talking about going to college or wherever to study things that interested them and all those things I didn't care for. I just wanted to do something and make enough to survive on." She recalled the conversation that they had, the one that fueled her affection for him. "After I left you, I had enough money to survive so I explored the idea of living. I went to the park, saw a few shows. I even tried to enjoy working rather than thinking of it as work. What I liked the most was learning about things...there were old National Geographic magazines in the laundry room of my apartment and I loved reading those." She hooked her arm under his and leaned her head against his shoulder lightly. "I read about Paris and thought it would be such a beautiful place to see and it is, so very beautiful."
She gave him nothing to work with along the lines of a companion or family. "I was curious you see, my kind is curious about many things and we like to learn about anything we don't already know." Vladimir took a breath, not only recharge his lungs but to take a moment. "I'm was, and still am, quite curious about you and when I got you back with me I wanted to be sure that you were in the best health possible in light of what had just happened to you, so " He felt her trembling and he too was worried at what her reaction would be. "so I asked the doctors to use anything and everything at their disposal to test you while you slept and they only found one thing." The soft hold on his arm had turned into a death grip and he heard her heart beating quickly. "It's nothing fatal thankfully, nothing that can't be circumvented if you really wanted it to be...they told me that it's not possible for you to have your own children. They said invitro was an option and went into a spew of explanations." He stopped speaking, he realized he was rambling just then and hadn't stopped to listen to her response; or perhaps he was afraid to.
Scarlett felt the deepest dread build in her heart now. What if this was a deal breaker for him, but then again, what if he didn't care. "It's alright I guess...I guess, I always pictured myself as being alone without any family of my own so I guess that settles it." She never did see herself as mother material even though she imagined she could do a hell of a lot better than her own mother did. She let go of V's arm and just sat there waiting for him drop the proverbial bomb on her.
Her response was better than he expected and it was genuine. Not one tear or a sniffle; he was thanking the gods for that because he didn't want to see her that distressed ever again. It sounded as if she didn't want any children if they weren't her own, but her body language was saying something else. Did she want his opinion on the matter; he didn't care to give one as it would have projected them into an aspect of their relationship that he didn't' feel that they were at just yet. "Stephan and I aren't brothers, not in the traditional sense, not blood related that is. I know that's all acceptable these days but when we were born it wasn't." Vladimir got up and fetched S a glass of water and a bowl of assorted fruit items he knew she preferred before sitting back down beside her. "I was told my mother died giving birth to me, it was common back then for that to happen and more times than not and because such a child was seen as a bad omen the father would abandon it or sell it. My father told me that he loved my mother too violently to let any part of her be tossed aside so coldly. He was a bookkeeper and did rather well at it so he had the funds to pay for a wet nurse but no one in our town wanted the position. He was desperate and recalled one of the workers his employers had in the next town had asked for a day off in lieu of his wife having given birth, to celebrate. So he went there to find them. It took a day of travel to get there and he said I didn't even cry once. When he got there he found them easily enough and quietly explained his situation. It was Stephan's mother who couldn't turn him away once she saw me. She suggested that they adhere to the custom and that they pay for me but once I was old enough they would return me to him. They shook hands on it and he handed me over. Before he left me there, he told them he learned of another custom, it was to secure good luck he told them. He took his purse of gold coins and set them beside Stephan as he slept. He told me he secretly sent them an allowance for my care and they would return word of how I was growing. I was just over two years old when I was returned to my father much to everyone's disapproval; they thought I had be sold. No one knew who tended to me and my father told them he brought me back because of a repeating nightmare he had of my mother burning in hell or some other nonsense." He looked over to Scarlett who was listening intently; all traces of the earlier disappointment were replaced with curiosity. "Superstition in those times was rampant and my father thought of all of it was rubbish as did Stephan's parents." She gave a nod but he could tell that questions were being formed. "It was the following year that he heard news about their family, Stephan's father fell to his death trying to save another who had fallen from his perch in the tree he was harvesting. He was a lumberjack and it was a very dangerous occupation. My father, for what they had done in order to help him save me still felt indebted to them so we went out to find her so he could offer her some assistance. He said, while he was talking with her that when they looked over to where Stephan and I were playing he said we had fallen asleep holding each other." Vladimir paused. "You are not to tell a soul Scarlett, especially that part." She nodded and smirked softly. "My father convinced her, by saying that he and I were always meant to be together, and if there was any superstition that needed heeding it was that every tragedy that had happened to both of them only did so to make it happen. He said that Stephan and I deserved to have not only each other but a father and mother who loved them." He smirked to himself; he was thankful that that particular memory he was able to retain after he was changed and all of these years. Scarlett reached over and took a sip of water from the glass he set before her. "So you see, I don't see what the doctors discovered about you as a tragedy necessarily but something that happened for some reason for a reason."
