Incognito12 – Maybe ;)
Sterling5842 – Thanks for giving it a look again. I am easing back into writing after a break to finish grad school. I went back and caught up on my stories and just couldn't let this characters go.
Valairy – Hi. Sent you a PM. I was surprised when I went to tfn to start trying to dig some of my stories out of moth balls, so resuming over here.
Chapter 2
Mia drummed her fingers along the surface of the bar, catching a glimpse of her reflection in the glossy surface. Like everything else in the club, it was elegant to the last detail, and on a new level of opulence from anything she had previously seen. She took a sip of her drink, swirling the fine liquor in its heavy crystal glass. To be honest, she felt entirely out of place. In her line of work she had been wined and dined in style, but never been privy to an establishment of this level of exclusivity. Her involvement with Xanatos Marojni over the past two weeks had whisked her into a new echelon in society, and it had come at a cost. She had found herself at Xanatos' beck and call, and constantly watched. Even now a guard was not far, for her protection, of course.
She had received a simple message attached to a parcel earlier in the day. The message said only to meet him at the Medallion Club for evening meal and to look her best. She had fulfilled that request, she mused, as she caught her reflection again. Her hair was caught high upon her head with an ornate clip, dark ringlets cascading down her long, slender neck. She wore a low cut gown of deep blue shimmersilk that clung to her curves. A jeweled necklace and earrings, provided in the parcel, accented her look. She was smugly satisfied that she had managed to turn the head of nearly every man she had encountered that evening. Even Xanatos himself, was genuinely impressed. The meal had been quick, Xanatos barely saying anything before he was whisked to the upper floors of the club in a lift, leaving her to wait for the last four hours. She didn't dare leave.
Hands were suddenly on her shoulders, warm breath against her ear. She gasped, startled, calming when she heard Xanatos' voice. "You're not watching your back, my dear. I would have expected a shiv in my throat for sneaking up on you like that." Xanatos said softly. "It's not that it's a bad thing. I want you to feel safe."
"You certainly took your time," she said, making her irritation evident.
"I apologize. The meeting dragged on longer than expected. Come."
He offered her his hand, then wrapped her arm around his and escorted her out to a waiting private aircab. Once the vehicle had taken off, he settled back into the seat and spoke. "Our efforts have paid off," he said with pride. "Gaden's empire is collapsing, and being sold off to the highest bidder."
Several prominent businessmen had ascended the same elevator with Xanatos, and she had a pretty good idea what happened up there. The corporate map of this sector of the galaxy had been redrawn.
"So, that's what the meeting was about tonight. The smell of blood, and you were all closing in for the kill."
"I managed to come away with Gaden's operations on Jasca. It is a lucrative enough purchase to make up for what Offworld lost on Bandomeer."
She looked out as the aircab passed through busy thoroughfares wondering, as she had many times in the last few days, what this meant for her life. Was her time as a pawn over?
"So, have I proved my loyalty to you?" she asked.
"More than sufficiently," he said. "This would not have been possible without your help."
"So, what now?"
He leaned forward, assuming a more business-like tone. "I would like for you to come onboard with Offworld as my personal assistant. The one who was serving in that role served my father before me and was due his retirement. I have not yet found a satisfactory replacement. It would involve travel, as you would accompany me on business related trips. Obviously, there would be responsibilities with scheduling and various errands." He handed her a datapad. "This is the compensation. It is negotiable, but I think you will find it generous."
"It is," she said as the aircab came to a stop at the private entrance on the upper levels of their hotel.
She carefully thought over her options as he led her through the hallways. They stopped outside his suite.
"Join me for a drink. We can talk more," he said.
Once inside, he poured them both a drink before taking a seat on the sofa next to her. "You bring the added benefit of knowing the players in this world. I will count on you to filter through only those deserving of my time and attention. At times I will call upon you to represent me personally, as well.
She took a sip of her drink. In reality, she didn't need to give it much thought. Offers like this did not come along every day. It was the strings she knew were attached to the deal that bothered her.
"I will need to go settle my affairs before joining you on Telos. I have a flat, possessions, bills, and obligations …"
"Done," he replied confidently.
"What?"
"I sent someone to settle your affairs. Gaden no doubt knows you have betrayed him, and it is not safe for you to return to where you used to live. My personal accountant, with the proper identifiers, can transfer your accounts to Telos."
"Usually when someone meddles in another's personal affairs, they have the common decency to ask consent," she said angrily.
"I like to take care of what I value."
"There's a difference between caring and suffocating," she bit back. "I need to go."
