Fascination

The first thing he noticed about her wasn't her dazzling beauty, though the woman was by no means unattractive. It wasn't her eloquence, though she was speaking to another of the party guests at the time. No, the first thing that grabbed the attention of the heir to the Anasazi line was the woman's passion. Not only was she speaking to the aforementioned party guest, she was reaming him out, apparently upset by something the man and his friends had said. She didn't mince words, tersely pointing out the man's errors as he tried in vain to defend himself. He couldn't help staring. With her deep brown eyes blazing, mocha-colored skin glowing with a light sheen of sweat in the warm room, and voice full of righteous indignation, she looked and sounded like an avenging angel.

"That woman… Who is she?" Prince Tyr asked in wonder, noticing that although she was clearly furious a minute ago, the group was now sharing a friendly laugh, seemingly at her expense. Nick Young looked over to where his friend was looking and grinned. Little did the future ruler of the small African country of Alibhai know, that the woman he was entranced with was the exact woman he and his fiancée had come here to introduce him to. He and Rachel were both convinced that she would be a perfect match for the prince. Locking eyes with his fiancée, Nick's smile was all dimples and charm as he noticed that Tyr was still watching his target. Rachel glanced over at the prince, looked at his fascinated stare, and let her eyes meet her tall, rich, and powerful fiancé. She couldn't help rolling her eyes with a shake of her head.

Turning his attention back to his royal friend, Nick tried to keep the excitement out of his voice. "That's, um… Oh, that's Alandra Shaveed. She's an old college friend of Rachel's and a recent one of mine. You want to meet her?" Tyr could only nod, his eyes still glued to the woman now laughing happily with the group. The prince could appreciate her innocent laughter. She sounded young and free, genuinely amused by whatever was being said. He followed that tinkling laughter to its source, eager to have Nick introduce him to the woman who'd captured his attention without even trying.

"Hey Landi! Come and meet my friend, Tyr." The woman turned and it was as if the world stopped for Tyr. He'd only seen her profile thus far, and was almost afraid to see the rest, lest he be disappointed. But 'Landi' was a delight in full focus. He smirked slightly to see those expressive brown eyes of hers take him in. He was used to the fairer sex checking him out. With his broad shoulders, waist-length locks, beautifully muscular body, and handsomely regal facial features, the man could have had any woman at the party, in the city.

This woman surprised him once more by not reacting to him beyond the slight widening of her lovely eyes. She was a mischievous sprite of a woman, the top of her head barely clearing his shoulders. Her locks were done up in a bun, with some of her glorious hair falling free down her back. She was dressed in a fluttery, casual, modestly low-cut summer dress that was black with white polka dots - appropriate for this summer heat - and a pair of white low-heeled sandals. Unlike most of the women in the room, Alandra had opted for minimal jewelry and no makeup. She wore a single thin silver chain around her neck with a circular decoration on it and a pair of small hoops in her pierced ears.

There was no ring on her finger.

"Hello," she said with a friendly smile. Tyr couldn't help his answering smile. Her voice was like music.

"Hello yourself," he immediately stepped closer and settled into flirting, something that seemed to make the woman uncomfortable. She backed up a step, turning to Nick for an explanation.

"Don't mind Tyr, Landi. He's not from around here. And he'd rather flirt than eat," Nick added with a smirk at his friend. Tyr glared at him briefly before turning back to the woman.

"I didn't mean to offend," he said smoothly, reaching for her hand. She took another step back, to his chagrin, looking more guarded than before. It grieved him to see the smile run away from her face. "Forgive me, you've dazzled me with your beauty. I seem to have forgotten my manners. I'm Tyr Anasazi from Alibhai. I'm currently visiting my friend Nick and his fiancée." At this proper introduction, her smile returned.

"Well, hello there. I'm Alandra. Rachel and I met in college and have been friends ever since. Rachel, Peik, and I were the three musketeers back at Stanford!" She grabbed his hand and shook it, withdrawing before he could place a kiss on it as he would have with any other woman in the room. "What brings you to the Big Apple, Mr. Anasazi?" Tyr could only marvel at her cleverness in subtly steering the conversation. However, given his own way, the man would have continued with his aggressive flirting, so it was probably better to stick to her comfort level. For now.

