Chapter 14

Red Faced

Alice wasn't sure if keeping busy at work had caused the week to fly by, or if her nerves were getting the better of her as Friday rolled around. She could be strong-willed and confident around elves who looked down their noses at her, but the prospect of being seen as an equal and taken out by one? She had no idea how to navigate such a change.

As had become routine, Alavara didn't miss a thing. She made sure to keep Alice busy, even going so far as to nit-pick some of her snaps, which wasn't something she made a habit of doing. She rarely needed to. She'd meant what she said when she said she saw what Kandomere did. Integrity and raw skill. Something that qualifications couldn't teach.

The nit-picking certainly helped to keep her nerves at bay. It was becoming irritating. As the afternoon wore on, Alavara complained about a particular angle Alice had chosen to use. She huffed loudly.

Alavara inwardly smirked.

"Do you want to fucking do it?" Alice yelled at her.

The room went completely silent. No one said a word, not even the models. Kyra was gawping at Alice as though she'd lost her mind.

Alice swallowed thickly, the sudden realisation of what she'd said hitting her like a tonne of bricks. She opened and closed her mouth a few times, trying to will her voice to utter something.

Alavara suddenly bellowed out a laugh. It didn't help to reduce Alice's panic.

"I have been waiting for you to come out of your shell all day!" she exclaimed.

"I… what?" Alice stuttered.

"You've been so nervous, it's been tainting the air. I was getting sick of the smell!"

Alavara instructed everyone to leave for the weekend. Alice was still gripping her camera tightly as everyone packed up and left several minutes later.

"Relax. I quite like seeing you with such fire!" Alavara exclaimed as she took her camera off her and put it away.

"I… I can't help it… I don't know how to date an elf…" Alice said, flopping down into a nearby chair.

"Oh, my dear, it's no different to dating a human."

"Have you dated a human before?" Alice asked.

"Once or twice. Humans have such passion."

"But humans can't hear a quickened heartbeat, or smell scent changes. He can read me in ways I can't read him," Alice explained, flushing at the memory of how he'd breathed her in.

"No, but you can sense things on an emotional level. Changes in vocals, ticks and twitches in body language. You're much more observant than I think you give yourself credit for."

"I've always thought that humans were slightly out of step with the world. Like we're disconnected. It's hard to explain," Alice said, shaking her head.

"You say that because of how most people view elves. That we're magical, ethereal, in touch with nature… Have you looked out of a window here? The only green this concrete city is connected to is money. The human districts have far more green spaces than here. Even the Orc communities have more parks. I make it a point to get out of the city at least twice a year. This place makes our kind cold and detached. Humans feel things far more deeply than I think most elves would realise. You would die for those you truly care about. It would take a lot for most elves to even consider giving up their lives for another. Kandomere is such an elf. He would have died for his sister."

Alice could absolutely believe that. She'd never thought about dying for someone. She couldn't imagine it would be a decision anyone could make unless they were faced with it.

"What about you? Do you not have anyone special? Husband? Kids?" Alice asked. Alavara had never mentioned any family. She only ever spoke about Kandomere as though he was family.

"Goodness no. I don't need a man in my life telling me what to do, and I wasn't blessed with the ability to have children," she answered.

"I'm sorry."

"Oh, don't be. It is a little more common with elves. Fertility is tricky for us."

"You don't want a man telling you what to do, but you're approving of me dating Kandomere?" Alice said, smirking at the irony.

"I don't believe for a second you'd allow him to tell you what to do."

Alice laughed. "That's probably true."

"Now, enough stalling! I've had a shower room prepared for you. Go do what you need to do, get dressed, and I'll fix your hair before you leave."

Alavara waved her away to the showers. She'd never used them, thinking they were for models only. Alavara had been true to her word and had towels, soaps, and shaving equipment laid out. Alice agonised about the requirement of preparing herself so thoroughly, thinking Kandomere wasn't quite so shallow as to insist on such things in order to find her attractive. She'd had human boyfriends who had wanted her to be as smooth as a baby's bottom all over, except for her head, which was something she refused to do.