"Stay," he demanded as she approached the door. It was spoken in the tone of one accustomed to having his way, and effectively stopped her. "Please stay," he repeated in a softer voice, approaching her from behind.
She felt her anger bleed away, his very presence exuding some sort of calm over her. The thought of another night in his arms replaced the hostility as those arms encircled her. "I want you to stay," he whispered into her ear.
He began to lay light kisses down her neck, and she felt the clip that held her hair up move. Her long hair fell down her back. He began to comb through the sleek locks with his fingers, murmuring, "so soft."
"I need more autonomy if this is going to work." She stepped away, trying to think through the fog of her emotions and desires. "I feel like your prisoner, watched, followed."
"I am only trying to protect you." He paused, deciding if he should continue. "Gaden already has quite a high bounty on your head."
She turned to face him, covering her mouth with a trembling hand.
"Don't worry. You're safe," he soothed.
He ran his fingers down her cheek, pulling her hand away from her face before covering her lips with his own. His hand trailed through her hair, stroking down her neck, and coming to the small of her back as he drew her closer to him and continued to kiss her. It was too much for Mia to think that he actually had feelings for her. More likely, he felt that she now belonged to him. But having his entire focus on her was intoxicating.
Xanatos stalked towards her, backing her to the wall as he studied her intently. He reached out and gently fingered the hair framing her face.
"You cut it," he said with a hint of disappointment. "But, I like the new color." Gentle fingers caressed her face, despite the harsh tone of his voice. "Did you really think merely changing your physical appearance would hide you. I can sense you, feel your presence, Mia."
"How … how …"
"Did I find you?" He completed the question. "You are intelligent. Remember, I said that it is one of your more admirable qualities. I missed you by mere days in the last place. You obviously grew careless this time." He resumed teasing the wavy locks framing her paling face. "Maybe it was this neighborhood. It seems pleasant and peaceful. You shouldn't get attached when you are on the run, my dear."
He drew her chin up and touched his lips to hers. As he deepened his kiss, she found she could only move her mouth against his. He pressed his body closer, pinning her against the wall. As their passions flared, it was easy to forget why she had run and most importantly, the danger she was in even at the very moment.
He broke off his kiss and she licked her lips, still trying to catch her breath, still teetering on the edge of panic.
"Have I ever laid a hand on you or hurt you in any way?"
She shook her head, unable to speak as tears let loose and began to trail down her cheeks. He had never physically hurt her, though she had seen what he was capable of with her own eyes.
"Then why are you consumed with such fear of me?"
"I know… I know how you handle betrayal," she answered.
A sneer stretched across his features, and his voice took on a more dangerous edge. "Then you are fortunate I have always been weak when it comes to you." He pressed his lips to her forehead. "Don't forget that," he said sharply. "You won't get another chance. Now, get your fear under control," Xanatos whispered. "He can sense it. You're upsetting him."
She looked over Xanatos' shoulder, catching sight of the toddler that had wandered into the room. With raven hair and bright blue eyes, he was the perfect image of his father. The boy's lips trembled, and he clutched tightly to a well-loved blanket that trailed on the floor behind him. "Mama?" he questioned. He started for his mother, eyeing Xanatos warily, and clutched onto her robe.
"When did he start walking?" Xanatos asked in a voice thick with emotion.
"About a month ago," she replied, doing her best to compose herself. Xanatos was right. When she was calm, Crion was calm. When she was afraid, Crion was terrified. "He was wobbly away from the furniture at first."
"I think you should introduce us, Mia. I doubt he remembers me," Xanatos said as he kneeled down.
She took a deep breath and settled down on the floor next to her son. The boy quickly scrambled into her lap.
"Crion, this is your daddy."
She had taken off with her son … his son … four months earlier, and had no doubt that Xanatos had torn the galaxy apart looking for them. Crion was his pride and joy, named proudly after his father, something he considered worthy to be his legacy.
The boy buried his head into her chest. She watched as Xanatos closed his eyes. Crion suddenly turned and looked at his father, a slight giggle escaping him, perhaps a spark of recognition.
Mia didn't understand the mystical nature of the Force, but she knew that Xanatos and his son shared something she had no comprehension of, and that was what scared her more than anything.
As Crion took a hesitant step toward his father, Mia began to feel faint. "Not now," she whispered. The room began to spin, the task of holding of her eyelids up suddenly feeling impossible, and she felt cold, so cold. Xanatos' eyes snapped up to meet hers. She saw him move, but slumped to the ground before he could reach her and break her fall. Crion began to cry.
"Where's your medication?"
She vaguely wondered about the obvious affection and concern she heard in his voice as she whispered," kitchen counter," before everything blacked out.