**Hello everyone! So sorry for the long wait! About a month ago I was offered a new job and life and hobbies were put on the back-burner until I could settle into my new classroom. I made this chapter extra long (nearly 10,000 words!) as a peace offering lol. Thank you to all my wonderful readers who are sticking with me and have been here since the beginning. I think I'll be writing about 10 more chapters. I know what I want to happen but I'm trying to map out the chapters.
I was also recently diagnosed with ADHD; ever since having Covid last year, my attention and distractibility has gotten worse and it's been taking a major toll on my writing. Now that I have answers I have been picking up new tips and tricks to help me, but some days (most days) it is so hard to focus on writing and keeping my attention long enough to get all the thoughts in my head written into words. I know everything I want to write, I just have a lot of difficulty getting it written down and all the details right. I'm so happy so many of you are appreciating how much effort I've taken to tie everything together, even the littlest of details (it's something I've been really proud of and it makes me so happy that you're picking up on everything!). You're all wonderful and again I'm so thankful for you!**
For a full experience of this chapter, please load the following song: New Home by Austin Farwell - I will let you know when to play it ;)
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Gravel crunched under the pressure of the tyres as the sleek black car pulled up to the curb. Oliver put the car in park and glanced at the front door of the building. Raising his wrist, he slid the hem of his sleeve up to check the time.
5.00
Punctual, as always. If he said he would be somewhere at a certain time he meant it. Not a minute more. Not a minute less.
Tapping the screen on the dash, he quickly dialed the brunette he was awaiting. He sat patiently as it rang once, twice, three times. The fourth ring was finally interrupted as the line was answered.
"Hello, Naru," Mai's voice greeted him. "Are you outside already?"
"We did agree upon this time, did we not?" he asked.
"Yes, we did," she replied distractedly. Keys jingled in the background. "I'll be down in a jiffy, I'm just trying to lock up."
The clacking of heels on wooden floors reached Oliver's ears and a grin pulled at the corner of his mouth.
"Mai," he began. "Do you happen to be wearing the shoes you wore to Takigawa's party?"
"How'd you- yes they are. Why do you ask?" she asked, stunned.
"While there's no denying that they compliment your figure, might I suggest you wear something more comfortable? If my memory serves me well, which it always does, you were only able to wear them for an hour before you couldn't stand," he advised.
The silence that greeted him informed him that she had abruptly stopped in her tracks as his words sank in. After a moment, jingling keys and the sound of hurried footsteps echoed throughout the car's speakers once again. Oliver let out a barely audible amused chuckle at the thought of her frantically rushing back into her flat to change her shoes.
"Do you think we will be standing for that long? I assumed we would be sitting since it is a concert," she asked. He could hear a thud as something, the shoes most likely, were thrown across the room haphazardly.
"It's better to be prepared, is it not?" he replied.
"True. The last thing I'd want is to look unprofessional by hobbling around in pain in front of so many people," she giggled.
A final jingling of keys signaled she was locking up for the second time.
"On my way now! I'll see you shortly!" she chirped and the line went dead.
Sighing faintly, Oliver unfastened his seatbelt and exited his car. He made his way onto the pavement and absentmindedly began to smooth his black, custom suit as he waited. The door to the building opened and he looked up from what he had been doing.
One look at the woman before him was all it took for him to falter ever so slightly, though his expression remained the same. Mai made her way over towards him, timidly pushing a curled lock of hair behind her ear. Her emerald green cocktail dress fell right below her knees. The skirt flared at the waist, gently flowing in the afternoon breeze. The fit of the dress hugged her in a way that accentuated her figure, crossing over her chest and draping off the delicate skin of shoulders.
Even under the makeup she wore, Oliver could see the blush that adorned her cheeks and realized he hadn't moved since she arrived. Her body deflated as insecurities plagued her mind and she averted her gaze.
"Um - I've never been to an event like this before, so hopefully this is okay..." she murmured nervously, smoothing the skirt of her dress.
Shaking his head, Oliver took a step towards the car.
"There's no need to doubt your attire, Mai. The dress suits you very well," Oliver reassured.
He carefully opened the passenger side door and held out a hand to the brunette.
Mai's eyes curiously darted between his outstretched hand and the patient expression on his face. Her mouth fell open slightly upon realizing what he was waiting for, and she quickly made her way over. Timidly, she reached a hand out and placed her hand in his. His long fingers gripped hers ever so gently and she could feel the heat emanating from his touch.
"T-Thank you," she said softly as he helped her into the car.
He bowed his head in silent response before closing the door behind her. Seizing the opportunity, Mai tried to calm her beating heart while the man walked around the car to the driver's seat. She couldn't help but admire the dark haired man. His slim black suit starkly contrasted with the white, perfectly ironed dress shirt he wore. She already knew he was attractive, but today he was especially so. Apparently she fancied men in suits, or rather, just one man.
Mai squeezed her eyes shut and forcefully shook the thought from her mind. She was determined to not make a fool of herself this evening. She composed herself just in time for Oliver to open his door and take his seat.
In no time, the engine revved to life and silence filled the car as it pulled away from the kerb.
"So...have you been to many performances at the school?" she asked awkwardly, nervously twisting the fabric of her skirt in her hand.
"I have," the dark haired man replied. "Father and Gene were usually conveniently indisposed whenever there was a concert. I'm unsure if you're aware, but Mother is not particularly fond of attending events unaccompanied."
"I've noticed." Mai chuckled softly. "Were you unhappy you had to go?"