Scarlett moved the pillow that was beside her on to V's lap and rested her head on it as she curled up on her side. It took V just a second to start fumbling with her hair and she could feel the calmness of his touch. He had a point, heck, his dad probably coined the phrase even, everything happens for a reason. Scarlett had an idea why she was like how she was but what good would it have been now bringing it to light? No. She would let it die so she could move on seeing that V didn't seem to care that she was barren. "The thing about your story is that I never thought of you like me. You are just you but you didn't just appear one day." She shrugged. "So when was it that it happened? I remember you saying that you were old but I have no idea when it was an accepted practice to sell your kid."
Vladimir had just fished out the last hairpin S had in her hair and was attempting to remove the elastic that was in his way of properly getting his fingers through her hair. He was still delighted in the simple fact that she was allowing it to grow longer and he hoped she would continue to do so. "By today's calendar, allowing for all the changes that has been done to it," The elastic was severed and he internally rejoiced at his small victory. " this happened in the year 187BC."
Scarlett felt her brow stiffen, despite the luxurious feel of V's fingers threading through her hair. It'd be rude to be startled at his age as it would anyone's but it was boggling her mind that someone so old who has seen and done so much was spending his time with her. She felt so small now compared to him, or any of them, and what he had said about their kind feeling superior to humans; she saw it now. "That's old." That's it, that's the only thing she could say. She was devoid of any thoughtful deep incite at that very moment. V chuckled above her. Scarlet smirked and rolled on to her back to look up at him. "That's beyond incredible even." She was still at a loss over what to say or even ask. "So you two have always gotten along then, all that time?"
Vladimir's optimism was steadily growing; he may have underestimated how much and how understanding this woman was. He reached for the small box beside him on the end table, opening it and taking out a pastel. He had noticed that the sweets had gone untouched by Scarlett and he had guessed that she had been waiting to have them. "We have had our moments." He sniffed the pastel and held it near the woman's mouth. Her lips parted and he held it there for just a moment before brushing it over her lip so she could take it into her mouth. "We had much to figure out at times, grow up, get over ourselves and learn that we despite our great abilities we were infinitely more powerful together. It took a few hundred years or so." He watched the effect of the pastel on her, how it seemed to warm her from the inside out making any tensions within her fade away. He felt the need to swallow back some of his own venom that had gathered in his mouth watching her; looking down her stretched out body and desiring her. "We had just lost our parents when it happened. We were in our early thirties, out drinking and looking for women. We had stopped to warm ourselves on our way home, unsuccessful and somewhat drunk, when we were attacked. I don't remember who it was, only that at the last moment when the beast was on me, after I had tried to pull it off of Stephan, that it was he who had pulled a piece of burning wood from the fire and stuck the beast with it." There was hurt in Scarlett's eyes and he fed her another pastel. "It was only when we woke up that we discovered what had happened to us. It took us some time to find our way and fit into, rather hide, in world that would never accept us."
"You are telling me your story," Scarlett didn't feel as much shocked as she did honored that he trusted her enough to share such an intimate part of himself. "Thank you." Scarlett could only think back to what Liz told her today about guys like him being isolated and wanting company and she too was right about suspecting the same. She didn't want to ask him about any more details about what happened to them, she didn't want to seem rude or ignorant even though she had no idea of what she was avoiding to know. "The fire scared them away?"
