Lauren smiled blankly, unaware that Bella was pointing out that the scary Dane's jet cost around $55 million, about ten million more than Jaguar Holding's Dassault Falcon 5X. "I guess... we'll see each other at some of the events?" she finally asked, not quite sure what would happen now.
It was Clara who took pity on her. "This is all very strange, isn't it?" Her tone was sympathetic, almost like the old Clara - but this new girl, the corporate spy, and daughter of the Scandinavian mobster - carried herself with more confidence, looked around them with a sharper gaze. "We'll talk when we're back in London." Lauren felt a chill prickle on her arms when the other girl smiled darkly, "I'm looking forward to seeing Miles again and seeing how the music program is going in the new schools."
Throat dry, Lauren tried to swallow. Clara didn't want to... A vision of Miles and his open, honest face, his tentative interest in this extremely alarming girl - it made her indrawn breath turn into a wheeze. "R- really?" she managed, "I thought that would all be disbanded now, with the splitting up of The Corporation's assets?"
The redhead simply smiled at her, using a few too many teeth, and walked away, trailing her father to his car.
"I knew it couldn't be this simple!" Lauren mourned to Chuck, standing guard, as always.
But when they arrived back home and the bodyguard had seen Lauren settled in, ordered the disbursement of luggage and such, he found Thomas. "Mr. Williams? A word?"
Frowning, Thomas nodded, ushering him into his office. "What is it, Straker?"
His employee pulled out his gun, removed the clip, and offered it to him. "I am certain you would wish to sever my employment, sir. I failed in my duty in St. Petersburg, more than once."
Number One stared at the man, who was meeting his eyes with a steady gaze. Straker knew what "terminating employment" in The Corporation could mean. It certainly didn't involve leaving the building with a cardboard box of personal possessions and desk supplies. "I do not wish to accept your resignation," Thomas finally replied. "My wife certainly aided and abetted in the first incident, and the second..." he swallowed his disgust, "during the second episode, she was under my care."
Charles was undeterred, blocky fists opening and closing. "I failed in my duty."
Sighing, Thomas slapped the clip back into the pistol and offered it back to Lauren's bodyguard, handle first. "I know you would give your life for my wife if it was required. There is no one else I could trust with her safety more than you." He nudged Straker with the gun's handle. "And you know, Chuck," he emphasized a touch gleefully, "Lauren would never forgive me. Now kindly accept your firearm and let's get back to work."
Lauren watched as her husband walked the man down to the front door and slapped him on the shoulder in a manly fashion, bidding him goodnight.
"What was that about?" she asked as the tall, beautiful man she'd married ascended the staircase toward her.
Kissing her fondly, Thomas shook his head. "Just business, darling. Now, to bed. We have a busy day tomorrow."
Walking into the bedroom in a dispirited fashion, Lauren began shedding clothing. "Oh, yeah. A bunch of big board meetings to let everyone know what's going on? Big changes in the Corporation..." she cheered up slightly, thinking of a couple of lethal and unpleasant managers who were about to be very disappointed in the power shift. Nonetheless, the girl held out hope that Thomas would still want to share a little victory sex with her, but the infuriating man simply kissed her goodnight and fell asleep with one arm resting heavily over the curve of her hip.
Yeah,she thought bleakly,he's totally fucking with me.
"...Wake, lovely... wake up now..."
The rich, resonant tone of her husband woke Lauren the next morning, and she smiled, turning her cheek into the hand that was cupping it. When she was finally alert enough, her heart sank to see Thomas already garbed in a dark blue suit, wearing her favorite tie that made his eyes glow like the Mediterranean. "Oh, you're going into the office already?" Lauren asked, trying to keep the disappointment from her tone. Of course, he was. There was a lot to do...
"Not just yet." Thomas gave her a curious smile, tender but still slightly off. "I need you to accompany me to a meeting."
Yawning, Lauren shoved her wildly disordered hair back. "Sure. Just let me get dressed-"
Thomas interrupted her, "I've selected something for you to wear, it's hanging in the bathroom." She eyed him suspiciously as she walked across the large bedroom. He looked... strange. Aside from a few, notable, recent moments, her husband was always calm, his expression of urbane amusement very much in place. But right now, he looked younger, excited and anticipatory like it was, what, like Christmas morning?
When she entered the elegant bathroom, her heart started pounding as she found the dress her husband had left for her, white, edging into palest pink, with simple swooping lines and a gauzy overlay covering the long white slip.
Touching it carefully with one finger, she mumbled, "Maybe he's not fucking with me..."
It was funny, Lauren thought as she pulled her hair up into a simple twist and adding a light layer of makeup. She'd thought she would be shaking from nerves or excitement at a moment like this. But... she was calm? There was a certainty here that made her smile and step carefully into the dress after putting on her prettiest underwear.
"Thomas? Could you zip me?"
Lauren felt just a bit of nervousness stir until he came through the door, and Thomas's expression changed. Unguarded, emotional, delighted.
"You are so..." he paused for a moment, long fingers fumbling as he reached for the zipper. "So beautiful, my darling. I should have given you several gowns to choose from - it should be your choice this time - and I..." Thomas was babbling, he knew it but couldn't seem to shut up. "It just... seemed like you," he finished lamely.
His wife turned to him; her sweet face alive with happiness. "It's beautiful, husband. It's perfect."
Thomas shook his head before giving her a tender kiss. "No, it is merely a dress, my darling.Youare beautiful and perfect."
Chuck was, of course, waiting at the curb and helped her into the car, carefully tucking her dress inside. As he moved to shut the door, Lauren grabbed his sleeve. "You're- you're coming too, right?"