Oliver was silent for a moment. "It wasn't a complete waste of time. It made Mother happy, and eventually I even began to enjoy the music."
"I bet she appreciated that. You're a very good son," Mai said with a smile. "I'm surprised you wanted to go tonight. I assumed you'd be busy with work. Well, actually, I guess this is kind of like work, isn't it? It was a client who invited us after all. I hope you don't mind going with me. I mean, not with me, per say, but in general," she rambled.
"Mai?" Oliver interjected.
She stilled. "Yes?"
"I would have come even if it weren't for Mr. Stiles' invitation," he admitted, looking at her from the corner of his eye.
She looked at him curiously. "With Luella?"
He closed his eyes briefly and a long sigh escaped through his nose. Mai couldn't help but feel as though she missed something. Without another word Oliver reached out a finger and turned on the radio. The remainder of the ride was spent in comfortable silence. Mai lost herself in thought while listening to the soothing instrumentals, and only realized they had reached their destination when her car door suddenly opened.
Startled, she jumped backwards and looked up at her boss who had just opened the door.
"We're here," he said with an amused smirk.
"Oh! Right!" she exclaimed and quickly set about unbuckling her seat belt.
Turning back around, she saw Oliver's hand was once again outstretched, awaiting for her to take it. Letting out a small chuckle, she reached out and placed her hand in his. He gently helped her to her feet before closing the door behind her.
Mai followed behind her boss as he made his way out of the parking lot. She looked around before turning to Oliver in question. "I thought the music hall was that way?"
"The Milton Concert Hall is for their smaller events. Tonight we will be at the Barbican Hall," he explained.
Up ahead, she could see a crowd of nicely dressed people slowly funneling into the large building. A beautiful banner hung over the entryway, with large cursive letters reading:
Symphony of the Angel: Honouring Petra Novák.
Mai sighed sadly, "If only she could see this now."
"Some say the music one makes allows them to live on, even after death," Oliver stated.
The brunette smiled up at the man softly. "I like that."
She went to get in the queue that was beginning to form but stopped when she heard Oliver clear his throat.
"This way, Mai," he nodded towards the front of the line.
"But what about the queue?" she wondered.
Oliver walked up to the woman and gently hovered a hand over the small of her back, guiding her towards the doors. "We are two of the guests of honour, remember? Mr. Stiles informed me he would be waiting at the front for us."
"Oh," she awed. As they made their way over, she was acutely aware of how his hand stayed in place, not quite touching her, yet close enough for her to feel the heat radiating off of his skin. She couldn't help the small bubble of hope that warmed her chest at the action.
"Dr. Davis! Miss Taniyama! Welcome back," a friendly voice rang out as they reached their destination.
Andrew Stiles was walking towards them with a hand waved in greeting. His brown, graying hair was combed nicely to the side and he wore a blue pinstripe suit. As he grew nearer, Mai could feel Oliver's hand slowly drop back down to his side.
"Mr. Stiles," Oliver greeted with a small bow of his head. "We are pleased to be back. I hear congratulations are in order."
Mai looked between the two men, lost.
"Ah, yes! You are looking at the new director of this school," the man smiled humbly. "I believe you are to thank, Dr. Davis."
"I merely gave the owner a suggestion. Your skills and respect for the school and its students would have gotten you the position soon enough," he stated smoothly.
"Well, it's been a dream of mine for quite some time, so thank you," the man chuckled heartily. "Come now, follow me. Let me show the two of you to your seats.
Mai followed blindly behind, carefully weaving through the crowd. The director took them to a corridor to the right where there were barely any people. Opening a door, he ushered the two in.
Brown eyes widened in awe at the grandeur of the large room. It was composed of wooden panels, but the light from the sconces made the room appear almost as if it were made of gold.
Thousands of velveteen seats filled the room, varying between deep blues, purples, and greens. The stage was illuminated, displaying all of the chairs and instruments that would be used in just a moment.
"Seeing as the two of you were the reason this was all possible, you have the privilege of sitting in two of the best seats we have to offer," Andrew beamed.
"Thank you very much, Mr. Stiles," Mai began. "It's only been a few weeks since we were here and found Petra's music. I'm amazed you and your orchestra are already performing."
The man nodded. "Yes, yes. Well, you see, no one at the school was very happy while Mr. Cassell was in charge. Once he left, the school came back to life. Students have been loving to play music again. And Petra's music, while intricate, was also so beautiful that my students wanted to honor her family before they went back to Slovakia. They deserved to hear how talented of a daughter they had. My students and I have had many sleepless nights, rehearsing for tonight. The fact that it was their idea to do this... that it was their love and drive for music...I couldn't be prouder of my school."
Mai smiled brightly at the man. "That's wonderful."
Oliver bowed his head again politely. "We look forward to the show."
"I promise you won't be disappointed," Mr. Stiles grinned and led them to the front of the stage where there were four isolated rows. Walking to the fourth row, he presented a hand. "Here are your seats. Petra's parents are already here, as you can see."
True to his word, in the middle of the row sat a man and a woman. As they looked around the room in awe, Mai could see their resemblance to Petra. Her mother had the same long blonde hair, dainty upturned nose, and slim figure, while she shared her father's eyes and mouth. The couple was holding hands and whispering to each other in Slovak.
"I wish I could stay but I must be off. Have to get ready, don't I? Please, enjoy!" Andrew said with a smile before making his leave.
