TCOT Timid Butler

Chapter 3

Paul picked her up from her apartment, she answered the door with the smile. He pursed his lips letting out a "Mhmm mmhm helloo Beautiful,"he drew it out in a long sentence. She grinned at him and she stood aside to let him in.

"Very smooth," she commented appreciatively, her eyes running up and down the long length of him, her eyes took in his tuxedo,"Aren't I the lucky one?" this in her smokey voice made him roll his eyes upwards.

He mock groaned, "Lady, you have way to innocent a face to be so dangerous."

He was rewarded with her rich chuckle.

"Fix yourself a drink, I'm nearly ready."

"You look ready." Paul commented. Her dress was strapless, fitted bodice, a rich dark red satin, underneath black tulle, flared enough for dancing.

He poured them both a drink, adding soda to hers and ice to his.

"Are you going to tell me where we are going now?" he asked, leaning against her kitchen door.

"The invitation is on the table in the kitchen," she called out from her bedroom. He picked it up and read it "Wow!" he wandered down the hall and stood in her doorway, while she put the last touches of makeup on.

"You must have made an impression on him," he said looking at her, only a hint of color on her cheeks gave away anything as she concentrated on her lipstick.

"I am sure Mr Gabriel can't wait to let go of those spritely young fillies and get his hands on me."

"Aw Della, you have half the legal world panting after you, age has nothing to do with it. You have class and beauty," he handed her her drink and toasted her, "Plus your gutsy and fun to boot," they clinked glasses, she smiled at his compliment.

"He probably needs some chaperones for all those young girls running around throwing themselves at him," She told him. "In the meantime we get to dance the night away."

"And,"Paul added, "he is providing the food and the drink and as I hear it these Hollywood types don't like to eat."

"So?"

"So there will be plenty of food for me to eat my way through."

"I invited you because you can dance,"she said laughed, "Not to eat your way to Christmas."

"I thought you invited me because Perry turned you down," he commented slyly. She smiled mischievously and tapped the invite, "Its a Salsa evening, Perry doesn't Salsa."

He laughed, "Very well done Miss Street, I guess you have been hanging around with the boss too long, but to pull a swifty like that on him and he doesn't even know." He waggled his finger at her.

"I think you are being unfair Paul, I didn't book his flights until after I asked him. How was I to know he was out of town."

For a moment she thought he was going to comment on the two of them but he obviously thought better of it. He grinned at her instead and asked "So what was your back up plan?"

"I was going to tell him it was a Salsa party. I knew you were free."

"And how did you know that?"

"Because Margo cleared your diary for me."

"You girls are as thick as thieves."

"Us girls have learned to stick together," Della pointed out.

She was having so much fun, the music was superb, plenty of dancing partners. They had met so many new people. Paul had lead her upstairs in search of food, he had spotted it and left her leaning by the rail watching the dancers and the band down below. She felt a warmth touch her forearm and turned expecting Paul. She smiled at the pleasant surprise, it was Mr Gabriel leaning next to her, he glanced at her. "Miss Street I think you've lost the star struck edge," he commented sadly, "you have so many famous rich men in your life?"

She chuckled, "Oh a few." She let him kiss her hand.

"You are wondering why I invited you?"

"Some, but I have had so much fun, now I don't think I really care." She looked into his eyes, "As long as you weren't motivated to try and get to my boss through me," she qualified honestly. "Besides I simply love Salsa dancing."

He laughed, her frankness was refreshing, she was refreshing. He had let his head be turned for so long by the bright shiny young things that he had possibly given up some things that were worth keeping. Vaughan had warned him about wallowing in the shallowness of the movie business.

"No, it wasn't because of your boss, not really, its because you are brave, I like brave women."

"Brave why would you say that?"

He took a sip, as if he had lost the direction of his thought. His eyes ran over the small crowd. He was not to be hurried.

"Like me, you are an observer of people," he began.

"How would you know what I am?" Della asked, trying to ignore the spark she felt that he been paying enough attention to her to be able to comment.

