CH. 7 -- A trip --
A week later, Stephanie was working with Jackie, both on different things, when the doorbell rang. Someone had come inside the shop. Jackie was cleaning the shop window, while Stephanie, bent on her knees, was reorganizing a shelf. Only when the costumer was near to her, did Stephanie lift her head up to serve him. "Morning, may I..." she was speechless when she realized who it was. "Hope so. Morning Stephanie, how are you?" was Riddick's answer with a provoking smile. Jackie came immediately to see, because she'd recognized the voice. "Riddick! Can't believe it! You in here! I was pretty sure that one day or another you'd have come back," Jackie said enthusiastically. "Yeah," he simply said "Hi Jackie. You've become a cute girl now," he continued looking for a while with sincere admiration at Jackie. Stephanie was worried, she didn't know what he wanted, but he had to stay far from Jackie. She had a new regular, normal life and this was very good for her. But it wasn't Jackie that held Riddick's interest. His gaze came back to Stephanie "And you? How are you," he asked her. She pulled back an unruly forelock, trying to tidy herself a little, she felt so sloppy and disorderly under his searching gaze and she didn't want to look less than her best with him. "F...fine, and you," said Stephanie with a soft voice, blushing. She didn't know why, but it seemed to her there was a reference to the party in his question. "Fine" he said his smile still on his lips. "What are you doing back," asked Jackie, with an excited smile. Stephanie lifted an eyebrow, gazing at him. She was curious too. "Business," was his only reply. Was it only her imagination or was this like a chess game? With both of them waiting for each other's reaction. Jackie didn't notice it, or didn't look like she'd noticed. It was in this moment that Guy came in. "Jackie where are the new antibiotics we ordered yesterday," he asked her. Then he noticed Riddick. "Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't know you had clients..." He stayed there, first he looking at Riddick, then alternatively to Jackie and Stephanie. He didn't understand what was happening right then, but he'd sure been touched by Riddick's fine physique. Guy was waiting, not so subtly, to be introduced. The situation was becoming ridiculous. Stephanie found it to be so, she wanted to laugh, but instead she said nothing and waited. "Oh! But he is an old acquaintance, isn't he Stephanie," implored Jackie, looking at Stephanie for help. Riddick smiled amused by this awkward situation and waited, curious, for the introductions. "Guy, this is Mr," Stephanie was saying. "Richard B. Ripley," Riddick said interrupting her. Stephanie continued, "He's here for business," she finished. Jackie looked at her, not understanding. She didn't know anything about Riddick's new life. "Your friends are my friends," said Guy smiling at Stephanie, putting his arm around her waist possessively, showing Riddick he had prior claim. Stephanie didn't like it. She was not an object or prey, but decided to say nothing. It wasn't the right moment to make this clear to Guy. Riddick observed Guy's movement, and for a second she was been pretty sure she'd seen a muscle on his face twitch, but he showed no other outward reaction. He was cold, very controlled, to the contrary of his possible inner turmoil, a wry smile appeared on his lips. Guy stretched his hand out to shake Riddick's. "So Mr. Ripley, have you known Stephanie and Jackie long," asked Guy. Jackie, as well as Stephanie, had started their work again, but listened carefully to their discussion. "For long enough," was his enigmatic answer. "Oh? And where did you meet?" Guy pried. Jackie looked more worriedly at Stephanie, giving her a sign to do something. The discussion had become dangerous. Stephanie was pretty sure that Riddick wasn't stupid and wouldn't have said anything unseemly, but he was also unpredictable and that's why she'd rushed to think of something to say. He quietly answered, "We met each other on a flight, years ago". He knew they'd hidden, as well as he had, the past from Guy and he liked to keep them all off-balance, amusing himself. He knew Stephanie and Jackie had to be really worried now. "Mr. Ripley..." Jackie started to say, not able to stand the atmosphere any longer, "That's true, we did meet each other on a long boring voyage. We talked a lot and became friends during the flight," she ended the half- truth. "Oh, ok," said Guy, finally looking satisfied with Jackie's explanation. "So, why come here?" Guy continued his investigation. Heck! Why did Guy have to be so curious, thought Stephanie. "I wanted to invite Stephanie out to eat," said Riddick. "That's a great idea," Jackie said enthusiastically. Surely her mind was already planning something devious for them. Stephanie tried to warn Jackie off with a look. "Truly, I cannot move from here! Got a lot of work today," excused Stephanie, hoping that Jackie would understand. "No problem," said Jackie, kindly "you can go tomorrow." She was terrible! She was up to something for sure! "No," Stephanie said firmly, still working and avoiding looking at Riddick, who simply stood there silently, watching her. "I cannot," she continued her vehement denial. She was pretty sure he was smiling, amused by her excuses. Damn Riddick! Let him think what he wanted, it was not her concern. "Yes, you can," said Jackie, still trying to convince her. Guy was starting to get upset, but didn't have the courage to say anything. "No. I have to go to 'La Maison' tomorrow," she said to Jackie almost smiling herself, sure she couldn't refute this time because it was the truth. "Shit! I forgot," said Jackie mostly to herself. "Be polite," Stephanie warned her. Riddick still