Oliver guided Mai into the row of seats. Petra's parents looked over at the two of them and nodded warmly. Mai readily returned the gesture.
The man quickly stood to his feet and outstretched a hand to Oliver, shaking it desperately. "Ďakujem," his voice cracked with restrained emotion.
Oliver bowed his head respectfully. "Nemáte za čo."
The brunette standing between them, looked back and forth at the two men. Just then, the doors in the back of the room opened and the murmurs of the crowd grew near.
"The preferred place to sit while attending an orchestra is not actually in the front row; it is a few rows back. That way you're able to see the entire orchestra and aren't too close for the instruments," he explained nonchalantly as he took his seat.
Ignoring his statement, Mai took her seat and leaned in closely with a whisper. "You know Slovak?"
Oliver stared ahead towards the stage and meticulously unbuttoned his suit jacket so as to sit more comfortably. "I've been dabbling with the language, however, I'm nowhere near fluent."
Mai leaned back in her chair with a sigh. "I wish I had your brain sometimes. It was hard enough for me to just learn English, and here you are knowing eight- wait, no, sorry, - nine languages."
"Ten." His lips pulled into a smug smirk as he studied her from the corner of his eye.
"Ten?" she gaped. "What else am I missing?"
"BSL," he shrugged. She sent him a confused look, causing him to clarify. "British Sign Language. We once had a case with a client who was deaf."
The petite woman closed her eyes and smiled softly. "You amaze me, Dr. Davis."
She missed the deep glance he sent her way, for at that moment she finally saw all of the instruments that filled the stage. The crowd of people that had been waiting outside was now nearly all seated. The noise in the large room grew as their voices bounced off the walls. Once everyone found their spots, the lights dimmed and the stage illuminated.
The room grew silent as the orchestra's musicians began to walk onto the stage. They were adorned in black and white attire, nothing too intricate as to not take away from the beauty of the music. After sitting in their seats, one person remained standing.
A young woman wearing a long black gown bowed to the audience as they applauded briefly. Turning around, she picked up her violin and faced the orchestra. As her bow skimmed across the strings of her instrument, some of the orchestra mirrored her.
Mai could faintly hear Oliver leaning over towards her as she watched the orchestra.
"That woman is the concertmaster," he whispered into her ear as he looked on.
The warm puff of breath against her skin nearly made her gasp, but she prided herself for keeping her composure. "Oh," she nodded. "What is she doing right now?"
"Currently she is tuning the three sections of the orchestra. First the bass section, followed by the strings, and finally the wind and the brass. Once she is finished, Mr. Stiles will arrive since he is their conductor, and the concert will begin," he informed before straightening back up.
Brown eyes closed and she listened as the final section tuned their instruments with the concertmaster. The scales reverberated around her and she could almost feel the sound against her skin. Eventually the room grew quiet again and the musicians stood as Mr. Stiles made his way onstage.
The crowd began to clap wildly as he made his way to the raised podium in the center of the stage.
The middle-aged man took a bow before turning towards the orchestra. There was a pause before he dramatically waved the baton in his hand and the hall was filled with the most beautiful music Mai had ever heard.
Awe. Pure awe. That's all Mai could register as she sat in the car, wide-eyed in stupefaction. The sound of Oliver's safety belt clicked to her right but she paid it no mind.
"I believe it's safe to assume you enjoyed the concert?" he said smoothly as he started the car.
She slowly turned to him with an open mouth and sparkling eyes. "It was...phenomenal!" she beamed. "The opening number - their precision, you could tell they put so much time into practicing - oh, and don't get me started on when they performed the piece you had played for me. I...I just…I'm at a loss for words."
A smirk pulled at the man's lips. "Good. Next time we'll go to the Hallé in Manchester."
Mai's heart skipped a beat and she turned to him. "Next time?" she asked curiously.
"Are you hungry?" Oliver asked, changing the subject.
"But- oh, hungry? No, I'm fine," Mai said distractedly, still focused on his previous question and if she had heard him clearly.
"By the sound of your stomach earlier, I don't think you're telling me the truth." The man kept his eyes on the road as he spoke.
A faint blush sprang to her cheeks while she simultaneously crossed her arms over her stomach. "I b-beg your pardon? I haven't a clue what you're talking about."
In true, perfectly cliché fashion, her stomach chose that exact moment to let out a growl that echoed throughout the car. She could hear a faint chuckle escape her boss' lips and felt her face grow hotter.
"Well, maybe I am a little bit hungry," Mai muttered in embarrassment.
"Good. As am I."
Just a moment later, the car rolled to a stop in front of a beautiful hotel. Before Mai could ask where they were, a valet opened the door for her and bowed.
"Good evening, Madam," the man said politely as she stepped out of the car.
"Oh! Good evening," she replied warmly.
Once she got to her feet she noticed Oliver standing in front of her, holding out his elbow for her in a gentlemanly manner. With a shy smile and averting her eyes, she gladly hooked her hand to rest in the crook of his arm. Looking up, she saw the hotel read The Dorchester.
The porter gracefully opened the door while the pair entered the building. Without hesitation, Oliver led her to the side where the entrance to the restaurant was located.
The maître d', a well dressed woman with pinned back hair, greeted them at the desk. "Welcome to Alain Ducase. Reservations?"
"Davis," Oliver supplied.
The woman glanced down at the book in front of her and nodded. "Very good. Emelia will show you to your seats. Enjoy your meal."
