Escape & Love (continued)
Nothing, nothing at all would have prepared her for the eyes she met. Dimitri! It had never occurred to her that the Dimitri Suzanne spoke of might be the Dimitri she'd known years ago. At this moment, she'd rather have been fired by Jason. She looked into his eyes, they were dark and cold, and his stare was directed at her. She now felt the gaze of everyone on her shoulder. Why oh why couldn't she be left alone? Why is it her past always haunted her? Her gaze was locked unto his. She could not turn away. After almost five years of carefully avoiding Dimitri DeVasquez, this had to happen. Why wasn't she ever the lucky one? Why couldn't fate be nice to her for once in her life? His expression was hard and cold as his eyes. The intensity of heat upon her back by the others forced her to look away. She almost hugged Jason when he began to speak. Introducing her to a guy she'd already met and speaking highly of her, when she know that Dimitri was probably thinking every bad word that could be summoned from the dictionary.
"Well Miss Bennaporte, show us what you are capable of." She looked at him, for she knew that this carried double meaning. Doing her best to ignore him, she opened her briefcase and retrieved the disks she had. `Screw Dimitri' she thought to herself. She'd learnt to say it over the years and actually mean it. She would not let him affect her, and she would do everything within her power to maintain her calm around him and perform her best. She couldn't afford to move again. This last move had caused her to dig into her savings, and there was no longer any point in moving, because here she was, face to face with him once more. She got up and went to the projector where she inserted the cd and began to speak as an image came onto the screen. She would forget that Dimitri existed, and do her presentation like she'd done many times in England and Canada.


Dimitri could only stare at the woman who stood only several feet away from him. If he hadn't pricked himself with the fine point of his pen, he would not have believed that it was Elicia standing in his boardroom, doing a presentation as his employee. What had happened to her job in England? He wondered as he continued to stare at her in the now dim room. He remembered that his sister had told him that Elicia was vice president of some company in England. Who would have thought that she would be in his office! He wouldn't be surprised however if she'd only moved to satisfy her dream to travel the world. She'd made sure that she had enough money too, blackmailing his poor father into giving her cash. He could not believe that his father had agreed to such a thing, and he had been more surprised to find out that It was his dear Elicia who'd acted this way. His parents had warned him, told him several times in fact that she was only after his money. He had been stupid enough to defend her, claiming that her father was a neurosurgeon and her mother a pediatrician. He shook his head at how gullible he had been. She never took the time to introduce him to her parents or sister and brother, whom she'd also claimed worked great jobs. He never questioned her loyalty, he had allowed himself to be sweetly deceived by fair Elicia. That would not happen again. He now looked on her with scorn. He knew that she would want him to fire her, that or she would quit. But oh no, he would torture her for what she did to him and his father. She probably needed the money to accept a job beneath her experience level, and he would be darned if he was going to make it easy for her. Oh no, Miss Bennaporte was going to suffer for all the damage she'd caused. He'd make sure of it.

Escape & Love
Elicia reached over to stop the Alarm only seconds after it sounded through her dream. The blinking numbers on the clock told her that if she did not get out of bed within the next five minutes, she would be late for work like yesterday, and the day before. Bracelets dangled as her right arm hung loose over the side of the bed. A smile curved her face as Neoki the cat moved beneath her fingers. She wanted to give herself up to sleep once more, to get away from reality and all the pain that followed her everywhere she went. Shifting the comforter to a side, she threw her right leg over the bed, seconds later, the other followed. A loose yawn escaped her as she slowly dragged her feet across the floor to enter her bathroom. She warmed her skin with the hot tap water and looked up to stare at her gloomy reflection, only to notice a figure in the doorway. She sighed...if only she hadn't lingered and simply entered the bathroom...now she'd definitely be late for work. Turning around, she looked down at the thirty eight inches little girl who looked up at her with hazel colored eyes and a thumb in her mouth.
"Adelaide, remove the thumb." Her look was stern as she picked up her daughter. Adelaide placed her head against her mother's shoulder as soon as their bodies made contact. "Why are you up so soon honey?" She whispered against her daughter's brown curly hair. "Aunt Melissa shall be here soon, so she'll prepare breakfast for you like she's done for the past few days. Mommy can't be late for work again. I was lucky enough to get this job as it is, I know we've only been here three weeks, but we are lucky. I've found you a great school and I got a great job.' Elicia sighed when she realized she might as well have been talking to herself. Nonetheless she felt the need to go on, even if her daughter wouldn't respond to her like an Adult, she'd still appreciate any chat this four year old had to offer. `I'm sorry I took you away from your home darling.." The shrill of the doorbell prevented her from saying anymore. She hurriedly made her way to the door which she excitedly flung open.
Melissa stood outside the door with a smile as bright as ever. Elicia could never understand why her cousin was always so happy or why she had such an optimistic view on life.
"Hey Ella." She greeted as she entered. "Who's my favorite little girl?" Her merry voice asked as she opened her arms. Her gaze was fully focused on Adelaide who raised her head slightly to acknowledge the presence of the intruder. Her head fell back to her mother's shoulder as her vision confirmed that the intruder was no one important.
"I do not know what is wrong with her." Elicia said, offering an excuse to her daughter's ill manner. "Whatever she is up to I can't deal with right now, I'm going to be extremely late for work if I linger any longer." She went on her knees and pulled Adelaide away from her body.
"Adelaide!" She said, commanding her daughter's gaze to focus on her. "Stop whatever it is you are trying to do, I've got to go to work, and please don't give your aunt a headache like you did on Monday." She stood up as her daughter's eyes began to fill with tears.
"Thanks a lot for your help Mel, I do not know what I would have done if you weren't here."
"It's my pleasure. I mean I love this little girl here, and that's what families are for right?" Melissa responded as she picked up the little girl who was now shedding tears. Satisfied with the answer, and pained at her daughter's tears, Elicia entered her bathroom once more. She was certainly going to be late.


