Chapter 4
The next day Elijah was woken up by Finn on the phone. Luckily the previous day, the villa was empty when Elijah returned from his ruined date so he hadn't told anyone about it yet.
"Good morning brother. I'm sure your date went spectacular but just a reminder; the Telecom Satellite will be orbiting over Richmond tonight. I would also like to add that our project status is copasetic"
"Good morning to you too Finn. Thanks for letting me know"
After a hearty breakfast and a shower Elijah sat in his office to block the sounds that a strangely angry Angela was making and tried calling Bella. She wasn't picking his calls. Thinking that maybe she had picked the faceless way of emails Elijah tried his computer. He had one personal email but it wasn't from Bella
"Hi! You seem like the kind of guy who really knows how to treat a lady. Lt's meet up at Mystic Mall and Plaza at 8 pm. I'm sure you'll show me a wonderful time. I just love gifts. Lauren"
"What the... Wow, Klaus wasn't kidding about that dating service. Well, judging from the picture this Lauren looks pretty fine. I'd rather be figuring things out with Bella, but it seems like she's giving me the cold shoulder, but hey. Her loss if she's ignoring me over a misunderstanding"
With that pep talk Elijah decided he'd meet this Lauren girl. Right outside his office a frame broke but he paid it no mind. He was sure Angela would pick up after herself.
He also missed the sarcastic retort coming from her lips as he told her to set the alarm before she left because he might be back late.
"Who picks the mall for a first date? What are we teenagers?"
Elijah asked himself as he entered the rather large shopping area. A pretty blond young woman was smiling at him sultry from her perch against a light pole. He had to bite down on his bottom lip to ignore the automatic retort about hookers and lightpoles Kol would make.
"Are you Lauren?"
"I sure am. Hello Elijah. You know, I love a man who knows how to use his starch. That outfit must have made a lot of noise in the dryer"
Her startlingly dark black eyes traveled up and down his frame. Confused Elijah did the same. He had picked a fairly simple suit for the occasion but it wasn't too different from what he wore at the office daily
"Ummmm thanks. I think"
"Hey, while we're here, do you mind if I try some clothes on?"
"Sure, we're already at the mall. Why not?"
The two made their way to the first floor were the clothing stores were.
"Why don't you tell me about yourself?"
"I really like children, Elijah. How about you? I think our kids would be very cute. I'll let you think it over"
With a smile that could make a saint commit a sin, Lauren slipped into a booth and began calling out to a sales girl that seemed to know her by name various dresses. He didn't have to look at the price tags to know they were three digited
"This girl is just after my money. I need a way to end this date, now! As Finn would say, 'Pecunia ex Machina, whatever that means"
He thought about just leaving her try on dressed and make a run for it but even if Mystic Forks was a wealthy little town, it still was a small town. Word of it would go out and it would make prime gossip he didn't need.
Luckily at that moment, Elijah caught sight of one of his golfing buddies coming into the same clothing store. Tyler Lockwood, major player in a law firm and future mayor.
He was also the one and only person outside the Mikaelson family that loved to spend money as if they were made out of thin air. Elijah smirked to himself as he called the man over. If he couldn't get rid of Lauren he'd pass her on to another victim.
"Tyler, how are you?"
"Same ole same ole. And you? Who's this fine young woman?"
"Tyler I'd like you to meet my new friend Lauren. Lauren this is my good friend Tyler. He's a lawyer"
As predicted the two hit it off and Elijah was free of the clutches of Lauren.
"Dating sucks"
