Steal My Life
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Red Eye!
Chapter Six
The reception was a hit. George knew that he should attribute the success to Sofia, but it was really all the hard work of one woman who was not his beloved wife. The beautiful auburn haired hotel employee named Lisa Reisert was solely responsible for all the details. If he had met Lisa before Sofia, then he would have most likely married her. She was beautiful, smart, and had an air of mystery around her that intrigued him.
"How are things going?" Lisa asked him, her name tag pinned to her lovely dress. He had invited her to the reception in thanks for her hard work. That and he wanted to see her again.
Lovely, lovely Lisa…why, you look extra nice today…
"Fine, I think. Everyone looks really happy," George replied, a genuine smile on his face, unlike the false one he had on earlier.
"Yes… so where's your bride? Sofia?"
"Sofia? I'm not entirely sure. She said something about having to entertain her guests and disappeared after the toast." He gestured towards the head table where Sofia had dragged him upon arrival. He had lost about twenty minutes of his life trying to smile for the cameras and people glancing at him throughout the mind-numbingly dull toasts.
"Oh, well tell her that she looks amazing, will you?"
"Of course."
Only if I can tell you how beautiful you are…
Lisa began to walk away and he reached out and took her arm. "Can I buy you a drink?"
Her face turned a vivid shade of red reflecting her embarrassment. "Um…"
"It's just one drink."
"Okay," she agreed happily, her defenses easily broken by his winning smile. I'm not a threat, Leese. I would never hurt you.
"Good, good. What'll you have?"
"Well, a grapefruit Sea Breeze."
"Okay, let's go get you one," George led her over to the bar, ordering her drink and a refill for himself. They chatted politely while the bar tender mixed up their drinks and then George handed the man the money with a nice-sized tip.
"For you," he said pleasantly, handing Lisa the tall glass.
"Oh, thank you."
"Let's get out of here," he suggested. "It's too crowded and I don't know anyone."
"Um…"
"We can go to the lobby, right?" I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable, Leese. But for the sake of my sanity and yours, let's get away from all these drunks before our IQ's start to drop.
Lisa nodded and allowed him to escort her out of the stuffy ballroom and away from the noisy family members and acquaintances that Sofia had insisted upon inviting. He had never been overly fond of large numbers of people.
"So why don't you know anyone?" Lisa asked as they walked slowly towards the lobby. "I don't mean to intrude, but isn't it supposed to be your wedding? Where's your family and friends?"
"Dead. All of my relatives are dead and I have no friends."
"Really? I'm sorry—"
"It's okay. I never got along with them. That doesn't mean I wanted them dead, but they are certainly no great loss to the world. Most of them were alcoholics."
And I was a mistake. A drunken mistake that no one wanted. It's amazing that I was even born.
"Do you worry about becoming like them?"
"Did you train to be a shrink? 'Cause you sure sound like one," he teased and Lisa laughed.
"No, but my dad gave me a lot of self-help books. He's always been worried about me and my well-being."
"Over protective?"
"Just a little bit," she said, empathizing with her fingers, holding her thumb and pointer fingers mere centimeters apart.
"Ah, one of those parents."
"Yeah."
He felt very relaxed and at ease with Lisa. There were no false pretenses between them; no lies and facades that he had to struggle to maintain. Nothing was on his mind except the striking woman in front of him. He was free from the stress of his job, of his limited double-life, and also of Sofia's constant nagging. The alcohol streaming through my veins doesn't exactly hurt either… he thought wryly.
"I'm really glad you could come."
"Me too." Lisa had brightened since they had escaped the crush of people. I bet they get on your nerves too.
A few quiet moments passed as they soaked up the silence and each other's company.
George suddenly turned towards her and pressed his lips against hers, causing her green eyes to fly open in shock. She shoved him hard; placing her right hand on his chest and effectively breaking the kiss as he fell to the floor.
"You're drunk aren't you?" she accused; her eyebrows rose as she examined him sprawled on the floor where he had fallen.
"No, I'm actually quite sober."
"Then why the hell did you do that?!"
He shrugged. "I don't know."
"You're married, remember? We can't…" Lisa was pacing the small space near the couch they had been sitting on.
"Can't what?" he inquired, blue eyes sparkling mischievously.
"We can't be together! It's not right! I'm sorry…"
She was shaking her head sadly; the curls bouncing and capturing the light. Her hands were shaking and she had a hard time gripping her drink glass. George picked himself up off the floor and plucked the glass out of her hand and set it on the coffee table. He then took her small hands in his and rubbed them in an attempt to stop them from shaking. Sure enough, it ceased and Lisa took in a sharp and painful-sounding breath.
He dropped her hands and cupped her face in his hands, while his thumbs gently caressed her cheeks. Her eyes were downcast—she could not seem to look at him.
What have I done? Don't be angry with me, Lisa. I don't want to hurt anyone. I don't know what came over me…
George sighed deeply before breaking the silence. "I understand. I'm just as confused as you are. I love my wife, but I can't help but feel something between us."
"I know. And it scares me."
"You shouldn't have to be scared."
"This is wrong." The voice of reason, now where's your feelings, Lisa? What does your heart tell you? Does it tell you what mine tells me?
"I know."
"Lisa?" called a frantic sounding employee who appeared before them, causing George to drop his hands a millisecond before being seen.
"Yes?" She sounded frazzled and tired.
"There's a disturbance in the ballroom. They're looking for you."
"Come on," George said. "Let's go."
They returned to the ballroom. Along the way their individual masks went up and by the time they entered the room, they were two professionals; the confusion that had occupied their thoughts moments before banished to the dark recesses of their minds.
Sofia was stumbling around the room drunk, swearing and destroying any object in her path as she moved. George shot a helpless glance at Lisa and then hurried to his wife's side.
"Sofia, sweetheart." He ripped the wine glass from her hand and banged it down on a nearby table.
"Get the fuck away," Sofia hissed coldly.
"I can't do that." He seized her wrists in a vise-like grasp before she could reach for more alcohol. She whimpered in pain.
"Get your fucking hands off me!"
He shook her roughly. "Sofia, stop it!"
She clumsily stomped on his foot. He gritted his teeth in pain before releasing her long enough to smack her soundly. Sofia recoiled from the blow and fell backwards into an empty chair.
Only Lisa, Sofia, and George were left in the enormous ballroom. All the guests had left in a huff when the bar had closed down and Sofia had begun a drunken tirade and proceeded to break various objects in the hotel. The employees had yet to come in to do clean-up.
"George, stop!" Lisa called, rushing over to intervene.
"Stop what? Her being drunk? I wish!"
"No, hitting her. Don't hit her!" She seized his arm, trying to wrench him away from Sofia in protest.
George's forehead collided with Lisa's and she collapsed in his arms. He gently laid her motionless body on the floor and then, with narrowed eyes, glared hatefully at his stunned wife.
Look what you made me do!
Author's Notes:
This is the last of Lisa that we'll see for a while, but I will say that she's never far from George's mind. Oh, I had a question about why Lisa doesn't remember him when they meet in the airport and it's a compound answer: the events in this chapter are nearly eight years before they see each other again, she did lose a bit of memory with the head-butt, and George looks slightly different from Jackson because he changes over time (from short dark hair to longish brown hair, etc). I hope that straightens things out. Major thanks to emptyvoices for her help and also to everyone who took the time to review and/or read! Enjoy!