"I was curious about your friend Mr Mason, why he would come to see my friend Vaughan." He was watching her now and not trying to hide it, "I saw him look at you when Vaughan spoke and you gave him an almost undetectable nod. I am much more observant than I appear. I don't need to make sense of them, I find that if I its important sense will come of its own accord. You are too though good at details, observation and curiosity." he realised he had started to ramble and got back on track."Tell me what you think Vaughn's number one quality is?"

"To you you mean?" she clarified. He nodded.

"Oh I don't know," she was wondering when Paul was coming back but saw him chatting up a red head. "His pretty face, " she said, leaning back from the railing but looking out into the crowd. His eyes crinkled into a smile, she had a sharp tongue this one, but he shook his head in mock seriousness.

"Close but no it is truthful nature, for some reason he can not lie to me. He understands loyalty also."

"How did he ..." she stopped, Perry had coached her enough to not give away information like that. He smiled as if he could read her thoughts.

"How did he know you were there?" he guessed her thought, touched her chin, she felt a shiver, but she did not feel uncomfortable, she suspected that she should.

"Because you were brave, he recognized your perfume only when he smelt it a second time. He wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't have brought your boss up to see him." He leant in to her and breathed in through his nose,"it is singularly intoxicating."

"You don't know its the same," she said dropping any pretension that she had not overhead that conversation.

"I do, its Diorissimo" he said, she was impressed, she should have been apprehensive he was right. Although she correctly interpreted his expression of 'expensive for a secretary.' She ignored that look, she was used to ignoring that look.

He signaled for two more champagnes and handed her one.

"So brave because you overheard two men viscously threaten each other, one a wealthy respected producer the other a dressed up thug. Yet you and your friends come and hold your hands out to a former two bit thug."

She thought about, it wasn't just her though, it had been the three of them that had decided, they just hadn't discussed it, had just known.

"Your not wrong though, he has a temper, and he did stupid things when he was younger, but if he made angry threats they were only empty threats," Gabriel continued.

"You've known him for a long time."

"Yes, since I was eight, when my parents moved to America."

"Your accent is still very strong." she observed.

"I returned to Italy when I was for a number of years, but Vaughan was my first American friend, he looked after me on the streets, he does a very good Italian accent."

"I'm still not sure I get the connection." she did but she was delaying him leaving her now. Someone else might refer to it as flirting.

"He told me what he had said to Maynard, but it was only after you stopped by that he said he had smelt your perfume before, you see I've trained him to report stuff to me. I put two and two together after your Mr Masons chat."

"I was not in danger," she said, not while Perry was with her, still not really understanding why he thought her brave.

"No, no you weren't but he would never have known you overheard that conversation if you hadn't have come up, it was only through my questions that he put that together."

He toasted her, "Brave because you chose to believe in someone who has less influence and who I could, if my press is correct,"drop like a hot potato" at the hint of scandal."

"Oh I don't think you would drop him like a hot potato."

"Why is that?" he asked her.

"I am beginning to suspect Mr Gabriel that you might be a little less shallow than your press implies."

"I think we are going to get on just fine," Gabriel said. This time when he smiled it reached his big brown eyes, "Can I interest you in dance Miss Street,"

"Yes please," she said with a flirty grin. She didn't count them, but she knew when Paul took her home that she had danced a great many of the dances that remained with the charming Aston Gabriel, who proved to be a superb Salsa partner. Paul was wrapped up in a redhead starlet and gave Della the full run down of her attributes on their way home. Dawn couldn't be far off.

The rest of the weekend she spent replaying that evening over and over and even went so far as to go and buy some new Salsa records. Sunday she ran around catching up on all her chores before the week ahead. Her phone rang, she reached behind her clock, to flick on the lamp. It was past twelve Sunday night, she had been sound asleep, but the phone could penetrate her deepest dreams.

"Hello?" she asked gravelly voiced into the phone.

"Della." his voice was soft almost a whisper. She came immediately awake and sat up, switching on her bedside lamp. "Perry whats wrong?" her heart pumping at a million miles an hour.