"We recalled enough to realize, and saw the ashes of the one who attacked us to piece together that fire was deadly to our kind. It was very disorienting in the first few hours after being changed and waking up. The enhanced senses and abilities are instant as is the depths of emotions is much to become aware and take control of. Once we had determined what had happened to us we shared every shred of information that we recalled from our lives to fill in each others gaps in memory. If we hadn't been tougher or if one of us had perished I don't know what would have become of the other now." He let her think and absorb what he said before continuing. "As rare as my kind are when we come into contact with others it doesn't usually end well. It's a power struggle most times and someone ends up dead. Partnerships like Stephan and mine is common enough but it's still rather rare so once we had gotten over ourselves, after the few hundred years, we quickly saw what an advantage we had." Scarlett went silent, she clearly was trying to process what had taken several decades to happen into something more cohesive she could understand. Vladimir didn't mind giving her the time she needed; he was just glad the bulk of the burden that was weighing on him was relieved. Relived that she wasn't running away in tears from him. "Any questions S? If you don't want to talk about what I just said its fine but know that you can ask me about it in the future if you should want to."
"I'm just, it's a lot to add to you. I'm curious but I'm not, I can't, quite put together a question about that now." She felt so dumb and he was looking down on her so tenderly as if he wished her to speak. "I just can't figure out why you would bother coming after me when we saw each other again."
No she wouldn't know, he may have not told her in the last few weeks since he's gotten her back. "I wasn't expecting to see you there but when I did I wanted to talk to you, invite you to have dinner in a public place so I could ask you to come back to me or at the very least see if you were alright." This was another hard thing for him to tell her but he was determined not to keep as much as he could from her. The images of that night, Scarlett bleeding before him fighting death, would always be vivid a reminder as to how close he was to losing her completely. "I missed your presence around me. It was too quiet without you." The woman on his lap just looked up at him and he reveled in the fact that he saved her so she could be with him now.
Scarlett's lips parted, she was set back by what she heard. He missed her. She had always liked being with Vladimir and the hours they spent together where nothing was said, knowing he could hear every beat of her heart and now realizing that it was the sound of her heart he preferred listening to. "I liked listening to you type fast." V's brow raised. "I liked listening to you talk in different languages, how you would be speaking one and seamlessly go into another as if it were nothing. I liked when you read to me. I guess you had time to learn them all." It was still all so much to take in; his age, what he had told her, all that had happened between them in the very short time they were together. The intensity of feelings in her were building and she had to take a step back and remind herself of what this man was. "How does your spi… venom fix things one way and not when you are, um, having a meal?" Her brow rose as she asked almost asking if how she asked was acceptable.
Vladimir wasn't so impressed with the question as he was with her showing the initiative in asking it. "When I'm fixing things, and for the record I have only fixed things on you, I'm careful not to let any of it get into your bloodstream." Vladimir let his fingers threaded through her hair slowly; it was beautifully golden even in the dim light. "When I'm having a meal and it gets into the bloodstream it's very painful, it paralyzes them with pain and I'm able to get what I need." He was watching her the whole time to see if there was any signs of repulse; there was none. "Once I start, I need to finish enough so their heart stops spreading my venom or if I can't then I need to stop it in some other way." He fished another pastel from the box and rubbed the edge of it over Scarlett's plump lower lip so her lips parted and her mouth opened. He watched as her eyes closed and she swirled the sweet around her mouth until it dissolved. "If I don't finish, if I let the venom spread then I will end up with another one like me." Scarlett's eyes opened back up but there was still no fear or disgust.
It was coming together, his story and now this Scarlett thought. "I must be so boring to you, I mean you must have seen things that I can't even begin to imagine and then there is me. I came from a broken home, didn't go to school past what I had to. I was used by a jerk and have had one meaningless job after another just to scrape by and all the time I felt like I deserved it." She sighed as V cupped her cheek. "All happened for a reason you say but as far as I can see all it's done is chip away and break me down into that person you first saw." She recalled what she could from the time they were together. "I'm a better person now I think because I've met you and as odd as it seems I feel more normal now than I did before because of you." In that moment Scarlett felt all her needs in life take a step back and seem to vanish. The moment was perfection. "If you are not working tomorrow night, can we spend it like this, just alone and quiet?"