Mai dropped her hand from Oliver's arm as they followed the other woman to their seats. As she maneuvered into the dining room, she could feel his hand hovering over the small of her back, just as he had done earlier in the night. His presence was intoxicating to the point where she hadn't even realized they were at their table until he pulled out her chair for her to sit.
"Thank you."
She glanced around the room in wonder. There was an elaborate circular light fixture that stretched from floor to ceiling and glistened like thousands of stars in the night. Everyone around them was dressed in expensive clothing. Women were decorated with diamonds and jewels, and men in finely pressed suits.
Never before had she been in a restaurant like this. Her body stiffened at the thought...she had never been to somewhere so elegant before…
All sense of wonder she had just moments ago began to fade away only to be replaced by the self-doubt creeping its way into the corners of her mind. The more she looked, the more she began to feel out of place. Compared to the other women in the room, she began to feel as if she were a child playing dress-up. Not only that, but she had no clue as to any of the etiquette for such a place. Wait, there were three forks. Why were there three forks? How much would the food cost in such a place? She was quite certain there was no way she could afford anything on the menu. The last thing she wanted to do was embarrass Oliver in front of all these people.
The man sitting across from her didn't miss the way her arms slowly wrapped around her waist in hopes of bringing some semblance of comfort.
"Mai," he said gently, drawing her from her internal downward spiral. "If you are uncomfortable here I will not be offended if you wish to leave."
She looked up at him with wide, doe-like eyes. As brown eyes met soothing blue, she could feel the insecurities slowly leaving her body and she gave him a soft smile. "It's alright, Naru. I just...I don't want to embarrass you."
His eyes narrowed at her words as he dissected their meaning. Suddenly they softened as everything clicked. "Look at me," he gently ordered in her native tongue. "You will not embarrass me."
She gave him a sad, yet grateful smile as he switched to speaking Japanese. It was comforting to know others around them couldn't understand their conversation. "I don't know how I'm supposed to act. Am I sitting the right way; is there even a special way to sit? And why are there so many utensils?"
Oliver leaned back in his chair confidently. "Just be yourself. I will show you which fork to use when the time comes."
"But-" she began nervously.
"I didn't bring you here so you could play the part," he sighed. He laid his napkin on his lap, which she quickly mirrored.
"Then why did you bring me here?" she queried, placing her hands in her lap.
"Maybe I brought you here because we were both hungry. Maybe it was because I'm rather fond of their food," he said nonchalantly before leaning forward, resting his chin on a fist as he held her gaze intensely. "Or...perhaps, it was because I thought we should go to the only restaurant I knew of that could even remotely hold a candle to the way you look tonight."
Mai's mouth instantly went dry. She could feel the blush spreading across her cheeks like wildfire at his very uncharacteristic statement. Heart racing faster than it ever had before, she began to fear she may spontaneously combust. Try as hard as she might, she couldn't look away from those dazzling blue eyes. She opened her mouth to say something, anything, but she couldn't find the words in time before their waiter arrived.
"Good evening. My name is Jacques. I will be waiting on you this evening. May I start you off with a drink? We have an exquisite selection of wines," the man greeted professionally.
Oliver leaned back in his chair and Mai envied how casual he displayed himself, especially after saying such a thing just seconds ago. She didn't know how to read his actions and it was confusing to say the least.
The waiter stared expectantly at the brunette but she was still frozen. Oliver's lips pulled into an amused smirk. "Water with lemon?" he asked her knowingly.
All she could do was nod dumbfoundedly in response.
The black haired man turned to the waiter. "Two waters with lemon, s'il vous plaît. We'll require no wine this evening."
"Very well, sir." The waiter bowed slightly and walked away, leaving the two alone once again.
"I'd highly suggest looking at the menu, unless you wish to choose at random when Jaacque returns," Oliver said with a shrug as he studied the menu in his hands.
Mai snapped out of her stupor and quickly snapped her menu open. "I'm not going to choose at random," Mai replied and pursed her lips together. "Anyway, must you always tease me? You're going to be the death of me one day, I swear," she muttered.
"I've told you before, have I not? You're quite entertaining to tease." His eyes stayed on his menu.
The brunette stared at the menu in her hand, half flustered, half lost. The more she read the more lost she felt. At first she thought it was because her mind kept wandering to a certain blue eyed man, but eventually she realized that it was the menu that wasn't making sense. Majority of the words on her menu were in French and she couldn't make heads nor tails of them. However, she'd be damned if she were to ask Naru for help. She was perfectly content ignoring his presence for the time being until her racing heart calmed down. If she looked at him too soon she knew she'd just start blushing again and any capability of speaking would go out the window. She also didn't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing her so affected by his presence, nor did she want him to read into why she was so affected by him. The last thing she needed was for him to feel uncomfortable because he realized his new assistant fell in lo-...fancied him.
Minutes passed, and Mai silently resigned to the decision that she would, in fact, have to choose her dinner at random. Not like she would let Oliver know that, of course. She decided to steal a glance towards the man on her mind, only to catch him watching her. He was very clearly still entertained.
By the time their waiter returned, Mai pointed to a random item on the menu. However, she made sure to act as confidently as possible while she did so. "I'll go with this tonight. Merci."
Oliver placed his order and waited for Jacques to leave before sending Mai another smirk. "What did you decide on?" he asked, calling her bluff.
She fidgeted in her seat under his gaze. "You'll just have to wait and find out."
They were silent for a moment before Mai decided to start up a different conversation. "So...do you come here often?"
"Only on special occasions," he replied cryptically.
