Date Number One
"Thank you for joining me," Tyr said, laying out on the picnic blanket. They were on the roof of the building. The view was spectacular and the food was scant. Tyr didn't want to remind her of what she was missing. Her soylent was sitting in a bucket of ice, as were a couple of bottles of water. Wanda approached cautiously, taking in the view and trying hard not to stare at his beautiful body.
"I couldn't help it. This was on my schedule. You have Mrs Grady working for you now?"
"I'll use whatever means necessary to win you over," he admitted candidly "Shall we? There's only 52 minutes left for lunch hour." The two ate and talked after that, mostly about inconsequential things. They laughed together at Tyr's stories of his new coworkers and generally relaxed in each other's presence.
"You're ridiculous," Wanda giggled at a particularly funny joke he told.
"That I am," he responded. "It's good to see you smiling," he said, touching her lips with a finger. "You used to smile all the time, Bliss."
"'Bliss'?" she asked. "Where'd that come from?"
"You make me feel content, Blissful," he said. "It's not at all the way it was before, is it?" She shook her head. "I'm glad. There should never be anything between us like there was before. I've learned to miss you."
"What does that even mean?" she asked. "You used to loathe being in my presence. You used to hate me intensely. Now you're all flowers and picnics. I mean, if this is a con, it's a very well laid one, I'll admit it. I just need to know why!"
"I've changed, Bliss. I've had four years to regret my actions. You know, on the island, you were the only one I saw. You consumed my thoughts, you gave me hope. I survived so that I could come back to you and say 'I'm sorry'. And now that I've said it, I find myself wanting to prove it even more now than I did before. I was a total bastard, for no other reason than that I could be. I'm so sorry, Bliss." He stopped his confession as he noticed her tears. She seemed surprised that he would care, yet another crime laid at his feet. Yet the fact that she would shed tears in his presence was another sign of her trust; she never would have done that before.
"You're playing me, right? Roy and Laurel are recording this somewhere and laughing their asses off. I just know I'm being-"
"I'm not playing you," Tyr told her. "I could never play you, not with the way I feel. You kept me going when I didn't think I could go on, don't you see how much I love you?"
"This can't be real," she said at last. "I refuse to believe in fairy tales."
"It is real," he reassured her. "I swear to you it is. I need you to trust me on this."
"How can I trust you? You've always been-"
"But I'm not anymore, Bliss. I'll do whatever it takes to prove it."
"There's nothing you could do that I would trust," she said. "I remember cruel jokes and vicious pranks, Tyr. You've never stooped this low, but that doesn't mean you can't. I just haven't figured out how giving me your company nets you a laugh." The man stood and pulled her to her feet, wrapping his arms around her.
"I could recite the eulogies of every pet you ever owned, but you never had any," he said, as she went to correct him. 'You never wanted something innocent that could be killed to get to you. I can name all the boys that you ever found cute in order. I can tell you every career you ever wanted before you settled on nursing. I can name all your friends starting from grade school. This has been my life since that fateful cruise; remembering all things Wanda. I don't expect you to trust me all at once, Bliss. But I am asking for the opportunity to prove myself to you. I see the life we could have had and I blew it with my stubbornness and pride. Let me show you just how much I've changed. Let me love you the way you deserve to be loved."
"Hmph. You probably have-"
"I checked out disease-free," he said, correctly guessing her next protest. "And I haven't had sex in four years. So, no, I'm not carrying around a bunch of STDs to infect you with. I won't be pure on our honeymoon like you, but I will be yours completely."
"How do you know I'm pure?" she asked. "I'm not a nun and it's been four years since you've known me. I could have-"
"But you didn't," he said sweetly, rubbing his nose against her ear. "You could have. You have the looks and the charisma and the charm. You're filthy rich and the talk of the town whether you want to be or not. But you didn't. You remained faithful to your vows, taken to a dead man who was an utter bastard in life. Well, I'm back now and I want to make it all better posthaste." He continued rubbing his nose against her face, smiling when she whimpered. "You're innocence calls to me. Not for corruption, but to share in your world. I won't fail you this time. I'm committed to you, to us. I-"
"I'm sorry to interrupt," Mrs. Grady said with an apologetic twist of her lips. "But your conference call with Fuushiro starts in five minutes."
"Ah," he said as his watch went off. He pulled back slightly from the dazed girl, taking in her flushed face with pride. "It seems we'll have to continue this discussion on our next date."
She pulled away from him, shivering at the loss of heat. "I um… look forward to it."
"As do I," he whispered, leaning down to look her in the eye. "You should go to your meeting. I'll clean up this mess."
"I… thank you," she said, going to Mrs. Grady on unsteady feet. The older woman grabbed a hold of her arm and pulled her down the stairs.
"You two seemed awfully cozy just now," she said, laughing as the young CEO flushed. "See what a little trust can get you?"
