A/N – Sorry for the long delay in posting. I've been stuck and work for two weeks and had internet issues. But alas, back to it and here is the next chapter. Please review and like..
Just before midday, a black Mercedes SUV pulled up into the drop off bay of the Hampton Inn. From the passenger's seat, a man wearing Randolph sunglasses, a charcoal grey Armani business suit and white collared shirt exited; closing the door as the driver sat with the engine running and waiting. The man buttoned his jacket despite the rising temperature of the day and continued walking into the foyer of the hotel, straight past reception and heading to the suites beyond.
The man efficiently checked left to right, counting off the door numbers until he came to the one he sought. He double checked himself, straightening his jacket and rapped his knuckles three times on the door.
The door opened and before him stood a dark haired young woman. In reality they had never met, yet he knew who she was.
"Miss Matthews?" he verified in greeting, his Kentucky drawl evident.
"Yes. You must be Curtis. Please come in," she replied as she opened the door further, holding her hand out in greeting.
"Indeed, I am, and thank you," he replied as he shook her hand firmly yet with a gentleness that was surprising for a man of his physical stature. He entered the room and noticed another woman sitting on the balcony, dressed in a navy figure hugging dress and four inch heels. Her blonde hair was naturally curled and wavy, draped over her shoulders and half way down her back. His breath caught for a moment, ringing his hands together in slight nervousness, amazed that he was finally able to put a person to the face on the phone, and hopefully pull off an emotional miracle for two people. He turned to face Riley.
"Riley, I must thank you for making the effort today; and I do apologise for the cloak and dagger at the moment," Curtis started.
"It's no problem at all. Please have a seat," Riley offered as Curtis unbuttoned his jacket and sat in the study chair while Riley took a similar position on the bed. Curtis leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees as Riley continued.
"From what I understand from Shelby, Farkle doesn't actually know that this is being arranged?" she enquired. Curtis nodded in verification.
"No, he doesn't. Mister Minkus…" he grinned at the name, deciding to use a more intimate name before continuing.
"Well Farkle has been burying himself for at least the last ten months within his work and…" Riley held up her hand.
"I should get Maya in to hear this as well." Riley stood up and tapped on the sliding door, getting Maya's attention. Maya turned and nodded, before opening the door and entering the room. Riley spoke to announce her.
"Doctor Maya Hunter, may I introduce Captain Curtis Wilkins, United States Army, retired. Curtis is Farkle's assistant." Curtis raised his eyebrows appreciatively at Riley's introduction.
Yep she's a reporter all right, he thought as Riley continued.
"Curtis, Maya. Maya, Curtis."
"Pleased to meet you," replied Maya professionally, slipping into her Doctor persona easily making Riley smile with pride. She extended her hand, which Curtis took in a similar fashion as for Riley.
Oh, game face on girl, keep the nerves in control thought Maya.
"I must say before we continue, it is an absolute honour to meet you Doctor. To put a face to the person…to you…is indeed a day." As Curtis completed the shake, Maya withdrew her hand and her nerves grew exponentially.
What on earth has Farkle been saying, or doing for a man who is a former Army officer and a fair few years older than us, and who I don't know to be gushing like a giddy school boy like that. Maya smiled again, her nerves starting to show;
"Yes well, don't believe all that you hear," she quipped, causing Riley to roll her eyes at her.
Curtis laughed, breaking the tension before he continued.
"No doubt. I was just saying to Riley, and also to you Doctor," started Curtis. Maya interrupted,
"Please, its Maya. The only people who call me Doctor usually see the scrubs first."
Curtis nodded
"Fair enough. Maya," he grinned. Riley spoke up
"You were about to tell us about Farkle?"
Curtis sat back down as both Riley and Maya sat on the bed to listen to Curtis as he resumed his previous position.
"Indeed. As Shelby may have explained to you Riley, and as you have just found out Maya, I am Farkle's assistant. I am also his bodyguard and minder. I have been with him practically every day for the last five years and I've grown to become what I would like to consider a good friend to him. I am close enough to him to know that he has been using his work to bury himself from some decent emotional pain."
