Her Place of Business
"I'm sorry, Mrs.- Ms. Jenkins is in a meeting right now! You will have to make an appointment to see her."
"And I said I'd wait. I will speak with her today," Tyr said with complete calm, settling into one of the chairs in the office.
"Thank you for coming in, Ms. Trouksky, Mr. Reatin. I knew that we could work out your differences if- what is he doing here? What are you doing here?" she asked, the meeting with her employees forgotten at this latest development.
"I wanted to speak with you," he said in a smooth tone, remaining seated.
"Then make an appointment with my secretary. I believe there's something for two, three weeks down the line."
"What I have to say is not in a professional vein. I would hate to waste company time on something not company-related." The two stared off as the employees left the office, their presence forgotten in the middle of this discussion.
"I have many other-"
"Take your time, Wanda. I'm willing to wait. I'm not here to disrupt your schedule," he said, hoping to instill a touch of double entendre into his words. She nodded to herself and turned away from him.
"I don't use that particular name anymore. You may address me as Ms. Jenkins."
"Mrs. Anasazi."
"I'm divorced," she said, waving her fingers in front of her for emphasis.
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about," he said. "At your leisure." He settled in the chair, relaxed and waiting. He could tell that she hated it, and it made him want to do it more.
"Send in my next appointment, Mrs. Grady," she snapped, marching back into her office. The rest of the afternoon went this way, with Tyr waiting for her to finish with her appointments with a patience the secretary found inspiring.
"Why are you here? Really?" Mrs. Grady asked halfway through the afternoon once the room had emptied.
"I wish to speak to your boss about a personal matter."
"Namely," she pressed. He looked over her protective posture and smiled at the loyalty his lady could inspire.
"Namely, the fact that I have not agreed to a divorce, therefore we are not-"
"You signed the papers," she put in.
"In an old incarnation," he pointed out. "In order for the paperwork to be valid, I would have to initial next to my old signature, something I have no intention of doing. We're not divorced."
"She won't be pleased to hear that," the older woman said with a mischievous smile. He smiled back.
"No, I don't suppose she will be. But considering that I am here to initiate a courtship, there's a great deal about my visit that she won't be pleased with."
"What is your game here?" Mrs Grady said, not smiling anymore. "There are many of us who care about her well-being. We won't tolerate you playing your games on her."
"Love is never a game," he said, looking the old woman in the eyes to convey how serious he was. She searched his deep brown eyes for the lie, and found none. "I've been a fool. I've been a fool for so many years. It took almost dying, several times, to realize how wrong I was. I'm here to court my lady. I'll do whatever it takes, sever whatever relationships I have to, just to prove it."
"You're really serious?" she asked.
"I really am," he answered.
"Good, 'cause we're going to hold you to that," a new voice entered into the conversation. Both people turned to the new man, who stood at Tyr's height of six-foot-five. He was lankier than the muscled black man, clearly of Asian descent, and had hair that defied gravity, tied back by a bright, red bandana. "We down at the docks feel that the boss lady has suffered enough. You break her heart, we'll break your face," he said, cracking his knuckles for emphasis.
"If I ever break her heart," Tyr responded. "I'll let you." The two stared each other down and Tyr could feel the violent man's grudging respect for him growing.
"Mr. Sagara, I would like my shipping update now." The woman looked tired but determined. With one last glare at the intruder, Sano walked over to the door.
"Hey Jou-chan! How's it hanging?"
The woman got as close to her version of a smile - slightly lifting the corners of her lips - and stood aside for the man to barge into her office to give his report.
"It sounds like you have everything well in hand," the woman said fifteen minutes later as she let her companion out of her office.
"We do," Sagara assured her. "You should come out drinking with us tonight."
"You know I can't," she said, one of those curious little half-smiles on her face again. She handed over a wad of cash to the man. "Have a round of drinks on me," she said.
"Jou-chan…"
"I'm serious, as usual," she said, placing the money in his hand. "I have things I have to take care of here, but I appreciate the offer. Good night, Mr. Sa-
"Why can't you call me Sano? Just once, I'd like to hear my own name from you."
"You can't always get what you want, Mr. Sagara. Good night." With that, she went back into her office to deal with the ever-present stack of papers she'd accumulated over the course of the day. She called to schedule appointments like normal and the man could almost feel when she settled into a routine; relaxing her guard. It was three hours later, when Mrs. Grady was ready to leave for the night, that she suddenly remembered her visitor.
"Oh, Mr. Anasazi,"
"Tyr."
"Mr. Tyr. I highly doubt she remembers you're here."
"More than likely she believes I've given up and went home hours ago."
"Let me just- Ms. Jenkins. It's time to go home," Mrs. Grady told her.
"You go, Mrs. Grady. I want to finish up some paperwork before heading out. Good night."
"Mr. Anasazi is still here to see you," the older woman said with a mischievous note in her voice.
"Oh? I thought he'd gotten the hint. Um… please send him in on your way out," she said at last.
"Of course. Mr. Tyr, your wife will now see you."
"I'm not his-"
"Good night, Mrs. Anasazi," the woman chortled over her, leaving the two to face each other.
"How may I help you, Mr. Anasazi?" the woman began, hiding behind her professionalism.
"You may help me by dropping the act, Mrs. Anasazi," he countered.
"I'm not-"
"You are," he said. "See, I took those divorce papers to that 'judge friend' of mine and he told me something interesting. Because I signed them four years ago, it doesn't count. I would have to re-sign."
"The document is only a formality anyway. The contract was 'till death do us part'. You were pronounced dead three years ago when they couldn't find your body. I'm technically a widow, not a divorcee."
"You signed it, that makes it binding," he countered, enjoying her musical voice. "If you'd simply torn it up, that would have been the end of our affiliation, but you signed it."
"So that you could be free," she glared at him. "Just initial the stupid paper and be done with it. I am."
"I'm not," he said. "In fact…" He took out a lighter and lit the papers on fire. She panicked and came around her desk to put the fire out, but he held it out of her reach, enjoying how she climbed him to get at the paper. Once it was unsalvageable, he dropped it to the floor and stomped the fire out.
"I'm here to tell you that I'm not letting you go. You're mine and I intend to court you-"
"Are you high? There's no way I would ever-"
"I will court you and prove myself worthy of you," he finished. She was still not looking at him. He found he wanted her to look into his eyes.
"This is about the company, isn't it?" she said. "You're never going to get it. Those shares are in my name, not yours. And my will leaves my shares to the employees. You're never going to-" He cut her off with a kiss, one that she instantly melted into. She moaned and he took the opportunity to begin to explore her mouth. He didn't get far before she remembered herself and pulled away, panting.
"I don't give a damn about your company, Wanda. I want you. And I will have you."
"Get out," she gasped, pointing out the door.
"I'll leave for now. Just know this, Mrs. Anasazi. I will always come back to you. This is only the beginning."
"I said 'Get out'" she shouted. He smiled that she was looking him in the eye, her eyes blazing with anger and indignation.
"Good night, little one," he said purred, reveling in her shiver. He knew he would have to push harder and soon, while she was still off balance. An idea came to him and he smiled, leaving her office as she'd directed.