Shades of Gray – by Darlin
Part Three
xox
Blood red. He knew that's the color he was when he went to work the next day. No one would take his route either. They'd all heard horror stories from the other drivers. The only one that would, the big muscled guy with a scar over one eyebrow who claimed to look like some movie star slash singer slash model who Logan could care less about said he was tired of showing her his chest when she wouldn't show him hers. So then she was crazy Logan decided, asking anyone off the street to show her their chest. Somehow that made him angry and worse than that, slightly jealous. When she'd asked him to raise his shirt he'd thought she was crazy but secretly he'd felt she liked him plus he lifted weights, his chest was fifty inches give or take a few, massive and well developed how could she not like that?
Take the package in – how many packages did they get a week anyway? This was getting ridiculous. Just walk in, put it down – What things did a modeling agency need anyway? Maybe he could find some way to get the people who delivered packages to the agency to use another service? Back out slowly. Maybe he could forge her signature, couldn't be that hard, a few squiggly lines totally illegible ought to do it. If he could get out without being seen . . . He couldn't believe he was thinking like this. Imprisoned for forgery, that's all he needed. This woman was going to be the death of him.
Nevertheless he was almost out the door before she looked up. Her friend looked up too, the same woman from the night the little bald guy tried to defend them. She cocked her head a little as she stared at him, looking him up and down with appraising eyes. The rude one just stared, mouth wide open – looking sexy. Damn her.
"You . . . um . . . you . . ."
Oh, this was all he needed. He was now reduced to sputtering like an incoherent fool.
"My, you're a ballsy one aren't you?" Lilandra said with a shrewd look.
That or stupid, Logan and Ororo both thought.
"Or you're stupid," Lilandra added.
"I . . . you need to sign."
Don't hang your head bub, he told himself and immediately lifted his head to stare the lady in the eye. He couldn't look at Ororo.
"I hear you attacked Ororo again last night."
"What? No!"
"That's right there will be no more of that! I've taken the liberty to call in a few favors with a friend who's a lawyer, a very competent lawyer I might add, and Matt assures me that he can obtain a temporary restraining order immediately under the circumstances and since we know where you work you can expect to receive your summons for the hearing within ten days is that understood?"
"Look, ma'am . . ."
"Ma'am? Ma'am! Did he just call me ma'am?"
"Lilandra please." Ororo moaned.
"Do I look like somebody's mother?"
"Look, lady, Miss, I didn't mean anything! I was just trying to be polite."
"A polite stalker, indeed! Somehow I find that disturbing. Ma'am, may I please follow you home? No, sir I think you were not trying to be polite! Ororo, did you once hear him ask you politely could he follow you home and then enter your abode without your permission? No," she said when Ororo, face buried in her hands, shook her head, "I thought not!"
"Look, I don't want any trouble all you have to do is sign this and I can go."
With her elbows on her desk Ororo peeked out through the lattice of fingers. Damn him. He was too good looking even now when he looked scared to death. A rat finally trapped.
"What is your name, sir? Oh, no you don't! Remove your hand from your name tag this instant!"
Logan had instinctively covered his name tag and was looking around thinking to make a quick escape when the door to the street opened.
"Ororo, did FOX return my call yet?" Charles asked as he entered. He tossed his hat in the direction of the hat rack but it sailed past missing it altogether. "A fellow could use telekinesis," he muttered as he stooped to pick it up.
"Charles! You've saved us! Here! Here is the villain that has been stalking our Ororo!"
"What? You! Oh dear."
If Logan had thought he'd turned two different shades of red earlier this morning it was nothing compared to Charles who turned beet red and then quickly lost all color altogether turning so ghastly white he looked ill.
"I'm out of here," Logan muttered as he shoved past Charles.
"Now see here . . .!" Charles cried, catching hold of Ororo's desk as he leaned as far away from Logan as he could, and then when Logan was safely out the door he shook his fist in the air and bellowed, "That's it, run!" He straightened up and adjusted his tie, swallowed once, twice, cleared his throat and then gave the women a confident nod. "Had he stayed a moment longer I would have thrashed him royally!"
"That's right, Charles dear," Lilandra said.
"Humph! He won't be back now," Charles said with an assertive nod.
"Because your commanding, take charge attitude totally terrified him," Lilandra said dryly. "Sit down, Charles you don't look well."
"It's a hot day – hot! Humid and hot. The air's so thick. I can hardly breathe. Just need a moment to catch my breath. Why if he hadn't left so quickly and I wasn't suffering from heat exhaustion I would have pummeled him within an inch of his life."
"There, there dear. Sit down, Ororo get some water for our hero."
"Water! No, no, I just need to catch my breath. Give me a moment and I'll go after the brigand!"
"Brigand eh?"
