After their camera planting trip, Marco returned home to take a shower. He did not have much time. What would Sophie like? he thought as he prepared himself. He remembered her introductory meeting where they shared thoughts. She shared a lot about herself who she was and what attracts her. Listening, this is what made Marco a good escort. He quickly adopted the tone of voice, and appearance that she desired. Getting ready, his mind cleared. He spent a complete hour of thinking about Sophie before their date.
What did he know about her, she was a lawyer. Well almost a lawyer, a legal assistant in a firm that did contracts for businesses. She had a demanding boss, slightly abusive even she hated the guy. Terry Colt that was the name a real scumbag and the owner of Colt and associates. (there were no associates - the name was just to give the legal assistants hopes).
Sophie is brilliant and well traveled. She spend two years in Japan and over five years travelling asia. Her family held shares in some big shipping company, their boats shipped goods all over the world. She was born to the privileged few that did not have to work a day in their life but she chose to work harder than most people.
Sophie had no true friends, her colleagues did not believe her grades were real, every achievement in her life was attributed to her parents having money. She wasn’t rich herself, but whatever support she had paid for a very nice apartment downtown. Asking her about her family, would make her immediately hostile and cynical. Marco definitely did not want to do that. Instead, she would probably complain about her boss, perhaps tell him a little bit on a brilliant contract she crafted or how she discovered a legal loophole in some contracts she had to handle.
She demanded to be treated with respect, she wanted no comments about her looks or about her wits. In a deeper level she wanted to feel loved, desired and appreciated. However, trusting people was difficult for her - and when people complimented her she imminently assumed that they were going to ask some favor afterwards. Marco definitely wanted compliment her - he felt that it was the right time. He understood that everybody needs their positive reassurances. To do so he has to be subtle and she better be a bit tipsy.
Marco worked hard to establish some intimacy with her. She never had it with anyone else, he felt that this was what she needed. She liked talking, lawyers were people that liked to hear their own voices. He kept encouraging her with genuine attention to all the tiny details in her stories. She seems to take little interest in Marco. Just to use him as a tool for pleasure - an expensive toy. He knew that it was not completely true. Marco felt that it was less awkward to her to have their relationship well defined like in a contract. She did not like to leave things fuzzy.
But Marco was not a man of definitions. his relationships were fluid, they evolved. They crossed boundaries. She found that scary - the danger in actually liking him - of things stepping out of their pattern. Marco did not made it any easy for her. After all, she did not pay him to do what she wants. She paid him to be the person she desires, to be her dream.
Unlike anyone else in her life, Marco had no problem taking her to a club in the Barrens, he took her to Joy to meet his drinking buddies. Yet, he could also blend in high society. She was terrified of her colleagues learning the true nature of their relationship.
He prepared his mind and soul to her, pushed everything aside. Tonight he was her lover.
He picked her up at 21:00 and they went to a nice restaurant, Marco impressed her with his knowledge of wines. He managed to pick an exquisite bottle for them to share. The food itself was very good and diverse. A unique fusion of European and Japanese cuisine. The restaurant had a few dishes from almost every country in the world. Despite the diversity however, the dishes were meticulously done, their chef clearly was well traveled. The atmosphere today was Japanese and a soft traditional piano music was played in the background by an eastern looking orc lady.
[spoiler]
Restaurant piano music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ9tPp1Lwmc[/spoiler]
They sat on the floor and enjoyed the good meal. The conversation was smooth as Marco listened with genuine curiosity to Sophie's day. The alcohol and the music begun to kick in and after the second dish both were more relaxed. Marco embraced Sophie and gently kissed her. They seemed like a couple in love - so said the waitress that gave them a complimentary dessert. The young couple left the restaurant joining hands and walking peacefully to the limousine that waited nearby. There was no driver, either it was auto piloted or remotely operated and the company manager assured Marco that there are no sensors inside for maximum customer privacy.
“I missed you so much, Sophie.” Said Marco as they entered the limousine.
“You genuinely look stunning, shell we go to the club? we got VIP rooms booked already.” On the way to the club Marco’s peace of mind was disturbed by Yelena’s text.
Yelena considers a bit, then sends a second message. >>Marco. Is Yelena. Am hurt and bleeding. Gunfight in Barrens Gardens. Sending ARO for location. Helping young friend. Yelena want Marco know he is good man. Not living in shadows yet. Maybe never will. Yelena live life as Yelena want and Yelena die that way if must. Want Marco know he.......special. Yelena not want die, but might. Not want die without say goodbye. So maybe goodbye.<<[/color]
His well trained emotioned struggled to stay calm. This night was Sophie’s, she paid for it and deserved his full attention, but he could not ignore Yelena’s call for help. If she is wounded there is not much time... he was lucky to give his spirit the healing spell. Demons could travel faster than airplanes. If anyone can reach these gardens in time it was the demon.
“Demon... I know it is a remote service and you will go free afterwards - but you are the only one I can turn to that can help in this situation. There is a white haired elf, in this location. She is in trouble, I need you to make sure that she stays alive. This is not an order but a request, I want nobody to die in there.” His thoughts struggled he feared it would happen, but repressed the option of Yelena getting hurt.
Marco asks for a moment of privacy and send a message to Jed.
>> Jed, Yelena is hurt in this location - please send a spirit to help. There is no time - she is in a middle of a gun fight.
The second message is for Yelena.
>>Help is coming, don’t die. Despite his efforts, a single tear reaches Marco’s right eye.
“What is it?” Asked Sophie.
“A friend of mine... she was hurt... “
“Just a friend ?” Asked Sophie.
“More than a friend...” Confessed Marco.
“But magic is a powerful ally, I have sent help her way.”“Don’t be silly... we should go and see her.” That was awfully uncharacteristic of Sophie, to show interest in Marco’s life. Maybe in her own way she was reaching out for him. Despite doing almost all of the talking that evening. Marco struggled, he wasn’t sure what to answer. Yelena in a middle or after a gunfight bleeding to death wasn’t exactly part of their romantic evening.