Mai looked at him from under her lashes. "Oh, yeah? Then why did we come here today?"
"It appeared as if Petra's parents enjoyed the concert," he expertly redirected their conversation to avoid answering her. "Mr. Stiles said they will be returning to Slovakia in the morning. They must feel relieved to know their daughter is at peace and her music will live on."
The brunette frowned at how easily he could change the topic, but nodded nonetheless. "I'm sure they do. I bet they really appreciated the concert in her honour. Petra was quite talented. The emotions she was able to convey in each piece was moving. Though, I must admit, my favourite piece is still the one you played for me," she trailed off.
He watched her intently as she absentmindedly stroked a dainty finger along the side of the glass in her hand. Gravity made pearls of condensation dance a spritely trail down towards the table.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, remembering something. "I'm not sure if Gene updated you on our training yet or not, but I'm getting better at meditation. I even successfully entered the astral plane once more, aside from that day...well, you know...Anyway, it's not completely stable yet and I can't always reach that state of mind, but he said he's never heard of someone taking to it so naturally within just a week. I'm actually quite proud of myself."
"He did inform me of your progress, yes. Very impressive," Oliver said. "Just remember the conditions; you're only allowed to practice under strict supervision and only in rooms that have protection charms."
Mai chuckled softly. "I know, I know."
The pair continued to talk for quite some time, even while their salads arrived. At first it began by discussing cases and abilities, but somehow down the line, they began to share more, such as childhood memories.
"I can't believe Gene would do that!" Mai gasped before fits of laughter bubbled past her lips.
Oliver rolled his eyes. "Yes, well he did, and Mother grounded me for a week even though I had sound evidence it wasn't me."
The woman reached out and playfully patted his hand. "Poor Naru. Wrongfully accused by your own brother. The betrayal."
A grin crossed the man's face. "Justice was swift. Let's just say my brother has a phobia of snakes," he admitted in a hushed voice before taking a sip of water.
Mai brought her hand to her mouth in order to muffle another round of laughter. "When I hear stories like that I'm momentarily grateful to be an only child."
"There are many times when I find myself wishing I was as well," Oliver stated monotonously before taking a sip of his water.
The two were interrupted as the waiter brought them their main course and Mai instantly began to salivate at the sight of the decadent plate of pasta placed in front of her. She inwardly thanked the universe that she had chosen such a dish at random, however, if she were being honest, she could have done without the tomatoes that sat atop the perfectly swirled ball of pasta.
During their conversation, Oliver had shown her which utensil was used for certain courses of the meal. She picked up her fork and twirled it into the delectable looking pasta. The second it touched her lips she sighed happily. The savory white wine reduction paired wonderfully with the seared scallops. She savored every bite, while slowly picking around the dreaded tomatoes. The last thing she wanted to do at such a place was to offend the chef by not eating everything given to her, but she also wanted to enjoy the delicious pasta without it being thoroughly ruined by bites of tomato.
A sudden clearing of the throat caught her attention, causing her to look up at the man sitting across from her. The look in his eyes told her what he was thinking without having to say a word.
She bit her lip in embarrassment. "When I was a child I accidentally ate a cherry tomato thinking it was a grape and ever since I haven't been too fond of the things," she admitted.
Without a word he reached over with his fork, nonchalantly spearing the offending tomatoes on her plate before relocating them on his own dish. She watched in shock as he continued to eat as if nothing had happened.
Warmth spread through her chest at the action and she gave him an appreciative smile. She freely swirled some newly tomato-free pasta onto her fork before popping it into her mouth.
The pair ate their meals in comfortable, relative silence. Oliver finished first, and Mai opened her mouth to ask him how it was only to be interrupted by the sound of something vibrating. The man quickly pulled out his mobile from his pocket and read the name on the screen. Blue eyes looked up at her.
"Forgive me, it's a client. It should only take a moment," he apologized, and excused himself.
She watched as he swiftly answered his phone and disappeared from the dining room. Finishing the last few bites of her food, she sighed, happily full.
A small sympathetic smile pulled at her lips when she looked to see if Oliver returned yet. Even when he wasn't working he was busy with work one way or another. Tonight for example, he only attended the concert for Mr. Stiles, a former client, and now he was taking calls from more clients during his meal. While she admired how devoted he was to his job, she hoped he was able to relax when he needed to. The thought had her wondering what Oliver even did when he finally had a moment to himself.
"I'm so glad we made those reservations," a woman spoke in a hushed tone from the table behind her, catching her attention and piquing her curiosity.
"Well this is one of their busiest times of year, no wonder I had to reserve a table a week in advance," a man replied incredulously. "The food better be good," he mumbled.
Mai stopped eavesdropping as the words resonated in her head. Come to think of it, Oliver had mentioned his name at the front desk. But when could he have made such a reservation? He had only just asked her in the car if she wanted to get some dinner and he didn't make any calls after the fact.
Her mind wandered only to be interrupted by the man's return.
Mai perked up at the sight of him. "I hope everything is okay," she said.
The dark haired man nodded as he took his seat. "It was a previous client. He asked if I could come take a final look around the place tonight."
The brunette tilted her head. "Is he still experiencing any phenomenon?"
"Something of the sort," Oliver stated vaguely, looking down as he straightened the remaining silverware in front of him. "Would you be opposed to joining me? It's not far from here, and I could use your skills to see if you sense anything out of the ordinary."
"I'll come!" she chirped, thankful that the night didn't have to end just yet.