"But . . . um . . . a cool bottle of water would be welcomed, Ororo," Charles said with a hopeful look at his secretary.
"We really must look into doing a reality show with Ororo don't you think Charles? We could reenact everything, all of what's happened so far. 'Our Ororo' sounds catchy don't you think?"
Ororo buried her face in her hands again.
xox
Even though he knew he shouldn't he couldn't help himself. It might be the last time he could see her. He just wanted to watch her. He was beginning to feel incredibly very much like a stalker. He wondered if there was a stalker manual. He should read it, could save him a lot of misery. How to avoid being caught. If caught, how to avoid being sprayed with pepper spray, if caught by the police and being perfectly innocent how to lie your way out of prison.
It was uncanny but sure enough that night she showed up at the bar he'd seen her at before. The three of them. The older lady laughing and talking while Ororo looked around the bar hesitantly. He knew she was looking for him but he was well hidden. The bald guy looked pale and indignant. He'd like to wipe that indignant look off his face.
It was time to rectify all the wrongs that had been committed, hers as well as his. He fully expected an apology from her after he explained everything. And this was the place to do settle matters. She couldn't very well attack him here and everyone would see he wasn't trying to attack her. Well, except the two idiots with her.
Maybe after he'd straightened this mess up he'd be free of her and could live in peace. Maybe he'd even be able to look at other women and not compare them to this crazy female. And maybe he'd be able to actually get another woman, someone who would appreciate that he didn't want them walking home alone, just wanted her to be safe even if it was border line stalkerish. Was that a word? He'd have to look that up he decided.
xox
Working for a fledging model company had a lot of benefits. Besides the beautiful people that came in and out, sans the delivery guys, she worked for fairly understanding bosses. Charles liked her well enough and Lilandra, though never quite chummy with her, seemed to find her amusing. Droll was the word she used. She was paid well and she didn't mind doing the grunt work or the long hours but lately her life on display as if it were for her bosses' entertainment was becoming very annoying.
"The Brigand and the Model," Lilandra laughed after taking a long sip of her martini.
"A Model and her Stalker would sound better," Charles said in a huff.
"But brigand sounds so full of romance. What do you think, Ororo?"
"Hmm, Lilandra, consider this for a moment, we can't have the word stalker in the title, wouldn't work," Charles said before Ororo could reply. "We want them to be surprised by the stalker, it's not as if we could plan having Ororo stalked and of course we want it to be as natural as possible so having stalker in the title wouldn't do at all."
"You know I hadn't thought of that, how right you are dear I totally agree, which means the Brigand and the Model is out but what else can we call it? It must be catchy, something to capture the attention of the very impatient demographic group we're trying to reach. What do you think, Ororo?"
"I think I need another drink."
"Drinks!" Lilandra called out. "More drinks garson!"
"Garson?
"She means gascon and no she most certainly does not need more drinks," Charles said, waving off the bartender.
"You, sir are an incorrigible, awful, awful man," Lilandra said.
"I'm sober and you are?"
"Drunk. Drunk as a skunk my dear Charles.'
"Sailor."
"Where?"
"Drunk as a sailor isn't it?"
"Right. That too."
"Well said. You do that so well."
"What?"
"Achieve drunkenness so quickly."
"It's a talent."
"Admirable."
"Ahem . . . excuse me."
"Oh, Charles it's him!"
"Him? Oh my! Wh – what do you want? I'll have you know this is a public place so there'll be no foolishness here!"
"I just want to explain a few things that's all," Logan said and he held out his hand in a simple gesture of peace.
But Charles, mistaking the extended hand's purpose, ducked to the side and brought his hands up over his head in alarm as if he thought he was going to be struck.
"I'm not here to fight with you I just want to talk. What's wrong with you people?"
"Very well. I will have you know I am a black belt in Karate."
"Oh? Black belt in Karate, eh? So, what style?" Logan asked, amused.
"Style? Oh, many. I've studied extensively in various Asian countries so should you try anything you have been duly warned. I can kill a man in one move."
"The ol' pull the heart out through the rib cage trick, eh? I learned that trick in Madripoor."
Charles paled considerably.
"You bully, leave my Charles alone! You've gone and scared him, my poor wittle baby," Lilandra said.
"Look, it's a public place. I'm not going to try anything, Miss. Can we just talk, the two of us?" Logan asked, turning to Ororo and ignoring Lilandra and Charles.
"No! Ororo will not go off into some dark corner to chat with her stalker. Do not think I have forgotten my threat! A restraining order has been issued and you sir had better leave now!"
His mouth fell. He looked more dejected than surprised and certainly not the threatening stalker they believed him to be. She felt bad for him. She needed help. Who in their right mind could feel for the man who kept attacking you?