In the end, she decided to shave her legs so they would feel smooth under the dress. She was also eager to try a lightly shimmery moisturiser on her skin and spent time smoothing it into every area as she wrapped her wet hair up in a towel. She'd chosen red lace underwear, which she'd bought especially. It wasn't the fanciest, but it was new and it matched.

She took her time finally slipping into the dress and shoes, packed up her things, and went back to Alavara so she could perform magic on her hair.

Alavara ran through her options quickly, testing out various looks once her hair had been dried. Sitting in front of a large mirror, Alice was shocked at how much red was shining in her hair, and made a mental note to remember the shampoo brand she'd used. She was definitely glad she'd chosen the red dress and she could see the same look in Alavara's eyes.

Alavara eventually settled on leaving her hair down and just pinning a few wavy sections back out of her face. She also dug out a lined satin wrap that Alice could drape across her shoulders. It as warm enough to not need a jacket, but it would be more appropriate to arrive with something covering her that she could remove to give a greater impact.

Her final touch to Alice's look was some light make up. Everything used was to highlight her natural attributes and nothing looked overdone or caked.

"Maybe you should have been a make up artist…" Alice said as she looked at herself in the mirror.

Alavara chuckled. "I am a woman of many talents. But, you still need perfume."

Alavara offered her some elvish choices, which Alice turned down. "No, I think I should use my own. Something he'll recognise. I've worn some of them before when he's been around."

Alavara nodded, understanding her point. Elvish perfumes didn't always work well with human physiology, and tonight wasn't the night to find out if they would work with Alice.

"Well, I think you're ready, except for your touches when you get home. When is he picking you up?"

"7pm. So, less than an hour," Alice said, picking up her bags.

"Come. I'll have my driver drop you off on the way."

Deciding not to argue, especially given she was dressed the way she was, Alice simply nodded and followed Alavara out.

Traffic was busy, even for a Friday, and Alice began to worry that she'd arrive late. Thankfully, she arrived back at the apartment with 10 minutes to spare. She busied herself with her favourite floral perfume and the garnet jewellery she'd told Alavara about earlier in the week. Kyra was out again with Ayla, so Alice didn't feel bad about leaving her home alone.

She was just surveying herself in the mirror one last time, trying not to let her nerves get the better of her, when a familiar knock on the apartment door sounded.

Alice took a few deep breaths and opened the door.

Kandomere was dressed as impeccably as he always was, though he'd chosen a slightly more gilded suit, a deep blue with faintly purple undertones, a platinum brooch with a sapphire on his left lapel and a matching tie pin and cufflinks, and his usual pocket watch. His shoes were shiny and new.

Alice could absolutely appreciate the effort he'd gone to. She hadn't been able to make her voice work as she stared at him.

Kandomere was equally stunned by the visage of Alice in front of him. His feet carried him towards her without a conscious thought, his head tilting as the urge to kiss her overwhelmed him.

This action startled Alice out of her stillness and she lifted a hand to cover his lips before they touched hers.

"Alavara would kill me if you ruined her work before I've set foot in the Ball," she whispered.

Kandomere groaned, moving his lips over her fingers. "You look breath-taking…"

Alice blushed at the compliment. It had been the effect she'd hoped for, but it still felt at little foreign to her.

"You should have seen some of the dresses she wanted me to wear. I don't think we'd have made it to the Ball."

"Perhaps she hoped to give some of the older Bureau Agents a heart attack," Kandomere commented, using all his willpower to pull himself back.

Alice smiled and moved back to grab her clutch bag. "We should get going before we get carried away. You were the one who wanted to wait," she said, smirking at him.

Kandomere inclined his head, grinning. "Touché."

He offered his arm for her to take and led her out to his car. Inwardly, he had no idea how he was going to make it through several hours of boring small talk with his superiors, when all he wanted to do was worship every inch of the woman by his side.