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Post by Lonestar on Feb 13, 2011 0:49:02 GMT -5
Walking through the lobby the lady lifted her hand to wave at other employees she had begun to know over the past of months of her employment here at the hotel. It was funny to think that she could call most of them her friends. In the past, friendships, actually, any relationship in general, had always been hard to come by for the woman. Outside of the pack that she had been a part of for the minimal amount of time that Erixic was still involved and while Taelix was a child, she had not developed many ties. It was easier when you could pack up and move when you needed to without having to say your goodbyes. She had already endured enough pain with that experience and did not want to have her son exposed to that sort of heartache. Besides that, it was easier to keep her shifter secret if there was no one to tell it to. In the hotel, people like her were crawling around all over the place so there was no worrying about having her identity, or that of her son, exposed to the world. Times were good now and they showed promise of only getting better. For the first time in a long time, she had a steady job she could always rely on thanks to her alpha. It seemed the spirits in this place since they had returned from their November cruise in Fiji had been exceptionally high as well which of course, could only be attributed to the renewed engagement announcement between Erixic and Ayrn. Everyone had been expecting it; it was hard to ignore the chemistry between them or the love they had for one another even during the half a year period that they were split up. Haley Ann was one of the ones who knew without a doubt that the pair would be getting back together and because she knew the head of the pack, the continuation onto marriage only seemed like the most logical thing to happen after their relationship had been rekindled although, she personally did not think it would happen so quickly with the way their split had been. Regardless, it was all anyone could talk about it seemed. When it was to take place, where it was to be, and how many people would be attending the wedding were the most common pieces of gossip that flew from employee¡¯s mouths. Most of the time, the lady passed by laughing and continued about her job, content with the fact that when everything was decided, she would be among the first to hear about it. Walking along, she turned down a corridor and pushed open a door that opened into the main offices of the hotel, smiling at the receptionist who looked up briefly from her work before looking back down at the paper in front of her and tapping her pen on the edge while replying in a bored tone to the man on the phone. "No Emelio. I've told you about seven times already in the past ten minutes that we do not need our normal order of pasta. We need double for the conference we are hosting this weekend. Hiding her grin as the poor maiden stressed the word double as if she was desperate to get the point across before she lost her marbles, the shifter moved quickly on down the short hallway and knocked quietly upon the sill of an open doorway before poking her head in only to wish she had not knocked. As usual, the lass was struck by how handsome the owner of the hotel, the boss of her boss, was. He was bent over some paperwork on his desk, biting the eraser end of a pencil like a kid in high school as he tried to work out the math problem that he had been stuck on for the past half hour. It was a look she knew well. She did have a child in his senior year of high school after all. Seeing him made her emotions flutter like a younger girl's making her unsure of her own voice as her usual confidence that was always so prominent melted away. Gaze was drawn to the lips wrapped around the end of the writing utensil. The upper was full, but not overly to where it was nearly heart shaped like some girls were and the lower was thinner, drawling across the bottom of the upper lip in a way close to perfection. What would it be like to kiss those lips? The instant that thought entered her brain she wanted to turn around and run out of the door as a blush crept upon her cheeks and the embarrassment for thinking such a thing made her want to hide as if he could hear her thoughts. Boy was she screwed up. This man was probably ten years her junior and if not exactly that then he was close enough. So why was she attracted to him like this? Sure he was handsome, but so was Erixic and she had never had a sexual thought about him in her life even when they had both been single. Then it dawned on her. Damien was safe and familiar, so very different from the daredevil stranger she had spent a whirlwind summer with in South Africa when she was sixteen and it probably did not help that she had not been with a man in at least three years. There had just never seemed to be enough time between working double shifts in order to save up money for basic necessities as well as Taelix's many athletic ventures plus putting some away for his college fund every now and then. Three years left time for a lot of sexual energy to build up inside of a person. Cursing herself for neglecting what she should have kept control of, the woman decided that she needed to go out that weekend, maybe with some girls, and blow off some steam. On second thought, she did not want to go with anyone else. They did not need to be tag alongs while she went on the prowl for at least a one night stand that would sustain her for the next three years. Who knew, maybe she would get lucky and end up finding a guy that would actually be interested in dating her. Who was she kidding? She was a thirty four year old mother of a teenage boy; not exactly prime real estate by any means. Anyways, sex would be nice for once. Even if she had to deal with the teen who thought he was her keeper when she returned home the next morning. Damien's attention then shifted from his work to her and she forced every bit of what she had been thinking out of her mind then smiled politely and stepped forward into the room, holding out the folder that Erixic had asked her to bring him. Got the fitness center's paperwork. Erixic said to apologize for not getting it to you sooner.
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Post by Ayrn on Feb 14, 2011 0:56:42 GMT -5
There was really no way that a man like him around so many people on a daily basis should be lonely. Though it was not just being around the people that he called friends and the customers and workers that he yearned for. From before he had met Laina he had craved having a significant other. For him seeing Ayrn and Erixic was hard since it never seemed like he was going to be that way, they seemed to luck out so well in finding one another and they were really powerful when together. Sure they had had their downside when they had broken up but from the moment that it happened he knew that it was simply temporary while they licked their wounds from their last fight before deciding that they were ready to give it another try. After all he knew that if it was intended to be permanent that Erixic would not have remained working here at any cost, he would have no interest in seeing her when he had seen just as anyone had the linger glances that had been shot in the girls direction on the days that he worked in the fitness center. It made him insanely jealous not because it was Ayrn since the girl had never been more then just a very close friend but for what was between them. At times he had wondered if he and Laina had shared the same connection though where was she in the times that he needed her the most, not here that was for sure. That was beyond him though since she was gone and he had a feeling that she was not going to be coming back anytime soon, there had been a long period of time that he had been willing to wait for her to make sure that it was true but she had never returned so therefore it was time for him to move on. So how did he cope? Well he drowned himself in work until he felt over his head, he had finished every entire piece of paperwork for the hotel for the next couple months when Ayrn had been away from the hotel he was mainly just biding time where he was sitting now. He almost regretted even coming down from his place this morning and getting dressed since there really was nothing to do as he looked around his office for possibly a paper out of place that he might have missed or something astray. He took the last file out of the desk drawer and overlooked it and that was when he was just leaning back in his chair debating putting his feet up on his desk when Haley Ann walked into the room with a piece of paperwork. He was dressed sharply as he always was since he made sure to make a good impression on the people of the hotel in case there were business people that he needed to speak to. He was wearing a traditional blue dress shirt with a grey tie and black dress pants and polished shoes. He dropped the pencil to the desk when she approached and warm smile crossed his face. He had seen the lady in passing when he had entered the fitness center to talk to Erixic or said hi while he was on his way elsewhere though he had never really paused to take much of a notice to the girl, all because he had been so infactuated with Laina, but the girl was quite stunning. Sure she was older than him but she had the youthful charm that made her appear that they were nearly the same age, he knew that she had a child though she did not seem old enough for that sort of thing, definately not a kid that was nearly finished high school. He could not help but wonder what had happened to the father, would he really have been stupid enough to leave a girl like her alone with a baby? She did not seem like the type to have men leaving her, not even with a suprise like he assumed Taelix would have been. It proved her good values of how the kid reflected perfect manners and seemed to have a good head on his shoulders. If anything was a testament to the girls persona that definately was, how she reflected on her child. Good morning. Rich Italian tainted vocals flow forth towards her. He pushed a folder in his direction telling him that it was the file from the fitness center and that Erixic apologized that it was so late a small shrug was uttered along broad shoulders. That's fine, he's been away. He stated with a small smile. A sudden burst of wind outside caused the window to shutter in the frame, water from the rain getting forced against it. He knew that this morning was supposed to be stormy but so far it had not seemed to kick in. Now it was full force as the crack of lightning thundered across the sky. Just as he stood the entire room went dark and he assumed the rest of the hotel as well. Luckily the lady was still in the room and not walking back down the hallway, there were a few yelps of suprise by the other people in the other offices. The generator should kick in, in a few minutes and we will at least have emergency lights. He stood there for a moment, he knew that it should not be taking this long. A flashlight was pulled from the desk and flickered on. How good are you with holding flashlights? I need to go to the main power box and see if the switch for the generator is off, I am sure that the people in the elevator are probably panicky by now. Can you come with me and hold the flashlight? He asked before handing her the flashlight and leading the way down the dark corridor that he knew off by hand. The stairway was just on the other side of the doors of the offices and the large door was pushed open as he headed downstairs, the keys jingling in his pockets he pulled them out once they were down to the bottom level of the hotel. The door was held open for her once they were on the ground level. The parking lot was off to the side but he headed towards the laundry room and large boiler room. In the truth he did not want to come down here alone. Master key was produced and pressed into the lock that turned easily with the prodding. The door opened to a large group of panels on the wall, all of which he used to know how to use but he had not needed to be down here in quite awhile. The generator was in the corner, but it was not as simple as just pressing a button. Just a warning its really loud when it starts up. It took a few moments of scanning the panels to notice that one marked emergencies was flicked off and he flicked it, a loud whirring noise started up and the whole room seemed to shake while the generator started, he was glad that the door was going to be closed so it might be a little less of a racket. There were enough lights to be able to see where you were going though there were still dark shadows and it was a little eerie. He opened the door from the garage for her again before jogging up the stairs. Once they were back on the main level he headed towards the fitness center to speak to Erixic. Once the other man was found he spoke. So I think we will just close the fitness center down for the rest of the day, so who ever wants to go home is free to, but I do need some help if any of you are willing to stay. There was Haley Ann left as well as Erixic though he was sent back to see Ayrn after he accomplished the checking of the hotel to make sure that none of the customers were freaking out. The other guy that offered to stay was sent to work at the front with the other guy at the front desk with promise of getting paid double time since the others had been sent home with pay. To him working in the dark was worth paying someone double time to stay and help on things that their job did not entail. So I am really hoping that no one is in the elevator since the generator does not power it, if there is they are not going to be pleased. I just need you to supervise me checking that, but unfortunately is a 13 flight climb to the only place we can get to it. He moved in the direction of the stairway luckily it was lit by little emergency lights as they climbed to the top where he had to produce the key card to swipe to allow them onto his floor. Walking past the door to his place there was a small other door that was unlocked with another key, the elevator shaft. Oh the joys of owning a hotel. He muttered. He was not about to call and wait for an elevator tech to come when the people could be trapped in there and distraught and there was probably such a wait list of people needing assistance with their elevator, he turned the main power switch off so that it would not move even if the power turned back on before then looking back to her. Can you hold the beam of the flashlight on the ladder? He asked before then easing himself over the edge and to start the long descent, he was strong though and it did not take him long to reach the bottom. Once there it was nice to be able to stand on the solid form of the elevator and reach for the trap door. Confirming that there was no people on the elevator it must have been just on its way to pick someone up which was good because he did not want to have to think of the liability of customers having to climb up the huge ladder that he had just scaled. The trip up was easier and he reached the top with an adrenaline filled sigh. So I think after that adventure I am ready for lunch, how does that sound?