"Very well," he nodded. "Would you like anything else before we leave?"
She shook her head while placing a hand over her stomach. "While I hate to miss out on the opportunity to try the desserts here, I truly don't think I can fit anything else. I probably ate more than I should have tonight."
An amused huff left the man sitting opposite her as he nodded in understanding. He stood from his seat and walked around to help her out of hers.
"What about the bill?" she asked worriedly as she got to her feet.
The man pushed her chair back into place before leading her towards the exit. "It's already been taken care of," he said while nodding to the maître d' that was bidding them farewell.
The two made their way back to the car. Oliver was right, the place they were heading was very close. It took them no more than ten minutes to arrive. Upon their arrival, Oliver quickly sent a message on his mobile. Mai looked around as she got out of the car and wondered where they were. It was a large building, but they had parked out back so there were no signs or clues to give her any hint as to where they were. There were two large loading dock doors in the middle of the back wall that were currently closed.
Suddenly, a metal door off to the side opened up and an older man wearing casual clothes stepped out with a grin.
"Dr. Davis, welcome back," the man greeted with an outstretched hand while Oliver and Mai made their way over.
"Mr. Black, thank you for having us," Oliver replied, shaking the man's hand.
"And who might this be?" Mr. Black asked happily, looking over at the brunette in the green dress.
"Oh! I'm Mai Taniyama," Mai greeted with a smile. "I'm Dr. Davis' assistant at BSPR."
"Very nice to meet you Miss Taniyama. I don't remember seeing you when the team was here a few months ago," the man recollected.
"She joined us just after we finished with your case," her boss replied.
"I'm a medium in training, too, so I can try to help by sensing if there are any lingering spirits," Mai added.
Mr. Black glanced at Oliver questioningly before his eyes widened and he tapped the side of his nose knowingly. "Ah! Right, right...You two take as long as you need. Daryl is on the night shift, so there's no need to worry about locking up after yourselves."
"Mai, you can head on in. I need to talk to Mr. Black for a moment," Oliver instructed.
The brunette nodded and waved goodbye to the other man. "It was nice meeting you, Mr. Black."
"You as well. Have a good night," the man replied.
Mai slowly made her way into the doorway as the two men remained outside. The room she entered led to a large service corridor. Concrete walls were painted dark grey, and the floor was made of tile. Looking around she saw a mop, buckets, and nets, and wondered what type of facility Mr. Black ran.
She closed her eyes, trying to see if she could sense anything.
Through the silence of the night, the distant sound of running water caught her attention and she turned towards a door to her left curiously. Task forgotten, she stepped closer to the door and read the plaque that was printed next to it. Ocean Invaders. With each step, her heart began to flutter as her mind put all the puzzle pieces together as to where she was. Reaching out, she gently pushed the door open in anticipation.
The room was lit only by blue and violet lighting. Under her feet, she could feel the floor change from tile to carpet as she made her way inside. The walls around her were built in such a way in order to represent large chiseled rocks, almost as if she were walking through an underground tunnel.
She looked to her right and paused. Letting out a long breath she didn't realize she was holding, Mai stepped closer to one of the large glass windows framed into the wall. A bloom of jellyfish floated rhythmically through the illuminated water on the other side of the glass.
The woman held up a hand and carefully touched the cool glass, mesmerized by the scenery on the other side.
(Recommended: Start playing New Home by Austin Farwell)
She didn't know how long she stood there, for she became lost in her thoughts at the sight in front of her. Memories of simpler days came flooding back to her as the jellyfish danced through the crystalline water.
Lashes slowly closed and she could almost hear her mother's voice call out to her.
'Mai! Come look!'
The young brunette quickly turned towards her mother, the two ponytails atop her head bouncing merrily. She quickly ran over to where her mother crouched by the seashore and looked down at what she was pointing at. Dozens of tiny gelatinous orbs lined the edge of the beach.
'Bubbles?' her younger self asked, climbing onto her mother's back and resting her head on her shoulder.
'They're jellyfish," the woman replied softly.
'Jellyfish? Is that where jelly comes from?' Mai asked innocently, playing with her mother's long brown hair lazily.
Her mother's laugh chimed in her ears. 'No, silly. They are called jellyfish because of how they feel.'
'Really?!' A wide grin filled Mai's face and she quickly reached out, trying to touch the small washed up creatures.
A large yet warm hand reached out and stopped Mai before she could make contact. 'Careful, peanut.'
Brown eyes glanced up to see her father looking at her with a grin. 'Why?' she asked curiously.
Her father reached over and plucked her from her mother's back. Mai readily wrapped her arms around her father's neck and he poked her forehead gently.
'Even after death, a jellyfish can still sting,' he informed her.
The smile slowly fell from her face. 'They're...dead?'
Her mother took this moment to come and place a soft kiss on Mai's chubby cheek. 'Everything dies one day, but it is okay. It's the cycle of life.'
Mai's lip quivered. 'How is it okay? Mommy and Daddy told Mai that death means you go away forever. The jellies are gone forever now.'
Her father smiled softly and bounced her lightly on his hip. 'Even though they're dead, the beauty of their existence still touched us in some way, even if just for a moment.'
'Instead of feeling sorrow, we can find happiness in knowing that they existed,' her mother added.
Mai nodded faintly and rested her head on her father's shoulder as she looked out at the waves crashing on the beach. As the water receded the jellyfish peppered the sand. The light from the sun glistened off them like diamonds and Mai smiled softly at their beauty.
