Chapter 4: A Date
Author's Note: I can't believe this story was added to a community I feel so honored and thank you very much!
Stepping inside the office, Lilith gave me a look. "Ya seem different." Being around me more made her used to using her normal voice.
"Lousy ghost kid messed up my hair." I muttered with a large cup of black coffee. Taking a burning swig, I walked behind the desk towards my seat. Sitting down my whole back cracked disagreeing with life with me.
Lilith, Ms. Rusebag I mean, just kept typing at her computer. She clicked a button and several papers came spewing out of the printer. "Go give those to Vlad."
Groaning, I put my coffee down to grab all the papers to slug my way to the Mayor. Opening the door, I saw Vlad laying his head down. Slamming the papers on his desk made him jump and go in a fighting stanza.
"Keep your cool Mayor Masters, they're just papers." I rolled my eyes. For a tough guy, he sure is jumpy.
"Oh Miss. Velia, you seem different." He sat back down smoothing his hair.
"It's just the hair." I grumbled while walking away.
"Hold on a second." He spoke up. "Is Ms. Rusebag still angry with me?" He asked.
"Considering the fact that she called you Vlad and not 'The Mayor,'" I started. "yeah, she is." I walked out before I felt like committing a crime.
Walking towards my small desk next to Lilith, I noticed that her mug was full. Grabbing my cup, it was empty. "Really?" I asked glaring at the lady.
"I need my caffeine." She took a sip from her hell spawned mug.
Grumbling I walked towards the door. "I'm going to get more coffee."
"Good, bring me one." She said back. Before I could say anything nasty she added. "I also need to talk to you about something later. Top secret."
Shaking my head, I left to get a mega espresso and the biggest cup of coffee I could find.
Chugging a super energy drink, I held a paper bag with two coffees. Throwing the empty container in a trashcan, I noticed Irene being hit on by some guy.
"So you from around?" He tried to smooth her with his flexing muscles. Irene just glared at the guy.
"You don't talk much beautiful, now do you?" He smiled like a complete idiot. Irene just rolled her eyes and flipped the guy on his back.
"You go girl." I said pumping my fist in the air.
Turning around, Irene smiled. "What're you doing here?"
"Getting some coffee then heading off for work." I shrugged. "What are you doing here?"
"Thought I saw ghost head through here, well see you later." She walked off towards her new bike.
The guy she flipped over just flipped her off. So I poured my coffee on his head and ran for it.
Going inside the office I laughed as I closed the door behind me. The guy was banging on the door until Skulker scared him off. He was probably finishing talking to Vlad, or coming in to talk to him.
Unlocking the door, I noticed Ms. Rusebag looking at me with a brow quirked up.
"I'm not even gonna ask." She went back to whatever she was doing.
Placing her coffee next to her, she took a good whiff. "That reminds me, you know your weird obsession with the mayor?"
I nodded, smirking with a blush.
"Well," She started off. "I think we should take your obsession to our advantage." She grabbed the coffee and poured it in her mug. "You could try and seduce Vlad to stop him from ruining couples night."
I just laughed. "You mean to your advantage. I don't really have a thing for Vlad, I just want to see him get laid." I mean really, who would in my age want to be in bed with an old guy? Except sugar daddy finding girls.
"Stop leading me into false trails honey." Ms. Rusebag glared at me. "I thought I had a full proof plan here."
I rolled my eyes. "Ok, I'll go with your plan, just don't expect me to sleep with him."
"Really sugar?" She looked at me with puppy eyes. "You'll do that for lil ol' me?"
"Sure why not?" I shrugged. "It might be fun."
"Ok, phase one." She motioned me to get close. "I need you to ask Vlad to be his date for tonight's 'meeting'." She whispered in my ear. "Cause he'll need one to get in." She added when she saw my confused face.
"Isn't he going to hire someone to be his date?" I asked.
"Nah, he usually asks me to be his date, but since I'm with you know who." She twirled a brown strand of hair.
"Got it." I winked and double gunned her.
"Now don't just stand there, go ask him now." She hissed.
"What about phase two?" I asked.
Ms. Rusebag just winked at me, and shooed me into Vlad's office.
Smiling I walked into the office, where Vlad and Skulker were talking.
"You know, I could have been Ms. Rusebag." I told them.
"Nah, I just set up some surveillance, but I still need to add some audio receptors." Skulker waved me off.
"Yeah, anyway." I looked at Vlad smiling. "Ms. Rusebag can't be your date tonight."
"And why the heavens not?" Vlad asked annoyed.