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Post by Lonestar on Feb 17, 2011 14:50:02 GMT -5
Relieved that he had not seemed to notice her state of mind when she had come into his office, the girl passed off a smile easily and was just about to turn and leave, therefore ditching the situation before it could become awkward if she accidentally slipped up and began flirting with him, when the storm seemed to make it's force known, shutting out the lights of the entire building and rattling the walls as if they were made of cardboard. Instantly, her eyes adjusted to the darkness, but she remained as still as possible, hearing the surprised screams of people on the floor just above them and in the rooms adjacent as they all were suddenly submersed in darkness. Instantly, she knew there would be chaos in the fitness center and was about ready to das out the door when Damien's voice stopped her. Sighing to release the adrenaline of her own slight shock at the lights going out, she nodded, forgetting that he would not be able to see her reaction, and simply stood there in the doorway for a little longer, waiting patiently for the generator to do its job and start up the electricity again. When it didn't after a few long minutes, the male seemed displeased and she could hear him moving to open drawers from behind his desk. The beam hit her just as he asked if she would be able to help him and caught her sweet smile. Nodding to where he could see her this time, she approached and reached forward to take the light from him, carefully avoiding touching his hand, and shone the beam on the floor so she would not blind anyone. Yes I think I can manage holding a flashlight for you. Vocals were released in a bit of a joking manner as she affirmed that she would be able to accomplish the mindless task in order to help him take care of a much bigger problem. She followed him with the flashlight where he led, making sure to keep the light where she thought he would need it most. At first, she had no idea where they were going, but once they hit ground level, she realized that they were headed into the parking garage and was better able to direct the beam because of it. Haley Ann had never been in a boiler room, never had to need to, so when she stepped inside she could not help but to glance around a bit to see what all it housed. Once Damien came in, he refocused her attention so she was able to direct the light where it should be instead of in random directions as she investigated the interesting inhabitants of the room. At his warning, she smiled, again forgetting he could not see, once more agreeing with the assessment of many of the other employees that he was the best boss they could ever have; hands down. That’s alright. My ears will adjust to it quickly. She uttered without thinking, but froze instantly after realizing what she had said. It was common knowledge among the pack that all of their ears were hyper sensitive, but could adjust to block out certain wavelengths and frequencies of noises, but this man in front of her was human, not shifter. Did he even know she was a shifter? Surely he would not be foolish enough to think that Erixic had brought in a bunch of random humans to work alongside him in the fitness center, but of that she could not be certain. The generator started up with the flip of a switch and, as predicted, her ears adjusted quickly to the unexpectedly loud sound. Slowly, the lights started to turn back on so she shut off the flashlight before following along behind him again as they reentered the lobby. One of the first people they ran into was Erixic and she stood off to the side as the men decided to shut down the fitness center and any other extra activities the hotel might be offering currently. Going with her alpha briefly to help him dismiss all of those who were working out as well as the employees with promise of a full day’s pay, the lady was among the last to be headed out the door, worrying now about her son and hoping that he was safe at the school. She had just swung her purse over her shoulder and taken the keys from inside so she could go pick him up from school in order to be sure he was ok when she heard some of the other employees talking about Damien offering to pay them overtime if they stayed at work. Biting her lip, she debated leaving the opportunity where it lay and going ahead with her plans to pick up her son, but she knew that they could use the extra money so therefore in the end decided to stay, but before going to find the boss and ask him what she could do, she sent a text out to her son, asking him if he was ok or if he needed her to come get him. He answered by letting her know that the school was on lockdown and would not let any of the kids out to drive in this storm, but that they were all safe and enjoying the time out of class. Satisfied that she no longer had anything to be worried about, the shifter made her way over to where Damien stood. Where do you need me? She asked politely, refraining for tacking "boss" at the end of the question as she normally would have with Erixic. She nodded in understanding as he explained about the elevator and bit the end of her tongue to keep from speaking her mind when he told her it was on the thirteenth floor. Oh is that all? I could do that in my sleep honey. Before you were even thought of. Remaining proud of her self control, Haley Ann followed his lead and kept a pretty even pace as they moved up the stairs though she adjusted her speed a few times to keep behind him. She marveled at the amount of keys on the key ring he produced from his pocket to let them onto the top floor and into the elevator then grinned at him when he let out a sarcastic comment. As he began to climb down the ladder, she did as she was directed and shifted the light where ever it was needed. Then, as he moved from the ladder to the elevator, she climbed over the lip of the shaft to move down the ladder a few rungs and get closer to where the light would be more useful. When he had finished checking the elevator and was sure that no one was in it when the power went off, he returned to the ladder and began to climb up so she returned to the thirteenth floor and waited for him with the flashlight giving him the visibility he needed. Smiling at him as he came up from the dark depths of the shaft, she laughed some at his regarding the past few hours as an "adventure" then felt her stomach rumble in reaction to the mention of lunch. Yes I think lunch would be wonderful right about now. Upon answering, she waited for him to start towards the door that led to the stairs and together they started the climb back down to the bottom floor where the hotels own restaurant was.