"There is a conference in your fair city this week that I am required to speak at," he answered vaguely, suddenly uncomfortable with his royal status.

"Wow! You must be quite the diplomat to be tapped to speak at a conference," she grinned at him and Nick. Tyr found that he didn't like sharing her scrutiny. He wanted her full and undivided attention but knew instinctively that if he announced himself as a prince and the main speaker at the UN conference being held in his honor, he would lose what little romantic interest she had for him so far. Instead of coming clean about his personage and ruining his chances with her, the man decided that redirection was the order of the day. After all, very few people knew about his royal status in this country. And Alibhai was not a widely known country.

"I hold my own," he said, all smiles. "What about you, Alandra? Surely you are putting that silver tongue of yours to good use?" He was rewarded with the return of her bright smile and laughter.

"Well, I don't know if I'd be cherry-picked as a speaker at a conference or anything, but I hold my own," she said with her sweet smile hovering around her plump lips. Tyr grinned and nodded the point.

"Am I to understand that you are refusing to disclose your profession to me?" he said boldly, ignoring the warm feeling in his gut at her kind words. Her laughter once again bubbled out of her and he could only relish it. Flirtatious laughter was the order of the day at these kinds of parties. After all, they were held for networking and/or hooking up. But this woman wasn't flirting. She wasn't being sly or coquettish, she was simply enjoying herself and inviting him to do the same. Who the hell was this woman?

"It's no secret, Mr. Anasazi. I'm a lawyer. I work for Myers and Myers, one of the largest prosecutor-based law firms in New York."

"Prosecution? You know that the real money is in Defense?"

Her brilliant grin dimmed slightly but held. "I get by."

"'Get by'?" Nick interjected with a laugh. "Our girl here is one of the top non-government employed prosecution lawyers in the country. Hell, she runs circles around those poor government saps; she's a natural. The youngest lawyer to ever make partner in her firm. She practically-"

"Okay, there, Moneybags," the woman laughed while placing a stilling hand on his shoulder. "No need for the cheering section. I think he gets it."

"You don't seem to be doing such a good job at being your own cheering section, Ms. Shaveed," Tyr smiled. "If you were just getting by, I doubt you would be a part of this particular crowd." The trio looked around themselves, taking in the tipsy crowd of businesspeople and socialites rubbing elbows and trying desperately to one-up one another. The alcohol flowed freely; no one would be driving themselves home tonight. Dismissing the appreciative looks being sent his way, Tyr looked back over at his target. "It seems fairly obvious that you have accomplished much in your short time on this planet. Care to share?"

"We haven't reached the 'tooting our own horn' portion of the conversation, Mr. Anasazi," she countered with yet another laugh. "And I was mostly referring to the fact that if you are a friend of Moneybags here, you're probably no slough financially-"

"Yes, but you will admit that there is a difference between 'getting by' and 'winning'. Financially speaking, of course." Making her smile was quickly becoming one of his favorite pastimes.

"You forget that I started out as Rachel's friend. You and I likely have very different ideas of financial success. Especially if your excellent taste in threads is anything to go by. In other words, these are not my people. And while I am grateful to have scored an invitation, it's getting late and four o'clock comes early. I think I'll say goodbye to Rachel and skedaddle for the night. Enjoy your evening, gentlemen." And just like that, the woman was gone. No number, no information given, not even a wink or a 'let's get together sometime'. She left with absolutely no way to contact her! He refused to believe that she wasn't interested, not with the way that her pupils had dilated as she watched him.

"Nick, tell me everything," he grinned as Alandra hugged Rachel enthusiastically. They traded a few quick words before Nick's fiancée waved her off. "I need some of that in my life," he said, watching her rear appreciatively as she exited the rooftop for the elevator. Frowning as Nick's old schoolmate, Bernard Tai jumped into the elevator with her, he made a move towards the conveyance. Nick stopped him to his surprise.

"Don't worry about him. He won't get far with her. He's not Alandra's type."