"But I didn't-"
"You did. It took a great deal of trust to show up to this appointment. Even more trust to let yourself enjoy his company. I'm aware of the history between you two. You are a remarkable woman, Luwanda."
"Thank you," she blushed, starting to slip into her professional persona to deal with the rest of her day. "I... probably would have ducked out on him if it hadn't been plugged into my schedule."
"I know," the woman said with a twinkle in her eye. "You just leave everything to your matchmaking Aunt Adeline. I won't lead you astray."
"I'm ready for my conference call," Wanda said, unable to think of anything to say to that.
"You certainly are. You're glowing!"
"Hush, Mrs. Grady. I need to concentrate." The older woman had the good grace to let it lay as Mr. Fuushiro came on the line. The two conversed in Japanese for a time, talking strictly business as Wanda relaxed into the rhythm of the call.
"Your Japanese is impeccable as always, Ms. Jenkins."
"As is your English," she returned with a bow of her head.
"If I may say, you seem to be happier than I've ever seen you."
Wanda flushed, not thinking anyone would have noticed. "Wh-what do you mean?"
"I've heard about your old husband returning from the dead earlier this year. I have been… indecisive as to whether to offer my condolences or congratulate you. It would appear from all evidence provided that congratulations are in order."
"I… I uh…"
"Please let him know that I am pleased with your smile. Should he ever do anything to take that smile away, he will have me to answer to."
"Mr. Fuushiro!"
"It grows late here. Have a good day, Ms. Jenkins."
"Goodbye, Mr. Fuushiro." The call ended and she honestly wasn't sure if it was a success or not. The business end had gone over without a hitch - the Board would be pleased with these latest numbers. But she wasn't sure how she felt about the comments on her personal life. The old man had been trying to set her up with his lecherous son for years now, and suddenly he offers his blessing? And what was up with that threat?
"Seems Mr. Fuushiro has given up on playing matchmaker with his son."
"It would appear so."
"Word travels fast. I'll have to pass on the threat to young Mr. Anasazi the next time he drops in."
"You are having way too much fun with this situation."
"It's good to see you with some life in you! You're not so pale and listless since he's been around. And only after one date! I can't wait to see what he has in store for you for next time."
"Neither can I," she said and found that she meant it.
The next day Tyr stopped by to invite her to lunch again. "Does this count as a second date?" she asked, not sure if she wanted it to count or not.
"No," she said. "Those I will schedule with your secretary. I simply wondered if you wanted to share a meal together."
"I'm sorry, but I can't," she said regretfully. "I usually spend my lunches filing and preparing for my afternoon meetings. I'm actually behind from yesterday."
"Well, don't let me stop you," he said, pulling out a light lunch for himself and setting it up on her desk. "I just want to spend time with you. I don't really care what we do."
"But it's boring," she protested.
"You could never bore me," he said, settling in to eat and watch her work. They spent the first half-hour in silence as she did her best to work while feeling self-conscious.
"Why are you doing this to me?" she finally spoke, slamming her pen on the table.
"Because I love you and I want you to get comfortable with having me around you. I plan to be doing it a lot now that I'm back."
"I don't… I still have the need to entertain guests which is why I take my lunches alone. I have work to do."
"Good thing I'm not a guest," he said, taking her hand. "You should get used to this. I want the chance to see that curious wrinkle between your eyebrows as you concentrate.. Maybe I'll start coming by after work to watch you too so you get used to it."
"Please don't," she groaned. "I'd never get any work done."
"Work shouldn't be done on lunch breaks anyway. You should be recuperating from the morning's work."
"Are you telling me how to do my job?" she growled. "'Cause this method has served me well all these years."
"Change is good."
"No, it's not."
"Are you really that sure?" he said, massaging her cramped hand. "Because, I think change can be very, very good."
"Will you stop that?" she said, pulling her hand back only to have him lock onto it. "I can't concentrate when you do that."
"Then don't," he said simply, massaging her left hand with more gusto and moving up her arm. "I'm here to relax you, Bliss. You don't have to entertain me." Before she could protest, he came around the desk and started massaging her shoulders, never having felt such tense muscles before. She sprawled on her desk at his attention, moaning with pleasure. Her shoulders had only started to loosen when her secretary walked in.
"Did you two… need a few minutes?"
"No, I have to get back to work," he answered, leaning over her sprawled form to kiss her cheek. "I'll see you after work, Wanda."
She blushed but nodded and he left with a smile. It took a minute for her to find the strength to sit up, but somehow she managed.
"Um… Is Mr. Mantoya here yet?"
"Not yet," the older woman said in amusement. "He said he was running a little late actually. That's what I came to tell you just now."
"Oh, well thank you." The CEO started organizing her desk in preparation. She was still a little weak-kneed, but able to function. How the hell was she supposed to concentrate now?