"Oh sorry, I know its late, nothing, I just wanted...'to hear your voice he thought, but some how let worse words slip out, "to know what you were wearing to bed. " he said in a teasing tone, it was only half a lie, he hadn't meant to say it, had just been trying not to say that he loved her.

"I am wearing my flannelette" she responded, sleepy enough to answer the question, but then a little bit angry at the panic he had just caused in her. He heard it in her tone and sighed.

"I'm sorry Della. I just had to hear a friendly voice."

"That bad huh," her tone softened.

"Family eh." he cleared his throat, "did you have fun on Friday?"

"Yes." she yawned.

"I'm sorry Della I'll let you get back to sleep" he said a sadness in his tone that tugged at her heart.

"Perry ..."

"Yes."

"I didn't tell you the complete truth?"

"When?"

"When I said I was wearing flannels, it wasn't quite true, I am wrapped in flannelette sheets but I'm in a cream satin nighty. Goodnight." She hung up, her face burning that she had just said that. On the other end of the phone he looked at the dead receiver still chuckling appreciatively to himself. Behind him in the shadows his brother retreated into the other room. He put the kettle on and waited for him.

In her bed Della had her face pressed into the pillow she could feel how hot she was, how flushed her face was, knew it would be completely red. Why had she said that to him, why, after she had been so adamant about their not being together and then she let out a flirty statement like that, worse than flirty, she thought. It was not her way. How was she going to face him. But the embarrassment faded at the memory or his rich warm tones, his chuckle as she hung up on him, she felt warmth flood other parts of her body and groaned. She was going to find it difficult to get back to sleep now. The embarrassment she would deal with later.

"Bit late for a phone call isn't it?" his brother accused him. Perry looked at him nearly telling him that the hour was never too late for him to call her, but he did not want to start that fight again.

"I am sorry I didn't mean to wake you," he said instead.

"You didn't wake me Perry, I am sorry for saying what I said earlier, it is not my place, and what I just said. It is not my reputation I worry about though, I mean, " he rubbed from his nose to his lips, the exact same gesture that Perry used.

"I am expressing this badly, if you are both happy with how you are then its no body else's business not mine, not Emma's, we care about you, she is ... I don't understand why you don't marry her is all, she loves you, even I can tell that."

"Sebastian she won't marry me." He must have been tired to admit that to someone else.

"You've asked her?" he was surprised at that. Surprised at the great Perry Mason loosing it over one woman had been angry at him because he imagined he'd never asked her.

"Many times. We..., we did nearly get personal, but, it didn't last. She ..." Perry stopped admitting that was way to painful, he couldn't admit the truth.

"I am sorry Perry." Sebastian said as he readjusted his opinion of his brother. Perry looked at him surprised to see genuine sympathy in his eye.

"I don't know what I would have done if Emma hadn't have married me."

"Is that all? no lecture."

"Maybe a small one, Emma would never, not for a second, think my work is more important than her, not for a second."

Perry watched him, his eyes narrowed. But Sebastian patted him on the shoulder. "I'll see you in the morning."

Perry had got little sleep, but he looked no worse for wear as he walked into his brother's kitchen.

"I can't get you to change your mind Perry?" Sebastian asked.

"No, I am not going to change my mind."

"Can we agree to disagree on this Perry I don't want it putting wedge between us, we see each other little enough as it is. I'll have a split drawn up." This was a massive concession on the part of his brother, and Perry acknowledged it with a nod of agreement.

"Okay Seb." he smiled at his brother. "We will agree to disagree."

"And why don't you bring Della out next time you come, its been awhile since we saw you both."

"We'll see what we can do," he replied.

Perry was on the plane back, the newspaper tucked in the pouch hadn't been read. He pulled it out, it was a section of saturday's paper he opened it up. His breath faltered as he saw her face, it was in the entertainment page, she was laughing, Paul had her by the arm, the caption though was slightly more incriminating, "Which LA attorney's team were out playing with movie stars while the boss was out of town?" The story was less so, a private party that Della and Paul had attended along with a hundred other people, a salsa night of all things.