"Do you not like it?" a deep voice startled the woman from her childhood memory.
Snapping her head to the side, she saw Oliver leaning over her shoulder, staring at the jellyfish blankly.
"I like it very much," she replied in a quivering whisper.
He turned to look at her. The lights from the aquarium rippled across his face, making his eyes appear more vibrant than usual.
"Then why are you crying?" he asked.
Mai's brows furrowed at his words and she curiously lifted her hand to her face. The tips of her fingers brushed her cheek, touching a stray tear that had fallen without her knowledge.
"When did I…" she whispered to herself. Looking up, she saw the flash of concern in Oliver's eyes and she gave him a reassuring smile. "I'm okay, truly. I just remembered something from when I was a child."
The man nodded hesitantly and turned back to look at the jellyfish. "Was it about your parents?"
Mai's mouth fell open slightly. "How did you know?"
"You had mentioned before about how going to the aquarium helped you move on after your mother's passing," he stated matter of factly.
A small chuckle left her lips and he looked over at her slightly shocked, not expecting such a reaction. "You truly do have a magnificent brain. How do you remember such insignificant things like that?"
"Insignificant?" he echoed with a small frown.
Mai waved a dismissive hand and flashed him a bright smile. "You were right. I was thinking about my parents. It was a memory of when we went to the beach once. I think I was around five at the time. We spent the afternoon exploring the beach and looking at the jellyfish that washed up along the coast."
Oliver nodded again and took a step back. "...Would you like to explore the rest of the aquarium?" he asked hesitantly. "Mr. Black has given us full access to the building,"
Pink lips pulled into a wide smile. "I'd like that very much."
He nodded his head to the side, silently signaling for her to lead the way. The brunette happily obliged, and she made her way through the room. Oliver followed just a few feet behind.
She led them through an open doorway at the end of the room, entering a room that looked like an old wooden ship. She gradually made her way around the room. Bubbling laughter left her lips as she paused next to a tank and grabbed Oliver's arm in excitement, causing him to raise a brow as to what it was that she found so funny. The garden eels were emerging straight up out of the sand, comically poking their heads in and out at the sight of the newcomers.
Her attention was soon pulled away by another tank across the way and she hastily made her way over to admire the seahorses clinging to the kelp. During her adventure, Oliver shadowed close behind, observing the way her face would light up and grow soft whenever she found something new that mesmerized her.
The pair made their way through the various rooms. Mai giddily bounced from tank to tank, while Oliver strolled casually in tow, reading the informative plaques framed on the walls. He relayed facts he found interesting to the petite woman as she nodded along with wide eyes.
They walked around for the next hour, taking in the sites. As they continued, they walked through an exhibit filled with rainforest wildlife, as well as one made specifically for penguins. There were hundreds of species to be observed and Mai was determined to see each and every one.
Eventually there was only one final room left to visit and Mai hurried towards it, walking through a dark passageway. The floor was translucent, allowing them to see small fish scurrying around underfoot. Suddenly a large shadow appeared beneath them, startling an unsuspecting Mai. A loud squeak escaped her lips and she stumbled backwards. A shark lazily swam its way around the decorative rocks in the tank beneath them. The woman laid her hand on Oliver's arm and absentmindedly dropped her head on his shoulder as she covered her mouth and laughed embarrassedly at herself for overreacting. A small chuckle of amusement left the man's lips and he gently rested his hand on the small of her back, leading them through the remainder of the passageway.
Mai's laughter soon fizzled out as they emerged from the small walkway into a room filled with an enormous tank. Oliver allowed her a moment of awe before guiding her further into the room to where a tunnel wove its way through the large tank.
As they entered the tunnel, Mai was speechless. It was made entirely out of acrylic, allowing her to feel completely surrounded and immersed in the scenery around them. She slowly made her way towards the center of the tunnel, and absentmindedly sensed that Oliver was watching her from the entrance. The vibrant colors of the coral speckled the bottom of the tank while a plethora of marine life swarmed around her. Various schools of fish zoomed overhead. Sharks glided through the water, minding their own business, as stingrays grazed along the sandy aquarium floor. A large sea turtle circled a display of a whale's skeleton while another bobbed around, grazing along the coral.
Mai smiled to herself and gracefully took a seat on a narrow bench. She closed her eyes briefly, enjoying the way the light through the water danced across her eyelids. Leaning her head back against the tunnel wall, she watched the fish swimming above her, mesmerized by their beauty.
After a moment Oliver hesitantly came to take a seat next to her and she looked over at him with grateful eyes.
"Isn't it peaceful?" she asked softly.
He held her gaze for a moment before nodding and looking ahead at the fish swimming in front of them. "Indeed."
"There's something about the way they move. It's so tranquil. It's almost like every worry in your mind drifts away the longer you watch them," she stated happily.
Oliver had been watching her from the corner of his eye. Her slender neck was stretched backwards as she rested her head against the glass behind her. His gaze unknowingly trailed down the smooth exposed skin of her neck, following the curve of her shoulder. The shimmering blue lights glistened off the silky material of her dress as the woman took in a long breath. He watched as her chest rose from the action before she let out a content sigh. The satisfied sound that escaped her rosy lips had him quickly averting his eyes.
His hands tightened slightly as he stared ahead. "We've only explored a rough twenty percent of the world's oceans," he said suddenly.
Mai turned to look at the man curiously at his random statement. "Really?"
"In some ways, we know more about the universe than we do of our own planet," He continued, reciting facts.