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Post by Ayrn on Feb 19, 2011 18:50:17 GMT -5
He did enjoy that the previous noticing that the girl that entered his office was very good looking had passed since his mind was on so many other things since the hotel needed to be attended to. The trip down to the boiler room on the bottom level of the hotel was short since he knew where to look for the fuses to flip to ensure that the generator would be in working condition and powering the emergency lights of the hotel. When she told him that her ears would adjust quickly a glance was shot in her direction, he had not heard one of them admit that they were shifters though he was not silly enough to assume that they would be normal humans when they all came already knowing Erixic previously. He knew all about Ayrn and Erixic and he quite frankly felt like the minority in his own hotel. Though he did not mind only sometimes wished that he could be a part of their life, though he knew that a lot of them wished that they were just humans. There was a time where Ayrn had been depressed that she always had to keep such a secret and he had felt horrible for her. When they arrived back on the main level with the fitness center he was met by Erixic who asked what he would like to do and they discussed the options though Damien had already decided that they were going to have to close the fitness center for the day since all the equipment would have to be checked even when the lights came back on to make sure that it was all working and that there had not been a power surge. He gave the directions to one of the new workers to go around and clean all the equipment before he left and make sure that it was all unplugged so it would not over fry the circuit by turning all back on at the same time even though the set up allowed for that he did not want to take a chance when it was just as easy to turn it all back on when the time came. From there he made the announcement that anyone that wanted to go home would be allowed to leave with a full days pay since it had not been their fault that the power went out and it was not a big loss for him, though anyone that was willing to stay would be used and they would get overtime. There was only Haley Ann and another guy that decided that they were going to stay, proving to him that they would be the people that would move up in the ranks of the hotel with time since they were people that he was going to be able to rely on, though it was not as though he was going to take the workers away from Erixic since the man had done all the hiring himself and he did not want to upset him. At first when he had put Erixic in charge of the fitness center he was not too sure that it was going to work out since he thought that there was going to be a delicate balance between being the man's friend since he was Ayrn's fiance and being the mans boss though so far they had done nothing but get along well and agree with the decisions being made by each of them. The trust in the man was held to a large scale since he allowed the man to be completely in charge of whatever was happening in the fitness center, even going to the extent of giving him permission to purchase equipment that was needed and other things like that. The only aspect that he was involved in was the paperwork that was done at the end of the month every month, and that was only because it was a part of the hotel and needed to be included with all the other parts. He had recently been thinking of adding more to the fitness center, seeing if Erixic would think it to be a good idea to offer the use of it to people of the town who wanted to sign up like a regular gym, perhaps expand it a bit but he would wait for a different time to bring this up. As soon as their talking was finished he told the girl of the plans to go up to the top floor in order to make sure that no one was stuck in the elevator. When he confirmed that there was no one on the elevator he felt a lot better as he climbed back up not focusing on how far the fall to impending doom would be if he happened to slip, part of the reason he had brought Haley Ann with him since he would need someone to call for help. When he reached the top and announced that it had been enough of an adventure and mentioned lunch she seemed to have the same idea, which was nice since he did not enjoy going for lunch by himself. Good because I need an unbiased opinion on this restaurant. He uttered with a small smile. He then stepped closer to the door of his apartment. I just need to grab my car key, feel free to come in for a moment. He searched the key ring for the one that was a different goldish colour on the key ring before then unlocking the door, even though the likelihood of someone being able to get up through the last two flights of stairs was minimal. The front walkway of the apartment was modernly decorated and stunning with pieces that seemed to fit in to the room well, Ayrn had designed it for him. Artifacts of his Italian heritage as well as pictures hung along the walls, the keys were grabbed from the table by the door before grabbing a jacket from the closet and locking the door behind him as they both stepped out. He lead the way out to the garage level again, steps were quiet and relaxed along the stairs, he did not even stop at the lobby since they all had his cell phone number that they could call if they needed him and he was sure that everything could be dealt with without him being there for the next little while. I hope they are still open with the storm. It was something that he had not really thought of though he was sure that Donatello would allow them in even if it was closed to the rest of the public. When they reached the door at the bottom he had forgotten where he parked the car, if it had been a nicer day he would have suggested that they just walk though he knew that if that was the case that they would just get soaked. The maroon Charger's lights at the end of the row flashed and he stepped up to the car opening the passengers side door for her before then stepping into the drivers seat and starting to car. The car rumbled to life, a lot louder then a regular car as he backed out of the parking spot and onto the section that would lead out of the underground garage and into the storm. He signalled left as they exitted the garage and headed down the road towards the restaurant. Just so you know. I know that all almost all of Erixic's workers are shifters. I may be a human but I know quite a lot about the race, my parents adopted Ayrn and I am happy that Erixic hired people that he knows because it worked out very well. He wanted to make sure that he cleared up that he knew what she was and what the rest of the workers were and let her know that he was one of the ones that was in the circle of trust even if he was a human. They pulled into a parking spot in a lot just off the main road and he stepped out of the car to jog to the under cover of the building, waiting for her to join him before walking with her to the front of the restaurant, Sapporo De Italia was written in large elegant scrawl on the sign. So your son is in the same grade as Pirzi? He asked casually before holding the door open for her and stepping into the warmth of the room after her, their power was on which he was glad and they were greeted by a plump older woman who smiled as she spotted Damien. Just in time I think Donatello was just leaving, Ill tell him you are here to say hi. The man dipped his head in a polite nod as the lady moved off from her station to the back. Soon enough another man wearing seemingly the same attire as Damien about the same age appeared and grin broadened when he spotted his long lost friend. A smooth Italian greeting rolled off the other mans lips before Damien replied. E' bello vedere voi, il suo stato troppo lungo. ( Its nice to see you, its been a long time). The rich tones mingled with the foreign language and turned a couple heads from the seats close to where they were talking. Though he did not want to impolite to the woman he brought with him and after the initial greeting switched to English. Haley Ann this is Donatello a close friend of mine. As soon as introductions were made and small talk uttered he then showed them to a seat before excusing himself and informing Damien that he would call him sometime soon when he returned from Italy where he was visiting family. With a nod he then turned back to Haley Ann as he picked up the menu.
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Post by Lonestar on Feb 20, 2011 23:05:58 GMT -5
She was a little surprised to learn that they would not be eating at the hotel's restaurant and slowly, a feeling of dread began to build in the pit of her stomach although it was countered with a little bit of excitement. He wanted to take her out to a restaurant and valued her opinion of it, but what if it was expensive? What if she hated it and he ended up loving it? What if it suddenly became awkward for them if someone assumed they were on a date? Would he hastily deny it like the gentleman he was and make her feel like crap for even believing there was a slight chance he might be interested? It would not be hard for someone to look at her with him and believe they were a couple. Despite her age, the damsel still retained her youthful look thanks to the immortality that being a shifter lent. However, she hoped that such a situation would not unfold while they ate lunch and she would simply have to convince herself of the fact that they were simply co-workers grabbing lunch together because there was nothing better to do at work. The male unloaded another surprise on her when instead of going straight for the stairs like she had been expecting, he turned to his door and explained that he needed to grab his car keys and jacket while at the same time inviting her inside of his apartment. A forced smile found its way onto features as she nodded, brushing away the feeling nervousness that surfaced when she thought about entering his place of residence. What would it look like? Would it be a typical bachelor pad with things strewn everywhere? No, she could not picture a man like Damien living in such filth. He was always cleanly dressed and kept his hotel in pristine shape so there was no way he would change character so drastically to become a slob in his own home. Stepping in after him when he entered the held the door for her to come inside, she found he did not disappoint. The whole floor apartment was really breathtaking with a clean look. Just glancing around, she learned so much about him that she did not know previously. He liked practically anything with Italian heritage: paintings and sculptures were scattered here and there and looking at him she did not have to venture a far guess as to why. His skin was a darker olive than normal Caucasians, much like the typical people from the country he apparently adored so much, and she wondered how she could have missed that before. Everything looked as if it cost money, but he did not over do the decoration which she found she liked about it. It did not take him long to get what he needed so her time to take in his home was cut short as he returned to the foyer and escorted her out of his apartment. They made their way to the garage and she was not surprised when the second they walked out of the hotel, a large clap of thunder welcomed their presence. She smiled reassuringly at him when he commented about hoping they were still open during the storm although she was skeptical about the possibility herself. When they approached his car, she was a little taken aback when he moved with her to the passenger side door and opened it for her to get in, but she hid this reaction from him by ducking her head and swiftly moving past him to get in, hiding the pleased blush that rose up on her cheeks. Thankfully, the coloring was gone by the time he got into the driver’s seat so she was able to feel more comfortable about it during the ride to the restaurant. Head turned to look at him when he spoke while pulling out of the garage and she was not surprised to find that her suspicions were correct about him. He knew that most of the people that Erixic hired to work with him in the fitness center were shifters, including her, which came as no shocker though she wondered if he knew because her alpha had told him or if his intuition was sharp enough to comprehend. Well, we all appreciate you letting Erixic give us jobs. Some of us really needed a place to work. Some needed it even more than me. She thought back to the day the male shifter had approached her and offered her the job. Haley Ann had been on the brink of tears and was forever indebted to both of the men who she knew were her bosses as were a lot of other people in the pack. As they pulled into a parking spot in front of the restaurant, she leaned forward in her seat to try and get a good look at the place and instantly felt her stomach sink. The establishment looked nice, too nice. There was no way she would be able to afford to eat her without sacrificing something and besides that, in her wardrobe of a long sleeve black Nike shirt with a distinct white check on the front, tight spandex type shorts, and bright pink tennis shoes, she would stick out like a sore thumb. Especially when entering with a guy who looked like Damien. Slowly, almost reluctantly, she got out of the car with her eyes staring wearily at the sign that hung above their place of destination, but her companion succeeded at distracting her by asking her about her son. Instantly, eyes lit up and a brilliant smile crossed features, making her forget all of the anxiety about walking into that restaurant with him at the chance he gave her to talk about her son: her pride and joy. Yes they are both seniors at the same school. I'm really glad they have gotten to be good friends. With all the moving around that we've had to do in previous years I'm afraid Taelix has had a hard time of making friends and keeping them. By the time she finished speaking, she had already walked in the door without noticing and suddenly, all her previous nervousness returned, multiplied by five, when she saw what the inside looked like. Forcing herself to swallow hard, she tried not to look around or meet the gazes of any curious people who looked in their direction. She faintly heard his familiar voice as he talked to the hostess, but did not really pay particular attention to what was said because she did not want to be rude and ease drop. A moment later, a new energy filled the room and her eyes jerked up to look for the culprit, noticing instantly the scent of one of her own kind. Hazel pair landed on the bloke just as he reached out to shake hand with Damien and they exchanged a greeting in Italian. Frowning to herself, she watched the exchange, liquids mostly upon the stranger, while wondering if her boss knew that his friend was a shifter as well. After a moment, she looked away, allowing the men their time to talk, but the sound of her name caught her attention as Damien made the introductions. Smiling politely, she stepped forward to shake the hand of the man who was introduced as Donatello. Pleasure. Vocals smoothed out, gaze locking with his as a sign of mutual respect that she had learned to do since a young age thanks to her father. This man, who apparently owned the restaurant where they were at because all the employees showed him great respect, showed them their seats then excused himself while promising to call Damien when he returned from Italy. Settling in her seat, she picked up the menu and shyly looked across the table at her lunch partner, wondering how many other influential people he knew in this town. I didn't know you were from Italy. She uttered, opening the floor for discussion on his past if he wanted to develop conversation as she looked over the menu, nearly salivating at all the choices available.