stood there watching her. Stephanie heard Jackie explain to Riddick, "'La Maison', is a terrain we recently bought, quite far from here, to put other animals that cannot stay here. But since it's very recently acquired, there's a lot of work to do. One of them is to clean the small building and to paint it." Riddick didn't answer, just nodded silently. "But he can come with you," said Jackie as if she'd thought of the greatest idea ever. "No! Look, I don't think..." Stephanie tried to reply. "It's a good idea, he could help you!" Jackie chirped as if everything was already decided. "Yes. If Mr. Ripley doesn't mind to coming with you, I would be less worried knowing that you're not alone," Guy injected his thoughts into the dialogue. It wasn't true. She looked at him, he was really uneasy and upset about the whole thing, but he was too polite to say anything, because he really respected her a lot. He was a very special man, unfortunate that she wasn't attracted to him, because he was the perfect kind of man to marry. He was not cute, physically, but he was a very good man. He needed someone who really loved him. He faded in comparison to Riddick's powerful body, but it wasn't just this: Riddick had something special, an animal magnetism, his way of moving, of talking.hell, just the way he stood there watching her, leaning on the bench, was so damn sexy... She gasped and shook her head, realising that she'd been gazing at him there for a while with an admiring look. Fortunately no one else saw it. Jackie and Guy where still talking about "La Maison" and what had to be done. No one except for... him! He was now smiling roguishly back at her, easily guessing her thoughts. She began her work again, blushing with embarrassment. "So, what do you think ...Ripley," asked Jackie, still feeling uneasy with his new name. "I can go. It'll be a pleasure," said Riddick, always gazing at her, with a low tone full of promises that only Stephanie could understand. She had no choice now, she thought. She couldn't say no without making a big scene. "Ok. But we'll have to leave early in the morning, and.oh! Better you wear more...casual attire. It's not a date and I don't want to risk spoiling your fancy duds," she said with what appeared to be a neutral tone, but with an underhanded reference to something that only Riddick could perceive. He simply nodded. She hated him when he was so falsely compliant! She gave him her address, and when he was going to leave Guy stopped him to say goodbye to him, shaking his hand. "It's been a pleasure to meet you Mr. Ripley. Oh! By the way, what does the 'B' stand for?" "Bad," was Riddick's cryptic reply. Guy's reaction was comical. He opened his mouth and closed it again, like a fish, saying nothing. Stephanie and Jackie looked at each other, worried, but then Riddick turned and strolled away.
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A week later, Stephanie was working with Jackie, both on different things, when the doorbell rang. Someone had come inside the shop. Jackie was cleaning the shop window, while Stephanie, bent on her knees, was reorganizing a shelf. Only when the costumer was near to her, did Stephanie lift her head up to serve him. "Morning, may I..." she was speechless when she realized who it was. "Hope so. Morning Stephanie, how are you?" was Riddick's answer with a provoking smile. Jackie came immediately to see, because she'd recognized the voice. "Riddick! Can't believe it! You in here! I was pretty sure that one day or another you'd have come back," Jackie said enthusiastically. "Yeah," he simply said "Hi Jackie. You've become a cute girl now," he continued looking for a while with sincere admiration at Jackie. Stephanie was worried, she didn't know what he wanted, but he had to stay far from Jackie. She had a new regular, normal life and this was very good for her. But it wasn't Jackie that held Riddick's interest. His gaze came back to Stephanie "And you? How are you," he asked her. She pulled back an unruly forelock, trying to tidy herself a little, she felt so sloppy and disorderly under his searching gaze and she didn't want to look less than her best with him. "F...fine, and you," said Stephanie with a soft voice, blushing. She didn't know why, but it seemed to her there was a reference to the party in his question. "Fine" he said his smile still on his lips. "What are you doing back," asked Jackie, with an excited smile. Stephanie lifted an eyebrow, gazing at him. She was curious too. "Business," was his only reply. Was it only her imagination or was this like a chess game? With both of them waiting for each other's reaction. Jackie didn't notice it, or didn't look like she'd noticed. It was in this moment that Guy came in. "Jackie where are the new antibiotics we ordered yesterday," he asked her. Then he noticed Riddick. "Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't know you had clients..." He stayed there, first he looking at Riddick, then alternatively to Jackie and Stephanie. He didn't understand what was happening right then, but he'd sure been touched by Riddick's fine physique. Guy was waiting, not so subtly, to be introduced. The situation was becoming ridiculous. Stephanie found it to be so, she wanted to laugh, but instead she said nothing and waited. "Oh! But he is an old acquaintance, isn't he Stephanie," implored Jackie, looking at Stephanie for help. Riddick smiled amused by this awkward situation and waited, curious, for the introductions. "Guy, this is Mr," Stephanie was saying. "Richard B. Ripley," Riddick said interrupting her. Stephanie continued, "He's here for business," she finished. Jackie looked at her, not understanding. She didn't know anything about Riddick's new life. "Your friends are my friends," said Guy