Vladimir gave her a nod, he'd do anything she wished. "Certainly." He didn't want to bring up her past that he was now fully aware of, or the people who contributed negatively to it. They, he thought, now that he had them tracked down would soon meet their fate at his hands. He recalled the person she was when he first saw her; she was broken but still so very strong in choosing to survive the way she did. It was such a stark contrast to the creature resting her head on his lap, so peaceful. As much as he wanted at one time to taste the delicacy that flowed in her veins he found that the idea of even letting one drop of it spill from her a crime now. "I have a few meetings over the next couple of days so you can come with me to those or have LIz over for company or do whatever you like." Any fear that Vladimir had about her fleeing were now gone. She might decide to leave him one day but it wasn't today. "Did you want to know anything else?" He watched a thought come into her mind and the uncertainty along with it. "Ask."
Scarlett panicked for a moment and asked the first thing that came to her mind. "Will we be going back home?" By V's expression he knew she was holding back what she really wanted to know, the one thing that still upset her from that earlier time they were together. She had dismissed it then, it didn't matter to her what he did and she recalled even how moments before her blindfold was removed how she teased him. She could only blame herself for that, why did she do it, why participate in an event that lead to a person's death but she didn't know it then so she could hardly be to blame. Vladimir gave her a nod to her question but still watched her in question to see if she could muster up the courage to ask what she really wanted to know. His thumb was rubbing her bottom lip and it was just that that prompted her to speak. "It's none of my business but I was just curious about the dates you had, why you, uh" She sighed. "why you bothered to entertain them when you just wanted to get a meal?" His thumb didn't stop its movement on her lip and she then felt one of his fingers caress the back of her ear and send a small shiver down her spine.
Vladimir had many sins but this one was one that weighed heavy between them. "I was in a routine of sorts, one that suited me very well." He pursed his lips and gave a slight shrug. "I liked having sex, it's one of the pleasures of my human existence I was allowed to keep." It was a fair answer he thought but not what he suspected she was thinking to hear. "Many of them, having some slight knowledge of me, my money, would seek me out at gatherings and quite literally beg to come home with me. You may have guessed that you didn't hear them all, some never made it to my car...you recall me telling you that that was never your fate," She nodded. "and that will always be the case." He knew he could make love to her without harming her in the slightest way; with all his experience and practice with the act he would just need to be very well fed prior. It wasn't something he thought he could offer casually to her. "When you saw me, it was the last time I was with a woman; it didn't appeal to me to be with another afterwards." He could still hear S's muffled cries and her body trembling from that night.
Things between them weren't always going to be perfect, Scarlett knew that but she still wished they could be. V's phone beeped beside them on the side table and his hand went for it. She closed her eyes and felt bad for bringing up such an unimportant topic. His finger was still rubbing behind her ear ever so softly that she hoped that he was still doing it because it really didn't upset him that she asked. She wasn't sure why he stopped having his dates but she'd like to think it was because he may have liked her a little then or felt bad or something. She did like the idea that he wasn't sneaking off to be with other woman now and then come lay down with her afterwards. She then thought how him having sex was upsetting her more than him killing people. He had to eat though...that was the gist of it. The phone made a small click when it was set back down on the side table. "I'm sorry I asked, it's really none of my business." She felt his hand lift from her face and another pastel being rubbed on her lower lip. He couldn't be upset if he was still feeding her could he. She kept her eyes closed as her lips parted and the offering slipped into her mouth and melted. Orange. She loved orange the most and softly hummed her approval.
He was saving the best treat for last and he savored its effect on the woman. "I did say you could ask anything and I meant it. That was Stephan, he just wanted to let us know that he's returned Liz safely back to her room from their date. He didn't want you to be concerned for her." The hours had passed too quickly for him and he was already looking forward to when they could talk like this again. "Are you tired?"
"A little. It's been a long, pretty full day from what we've normally have had." She could feel the sleep creeping up on her but didn't want to move just yet. She heard the box on the side table being closed. "Did they have fun, did he say?" Scarlett lifted herself up to sit beside V; she could feel that her hair was thoroughly tussled now but she didn't care.