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Post by Ayrn on Feb 25, 2011 3:07:28 GMT -5
The hotel during the time that it had been opened by him and Ayrn had changed a lot, one thing that they had never had there was a full restaurant, as of right now when there was not a big event there was a small bar that had a number of apetizers and drinks though there was nothing for the people that wanted to sit down and have a business meeting and yet did not want to step outside. He was almost positive that Donatello would agree to open up a restaurant within the hotel he had had it mentioned to him once before though nothing had came of it since it had been during a bad time where Ayrn was just starting to work things out with Erixic and getting super busy and right after that she had started having the issues with Dillon so therefore Damien had been kept so busy by the work in the hotel that he had not even had the time to think of some new additions though it had always been a dream of his to have an Italian restaurant that not only people of the hotel would be going to but people of the city as well, he knew that with the location of the hotel since it was right off the main street would be ideal. He was glad that he would be able to share this with someone since he did not want to take Ayrn there since she would be biased against it since she had been out on a date before with the shifter that owned it and he knew that Erixic knew who the male was so therefore it would not be beneficial to do that either, Haley Ann was perfect since she really did not have a close enough connection between the two to ever know who this guy was and she would be willing to give her opinion on the restaurant for what she thought to be truthful and he trusted the opinion of the woman. When he grabbed his keys from his apartment she looked rather awkward for being invited in though she seemed to be scanning the walls and decorations while she had been inside the place as though she was trying to judge his character which he found slightly interesting. Then when they stepped into the car he allowed the secret that he knew that she was trying her best to avoid be known, well at least allowed her to know that he was aware of what she was. She uttered that she thanked him for giving them all a job and telling him that they had really needed a place to work and head was dipped politely. It is me that should be thanking you, I have never been this lucky to have such a great group of people at the hotel, the guests have been just giving me great reviews and lots of good feedback from the fitness center. He paused for a moment before they reached the parking lot in which he pulled the car into and stepped out of only to jog for the covering of the sidewalk and look back in order to press the button to lock the car anthen lead the way with her to the door. While the place was classy it did not merit formal dress so she did not seem out of place with her workout clothes since she was not the only one in the room, lunch here was casual and then at dinner time it was turned into a fancy and formal restaurant, seemingly appropriate. When he started to mention Taelix the ladies eyes seemed to light up and instantly a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. It was clear that the lady had such devotion to the child, why could not all parents be like that? He had the feeling that she would give up anything even if it meant her suffering for the boy. He nodded, He seems like a very respectable guy. Damien had not met the teenager much but knew that he and Pirzi were close since they both rode to school in the morning together. Before long as they stepped into the restaurant the introductions were made and Donatello himself, the founder of the restaurant lead them to their seats before Damien assured him that he would call him soon and he disappeared out the front door, they were lucky enough to have caught him on his way out it seemed. She commented saying that she had not known that he was from Italy and a small smile played on kissers. Born and raised, I have only been here since Ayrn and I bought the hotel, quite a change for both of us, she lived with my family since she was in high school. Shes not from Italy though, she was born in France. He felt as though he needed to give her a little information of the past of them since he was sure that she had no clue and it was nothing more then casual talk. He was already sure that she was able to see how large of a part of his life that Ayrn played, not only as a business partner but also as the closest friend he had. What about you? Where are you from? He asked pausing his look from the menu as he seemed to have decided to listen to her. When the waitress came around asking for drink orders he ordered a sprite since the colourless pop did not seem to be as fizzy as the others and seemed to be a lighter drink, then then turned back to the menu as the drinks were brought and they were asked to make their decision on the meal and he ordered a four cheese ravioli after she had placed her order.
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Post by Lonestar on Mar 13, 2011 17:33:17 GMT -5
Pride once again took place of the worry that the lady felt as Damien complimented her son, turning the subject back to the woman's favorite thing to talk about. Thank you. I did my best to raise him to be so and think my son to be one of the greatest men I know, but I am admittedly biased and it is nice to hear from others that they think he has turned out nicely as well. Further speech was limited as they walked into the restaurant and were led to their seats by the owner once introductions had been made. Quietly, she sat across the table from her boss and let him finish his conversation with the other male before slipping in her curious question for him to answer. Momentarily, she glanced up from the menu in front of her face to look at him as he answered and offered a smile, obviously appreciating hearing about his past while also gaining some insight to the newly instated alphaess' origins. It was true, she knew that the pair of co-owners were close, but, like many, did not know that they had grown up together with his parents in a way adopting Ayrn although she assumed it had not been anything official from the he described it. I'm sure it was a beautiful place to grow up in. I always wanted to go when I was younger, but I never got the chance. Looking back toward the list of foods that was available, the woman began to make the choice of what sort of food she should order. There was a wide variety and all looked rather delectable, but after a quick glance, she instantly knew that she wanted the chicken and creamy marinara tortellini so before he did, she was able to set aside the menu just as the waitress came by with their drinks. Grinning and thanking their server, she accepted her sweet tea then turned hazel depths to look at her lunch partner as the worker left and he asked her about her hometown. I was born in New Jersey actually, but I traveled a lot as a teenager to different countries so it never really felt like a permanent home. Not long after that, the waitress came back to take their lunch orders. Haley Ann placed her choice first then Damien did. So how long have you known Donatello? He has a very nice place here. Closing her hands together on the table, she lifted her eyes to glance around at the establishment and all of its furnishings, taking in the beautiful sight that they all combined to create. Indeed, the owner had done well in choosing how to decorate in order to make his customers feel at home.
