"I am not buying a sports car, Reno. I don't care what 'chicks dig.'"
Reno thought for a moment then seemed to come to a realization, "Smooth moves in the plane, boss. If you put up the window separating us, you'll have Lockhart all to yourself. You're better at this than I thought. I'll just go ahead and make your reservations."
"Dinner is served at the event. Tseng took care of the rest of the arrangements this morning."
"No, no, no, boss," Reno shook his head emphatically, whipping himself in the face with his own ponytail, "the hotel reservations. Do you want the most impressive suite in the city or a secret love nest?"
"Absolutely not. Take the rest of the day off to…" Rufus thought for a moment, "to be anywhere else. Meet back in my office at 4PM."
"Does that mean I'm leaving you here at the dealership?"
"No means no, Reno," Rufus sighed.
Reno scowled and pretended to think. "I do believe 'Laney mentioned something like that once or twice. I try not to pay too much attention to what she says though."
"I'll find my own way from here," Rufus got out of the car. "Oh, and stop harassing Elena. I've known for years that Tseng is your type." He closed the car door and walked away before Reno could respond.
"If nothing else," thought Reno as he watched his boss disappear around a corner, "he's pure evil. You have to respect him for that."
"I am not keeping score," Tifa said as a beautician put the finishing touches on her hair.
"I was right in the airport and you know it," Elena replied, looking up from her magazine, "Rufus is eating out of the palm of your hand."
"That's too bad," said Tifa, turning to observe herself in the full-length mirror, "I'll spend the night constantly washing up to prevent myself from smearing filthy handprints across this beautiful dress."
Rufus leaned against the hood of his new, white, sports car while he waited for Tifa to arrive in his private section of the underground garage. She was late by three minutes and forty-three… forty-four… forty-five…. Rufus looked away from his watch and forced himself to look casual. She rewarded his patience several seconds later when she appeared in the elevator, the very image of elegance, surrounded by an aura of pale light. Her dress was white velvet, fitting closely about her curves. A wide black band began at her left shoulder and spiraled down to the hem, accentuating her natural figure. Tasteful but clearly expensive diamonds adorned her neck and ears, catching their light and contributing to the otherworldly mystique that already captivated Rufus. Incredible," he whispered under his breath as she drew near.
"Isn't it?" Tifa asked as Rufus held the passenger door open for her. He smiled, startled that she heard him but not at all displeased. With a brusque gesture, he waved Elena to the black car behind them. She complied although Rufus recognized her startled expression when she realized he would be driving himself. Through low light and tinted glass, he could barely make out the Turks inside. Rude sat passively in the driver's seat with an obviously disgruntled Reno beside him. Tifa's voice drew Rufus back from his wandering thoughts.
"Yes," he replied without thinking, not wanting her to know that he wasn't paying attention but hoping they were still talking about her dress. She laughed and Rufus suddenly worried about what he had agreed to.
"You know, its funny," she said as he pulled out into the sunlight, "because I might have pictured Reno in a car like this but never you. It is your color, I guess, but there's still something different about it." Her voice trailed off and Rufus' heart sunk. She did not like the car.
"I can get something else," he said quickly, "we can ride in my usual car with the Turks." His voice became faster and more strained as he spoke. "It was Reno's idea. He picked it out and said 'chicks love fast cars.' I'll send Rude to bring a limousine or whatever you want." Rufus could not understand why she flustered him. He reminded himself that he was Rufus Shinra and Rufus Shinra was always cold.
Tifa laughed again and smiled. "You have no idea what I said." Rufus glanced down at his lap then his face lost all expression and he focused completely on the road. "Don't shut me out yet," she continued, noticing his behavior. "I can see easily enough what you're doing so don't deny it. I said I like your car and asked how long you had it. Although I guess that explains why it doesn't look used at all." Rufus relaxed a little but had no idea how to respond so he opted to remain silent. Tifa waited a few moments before trying again. She twisted her body to face him and leaned in a little, whispering even though no one else was there to overhear. "You know, if we listen to them," Tifa nodded her head sideways to indicate the Turk's car, "this entire night will be a disaster. Did you know Elena tried to make me wait for you to come pick us up at her apartment on the Turk floor? I had to send her into the kitchen for coffee before I could escape."
Rufus laughed. He had few hobbies and frustrating the Turks had been his favorite since childhood. Tifa had a devious charm and he had no desire to resist her. "This car does have one advantage," he said, shifting into a higher gear and pressing hard on the accelerator, "there's no room in it for Turks." Violating every speed law in Junon, he reached out and held her hand until they arrived at the back of a short line of cars leading up to a long red carpet.
"There should be no danger to our hair now," Rufus said, reaching overhead to unfasten several clasps and press a button on the console. The roof slid back as he edged the car forward. "It's almost time for your grand entrance."
"I won't know how to behave. I've never been to a society dinner before. I'm going to embarrass you," stammered Tifa as she watched several dignitaries pass into the building ahead. A few cameras flashed and the men were gone.
"It all goes outside in," said Rufus, easing the car forward to the front of the line. "Follow my lead and if you're not sure what comes next, send me a sign under the table. Kick me or something." Tifa regarded him quizzically while Rufus appeared lost in some memory. "Gently," he added hastily before sliding the car into neutral and pulling up the brake.