"You heard Lilandra, now get out. And because I'm such a fair person I'll give you a running start before I call the police," Charles said.
"No, wait," Ororo interjected. "Don't call the police. I'm willing to listen to what you have to say."
Instinctively Logan took Ororo by the arm to lead her away. Of course he wasn't thinking and he knew he'd committed a fatal error as soon as his hand connected with her smooth skin. They both froze; his hand still on her arm. Only when she shivered did he let her go. He knew what was going to happen next.
"Call the police," he said throwing his arms up prepared to face his punishment. Punishment for a major case of stupidity!
He'd actually touched her. God, help him but she felt so soft. He wanted to touch her again even knowing he'd be spending a night in jail if he did. What's more, he knew she wanted to touch him too, the way she'd shivered. He couldn't remember the last time a woman had shivered at his touch. They stood together, very close, almost leaning towards each other, speechless but somehow connecting. It was a rush, for both of them, but neither of them quite understood it.
"An arresting development," Lilandra noted. "The chemistry between the two of you is so hot I'm hot. Do you have any acting experience sir?"
"Lilandra! Will you please let us alone for one minute?"
"If you insist, dear but if all he needs is a minute he's not worth our time."
"Look lady I . . ." he faltered as he felt warm fingers caress his arm. It felt like a caress though all Ororo had done was touch him as he had her.
"Over here," she directed, leading him to the end of the bar nearest the exit.
Always keep your back to the wall and the exit close she thought as she did just that.
"So, we're finally alone," Logan said. His smile died when she gave him an alarmed look.
"And we're in a room full of witnesses!" she said.
"Lady I didn't mean anything like whatever you're thinking, I just want to clear this whole thing up. I know it looks bad but you gotta understand it wasn't anything like it looked."
"It looked like you were following me. Were you?"
"No. Well, yes but . . ."
"It looked like you were trying to get into my apartment. Were you?"
"No! I was just thinking about knocking and I started to – okay, I did knock but then I realized how it looked, me following you home and knocking on your door . . ."
"Not such a good idea, huh?"
"Sister, it was a mistake of a lifetime but look, I made a mistake like any other human – I'm here to apologize."
"Why were you following me?"
"You're beautiful," he said, the words tumbling out before he could stop them.
Her face screwed up as she considered this then quickly discarded the compliment but she looked no less beautiful to him. He wanted to kiss her. She wanted him not to be the stalker he appeared to be.
"What were you going to do if I had let you in?" she asked, her fingers crossed behind her back hoping against hope despite knowing how foolish she was being.
"I don't know – just say hello and ask for your number I guess. I mean, I know it was stupid that's why I didn't knock, I mean again . . . um, any louder. I was going to leave – really – but you called the cops on me before I could get out of there."
"What did you expect?"
"I sure didn't expect that."
"I didn't expect to be followed and way laid by you."
"I didn't – all right lady. I made a fool out of myself cause I couldn't stop thinking about you I admit it but you don't have to worry about me any more, I'm finished. You treated me like any working stiff when I first saw you, you had no manners then and you barely got any now. You're just what I thought you were – a bitch."
A gasp left her lips and then she stepped back and threw her fist hard – as hard as she could in fact. When the police came this time she was the one put in handcuffs and stuffed inside the back of a squad car while they tried to sort things out. He was gone before they got there however, bloody nose and all.
gascon - waiter
xox
Things weren't really working out for the X agency. Ororo's hand was bruised so badly she could barely type. Charles was not very understanding. A new business needed a reliable secretary/receptionist/assistant. Lilandra convinced him not to fire her. She was still intent on getting Ororo to do the reality show. Since America already had a top model show she felt they needed something with an edge.
It had been relatively easy to convince the police officer's that the instigator of the little altercation wasn't Ororo but the person they were in the process of getting a restraining order for though Lilandra hadn't actually asked her lawyer to do anything yet – the potential good material for the show was too appealing – but no need to tell the police she decided. It helped that the second police officer that arrived on the scene was the same female, C. Jones her name tag read, who had suggested getting the restraint in the first place.
It wasn't a good feeling being handcuffed. She didn't understand why they had to. She thought it was because she was a person of color, to put it nicely. She was sure it had nothing to do with the blood running down her hand and the uncooperative manner she'd greeted the police.
The nerve of that stalker. He'd called her the b word. Her! Ororo Munroe. She'd tried hard to be understanding but no he just had to go off on her. She'd never once treated him less than nice, well except for the beatings and the pepper spray but he'd asked for that. She'd been fair and polite enough all things considered. She hadn't pressed charges had she? She wasn't even the one who sought the restraining order though she was all for it now.
Even though he'd said he was through with her she made a note to stock up on pepper spray before she went home.