"She's going out with her boyfriend, and don't give me that look she didn't keep it a secret." I placed my hands on my hips.
"Wonderful, now I'm going to have to find some two-bit to be my companion." Vlad growled.
"Or curtain number two, me." I tried my best game show host voice pointing at myself.
Skulker started laughing.
"Ms. Velia I thank you for the offer but…you're a bit too young to be my acquaintance for the night." Vlad scratched the back of his head.
"But legal." I snapped my fingers.
Skulker started to laugh harder. "Man, I'm sure glad I didn't get rid of you."
Vlad just glared at the mechanical brute. "I think you should leave, Skulker." He grounded out.
"And miss this?" He barely dodged an ecto-beam. "Ok, ok I'm going." He flew through the walls as fast as he could.
"Now Ms. Velia," He smoothed his hair. "I know you want to help and all, but there's no need to ruin your reputation."
"What reputation?" I asked. "I'm just a big nobody, I'll be amazed if I did have one."
Vlad just pinched the bridge of his nose. "You don't need to do this."
"I was asking, not the other around Mr. Masters." I crossed my arms.
"Fine you can be my partner for the evening." He waved his hand.
"It's a date." I smiled and walked towards the door.
"Yes, yes a date, wait-" I shut the door before he could say anything else.
"Mission accomplished?" Ms. Rusebag asked.
"Mission accomplished." I nodded. "So…phase two?"
"Get him to fall head over heels with you." She twirled her hair deviously.
You've got to be kidding me.
Walking back to the apartment I noticed a red sports car parked in front of the place.
Walking inside I saw something I did NOT want to see. Sitting on the loveseat was Dash Baxter and Taylor Smith making out.
"Taylor!" I shrieked. "He's only like sixteen or seventeen!"
"It's just a four age difference." Taylor rolled her eyes. "Not a twenty age difference like you and Vlad."
"Vlad?" Dash asked.
"The mayor, my sweet little pumpkin." Taylor playfully flicked the teens nose.
Dash just blushed.
"I don't need this." I huffed and walked into my shared bedroom. On my blue bed was beautiful red dress.
The dress was long, with a long neck and was sleeveless. Looking into the mirror, I held the dress up smiling. Clockwork must have sent it over. Placing the dress down, I went to take a shower, ignoring the gross bugs in the living room.
Finishing my shower, I went back into the room and put on the dress. The gown glittered and reflected light, making it seem like it was glowing. It was ruffled and looked like an upside down rose. My neck and shoulders were tightly sealed in the dress, and my arms were exposed. The dress hugged my sides snugly, and it was bit too long.
Looking down, a pair of red heels setting next to my bed. Putting them on, the dress wasn't as long anymore, and the tips of my toes showed. That's when Irene came in.
"Gross, Dash and Taylor, I mean-" She stared at me jaw opened. "Wow."
"You like it?" I asked twirling around.
"Love it, where did you get it?" She asked pulling at the ruffled skirt.
"It was just laying here, guess it's from Clockwork." I shrugged.
"Why would he give you this?" She asked circling me.
"For my date." I smiled smugly.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Date? With who?" Irene questioned gripping the dress.
"With Vlad, there's going to be party 'meeting' and it's for couples only." I snickered at her reaction.
"Ok," Irene drawled. "I don't know what's worse, you and Vlad or those two." She pointed at the door where we could hear the two illegals making out.
"Diffs them." I nodded. "At least I haven't kissed or touched the guy." I went to the mirror to start on my hair.
.
"Hold on, let me do that." Irene grabbed a brush, curling iron, and bobby pins from the drawers.
When she was finished my hair was in a pumped up bun and any loose strands was turned into curls. For a good measure she put three white sparkling hairpins on the right side of my head.
"Perfect." She whispered, "Now for the makeup." She pulled out black mascara and red lipstick. "Just these two, too much makeup could make you look like a whore."
I laughed at the comment.
As she put the finishing touches, a knock came at the door.
"Yo, lovebird a Mr. Masters is at the door." Taylor's voice sounded out.
Shit, it's that late already? Looking at the clock it pointed at seven, the party/meeting starts at seven thirty.
"I'll be right out." I called back.
"You sure you want to do this?" Irene asked me, she looked really concerned.
"I'll be fine." I smiled as she kissed my cheek.
Walking out of the room, Taylor gave me a wolf whistle. But Vlad's reaction was even funnier.
He was at the door with a bouquet of red roses, and the most dumb struck face I ever saw.
"Well, you look stunning." He said.
