Chapter 8.

8. Joseph's rooms

Joseph came out of the shower and took a towel from the shelf. The warm water had been kind to his tensed muscles. After drying himself he left the hot bathroom and walked towards his bedroom closet. While putting on a boxer short and a long pyjama trousers he checked the time. He saw that it was 10:29 already. He quickly turned on his bedroom TV in order to be in time to watch the 10:30 news bulletin. Being glad that he already changed the sheets he sat on the bed and moved over to the headboard in order to lean against it while watching.

At the exact moment that the newsreader started with the first item he heard a distant knock. He realised that there must be someone standing outside of his sitting room door. Probably one of the security guys from today's night shift with an issue or something. He moaned and grumbled to himself "can't they solve their own problems for once."

He was already halfway his sitting room when he realised that his chest was bare. He shouted towards the door "give me 30 seconds" and turned back to his bedroom where he grabbed a black t-shirt from a chair. He put it on while walking towards the door again.

At the other side of the door Clarisse anxiously waited. This morning a talk with Joseph and his girlfriend seemed the most logical and best option. But during the day she became more and more nervous about the conversation that lay ahead. It had been her plan to visit Joseph right after dinner. But she had postponed the moment. She had been ready for bed when she finally decided that she had to sort things out. So here she was, in her nightwear at Joseph's door.

Before leaving her suite, she opted for changing again. But she was stern for herself thinking, Clarisse, if you don't go now, you will probably never go. So, on you go! But now she whished that she had changed back into daily attire. She felt exposed even if her nightwear covered her well enough.

Before she could think about it any longer the door opened. Within a few seconds she saw Joseph's face turn from annoyed, to surprised, to worried.

"Dear god, Clarisse, is something wrong?" he asked.

"Oh well, I…yes there is something…" she tried to say but Joseph interrupted her.

"Is there an emergency situation or a threat that I need to address immediately?"

While looking at Joseph, Clarisse noticed that he was on high alert. He took a step in her direction in order to, so she learned over the years, protect her with his own body. Meanwhile quite harshly grabbing her upper arm and looking in both directions of the hallway to see if there was someone else in view.

"No! Joseph. I just wanted to talk." She told him. His grip on her arm was tight and he pulled her inside his room away from the hallway. "There is no immediate danger" she continued "I only want to…"

Again, Joseph left no room for her to finish her sentence and interfered "Are you absolutely sure of that?" Meanwhile letting his eyes wander over her body in order to check if she really was all right.

"Yes, yes of course I am sure of that." Her tone was not angry, she sounded overwhelmed.

Silence fell between them. Still standing close to each other next to the open door.

Joseph felt like a fool for the second time today. He completely overreacted. As if Clarisse would be in a line of gunfire or real danger in her own palace hall. But her visit was such a surprise for him that the first thing of he could think of was an emergency.

"Joseph" he heard Clarisse say after a while. "You are hurting me." Her gaze focused on his hand on her arm.

He quickly loosened his grip, but he did not let go completely. Not willing to lose the contact yet. Realising that she stood very close he consciously smelled her sweet perfume and he saw that she wore cream coloured evening wear. He became aware that he was in his nightwear also and on bare feet. But well, after all, this was his room wasn't it? And he was off duty now. So, he did not feel guilty.

Rather the opposite. They had never been so close to one another wearing anything else then formal attire. The nightgown was decent enough, but still Joseph felt the familiar feeling rising.

"You wanted to see me?" he asked in order to bend his mind to another subject.

"Yes. I wanted to visit earlier, but I was delayed and…" Maybe Clarisse had more words on the tip of her tongue. But she was silenced by the spark that splashed when she looked up and their eyes met.

This time Joseph did not concentrate on himself or on attempts to conceal his feelings as he had done the last years when he felt this way. Instead he looked intently at the woman that stood so close to him. Did she feel that? He thought that he saw something in her eyes. The same thing he saw this morning. That gave some hope in the right direction.

But what he did know for sure was that for him this was it. This feeling was far better than how he felt his morning. This morning when he woke up next to his one-night-stand. This very morning when he had sex with a woman that was not Clarisse. He could not wrap his head around things. Why on earth did he bring a one-night-stand into his rooms? What did he gain with that? How could he ever explain this or make this up with Clarisse?