The brunette watched him for a moment and bit her lip. Slowly, she dropped her head to the side, gently resting it against the man's shoulders. She could feel him tense faintly under her and she wondered if her actions were too bold. It lasted only momentarily before she could feel him relax.
"Twenty-five percent of the marine life we have discovered actually lives within coral reefs," he added. "In truth, we've only really studied life in the topmost layer of the ocean, meanwhile, we have very limited knowledge as to any life in the lower zones."
Mai smiled tiredly. "You're like my own personal encyclopedia. I should take you everywhere," she said with a small yawn.
Blue eyes stole another glance down at the woman leaning against him. "It's been a long night. We should be leaving," he said distractedly.
The woman's smile turned almost sad, causing him to raise a brow in confusion. "Yes, I guess you're right," she sighed, sitting up and getting to her feet.
She smoothed her dress and gave one more glance over towards the beautiful fish in front of her. The two then made their way back through the aquarium and soon found themselves in the car for the upteenth time that night.
The ride back to her flat was filled with idle conversation, mostly on her part. Mai talked about anything and everything with an occasional yawn slipping through her lips.
The car pulled up to the kerb outside her flat once again and the brunette was torn. Half of her knew it was late and she should get inside, but the other half didn't want the night to end. It had been like a dream. Suddenly she remembered something and a gasp left her lips.
"Oh no!" she exclaimed, to Oliver's surprise. "I forgot to sense for anything unusual at the aquarium. I'd gotten so distracted."
The man froze ever so slightly before clearing his throat and shaking his head. "It's fine," he stated.
"How is it fine? That's what he wanted us to do in the first place wasn't it?" she worried.
Without answering, Oliver exited the car much to her chagrin. She wasn't too fond of his habit of walking away from her questions when he didn't feel like answering. Rolling her eyes, she quickly unbuckled her safety belt to follow him out.
Before she could reach for the handle, the door was opened for her. Mai had to admit, she was starting to get used to this gentlemanly act, but knew she shouldn't, for once the night was over things would go back to the way they had been.
Not wanting to miss her last opportunity, she readily took Oliver's outstretched hand, savoring the warmth she found there, and got to her feet. She wished she could keep holding his hand but knew that would be pushing her luck so she hesitantly pulled away after she exited the vehicle. Oliver turned to close the door behind her and began to make his way towards the entrance of her building. She followed behind him quietly. Though she was mere feet away, with each step she took she felt as if he was growing further out of reach. A barely audible sigh left her lips before a discouraged smile pulled at her lips. The night had been like a dream, and she would forever savor it.
Her mind wandered to the events of the evening and the gentleness Oliver had shown her. She couldn't help the nagging thought that kept rearing its head in her mind.
The pair reached the front door and Mai paused before unlocking it. She quickly spun around and gave the man a determined look.
"What was tonight about, Naru?" she asked directly, hands twisting in the skirt of her dress anxiously.
He held her gaze. "I don't know what you mean."
"Well," she began timidly. "First of all, you had already made reservations at the restaurant before we even arrived. I overheard someone there saying that reservations needed to be made a week in advance. However, you asked me in the car if I was hungry and then never called the restaurant so I'm led to believe you made the reservations beforehand.
"Also," she continued hurriedly before he could interject, "Mr. Black didn't actually need us to explore the aquarium, did he? That's why he was confused when I told him about my ability and why you, the workaholic that you are, didn't mind that I forgot to look around for anything unusual."
Blue held fast to brown as they stared at each other. After a moment, Oliver tilted his head slightly. "Was the evening not enjoyable?"
Mai blushed slightly and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm pretty confident you can deduce the answer to your question on your own," she whispered with a shy smile. "But you haven't answered my question...Why did you do all of this for me?"
Wide doe-like eyes stared up at him with a glimmer of hope.
There was something in the way he looked down at her that had her blush spread to her ears. Her lip darted out to wet her lip nervously and his gaze deepened. Mai felt her breath catch as he slowly stepped closer to her, leaving mere inches between the two of them. Her heart raced at his proximity while the scent of his cologne intoxicated her.
Maintaining eye contact, he slowly bent down towards her and she nervously teased her bottom lip between her teeth. Blue orbs flickered down at the action and he leaned forward, closing the distance between them.
A breathy gasp left her.
To say she was shocked would be an understatement when his lips brushed against the shell of her ear as he whispered three little words to her.
"Happy birthday, Mai."
Pulling back, he placed a lingering kiss against her cheek. She swore time stood still for a moment at the press of his lips against her skin. The touch spread like fire throughout her body and she let out a shaky breath.
As quickly as the kiss began, it stopped. The man straightened up, ebony hair lightly tousled by a passing breeze. He held her gaze once more, but this time all the emotion that had been there just moments ago were carefully hidden behind a mask of indifference.
"Sleep well," he said with a curt, polite nod.
She opened her mouth to respond but her mind was in a blissful, albeit confused, haze. All she could muster was a stunned nod in return. Without another word the man effortlessly turned on the spot and returned to his car. Within seconds he was pulling away and gone from sight.
Mai's body acted on its own accord, for the next thing she knew she was already inside her flat, closing the door behind her. The moment the door clicked shut, the memory of his lips against her cheek flashed through her mind. A squeak escaped her lips and she crouched down in embarrassment, bringing her hands to cover her burning face.
There was no denying her feelings for the man that was slowly possessing her heart.
This was much more than a silly crush.
She was falling, and falling hard.