"Thank you." I said back.
"I brought you these, as a sign of gratitude." He handed me the roses.
"You shouldn't have, they look lovely." I took a whiff at the beautiful flowers. "Let me find a place for these, then we can go." In the kitchen I grabbed a bowl of water and put them there. Knowing Taylor she would put them somewhere better later.
"Shall we?" I asked.
"Oh, of course" He lead me to the limo that replaced Dash's car.
The drive was long and boring, it was filled with Vlad's boring childhood stories. You would think the guy would tell me his ghost stories, not his boring human stories.
When the limo stopped, I thanked every god I could name.
We found ourselves at a fancy huge hotel. With a billboard stating that the main lobby and ballroom were reserved. The limo drove off and Vlad lead me inside the building.
It looked amazing inside, the furniture seemed expensive and so did the people. The chandeliers shined, vase glimmered, dresses glittered, jewelry dazzled. It was a rich freak show. Vlad told the bald man at the desk that he showed up with me as his date, the guy had to give me a double take.
My nerves started to act up, not knowing my surroundings, I felt lost and vulnerable. Trying not look stupid, I put my best poker face as we walked passed several couples. The main lobby was loud with chattering , while the ballroom flowed with jazz music .
The lobby looked very fancy, it had the biggest chandelier I ever saw. Even the ballroom looked lovely with the old time looking jazz band.
Vlad smiled and nodded at passersby who quickly fixed their posture, or started gossiping. Probably about me, and how young I am compared to Vlad.
Vlad patted my hand and nodded towards the ballroom. "You seem tense, how about a dance?"
I smiled, I was a total sucker for dancing. I loved dancing, everyone in my family knew how to dance, or were quick learners. Heck even my mom was known as the 'dancing queen' where she came from.
Nodding, we entered the ballroom where I could see everyone following the music. I followed in peruse, with Vlad trying to mimic me.
"You don't know how to dance do you?" I whispered to him.
"I took lessons, but it seems like you've been dancing your whole life." He said back.
I just laughed, "Would you believe me that I never danced to jazz before?" I tried to keep in my laughter when Vlad gave me a look.
Then, someone from behind tapped me on the shoulder. Turning around I came face to face with a good looking early thirties man. He wore a nice tan suit, no tie, had peppered brown hair, with dim green eyes.
"Pardon me, but would you like to trade partners?" He asked smiling at me. Not waiting for a response he pushed his date towards Vlad and gently lead me away.
Once we were a good distance away from the two others, we began dancing. Vlad was a better dancer than this guy, but his looks made up for that.
"Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Mike Russell, mayor of Giles." He said.
"And your date?" I asked, I'm not letting some stranger in on my name.
"That was Emily, my older sister who's sadly still a single." Grabbing my sides he slowly pulled me in his hold. "I was wondering if you were too."
Growing salty, I tried to push away. "Could you please let go?" I growled politely.
He just frowned and pulled me closer. "How much is he paying you?"
I slapped him so hard that the band stopped playing.
"Jeanette?" Vlad asked with a smudged lipstick stain on the corner of his mouth.
"You bitch!" Mike screamed at me, then he head butted me.
Big mistake for poor old Mike. I had brother who would always fight me, and let just say he never got away with it.
Head butting him twice as hard, I kneed him in the balls and grabbed his arm to break it. Before I could, Vlad grabbed me from behind, dragging me away from my victim.
"Good heavens, what has gotten into you?" He pulled me away from the crowd.
"That douche bag over there." I spat trying to go back and show the sicko a lesson.
I'm pretty sure he had to use some of his ghost powers to get me into the limo. Getting me to calm down is another thing, I had my jaw and fists clenched the whole ride.
Vlad pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing he looked at me with a huge frown. "Why did you attack that man?"
"Why do have lipstick smeared on your face?" I snapped back.
He quickly cleaned his face with a handkerchief. "Just another idiotic woman after my money." He sneered, stuffing his kerchief away. "But that still doesn't explain why-…was he trying to take advantage of you?"
"Bingo buddy boy." I finally snapped my seatbelt on.
"I can't believe it." Vlad brushed his hair back looking shocked. "I-."
"You what?" I huffed. "Thought that he wasn't a total ass?"
"Ms. Velia, language." He literally snapped at me.
"What?" I glared him. "It's true."
"Yes, but you could have used the word pig." Vlad crossed his limbs.
"Pigs eat, asses blurt shit out." I pointed out. "He thought I was some kind of prostitute, even asked me what you were paying me."
The rest of the ride home was quiet.