Even with these disturbing feelings in his head, Joseph savoured this moment of closeness. He could feel her body heat radiate through their clothes. It felt like a loss when Clarisse took a step back.

"Shall we close the door and sit down." Clarisse said and she looked away towards the sofa. "That is if it suits you."

Clarisse felt confused. She was determined to support Joseph in his relationship. But there it was again. The spark. While looking at Joseph she knew that he felt it too. Was it lust for him then? Considering that there was another woman in his life.

Walking over to the sofa in order to sit down she saw a flashing TV light. It was shining through a slightly open door behind which she supposed was Joseph's bedroom. Wondering if Joseph's girlfriend was behind that door, she decided to get on with it quickly.

She waited for Joseph to sit down at the other side of the sofa and said "I actually came to see you in order to apologise for my behaviour this morning. I was exaggerating and unpolite."

Joseph surprisingly smiled shyly at her and replied "There is no need for an apology. Actually, I am quite ashamed about myself and the whole situation."

So far so good she thought. Now came the harder part.

"I want to extend my apology towards your girlfriend."

Joseph gave her a questioning look, so she continued.

"Maybe you can introduce me to her properly. What is her name anyway?"

Joseph looked somewhat uncomfortable by now. He nervously coughed and reluctantly said in a low voice "I…don't…have a girlfriend."

Clarisse did not understand his remark immediately. So, she went on "Well, what do you call the lady that I saw this morning then?"

Joseph knew he had to confess. That he had to go trough this. "I…she…I met her in a bar."

Clarisse still did not get what he was saying.

"She and I, we…we…we just shared the night." He hated himself for the stuttering.

Clarisse stoop up from the sofa as if it was on fire. "What! You picked her up for one night of sex! Is that what you are trying to say?"

Joseph quickly stood also. "Listen Clarisse please."

He grabbed her hands in his, but Clarisse did not look at him.

But even the queen of Genovia was not that good that she could hide the emotions from her face that exploded inside her at this moment. Joseph looked at her face and saw disgust but also something else. Relief, maybe even some sort of satisfaction. Holding his hopes high he decided it was now or never.

"I know that it is a bit…disgusting. I already don't understand anymore why I invited her here."

He stroked the back of Clarisse her hands. She did not pull back and he took that as a sign to continue.

"But I already promised this morning that it won't happen again. And I fully intent to keep that promise. I will not bring random woman into my rooms again."

Clarisse still looked to the rug on the floor. He took a deep breath before he dared to say his next sentence.

"But I will break another promise that I once made."

Finally, Clarisse looked up to him. Her face again shielded and difficult to read. "What promise do you relate to?"

"I don't want to stick to being just friends any longer." It came out louder than he intended.

"Oh…you can't be serious Joseph. You lay down with her half a day ago!" She replied equally loud.

"Then tell me that you were not jealous this morning." He knew it was somehow mean to play this trick on her. But if it worked, then it was worth it.

A silence fell, Clarisse pulled her hands away and sat down on the sofa again. She was slightly blushing.

"I don't mind if you were. Actually, I am happy that you finally showed something to me." Joseph continued while he kept standing.

Clarisse sighted and confessed "I felt so stupid this morning being jealous. It's my own fault that I kept you at arm's length all the time."

"No Clarisse" Joseph responded "we decided together if I remember correctly that being friends was for the best. We were both just too stubborn to open the discussion again."

Joseph considered that it was safe again to sit down next to Clarisse, which he did, but he kept a decent distance.

"Joseph" Clarisse said while sliding closer and cupping his cheek "I expect you to woo me properly."

Joseph chuckled at this direct request. At least now that it was in the open between them, she knew what she wanted. "Your whish is my command."

"But take your time. I will need a few weeks in order to forget this picture in my head where I see you kissing some other woman." A small smile as well as a frown crept across her face while saying the words.

For both it was unclear if this was a tease with a serious hint, or a grave remark with a funny side to it.

Suddenly Clarisse stood and said "I need to go to bed. Full day tomorrow."

"Goodnight Joseph. Thank you for letting me in."

"Thank you for coming. Sweet dreams."

Clarisse left and Joseph was alone in his sitting room again. Completely confused and content at the same time.