A storm of flashbulbs blinded Tifa before the car came to a complete stop and she wondered how Rufus managed to drive. She was dimly aware of Tseng replacing Rufus in the driver's seat and a moment later, her door opened. She felt a strong arm support her as she rose from the seat and found her footing on the curb. With her vision completely obscured, she could only hope that her guide led well and that she did not fall or react too badly to the unrelenting lights. She stood up tall and leaned against her guide. "There isn't an eye here not focused completely on you and I am jealous of every one of them," Rufus' voice said comfortingly into her ear. "Newsmen with microphones are waiting for us like vultures at the top of the stairs. Shall we have some fun with them?"
As Tifa's eyes adjusted to the light, she saw Elena standing amid a semicircle of reporters. Rufus stopped a few feet back and waited. "The Shinra Corporation and its president appreciate the interest of the media and the public at large. In light of the recent rumors surrounding Rufus Shinra and his first public appearance with Miss Tifa Lockhart, he has agreed to answer a few of your questions. Please respect the privacy of the couple and direct your questions to the president in an orderly fashion." Elena moved to one side and the blinding flashes began anew, this time accompanied by the loud clamor of voices. Tifa allowed Rufus to guide her several steps forward and tightened her grip on his arm in anticipation of the interrogation to come. He held up his free hand for silence and motioned for one reporter near the front to speak but the chaos returned.
How did you two meet? How long have you known Miss Lockhart?
To Tifa's relief, Rufus immediately took control of the question but his response scandalized her. "We met in Midgar, shortly after the Sector Seven tragedy. She inspired my actions after my father's death and helped create the Shinra we know today." The moment Rufus stopped talking, the clamor of reporters resumed.
We heard no rumors of any girlfriend at that time. How did you keep your relationship a secret? Were you romantically involved at that time? What was Miss Lockhart's role in developing Shinra?
He wrapped his arm protectively around her waist. "You could say I kept her under lock and key. Since I used every available resource to pursue her, you must understand that I don't want her to ever get away." He looked down at Tifa and smiled.
Why did you wait so long to make your relationship public? How did you choose this event for your first public appearance together?
"In truth," Rufus looked earnestly at the crowd, "her first appearance was scheduled three years ago but it was cut short by the emergence of Weapon. I am sure Tifa will agree if I say we both believed it to be in the best interest of the planet to focus on rebuilding in the aftermath of the Meteor Crisis."
One voice rose loud over the rest of the crowd. Ms. Lockhart, tell us what it's like to be with the most powerful man in the world."
Tifa broke from Rufus' grip and stepped forward to a crush of microphones. "I don't want to bore you with details but it's safe to say Rufus held me captive in the very first moment we met. I traveled all over the world in his airship and as long as he's with me, he always keeps me on my toes." She gave a wry wink and posed for several photographs before stepping back to shoot Rufus a defiant smile. Two could play this game and she dared him to continue. Rufus put a hand on her shoulder and listened for his next round of questions but Elena sprang in front of them
"Thank you ladies and gentlemen of the press," she said, "that's all the time we have tonight." Reno and Rude stepped forward to create a barrier and cut a path through the crowd. Once again, relentless cameras forced Tifa to rely solely on Rufus' arm to guide her into the quiet safety of the conference hall.
As soon as the double doors closed behind them, Rufus pulled Tifa into a corner of the lobby hidden by shadows. "Captivating?" he hissed in her ear.
"Your inspiration?" she quipped. Her lips curled into a sultry smile but her eyes shot daggers at him.
Rufus pulled her against his chest, "If I knew you could play the press that well, I never would have let you go."
Tifa wrapped her arms around his neck and lowered her voice, "you never did. I escaped three times."
"Twice. The Gold Saucer doesn't count." Rufus took in the scent of her hair and discovered that it intoxicated him every time. "Dio would put me down below if he thought his margins would increase for it."
Tifa pushed against his chest and tried to step back. Rufus dropped his hold but she did not move away. "You shot at me," she said.
"You tried to bludgeon me to death."
"You locked me in a gas chamber."
"You win," he said and before she could counter, he wrapped his arms around her again and kissed her deeply.
"One more question, Rufus?" Tifa asked softly when they had finished, looking up into his eyes. "How did word get out so quickly that I would be with you tonight?"
"It's good publicity for the company and the conference so my guess is Tseng. He always does his job well," said Rufus, "There's still some time before dinner. Would you like a cocktail?"
Rufus leaned against his car in the basement of the Shinra building. He reflected on how closely the end of his evening mirrored its beginning but this time Tifa waited with him, loosely wrapped in his arms. He looked around the silent garage. Somewhere in the shadows, four Turks watched closely but they were discrete and betrayed no sign of their presence. "Stay tonight, Tifa. There's plenty of space here and it doesn't have to be with me. I'm sure Elena won't mind." He held her a little tighter, "I'm not ready to give you back yet."
Tifa looked into his eyes and shook her head. "I'd like that but they need me at home."
Gently Rufus brushed a lock of Tifa's hair behind her ears. "No they don't. You hired Celes to manage for you." Tifa could not think of another counter-argument but Rufus could tell she was still not convinced. "Besides, you were a sensation," he said, "don't you want to read what the society pages say about you in the morning?"
A/N Another short chapter, but I did not want to make you wait any longer than necessary. Can you tell that I love to write dialog? I hope that I did not disappoint.
@> -- > ---