"I believe so. Stephan sounded pleased and I'm sure I'll hear all about it when he comes over in an hour, you might be asleep by then." They still had a lot of work to keep up with and as much as he wanted to hold her thought the night he needed to manage his time efficiently. "Will you show me what you have bought today?" His curiosity had been steadily increasing since their arrival.
Scarlett noticed how incredibly sweet Vladimir's look was when he asked her to see what she had bought that day and she realized that she had forgotten all about it once the jewelry was tried on; her mind went a complete blank for those several minutes. "Sure." She got up and went to where the bags were waiting in the bedroom and then stopped in front of them recalling all the contents. "Liz is responsible for what I bought, she said I looked or would look good in these and she's seemed to….."
Vladimir had reached around her before she had a chance to finish what she was saying and pulled out a very airy pair of lacy panties. "I'll be sure to thank her for sure. You were saying?"
Scarlett felt her cheeks flush. "uh...she said she thought I'd be comfortable in them." Liz was telling her that she should wear them, and many of the items, for V but she wasn't sure if she was ready for that. It may have been that somewhere deep inside of her that she thought he might say something or she might eventually tell him but then she recalled how she was determined to say something to him about how she felt before they left Paris. Scarlett watched as V fished out the matching bra and other entirely too delicate items from both bags and she had to remind herself that this man had picked out many if not all of her attire right down to what she had on at present.
"Stunning." He purred. "Quite lovely my dear. I'll be sure to send you out with Liz more often than not if this is the result of her influence." It was all more risque than he himself would have selected for her at the present time but knowing that she had a few things that he deeply approved of such as these it would make him letting her find such things in her wardrobe more easy for him. "If you could let me know when you are wearing any of these items it would warm my imagination greatly." The next several days were not as eventful as that day but Vladimir savored them just the same. It was a rare time that he and his brother were genuinely content with the the added benefit of mixed company. Even with Liz often present in the evening in a casual setting they all were keeping entertained. He and Scarlett learned firsthand how Liz's and Stephan's date went and how happy the school was to have been gifted with another years worth of funding. He suspected, from Liz by her sometimes sudden shyness, that there was more to hers and his brothers outing but he didn't ask; some things were better left private such as several of the things he and Scarlett discussed.
It wasn't until the night before the big day, Scarlett who still had no idea what she was going to be dressed in, was laying in bed with V waiting for sleep to claim her. "You won't tell me what my dress looks like?" She was attempting to pout but V's warm look wouldn't let her do it easily. "Any clues other than it's a champagne color and it is in fact a dress?"
Seeing his human anxious was amusing Vladimir greatly but he wasn't about to spoil anything for her. "It's perfect for you and it's designer is quite excited to have her creation attend such an important event. She's begged me to have several pictures of you in it once you are dressed and at the gala so if you could be so kind and cooperate with her I'd like that very much so we can more easily beg for her services again in the future." Scarlett gave him a nod and was grinning brightly; yes they would be going out again and she picked up on it instantly. "I'd like you to pose for me when we are there," Her brow raised in question. "I'd like to have pictures of you in that setting that Mia could use in her portfolio. The location is quite grand and you will be wearing one of the few gowns that do the place any justice. I'd like you to be bold, I'd like you to step out of your comfort zone."
Scarlett wasn't sure why he was asking her to do that but she slowly nodded. "I'm so nervous as it is Vladimir, I mean it's your partners and everyone who is going to be there you tell me is important and here I am afraid of tripping and embarrassing you." His hand was on her neck and his thumb was on her lip and his finger was caressing the soft spot behind her ear. Her eyelids fell and she murmured. "It's not fair that you know where to touch me to make me calm down like that." She mused at what else his touch could do to her; with all the strength she's seen him exhibit for her it gave her a thrill when he did touch her so delicately. She pushed herself into him and settled herself there and in a few moments she felt his arm around her encase her as she drifted off.
Okay, here is the thing...its taken me a VERY long time to write this monster chapter so the least you could do is give it a review. Only if its good.
Yes HD is being worked on.
Yes the next chapter is in the works.