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Post by Ayrn on Mar 15, 2011 2:12:28 GMT -5
When the lady spoke of her son it was as though her entire persona changed. When he had pictured her before she looked like an intimidating woman, fierce and true to her beliefs but when she talked of Taelix her expression even down to her body language softened, and for a good reason, she obviously had been a good mother and he knew that she had been a single mother to the child so she had all the rights to be proud of the way that she raised the child especially when it was solely her task. He had such a respect for her and others like her since he could not imagine taking care of a child never mind doing it alone. It was in that aspect that he was the most immature, business wise and successfulness he was well beyond his years but in the aspect of relationships and serious romantic interests they seemed to have taken the back seat. Laina had really been his first serious girlfriend that he truly had assumed was going to work out and look at what had happened with that, he had gotten hurt anyways. He would have loved to tell her that they would have just been able to continue in their relationship like nothing happened but in reality he could not take her always having to leave seemingly at the times that were the most important in his life. The last time she had left he had been engulfed in taking care of the hotel as well as working to try to arrange for a way to free Ayrn from her captor and he had been so burnt out and over his head there were many times that he did not have a clue if what he was doing was right. Was a mere human really knowledgeable enough to have good enough contacts and be able to arrange for something like the cruise, the cruise had been Ayrn and Erixic’s idea and seemed to be ideal but finding the contact of Dario, another vampire had been up to him and it had been difficult since when he had met with the male before was a few years and he had gone through a lot of changes in that time. This would not be a worry though since it was already over and he no longer had to allow the thoughts of what could have gone wrong roam through his mind. She seemed to be interested when he told her about the past of Ayrn as well as small tid bits about him. He was unsure of how much the people in the fitness center and the members of the pack knew about her. She told him that Italy was a place that she had always wanted to go but never really had the chance he nodded, when he told people of where he gew up and where he had lived all of his life it seemed to be a common destination for people to travel to and there was no wonder why. A lot of people tell me that and I have to say that Italy is the kind of place that you can live your whole life there and never run out of things to see. He uttered gently. When the waitress came back she dropped off their drink choices and he handed the girl their menus when they were ready to order and he ordered a chicken wrap that he had never tried off their lunch menu. The choice that she made he had already had before from here and a small smile adorned features. Good choice. I have had that from here before. He told her, though it was true that he had had almost all of the features on the menu since there was a lot of times that he would come here. She then told him a little about herself adding in something that struck his interest. She told him that she was born in New Jersey but she had done a lot of travelling. Within the next little while he had decided that travelling was going to start to be a priority before he got too old and settled down since there were a lot of places in the world that he wanted to see with the exception of Europe since when he was a younger child he used to go with his father on his business trips and travel all over Europe. Oh wow. That sounds quite exciting. She then turned the attention on the restaurant and he was happy to answer the question that came next. I have known Donatello since I moved here from Italy and was looking for businesses to take over and had debated the restaurant business and it was then that I found out we had grown up very close in practically neighboring cities. Perhaps some of the reasons that he liked to come here to eat so much was because the decorating and the atmosphere of the restaurant was so authentic, there was nothing like going to a ‘traditional’ Italian restaurant around here and it bearing no resemblance to the ones back home that he knew about. When their food arrived he was happy to see that the service was impeccable and that the food once again did not disappoint. Donatello held the restaurant to a very high standard making sure that it was always getting the best ingredients that were fresh, putting forth a lot more effort than a lot of the restaurant owners now that would just cut corners in order to make it less work and more profitable. Though this restaurant because of the standard placed on it would have loyal customers that would trust the quality. The wrap in which he had ordered was savory and cooked to perfection. There were definitely no complaints on this meal that he was undergoing. When they finished he sat back in his chair for a moment, casual conversation was light and effortless between them. When the bill arrived he accepted it and immediately sent it back with his credit card. Thank you so much for joining me for lunch, it was nice to have company for once. It gets rather lonely by yourself all the time. He informed her with a small smile, signing his name on the receipt and then standing as she did so herself. He wondered if the power would be back on at the hotel, he would have to check the generator when he went back. He walked with her on the way to the door, unlocking the doors of the Charger with the keyless remote as the keys were produced from his pocket, being a gentleman he did not make his way to the driver’s seat first he opened the door for the lady so she would be able to get herself out of the rain and into the comfort of the interior of the car before then moving around the back to climb into his side. He pulled the seatbelt over his lap and buckled it before the turning the key in the ignition and starting the car, it was still very windy and slightly rainy as the gusts blew hard against the side of the car causing him to have to be even more careful with his steering as it proved to be pulling against the car hard, though it was only a short drive to the hotel and from underground in the garage there was no wind since the walls blocked it out. When they got there he stepped out from the car. He did not have any work left planned for her knowing she would probably want to go see her child and he was not about to stop her. Thanks again, and say hi to Taelix for me. He uttered politely allowing her to take her leave since she had probably want to the whole time when they were at the restaurant was he crazy inviting her out for lunch since he had been so lonely she probably thought he was so pathetic now. He allowed the thoughts to drop though as he made his way to the room that held the generator and checked to see that it had switched off when the power had come back on like it was supposed to and it was now resting there dormant like it was supposed to. He then stepped into the elevator taking it to the main floor that looked a little busier now that they were not in the dark. After checking on everything there he then took the elevator to his floor and unlocked the door, the wind was still howling and rain pelted against the sides of the windows and it was then that he poured himself a rum and coke and made his way to his balcony sitting on one of the chairs there to relax allowing his mind to run over all that had happened in the last little bit, the cruise, the hotel, Ayrn and Erixic being engaged again, Ayrn adopting Pirzi, Dillon having come back, the fitness center, and his break up with Laina. He could not help but feel lonely but with all this going on when did he have time for himself? It seemed impossible. His instant reaction to anything that sparked an emotion was to drown it in an overzealous workload and he was now starting to see the traits he was so determined not have showing in him just like they had in his father. Allowing body to be completely pelted by the wind, but glad he was out of the rain he rested his forehead in his hands that were on his knees. It was starting to catch up with him, though he was glad that he had realized this. Perhaps it was time for a vacation or even just a visit home.
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Post by Lonestar on Mar 22, 2011 15:41:31 GMT -5
Sheepish grin met his approval of her choice for lunch and she shrugged as the menus were taken from their table so they would have more room on the surface. To tell you the truth I only picked the dish because of the sauce. Creamy marinara gets me every time. Laughing a little at her own silly reasoning, she sat back and finally began to relax in the restaurant now that everyone else had quickly returned to their own meals and were not too concerned with who she was and what she was wearing, but the nerves were not completely gone. No matter how she tried, she could not convince the butterflies that continued to flutter around in her stomach of the fact that this was simply lunch with friends and nothing more. Each time she met his gaze, she would drop it almost instantly, looking instead to her drink or elsewhere in the establishment to cover her embarrassment. It was hard not to be reminded how handsome he was whenever she looked at him and each time that she did, the damsel caught herself and forced her mind to other things. Here he was being the polite gentleman who had offered to take her out to lunch for helping him and she was busy sitting across from him nearly swooning. She had no right to be interested and knew that even if she did, it was well known that the hotel's co-owner had been dating the same woman for a few months and he had to be at least five years her junior. Let’s not forget the eighteen year old that she had gotten pregnant with whenever she was sixteen. Who wanted to be a father of a child who was only a few years younger than yourself or even date the mother of such a kid? Spirits sank and the woman suddenly became very quiet, staring into her glass without saying much although the man had answered her question and seemed willing to continue on with further conversation. Great. I'm depressing myself. Why can't I think of anything else? Sighing quietly, she tried to force her mind out of its current state with only slight success. Thankfully, the meal appeared before them within the next little while and she was saved from trying to keep up conversation. For the next few minutes, they both remained preoccupied by the food in front of them which the lady was happy to find tasted amazing. Deciding that she would have to come here more often whenever she had some free money to spend, she finished off the rather large plate, thinking nothing of how much she ate because it was typical of a shifter to eat much more than the average human due to their increased metabolism rate. When she was finished, she delicately used her napkin to dab at her lips and then placed the dirty utensils within the plate. Hearing the man speak once more, she glanced up and returned his smile. It was a pleasure. I really do appreciate you inviting me. Out of habit; she took his plate and stacked it with hers to make it easier on the waitress whenever she came around to collect their dishes. She knew how tough it could be waiting tables to make your money and did her best to make it easier on anyone else who had to suffer through the type of job she had held for many years prior to being employed at the hotel's fitness center. When the bill came around, she produced her billfold, ready to pay for her part, but the male had already sent it off with his own credit card by the time her money was produced. Remaining silent, the essa simply took a ten from the cash that she had been ready to pay with and set it beneath her glass on the table as a