Kane
“Do you own everything with Barret written on it?” she asks me, and I have to think for a moment.
“No.” I reply thoughtfully.
But I’m yet to put my name, as well as a few other things on her.
“The hotel isn’t named Barret,” I tell her and she pokes her tongue out at me, drinking her coffee and looking at me over the rim of her cup.
I’ve taken her out of that apartment, I’ve almost had her lips on mine and now I’m watching her eat. It’s the hottest damned floor show but I’m finding it hard to focus on eating, doing anything really.
“What do you want to do?” I ask her, “Not just today or tomorrow, but what is it that makes Trudi tick? What’s your passion?” I ask her.
She doesn’t look fazed or embarrassed by my question, which makes me glad. I have a knack for making things happen when people have ideas, goals or just passion, and I want to know hers.
I know I sure have a passion for her, but I’m trying to focus on something else while we’re in public, trying to control my urge to bend her over the buffet and take her right here, right now.
“It sounds stupid, but I’ve always wanted to be a real estate agent or manage property. Seeing old homes turned new, families made happier than ever… that sort of thing… like I said it’s stupid.”
I’m nodding, but thoughtfully, I don’t think it’s stupid. “Why though? Why real estate. Why the family home?” I ask her, probing a little deeper before I scold her for being down on anything she says or comes up with.
“Because I guess I never had one… being an orphan…”
I make a sound without meaning too. I feel my heart beat faster, bloom and finally about to burst.
I could just kiss her.
“Family…” I croak, fighting back my own emotions, which I never show, especially in public. The thought of Trudi as a mom, making a home and having a family…
Our family.
It’s more than I’d hoped for.
“Do you want to tell me more about being an orphan?” I hear myself asking, registering her uncomfortable look.
“There’s not a lot to tell… I grew up in state care. Fostered until I was about six… until I started to get, well. Until I grew out of my state provided clothes too quickly for anyone to be that interested in me.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “What are you talking about?” I ask her, trying not to let my anger show.
“If you had a kid and they grew up, but they also grew out, would you want to shell out on new clothes so often? Would you want your foster kid to be the one teased in class, always coming home early, always crying? Would you want your kid to-”
“Okay, stop it!” I growl, tossing my napkin down in front of me, “I’ve heard enough.”
She’s working herself up to being upset again, our day’s not supposed to go this way. I’m changing all that. Her past, her present and her future, starting right fucking now.
“I don’t know where you get all this, but it’s not how I see you Trudi, okay?” I say, forcing myself to keep calm.
“What do you see then, and how would you know what it’s been like for me, huh?”
I reach over and feel relief when she doesn’t take her hand out of mine, which I close over hers and squeeze gently.
“I think you’re the most wonderful, beautiful and warm person I’ve ever met,” I say honestly, “Not to mention honest, feisty and… a little opinionated,” I add with a grin, and we both end up smiling.
“So what’s that got to do with real estate?” she asks me and I think for a moment.
“I think they’re all traits of a very successful person in the making,” I say with total confidence. I really mean it.
“Really?” she asks, making a face that kind of cancels out what I just said, but I know she’s got it inside, she just needs to find it more often.
“Here.” I tell her, putting a key on the plate next to her.
“What’s this?” she asks, looking uncertain again.
“The key to your building. That opens every door. It’s yours.”
“What am I going to do with that?” she asks, looking uneasy.
“You’re the new agent. You’ll need to hire a new Super, but I can help with that, I have an agency pool…”
She looks shocked, stunned. “But I don’t even know how to…”
I’m shaking my head now, I won’t let her start with all this again.
“You know exactly what needs doing with the place, you just told me, plus you know everyone in the building, right?” She nods.
“But…”
“No buts. You started this morning, but you can have the rest of the day off,” I bark at her, pretending like she’s got a new possessive boss as well as a new possessive landlord. “You did say you’d give me today anyway… and you are mine, for today,” I growl.
“What’s my pay?” she asks cheekily, then flushes with embarrassment, shocked she’s even going along with this. But I’ve already made my mind up.
“Your apartment, plus a base salary we can discuss later. Your first piece of real estate, let’s see how you manage it. Give you a taste for it.”
“Uhhh… You’re serious, aren’t you?” she asks me, gulping. My stern face is my answer. I wouldn’t joke about something like this.
She wants, she gets. That’s how it’s going to be from now on, and things that can help her too, things that can help other people. Help her be who she wants to be and go where she wants to go. As long as it’s with me…
Sounds like a perfectly fair suggestion in my mind.
I have to make her mine, properly claim her and as soon as possible. I don’t think I’ve taken my eyes off her for more than a few minutes since I met her. And I don’t think I ever will.
“Trudi…” I start and I