He had missed her, his brothers words had hit a sore spot, and then this he shoved it back into the pouch angrily. He was being unreasonable, he knew that, she had asked him first after all, she just hadn't said what for. It didn't help knowing that he would have turned her down if he hadn't have been busy, Salsa was not his style.

It was Monday evening before he got back to the office. She was in the office still, he could hear her typewriter clicking at a hundred miles an hour. He had forgotten about his midnight call and when he walked through with a brief hello, he imagined the flush on her face was related to the newspaper article. She was taken back by his curt manner, but followed him through with his messages.

He was distracted and paid her little attention. Not unusual if he was preoccupied, it kept her on her toes, made her make sure that she was providing the support that he needed. Made her sure about the dynamics of their relationship. She gave him a run down of the days events and asked if he needed anything, otherwise she would call it a day. He barely looked at her , no there was nothing he needed, nothing she needed to stay back for. She nearly asked him what was wrong, but sensed he was brooding deeply and decided to let it be.

By the time he thought he should ask her out to dinner she had already cleared out, and he remembered she had stuck her head in and said 'goodnight' which he had ignored. It was well past nine o clock. His brothers comments drifted in and out of his thoughts like a niggling toothache.

They never spoke of his phone call, nor of his query, nor her reply. It went the way of numerous looks, touches, comments and even kisses, into the bin of 'it didn't happen' and they got on with their lives. He never asked her for details about the party, but she knew he's seen the article it had been on his desk.

For Della, caught up in a glamourous world of late dinners and shows, her focus on her work shifted slightly, it was no longer the only thing in her life. Paul had started dating the redheaded starlet he had met on the night of the Salsa party and they were regularly invited out in Gabriel's entourage. Late dinners, and dances, the times the show people kept seemed to somehow work well with the late nights that Della and Paul were used to working. They invited Perry a couple of times, but he refused, he didn't tell them to stop so they didn't.

Della couldn't believe how alive it made her feel, she knew she should be incredibly tired, but she had long learnt to get by on four and five hours sleep, and these people with there smarmy charm were fun. Vaughan adored her, and Aston was even more charming the more she got to know him. His crew were mostly his friends from what they called the old days, his inner circle, a circle he protected ferociously. She realised that they had gained entry to that inner circle because of their attempt to protect Vaughan. And here he was staring at her with those dreamy brown eyes as she looked out over the City.

"I've had a wonderful evening, thank you." she said,"thank you again."

"It doesn't have to end Della," he said shyly. She turned to look at him unconvinced by this show of nervousness.

"I think I am a bit old for you Mr Gabriel," she replied, not pretending to miss the connotations of his statement.

"You are younger than me Miss Street," he pointed out reasonably, "And we get a long just fine, you make me feel like a man," he grinned. "I mean you don't see a movie star when you look at me, its like we have known each other for ever."

"I think I should go," she said. But he stopped her with the lightest touch of his finger on her forearm, "I have never met anyone like you." he said, "How could I not be completely smitten with you, " he leant in gently and kissed her, she was blushing, he was hardly unattractive himself.

"It wouldn't be appropriate." she murmured, not sure if she was speaking to him or herself. He laughed at her, "Because of your job you mean?"

She nodded, he teased her with his next words.

"I can be very discreet you know, no one would ever suspect, you are much to chic to be hollywood and I am ..."

"A playboy..." she suggested.

"I simply adore you Miss Street, you and your wicked tongue," he kissed her again, "Come I will have Butler take you home, before you tell me no."

He walked her to the door, Butler had gone to get the car, "You know Della, I did not suggest an undercover affair to protect my reputation, I would be proud to have you on my arm for all the world to see. If you chose." She watched him speaking, he had such a sexy voice, he could read out a recipe and it would be to die for,

"I like having you around," he continued, Butler returned and whatever Aston was going to say he didn't.