generous tip. Once he got the bill back along with his card and signed the receipt, they both stood and headed back to the parking lot. The storm outside had calmed, but it was still raining slightly with heavy winds nearly blowing people off their feet so she continued to worry about the roads and other drivers around them as they made their way back to the hotel. Once they were safe in the underground garage, she sighed out of relief and was finally back to her relaxed self while stepping out of the car. Turning to walk back into the hotel with him, she expected for her employer to tell her what else would need to be done that night before she could go pick up her son from school, but he surprised her by telling her that she was free to go. Smiling broadening with complete appreciation, she almost went to hug him, but was able to catch herself at the last minute and instead extended her hand to shake his. No, thank you. And I will. Have a good night. Turning back around, she tried not to appear too overly excited at leaving work early as she made her way to her car. Climbing into the poor old vehicle, she shut the door behind her then turned the key in the ignition to have it start, thankfully, without a problem. Before moving anywhere, she picked up her cell phone and dialed Taelix's number to inform him that she was coming to pick him up immediately. Once that was done, she took to the hazardous streets and kept a sharp eye on her fellow drivers while maneuvering her own car safely and meticulously to the private school where, thanks entirely to Erixic and Ayrn, the young man was getting a quality education and was excelling in every sport that he felt possible to participate in. Parking as close to the door as she could, she sent him a swift text to let him know that she was waiting on him and smiled as within the next few moments he walked out of the front doors and climbed into the car with her. Kissing him swiftly on the cheek even though she knew it annoyed him, the lass then headed for home, completely content now that her offspring was safe within her protection. Some might have thought it strange that a woman of thirty four years old was still so anxious and protective over her son who was nearly graduated from high school, but Haley Ann knew that it was not just her personality, but the lioness within her who was so adamant at protecting their cub from any sort of harm. No matter how old her son got, she still saw him as that cute blonde haired little boy, amazed with the world and all that was happening around him. It was a shame his father had not been around to witness what a beautiful child they had made together. Thinking of her ex lover brought the usual sadness to her heart, but she quickly brushed it away just as they pulled into the driveway to their modest two bedroom, two bath townhouse. That flame had been extinguished long ago and she knew that if she ever ran into the man again today that she would harbor no feelings for him and would eagerly offer to introduce him to their son if that was what he wanted, but since they had not had contact in over seventeen years, she doubted that such a chance encounter would ever occur no matter how long her life sustained itself. Freed from work, the woman spent the rest of the day cleaning and washing dirty clothes while she set Taelix to work on his homework until it was all finished. By that time, the night had already settled in so she made a quick dinner of breaded chicken with macaroni and cheese for them to eat together before both of them went to bed. Waking the next morning, the damsel went to turn on the light in her bathroom only to find that the power was out. Cursing under her breath, she shifted into her lion's night vision and used that to take a rather cold shower before twisting her thick, curly red hair up into a bun and dressing in her usual work attire. Coming out of her room, she found her son already showered, dressed, and ready for school at the counter making himself a packed lunch in the dark. The power must have gone out over night. I'll call the electric company today and see when it will be fixed. He nodded, but said nothing in return as she moved around him in the kitchen to grab an apple and a bagel for her breakfast. With both of them ready, they went outside to find that clouds even more ominous than the day before had gathered in the sky. Hoping it did not mean that the day would turn out like the previous one, she continued to their car and got in on the driver's side while her son climbed into the passenger seat. Roadways were surprisingly clear as she navigated them to her place of work, but nothing was thought of it because of the earliness of the time. Arriving at the hotel, she pulled into the underground garage and took one of the spots designated for employees by the door. She was the first one there which she at first thought was odd, but it was quickly dismissed because as usual, she was here early by twenty minutes in order to help her alpha set up the center for the coming day. After walking through the side door and taking the elevator up to the ground floor, she kissed her Taelix on the cheek and wished him a good day at school before leaving him waiting on Pirzi in the lobby while she went in search of Erix to start the day. On her way to the center, she walked past the vacant receptionist desk and paused as she heard the local news reporter giving a morning update from the small TV set which was set on the side of the desk for the workers amusement. Once again I will advise anyone living in this county and any others who are also currently under the tornado warning to stay indoors where they can easily get to sturdy shelter. All schools in danger areas have been closed and most businesses have closed down for the same reason. Stay safe and tuned in to this channel or to our radio news patter 105am for further updates on the category five threat. Confused and alarmed, the shifter rounded the counter to see the panning away from the familiar news figure that held a serious face and was standing in front to an animation of the weathers movements. Suddenly, the information sank in and the reasons as to why the city seemed so dead this morning instantly made sense. Hurrying back into the lobby, she was about to inform her son of what she had just learned from the television when the loud whistling of wind and the battering of debris against the glass windows of the front of the hotel made the danger all too real. Quickly grabbing a hold of her sons arm, Haley Ann raced away from the windows and towards the center back of the hotel where the offices were. At the same time, she took out her phone only to call Erixic only to see that she had no signal because the cell towers had been taken out by the storm. They were trapped and she had no idea where would be the safest place for them to take cover.
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Post by Ayrn on Mar 26, 2011 2:32:02 GMT -5
She uttered to him that the reason that she picked the dish that she had for lunch was because of the sauce and while this might not stick in his mind for some reason he felt as though with this woman it was going to remain there even if it was not overly useful information. I mean when they would even go out for lunch again even if he had enjoyed it. After all that would be seen as him favoring an employee and he did not want to make it awkward for her between the other people that worked with her since he wanted to keep her as an employee. It was funny how a day like this made him completely forget about the other problems that never seemed to go away. At first he had thought that it was just about being so busy with the power outage but that would not explain while he sat here why he had not even had one thought about the blonde girl that proved that it was just as easy as it ever had been to stamp all over his heart. He had truly thought it was going to work out between him and Laina until she started to go on business trips and not return for months on end, the worst part being that she did not even tell him that she was leaving most of the time. He could not be in a relationship like that and pretend as if it did not bother him. This woman intrigued him, she did not appear old enough to have a son as old as Taelix and there was a maturity about her that he found rather intriguing. She would have had to be pregnant with the boy when she was very young and been forced since then to live an adult life that she was probably not ready for but not only that she had succeeded in it, raising a wonderful boy that showed off her best attributes. He wanted to tell her that, tell her that he admired her but knew that as her boss that would be considered overstepping his bounds. She seemed to have the same sort of appetite as Ayrn always did and so he chalked it up to be a shifter quality in which he smiled at. When he told her that he was really glad that she had come with him it was the truth since lately it seemed as though he had been eating lunch by himself and that was truly not something that he enjoyed. As they made their way to the car he wondered if when she said it had been a pleasure she had just been being nice and really had only agreed to come since he was her boss. He sat in the driver seat and navigated the vehicle to where the underground garage was. She told him to have a good night and he managed a small smile and waved to her as he stepped from the car to walk in the direction of the elevator. Knowing she would be happy to have the extra time to go see Taelix. When he arrived back at his portion of the hotel that was his living quarters he listlessly settled on the couch watching whatever tv show came about. Soon enough it was then that he found his way back out the door to exchange the Charger for the new Skyline in a moment of a midlife crisis, he did not regret it though since it would be something that he would enjoy. The next morning he nearly growled when he heard a knock on his door that seemed way too early to be true and he moved to answer it nearly tripping over something that was on the floor and stubbing his toe on the coffee table. Grumbling hateful things under his breath he opened the door to a frantic looking employee standing there. There’s been a tornado warning, we have already started evacuating all the people in the upper rooms to the lobby and the parkade. Eyes widened as he was told that and he then grabbed his keys and his wallet before making his way to the stairs and jogging with the other guy down it. Pirzi met them with Cairo on the next floor and when he asked where Ayrn and Erixic were she told him that they had been out when the warning had hit though she had been in contact with them since and they were safe elsewhere but would not be returning until all of this blew over. The offices as well as the kitchens would be the safest on the lobby floor since they did not have windows but it would be the best to be on the lower floor below that such as the parkade and laundry room. The wind was howling outside and smashing trees against the walls of the hotel. When he arrived at the doors of the office the woman that he had had lunch with the day before was within the room looking distraught with her son with her. A hand was placed gently on her arm. Hey, don’t worry we will be safe here. The rest of the staff and the people from the hotel were on the floor below them but with the smashing of a couple windows in the lobby he knew it would be more dangerous to have to walk exposed across the lobby floor to try to get to the bottom level then it would be to stay here. The offices were connected to the kitchen. Follow me. He stated to the other three while walking to the back towards his office but instead of turning in the door he turned to the right to another door there, opening it. It revealed the kitchen of the building. He instantly made his way to the dessert section, pulling out different types of ice cream and opening the small bar section to different kinds of toppings for them to choose from it was something to take their mind off of what was happening that was for sure.