On hearing the words emotional pain, Maya looked worriedly at Riley before they both looked back at Curtis to continue.
"I understand that you've both seen a recent article in the New York Times. I was there when they did the interviews and its aim was to be a piece about the company, Farkle himself and to give out a little tease about the new energy storage device that he has designed ahead of the product press release on Monday and celebration party in the evening. His drive for this project has been astronomical, and has been going since I joined the company. So, I asked around, especially to his inner circle at the company and it took a while to get anything out of anyone."
Curtis paused to take in a breath and collect his thoughts, then looked directly at Maya.
"His drive to finish and patent this technology is solely because of you."
Both Riley and Maya formed tears in their eyes as they heard his sentence, Riley reaching to hold Maya's hand in support.
"Now, don't take that the wrong way either, and I'll explain why. There were times where I had to literally drag him away from his work, to force him to rest, eat and rejuvenate himself. There were a lot of people who told him he was chasing a pipe dream, that achieving the efficiencies that he has wanting was impossible. But his reply was always the same." Curtis smiled at the memory.
"I'm doing it because of her."
He let out a single chuckle at the thought.
"People thought he was mad. I personally witnessed some of the verbal arguments he would have with his father, especially when the results weren't coming through and the project was bleeding money. He shouldered his father's criticisms the hardest. Auditors would come in and threaten to shut the project down but he fought to keep it going, for it to continue. There were even times where I'd have to ask people to nicely leave when the arguments started to get…well undisciplined we shall call it."
Maya looked at Riley, a look of concern yet wonder on her face.
Undisciplined? Maya could only wonder how that went. Curtis continued with his tale.
"He said to me one night…he was pretty well at the point of tears from what I thought was frustration and exhaustion…he told me that he couldn't disappoint her again." Curtis's eyes glazed in memory as he continued.
"I sat down next to him on the floor of his workshop and I said who? He reached into his pocket and showed me his phone. There was a picture of two smiling, happy young people in the picture. Obviously one person was Farkle when he was younger. Behind him, with arms wrapped around his neck and chest…is you."
Maya closed her eyes and smiled, smiled at a memory that she held so dear. They had been to the movies, having just watched a movie called The Choice. It was a predictable movie, filled with angst and drama and to be honest they hadn't seen much of it, and thankfully there were only a few others in the theatre. They spent the majority of the time, just one looking at the other, holding each other's hand, enjoying the sensation of the unspoken step they had taken in their relationship and the electric sensation that they now felt between each other. When they did turn their attention to the movie, Maya would rest her head on Farkle's shoulder, taking in the comfort he afforded. Once they left the theatre, they walked hand in hand, smiling as they walked into a small coffee shop Midtown. They went to sit down, Farkle pulling out a chair for Maya to sit on, Maya wordlessly allowing him to. As she sat, she looked up at him, reached out with her hand, touching the side of his face. Farkle stopped, enjoying the sensation of the intimate touch and allowing the unspoken words to come.
Maya reached into her handbag and pulled her phone out, activating the screen. She showed Curtis, who's eyes grew wide, before she showed Riley the wallpaper.
"Is that the same picture?" whispered Riley to both Maya and Curtis, her heart faltering. Curtis nodded sagely as Maya wiped another tear from her face.
"Yes…yes, it is," he admitted quietly. They both looked at Maya, feeling for the emotions that were flowing through her, before she cleared her throat to speak.
"We went to a theatre down on West Forty Third Street. An AMC I think. It was old school, quaint. Really nice." Maya took her phone back from Riley before she continued.
"After the movie, we went down to the West Bank Café down towards the Lincoln Tunnel. That's where the photo was taken…" She paused before she finished.
"That was the night that everything changed, it was the first night of us…"
No one spoke for a moment, reflecting on what was becoming more and more obvious to the small group. Curtis spoke up.
"I have a plan."