"You didn't tell me you were playing dangerous games with the hearts of women..." Maryam hisses through the the phone at her still tipsy (and now confused) son. He looks at Marya and looks and makes a makes an inquisitive shrug as he gestures toward the phone open-handed. "If I may, what could you possibly mean by that somewhat accusatory statement, mother?" He then then hears familiar voice addressing his mother in the background with jovial delight.
"I'm sure he's very busy ma'am. I know he's made an established businessman of himself over the years. *giggle*
Idris recognizes the voice in the background as a new metaphorical thorn in his side. "Mother..." He began to seethe with annoyance "what is she doing there?"
"She called and came to visit since she was in the neighborhood, unlike a certain son that I know. Maybe you should take a page out of her book and drop in." Maryam chided. "To my knowledge, you were with Marya tonight for one of your business affairs. Am I wrong?"
Idris winced internally at the mention of his partner for the night's event. Especially since the jovial voice in the background was none other than Regina. "You would be correct in that statement." he began. "However, I would like to politely ask you why you assume that I am playing, as you put it. I, would like to know what shape, form, or inkling of what that could mean. I attended a business affair with a member of my company and met an old companion in coincidence. So I am truly not sure-"
Maryam cuts him off. "Is Marya still close?"
Idris returned his focus to Marya and stated curtly "She is."
"Give her the phone." she ordered. Idris returns the phone to its owner and makes a steady motion to slide of the couch into a cautious walking stance, as he was still tipsy.
Marya watches him and speaks into the phone. "Yes ma'am?" Marya continues to watch him as he shifts toward the in-kitchen bar housing his liquor collection. "He intends to drink even more" she thought.
Maryam cut through the current internal thoughts, asking curtly "Marya, did my son have too much to drink?"
"Possibly, ma'am. I believe he'll be fine in the morning."
Maryam made a disapproving groan and continued to speak. "Even though I don't approve of his drinking, I've been told by that Garrick character that he can put most men twice his size under the table. It isn't like him to lose his composure like that. Do me a favor and watch over him for the night. I'll make sure that you have appropriate transportation if he doesn't arrange so himself. If you'll excuse me, I need to see young Regina off. Take care of my boy, but not too much!" she giggles and hangs up the phone.
Marya was confused and embarrassed at the same time. "Did she just insinuate that I would be sleeping with her son, my boss?" she thought to herself "One, he doesn't see me that way. Two, why would she even bring that up. And three, if he's so great at drinking, why did he become unraveled at dinner over a few glasses?"
She glanced back at Idris who was downing a glass of dark brown liquid. "Idris, put that down." She calls to him, attempting to stop him. She gets up from her seat and moves toward the kitchen with swift motion. Just as Idris began to pour another glass, she cups the bottom of the decanter with one hand and pulls the bottleneck from his hand. She places the decanter on the counter and catches an inadvertent whiff of it. Her nose begins to burn and her face scrunches up in light disgust. She finally looks at him. "What in all unholy hell is in that thing? It smells like liquid arson!"
Idris moves to put a still cold gallon of sweet tea into the refrigerator. Upon closing the door, he looks at her and gestures toward the bottle with his hand "That, Miss Marya, is none other than the Venom of the Grain. Or as most call it, Everdear. 190 proof." A smug grin began to form on his face. "Although I do enjoy the finer things in life, I also enjoy efficiency. Two parts sweet tea and one part Everdear serve my drinking goals just fine. The 'burn'-" he uses air quotes with his fingers "isn't as stressful on the throat, thanks to the sweet tea. Would you like to try some?"
Marya is floored at this unseen behavior of Idris. Struggling to find non-offensive words she starts. "As lovely as that is sir, I'm somewhat disappointed. I took you for a man that could compose himself in the company of others. Yet, here you are, shamelessly showing me a side of you that I never knew existed. I want you to do two things for me. I want you to first-" she fills the empty glass next to her on the counter with water and hands it to him. "Drink this full glass."
He takes the glass and begins to down it in one go. Marya steals a glance at his pulsing neck with each gulp. She glances down to the side, biting her lip out of his immediate view. "Good fucking lord. He IS attractive." She thought to herself. She returns her gaze to him as he puts the glass down. "And your second order?" he asks.
She takes his hand and starts back toward the couch in his living room. She stops and looks back at Idris, and with determined eyes that unnerve him, she says in a reassuring tone "I want you to rest and forget about your troubles of the day." She continues to guide him toward the couch and he blushes behind her back.
As she sits him down she asks him where are his blankets. He points to a closet in the room's corner. She leaves to grab a blanket from the closet. Idris watches her wistfully as she walks away and thinks idly about their short trip to the couch. Idris couldn't imagine being swept out of his composure by anyone other than Regina. "I'm just drunk and I'm still under the effects of Old Law. There's no way I'd be slipping like this." He paused his thoughts for a moment and remember the closet he directed Marya to had an ironing board that drops out upon being opened. He jumps from the couch and rushes toward her with urgency.
Marya turns the handle to the closet door, oblivious to the impending danger and Idris's advance. She opens the door and is yanked back by a mysterious force. Closing and opening her eyes again, she registers the situation at hand and focuses on an arm that has been flexed defensively holding a metal structure from hitting her. She then realizes that she is wrapped in Idris's other arm, cradled intimately to his chest. She breathes in his scent subtly: citrus and cinnamon. She looks up at him, while still cradled and asks "What happened?"
He looks down at her, still cradling her in one arm as he slowly let the ironing board go. Placing another hand on her side to help her stand properly he breathes "I had to stop the ironing board from hurting you. Are you okay?"
She snaps out of her shock and embraces him, wrapping her arms around his midsection. She whispers in his ear "I am now. Thank you."
She begins to pull away from him and he stops her, hand still on her side. With his desire written on his face, he places a hand on her cheek and leans in toward her lips...