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Post by Lonestar on Apr 26, 2011 23:41:12 GMT -5
It was impossible to ignore the terrifying sounds which the weather outside produced as it thrashed against the concrete and metal building. Nature was unleashing its fury upon the earth; in effect creating a war that fought against civilization and all the artificial monuments it had built for its purposes. As a shifter- one who’s very life felt as if it were constantly a battlefield for these two forces- the woman was acutely aware of the power that Mother Earth had at her disposal. It was difficult to not fear the wrath that was not selective of its victims when the knowledge that the very places you sought refuge in could come crashing down around you or be ripped from its foundation. True, the hotel was a large and study structure, but Haley Ann knew better than to underestimate the feats of God when he chose to display his power. Wrapping her arms around her son, she forced the teen to tuck his head against her abdomen while she covered his folded, crouched position with her own body, much to his displeasure. Many times, he tried to sit up and force her into taking further precautions to protect herself, but at every instant of protest, his mother ignored him and easily stifled his complaints afterward by pushing him further into a fetal position. They remained where they were, in the back of the room with all pieces of furniture that could pose a threat to their health if it fell in them pushed up against the opposing wall. She did not know how much time passed while they sat there. It did not much matter and besides, her mind was too preoccupied with the task of protecting her child to bother with wondering about the time of day. Slowly, she began to sort through the terror to leave only the determination that at times had been mistaken for stubbornness. She had been certain that they were the only ones on the floor since Damien was a smart enough man to watch the news so he would have been prepared for times such as these. He would have already gotten all guests and employees down below the lobby level where the parking garage served as a sort of storm shelter so she was rather surprised when a figure appeared at the door of the offices. At first, it was difficult to recognize this man as the owner of the hotel because of the darkness, but once he began to approach them, she knew instantly by his carriage that he was. Sighing in relief that flooded through her from some unknown source, the damsel's framework instantly relaxed as she drew comfort from the gentle hand on her arm and the soft vocals that assured her everything would be fine. There was no rational explanation for such a reaction. Rather, intelligence would suggest that the lady be even more worried for now not only was Taelix's and her safety in jeopardy, so was Damien's. Still, she could not help the natural sense of safety that came with the male's arrival. As strange as it may sound, she had complete trust in him; enough to place her life and that of her son. Without hesitation, she rose and moved to follow him at his request and was a little surprised to learn that there was a direct connection to the kitchen from the offices. Once they were inside, she paused, looking to her son before checking him for any injuries that she had not had the liberty of checking for before now. Once that task was finished and she was satisfied that he was not harmed in any way, her attention returned to her boss who had kept himself busy during the time she had fretted over her baby boy. An eyebrow was lifted as he set a large tub of ice cream out on the counter then took the cover off the bar of toppings. Smiling, she walked around him and produced bowls, spoons, scoops, and a box of cones from the cabinet below the topping bar and set they beside the tub of ice cream. She left the other two to choose what they wanted to use and picked herself out a cone and then scooped some of the ice cream onto it. I would have thought that you would be on the floor below us with the guests and employees right now. Why did you come up to the lobby? While focusing on covering her cone with chocolate sprinkles and peanut pieces, the damsel spoke sideways to the man, glancing discreetly to see how he was fixing his milk and sugar frozen treat. To finish hers off, the lass added a drizzle of fudge. This simple addition turned into a nightmare as the thick, liquid topping flowed past the edge of cone and got on Haley Ann's hand. Much to her embarrassment, she released a surprised squeal then immediately reacted by lifting her hand with the cone still in its grasp to her mouth so she could lick the excess fudge from her skin and also the cone. When she finally realized what she was doing, it was too late to salvage her dignity from the situation and she was forced to endure the embarrassment that she had brought upon herself with cheeks readily heating to bring about a reddish twinge to her skin. The laughter coming from her son that was undoubtedly due to her antics did not help the situation and only made the matron feel more foolish. As quickly as she could to hide her blush from both men, the lady turned away from them and made her way to the nearest wall against which she sat after folding her legs gracefully. She then began to eat her treat; slowly licking off the toppings and ice cream as a form of distraction to keep her mouth closed for fear of further embarrassing herself. From the kitchen, the disturbing sounds coming from outside were harder to hear because the walls around them were thicker so it was harder to tell what was going on. After finishing her cone, Haley Ann got up and began to scorer the kitchen for a radio with which they could keep updated from broadcasts on the local weather channel. Finally, she found one hidden in the far corner cabinet and set it on the counter. Thankfully, she saw that it was battery powered so it did not rely on electricity that currently was out. Turning the knob on the front, the lass surfed the channels till she found one that was giving current weather updates. Before carrying the radio back with her by the boys, she opened a few drawers and eventually found a deck of cards. Taking both back with her, she sat the radio off to the side with the volume set just loud enough for them to hear, then took the cards out of their case and began to shuffle them. For hours, they passed the time listening to the weather report and playing various card games. Nearly eight hours after they had taken shelter in the kitchen, there was a lessening in the howling of the wind from outside and the station's host declared that the worst of the storm had past. Although they were in the middle of a game when this news came, Haley Ann paused so she could listen to it without interference and then, as the man's voice faded away and a commercial came on, she slowly looked back and forth from her son and her boss then moved to stand; setting her cards down on the floor as she did so. Without hesitation, she allowed her curiosity to drive her out of the safety of the offices after that so she could view the damage. The sight with which her eyes were met took her aback a little at first, causing her to stop her forward motion and simply soak in all the sights, but after a moments deliberation, she decided that the damage could be a lot worse. Most of the main windows that showed the front lobby from the street were shattered and furniture had been tossed everywhere about the room. Holy moley. Speaking softly, the damsel found she was at a loss for words. Looking behind her at the co-owner who had just come up to her side, she suddenly felt a wave of pity and reached out to lay her hand on his arm in a reassuring and comforting manner. I'm sure it's not as bad as it looks. We'll get this repaired in a jiffy. Smiling at him, she did not even notice how her hand continued to linger on his arm until she shifted her gaze and caught the frown that had crossed her sons face. Upon seeing this expression, she dropped her touch instantly and occupied herself by again looking out across the wreckage.
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Post by Ayrn on Apr 30, 2011 4:17:17 GMT -5
It was amazing to him how quickly things would change, this morning everything had seemed as though it was in place and everything was starting to get a little more toned down for the man, he would have a little time off and be ready to return to work in the new month as a new person with new ideas and a new attitude and yet here he was this morning with the whole hotel posing as a threat to the wellbeing of the people within it since it was a large building in the city. He had been the first to go down to the parkade where he had told the rest of the staff to get everyone that was in the hotel. He had just been doing the last checks and making sure that every room was clear since he was the one that needed to be the one to put their life in danger to do it when he passed into the lobby and it started to get really bad. He felt the wind as it pushed through and shattered one of the glass doors at the front of the room and he cringed knowing after all the damage it was going to be an expensive fix but that was not his first priority right now, everyone in the building needed to be as safe as possible and he would not rest until he knew that this was true. The stairs were blocked down to the lower level and with the wind blowing things in the lobby around like they were nothing more than just papers from the desk he knew that he needed to take cover and now. The offices were really his only other choice since it was a place that would be safe from all the glass and he would be able to make it to the kitchen if this proved to be something long term. As he walked into the offices he noticed that he was not alone. The lady that had helped him the day before was in there with her son. He wondered if she too had been too late to get to the bottom floor and had been trapped a lot like him where they were now. He wished there was another way down but there was only two, through the elevator and down the stairs both of which were at the same end of the hotel, really close to the windows that were all now broken. When he approached the two of them a gentle hand was placed on the lady’s forearm with the promise that everything would be just fine since he had a feeling that this was not going to be the end of their lives or even the hotel. Once they were inside the kitchen he was a little more comfortable since it was farther from the ends of the hotel and there was nothing but solid walls around them that would not be bursting with glass anytime soon. When they reached there he pulled out all the toppings and ice cream that they needed to make sundaes. She asked why he was not on the bottom level of the hotel and he sighed gently. I could ask you the same question but I presume I would probably get the same answer. I was upstairs checking to make sure all the rooms were vacant when I got to the lobby and the furniture was being rearranged and instead of getting impaled by the flying objects I came here. It was a shorter walk. He uttered with a small smile. She noticed that upon eating the cone a piece of fudge that had placed on the top dropped off onto the girls hand and she chuckled as she cleaned it off and a small smile settled on his lips as he watched her. It had been awhile since he had been so relaxed around someone like this even in the midst of a storm like this one that could prove to be devastating. She then moved across the room and appeared to be looking for something when she found a radio that seemed to work which was a good sign since if the storm was as bad as they had been predicting the weather would have knocked out any of the signal that they were picking up right now. She managed to get it onto a channel that was broadcasting the news and all the updates of the storm. She then found cards in which they set to work in playing for the next eight hours that they were stuck in the kitchen. They seemed to be skilled and were quite the match for the man though he did not play cards too much. Finally they announced that the majority of the storm was over but with all the damage in the areas it would be best to stay where they were for the night. When he reached the lobby he overlooked it with a stunned look eyes nearly widened to their max but it was all fixable he was simply happy that everyone had been accounted for and there was no injuries, he went downstairs to tell them all that they were now able to return to their rooms but that he did not suggest that they were to leave since the road were all blocked with all the debris. He arranged for three different workers to cover the shift at the front desk since it would need to constantly be watched since there were no doors left. Haley Anne laid a hand on his arm assuring him that they would get it all fixed in a jiffy and she nodded though he knew it would take a lot more than that to fix the damage. You guys are both welcome to stay tonight. I don’t think you will get too far on the road and while the hotel is all booked up I have two spare rooms in my place. He had made sure that he always had the extra room that family would be able to visit him though so far the trips that his parents and the rest of his family made to see him were few and far between. He then waited to hear what their plans were, he did not want them to have to drive when it would be dangerous.