"What is her type?" he asked, still glaring at Bernard as he leaned into her and said something as she texted on her phone. The elevator doors closed on this charming little vignette, making the man's blood boil. "That-" Before he could complete his threat, the doors to the elevator opened up and the man left, looking furious. The woman was still texting, looking bored. As the door closed, she looked up briefly and winked at him. Tyr was both thrilled by and disappointed in that wink; it wasn't flirtatious, but rather conspiratorial. As if they were sharing a joke. He thought about sharing the elevator with her, and had taken a step in that direction when Nick once again stopped him.

"Turn on the charm right now, and you'll lose your chance. Landi isn't big on second chances when it comes to love." That gave the prince pause. He was a man used to getting his own way. No one told him no and once he set his sights on a woman, she was his.

... ...

"Tyr, you have yet to greet me," Oliver T'sien said, looking dramatically hurt. The man he was addressing didn't buy the act for a moment. Nick had introduced the two years ago and they'd been tight ever since. And just as he suspected, the Asian man laughed abruptly, spoiling the illusion. "I could see you scheming on our young Miss Shaveed from across the room. What is your interest? Hopefully not romantic."

"Smitten," Nick interjected, all smiles. Oliver immediately lost his smile, looking almost… Protective.

"Well, that won't do! You'll ruin your reputation by getting mixed up with the Christian Lawyer."

"Christian?" Tyr asked in distaste. He'd seen too much of what the Church could do and condone to help his reaction. The effeminate man looked positively delighted with the change in his attitude.

"Oh yes. Goes to church on Sundays, tithes, and gives to charities; the whole nine yards. Word has it that she's likely to be the only lawyer to make it into Heaven. No… Your interests would be better served by Theresa Wagner, that lovely, young dental hygienist who's been devouring you with her eyes since you arrived." He smiled lasciviously at the prince and although Tyr knew that he shouldn't fall for such an obvious bait and switch, he allowed himself to be talked into crossing the room where the dental hygienist and her two friends were gossiping and watching him.

"Hello, ladies," he didn't hesitate to sweet talk the three, back in his element. After making the appropriate introductions, Oliver headed back to his cousin, knowing that his services were no longer required.

Nick Young looked as furious as he'd ever looked. The rainbow sheep of the family squared his broad shoulders and prepared to face his wrath. "Yes, cousin?"

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked, obviously holding onto his temper with both fists. Oliver had to admire the man's restraint; most of their selfish and self-serving family wouldn't have bothered with such a poor relation. Nick was no respecter of persons. That was one of the things that made him so untouchable. But this was Alandra he was talking about! Not just any man would do for her.

"Protecting my friend," he said firmly with a sober glance over his cousin and friend. "You know that Prince Tyr isn't right for her."

"Rachel and I were hoping to change all that! He was fascinated with her tonight. Didn't you see it?"

Oliver scoffed. "Look at him right now, cousin. Give it another five minutes and he will be taking all three of those pretty young things home with him for carnal delights. Is that what you want for Little Landi? Tyr is a light and casual guy and we both know that Alandra is not."

"That's what I want for my friend, Oliver! Tyr wanted to know everything about the Christian Lawyer. He would make a wonderful boyfriend for her. Possibly more in time."

"Alandra is an innocent. She's barely done anything but work to please her family in the five years since she graduated from law school. The poor girl has been skulking around the parameter of your world since reconnecting with her dear school chum. Thrusting her into the spotlight of Tyr's regard would only destroy her; his admirers are just as vicious as yours. I daresay even more so - he is a crown prince after all. They both deserve something better than the heartache you and your sweet Rachel are planning to inflict on them. Let it go."

Nick thought about that, his stubborn chin set nonetheless. Oliver merely raised one of his elegant eyebrows before melting back into the crowd. Nick's mother had sent him to New York immediately following Nick's engagement. It was such a relief to find his people in this eclectic city. It was nice that he wasn't so unique in this place. It was good to find comradery in that aspect of his life. And although she was a Christian, she was one of his dearest friends. Her Christianity was refreshingly Christ-like. Such a rare jewel of a woman deserved better than to become a notch on the royal Anasazi belt. His lip curled as he watched the Alibhain prince stroll leisurely to the elevator that his supposed love had used to exit the party not ten minutes ago. In his wake were the three women he'd just met, all giggling and eager to lay with his royal highness.

Yeah, he'd done the right thing.