smiling at Stephanie, putting his arm around her waist possessively, showing Riddick he had prior claim. Stephanie didn't like it. She was not an object or prey, but decided to say nothing. It wasn't the right moment to make this clear to Guy. Riddick observed Guy's movement, and for a second she was been pretty sure she'd seen a muscle on his face twitch, but he showed no other outward reaction. He was cold, very controlled, to the contrary of his possible inner turmoil, a wry smile appeared on his lips. Guy stretched his hand out to shake Riddick's. "So Mr. Ripley, have you known Stephanie and Jackie long," asked Guy. Jackie, as well as Stephanie, had started their work again, but listened carefully to their discussion. "For long enough," was his enigmatic answer. "Oh? And where did you meet?" Guy pried. Jackie looked more worriedly at Stephanie, giving her a sign to do something. The discussion had become dangerous. Stephanie was pretty sure that Riddick wasn't stupid and wouldn't have said anything unseemly, but he was also unpredictable and that's why she'd rushed to think of something to say. He quietly answered, "We met each other on a flight, years ago". He knew they'd hidden, as well as he had, the past from Guy and he liked to keep them all off-balance, amusing himself. He knew Stephanie and Jackie had to be really worried now. "Mr. Ripley..." Jackie started to say, not able to stand the atmosphere any longer, "That's true, we did meet each other on a long boring voyage. We talked a lot and became friends during the flight," she ended the half- truth. "Oh, ok," said Guy, finally looking satisfied with Jackie's explanation. "So, why come here?" Guy continued his investigation. Heck! Why did Guy have to be so curious, thought Stephanie. "I wanted to invite Stephanie out to eat," said Riddick. "That's a great idea," Jackie said enthusiastically. Surely her mind was already planning something devious for them. Stephanie tried to warn Jackie off with a look. "Truly, I cannot move from here! Got a lot of work today," excused Stephanie, hoping that Jackie would understand. "No problem," said Jackie, kindly "you can go tomorrow." She was terrible! She was up to something for sure! "No," Stephanie said firmly, still working and avoiding looking at Riddick, who simply stood there silently, watching her. "I cannot," she continued her vehement denial. She was pretty sure he was smiling, amused by her excuses. Damn Riddick! Let him think what he wanted, it was not her concern. "Yes, you can," said Jackie, still trying to convince her. Guy was starting to get upset, but didn't have the courage to say anything. "No. I have to go to 'La Maison' tomorrow," she said to Jackie almost smiling herself, sure she couldn't refute this time because it was the truth. "Shit! I forgot," said Jackie mostly to herself. "Be polite," Stephanie warned her. Riddick still stood there watching her. Stephanie heard Jackie explain to Riddick, "'La Maison', is a terrain we recently bought, quite far from here, to put other animals that cannot stay here. But since it's very recently acquired, there's a lot of work to do. One of them is to clean the small building and to paint it." Riddick didn't answer, just nodded silently. "But he can come with you," said Jackie as if she'd thought of the greatest idea ever. "No! Look, I don't think..." Stephanie tried to reply. "It's a good idea, he could help you!" Jackie chirped as if everything was already decided. "Yes. If Mr. Ripley doesn't mind to coming with you, I would be less worried knowing that you're not alone," Guy injected his thoughts into the dialogue. It wasn't true. She looked at him, he was really uneasy and upset about the whole thing, but he was too polite to say anything, because he really respected her a lot. He was a very special man, unfortunate that she wasn't attracted to him, because he was the perfect kind of man to marry. He was not cute, physically, but he was a very good man. He needed someone who really loved him. He faded in comparison to Riddick's powerful body, but it wasn't just this: Riddick had something special, an animal magnetism, his way of moving, of talking.hell, just the way he stood there watching her, leaning on the bench, was so damn sexy... She gasped and shook her head, realising that she'd been gazing at him there for a while with an admiring look. Fortunately no one else saw it. Jackie and Guy where still talking about "La Maison" and what had to be done. No one except for... him! He was now smiling roguishly back at her, easily guessing her thoughts. She began her work again, blushing with embarrassment. "So, what do you think ...Ripley," asked Jackie, still feeling uneasy with his new name. "I can go. It'll be a pleasure," said Riddick, always gazing at her, with a low tone full of promises that only Stephanie could understand. She had no choice now, she thought. She couldn't say no without making a big scene. "Ok. But we'll have to leave early in the morning, and.oh! Better you wear more...casual attire. It's not a date and I don't want to risk spoiling your fancy duds," she said with what appeared to be a neutral tone, but with an underhanded reference to something that only Riddick could perceive. He simply nodded. She hated him when he was so falsely compliant! She gave him her address, and when he was going to leave Guy stopped him to say goodbye to him, shaking his hand. "It's been a pleasure to meet you Mr. Ripley. Oh! By the way, what does the 'B' stand for?" "Bad," was Riddick's cryptic reply. Guy's reaction was comical. He opened his mouth and closed it again, like a fish, saying nothing. Stephanie and Jackie looked at each other, worried, but then Riddick turned and strolled away.
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