"You're late." Suzanne, her secretary said only moments after she'd entered her office.
"Yeah? Tell me something I don't know." Removing her coat, she made her way to her desk as Suzanne placed a hot cup of coffee on it.
"No, I mean you are really late." Suzanne smiled as she looked at her boss' unruffled face. She cleared her throat to make another attempt at enlightening Elicia of the matter at hand. "I know you're superior to me, but you did ask me to be frank with you when necessary."
"Yes I did, and I appreciate that. But you are telling me something which I already know Suzanne." She smiled as she sat and looked up at her secretary's disturbed expression.
"No, I'm telling you something you don't know." Satisfied that she'd gotten Elicia's attention, she continued. "I've been working here for six months, you've only been working here for five days, three of which you've been late. This hasn't bothered Jason because he's taken to you. I'd even say he is attracted to you, which is a definite plus for you because you've got the looks." She paused to blush at the last statement. "However," she continued, "The CEO of the company has arrived today, without any warning- he normally does this. If you think he's anything like Jason you're wrong. He has the looks and body of a Greek god, but he isn't lenient with anyone and I doubt he will be with you. Jason came in here several times this morning in panic looking for you. Apparently Dimitri, the boss, has called a short notice meeting. He has called several people to this meeting, you especially, since you are the new design manager, he wanted to know what ideas you're bringing to the company. I don't think he's going to take your being late three times this week lightly." Having said that, she fell back into one of the chairs closest to her and observed Elicia.
Elicia looked at the woman who now sat across from her. Having slowly absorbed all that was said, she could only utter a few words. "How does he know I was late three times?" Suzanne smiled at her ignorance.
"Remember Andrew?" At Elicia's nod she continued. "Before you came, he tried to get your current position several times, refusing to accept the fact that he lacked the experience. He's quite jealous of you really. When Dimitri came, he made it his point of duty to inform him that you'd been tardy more than once this week." Being only eighteen, her age showed through her eyes as she smiled sympathetically at Elicia.
"So should I save him the trouble of firing me and quit now?" She sat back in her chair as she sent the question to her companion. The sensible part of her mind told her to quit lingering and rush to the meeting before it ended - better late than never. But the most stubborn part of her argued with sense saying- `What's the point if she's going to be fired'. She rubbed her brows as she contemplated what her next move should be. She should first clear her desk and go job hunting once more. Before she could move, Jason entered with a worried look on his face.
"Oh Elicia!" His voice took a higher note as he threw his arms in the air. "Thank God you're here." Turning to Suzanne he said. "Did you not have the common sense to tell her that she was wanted in a meeting?" Before Suzanne could respond, Elicia commanded his attention.
"Actually Jason, she did. I saw no point in attending the meeting." At his frowned face, she added. "I mean if I'm going to be fired, what point is there in attending?" His face took on a softer expression, lightening his thirty eight years of existence.
"Elicia, I will admit that Dimitri is a bit on the rough side, but I promise you, if you show him and all the other board members the presentation that you showed me, your tardiness will be overlooked. However I would strongly advise that you make it on time from now on. Now that Dimitri has his brother overlooking the other branch, he's going to be here full time." With that said, he motioned for her to follow him. Relief washed over her as she absorbed the possibility of keeping her job. She hurried into her coat and accepted the briefcase as Suzanne handed it to her. Following Jason's quick steps was no easy task. With every step, her insides rattled with fear. So much for all the speech classes she did in high school. Jason came to a halt in front double oak doors forcing her to stop.
"Okay Elicia, make me proud." He inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly as he opened the doors and entered the room. Elicia did the same, however her entry was a bit slower that his.
"Good Morning everyone." She said in her professional voice. "Pardon my tardiness." In school, she'd learnt to never explain the reason for being late unless asked. She was glad when the people around the table only greeted her. She took the seat that was offered to her by Jason. When she began to relax, she noticed that there was an unusual silence in the room. Not that she had ever been in this one, but her experience in board meetings made her aware of every detail, and silence was never good. She looked up to the person who sat across from her, only to notice that he, along with everyone else- but her, were looking to the end of the table...where the boss undoubtedly sat. Fear of losing her job came to her mind as she slowly turned her head to meet her fate.