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Post by Lonestar on May 1, 2011 18:08:23 GMT -5
While Damien moved about informing his guests that they could safely return to their rooms and setting up a group of employees to maintain the front desk, Haley Ann and Taelix crossed through the lobby to the parking garage to check on the status of their car. Although the spot where they had parked was underground and therefore safe from most debris, it was not guaranteed that some of the roof had fallen during the storm and the mother was very worried. That car had been on its last leg when she had purchased it and gotten a friend in the pack to help her fix it up at minimal charge. It was the only mode of transportation they had or could afford to have at the moment and to lose it would be a disaster for them both. Taelix was too busy with school to not have a ride to and from class, track meets, tennis matches, and various other sports events. She needed the car in order to come to work and make all the money that was required to pay rent, bills, food expenses, and all of the other miscellaneous expenses that went along with regular daily life of raising a teenage boy. Crossing her fingers and closing her eyes to silently pray that the car was alright as they reached the garage floor via the stairs, she opened the door that led inside the garage. Shades lifted a little reluctantly, but she was able to breathe a sigh of relief at finding their car, and every other vehicle parked in the garage, in perfect shape. To her dismay, however; she could see a large pile of debris mostly consisting of large limbs from trees that had broken off and been blown by the wind into the car garage opening. They would be stuck here until the city maintenance men could get out onto the road and pick up the debris. Turning around, she motioned for her son to follow her back up the stairs and into the lobby once again where she sought out Damien. He was standing off to the side of the room informing a few tenants that they should probably not leave the hotel for another day or so while the damage from the storm was assessed and clean up for the most part by the city. Coming up to stand a little ways off from him so as to not intrude on the conversation, she patiently waited while he finished talking then turned his attention to her and her son. She was about to ask if he had any spare rooms which they could use for the night when he started to speak and answered the question for her. Heart sank when she heard that the hotel was all booked up and she began to wonder where they would sleep for the night before he answered by offering them both rooms in his suite. At first, all she felt was relief, but then she realized that it would mean he was sharing his home with them and she instantly knew she had to protest. Oh no. We couldn't intrude on your home. Your offer is too generous. Shaking her head, she tried to do the polite thing and decline his offer, but Taelix turned to her with a skeptical look. "Come on mom. We don't have anywhere else to stay and it's just for the night because the roads are blocked. Mr. DeVries wouldn't be offering unless he didn't mind." Huffing a sigh as she looked wearily at her son, Haley Ann gently bit her lip then turned back to look at her boss, feeling rather pressured as she again addressed him. If you're sure you don't mind... Vocals trailed off, leaving the subject open for rejection by the man. Before he could even answer however, Taelix was already asking her for the keys to their car so he could go get his backpack that had a change of clothes in it. Rolling her eyes and sighing at her eighteen year old, she handed the keys over without questioning why on earth he had a backpack with a change of clothes in the car like she wanted to.
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Post by Ayrn on May 1, 2011 19:00:49 GMT -5
With the storm ending things seemed to be winding down a little now that the people seemed to be exhausted from having been sitting there and waiting for eight hours for the impending doom that might have happened. It was now clear to him that he had not seen Erixic or Ayrn for the entire day and they were missing when he looked around the lobby now. He knew that they had left earlier but he had always thought that they had returned. They were smart though and probably alright and when he called and they did not answer he knew that their cell phones would either be dead or they would be somewhere that they did not have service, even if he did have a clue of where to look he was not too sure that he would even be able to get there since the word was that the garage was completely blocked in with debris and there would be power lines down and other hazards plus he was not really able to leave the hotel until he was sure that everything was under control. He hoped that they would call him within the next little while though so that he would not worry like he knew he would. When the woman and her boy stepped closer to him he made them an offer to stay with him in the suite of his hotel. The woman did not look as though she would want something like that even though their choices were slim right now, if Ayrn and Erix had been here they would have been able to offer her a place to stay but right now he was her best offer. She obviously did not want to intrude and cross the line between employee and boss but right now when they were talking about a natural disaster to him that line did not even exist. She was not going to yet a single mother and her son roam aimlessly without a place to stay around the city. His employees were fabulous and always said yes to him when he needed help so therefore he would always make sure to do the same for them. He knew there were going to be a lot of people needing rooms for the night so even though it was less than ideal now that his room was full they were bringing folding beds into the kitchen area for anyone that wanted to use them, he wished that he would keep rooms open in the hotel for things like this so that they did not have to resort to this but this weekend had been an exceptionally full one and people were staying for their business meetings. He sent one of the workers up into the rooms to make sure that every one of the rooms was in working condition and was thankful when he came back to tell him that hotel with the exception of the parking garage and lobby seemed to have withstood the storm very well. He knew that the reason the rooms had was because they were made of much higher quality materials since he counted on them being safe for the customers when the lobby was not as important. When she spoke and told him that his offer was too generous he shook his head. I do not mind at all though it is your choice. He uttered gently. He nearly laughed at the teenager when he seemed to get his point across and his mother started to listen to him and come to her senses realizing there really was nowhere else for them to go especially since any of the other places that they could stay would be busy with people in the same situations where they were not able to get home. She then uttered that she would agree to it as long as he did not mind he nodded. Of course not. When they reached the elevator it was then that he got a text from Ayrn telling him that they were stuck in a building but they were fine and would be back as soon as they were able to get out and the roads were clear. He sent one back telling her to be safe. As Taelix then moved off in the direction of the garage Damien handed him a key from his key ring. You will need this to get to the thirteenth floor on the elevator. He uttered before then stepping with Haley Anne into the elevator that was going up. He pressed the key into the button that would allow them to the top levels that houses him and Ayrn and her family. The elevator did not pause until they got to the top floor where he stepped out and into the room as the door was unlocked with the card key. He left the door open so that when Taelix came back he would be able to just walk in. Make yourself at home. He uttered and gestured to the two rooms that were off to the left of his room. Those are the spare bedrooms. He moved into the kitchen. Are you two hungry? He already had an idea of what he was going to make for dinner, he was Italian, he loved cooking and when it was just him alone there did not seem to be much point for cooking for one person so this would be a treat for him since he would have the girl and her son. He set to work boiling pasta and cooking chicken in the oven. As Taelix entered the house he looked up. Would you like anything to drink? He asked either of them.
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Post by Lonestar on May 21, 2011 13:27:54 GMT -5
Sighing, the lass conceded to the pressure coming mostly from her teenager although the attractive adult who was offering to allow them to stay in his apartment for the night was not helping the situation either. It was enough of a tempting offer because it meant she would be able to spend more time with him, but she knew that doing so would be dangerous. Damien was her boss and not only that, he was a human. Being involved with him was not only out of the question as for unethical professional reasons, but it would also be completely unfair for her to drag him into a world that was mostly considered unsafe for any non-immortal. Besides, she was probably only fantasizing that a possibility for a connection between them existed. She was older than him by quite a bit and although her appearance might not show it, she also had the baggage of an eight-teen year old son who would always come first. Taelix had been there as her support system for years and she could never imagine not having that sort of closeness with her son. He was her whole world; everything she did she did for him. It had been that way since she had found out she was pregnant with him. Moving back with her parents, starting off a new life in the states, and leaving her dream of traveling the world as a photographer were left behind. A much higher power was calling to her to be a mother and a mother she had no other choice to be. After her son got the car keys from her and the elevator key from her boss, she followed the elder man to the elevator and rode with him up to the thirteenth floor. She was surprised that it did not stop till they reached the desired level and stepped out after him to patiently wait by the door as he unlocked it. Following along behind him, she saw which two bedrooms he gestured towards and shyly nodded before moving to the door of one of the closest one and tentatively looking in. As expected, the bed there was made and it looked like it was rarely used so she felt a little better about intruding in his space. Hearing him ask if they were hungry, she stepped back, shutting the door gently, and made her way to the kitchen. Yes, but you don't need to go through the trouble of cooking. We will be perfectly fine with sandwiches. Smiling politely at him, she hoped he would not go through the trouble to cook them dinner and make her feel even worse, but this hope sank when she saw him get out food for cooking. Just then when she was about to protest again, Taelix walked in with a duffle bag in his hand and saw that Damien was cooking. "Oh yea. I had forgotten that Pirzi said you were Italian. Great! I love pasta and I'm hungry enough to eat a water buffalo." Glaring across the way at her son, she watched as he made his way past her just smiling away and went into the other spare bedroom to change. Sighing because she could not protest the man's cooking any longer, she stood idly in the hallway wondering what she could do just when their host asked if either of them wanted something to drink. Jumping at the chance, the woman moved across the kitchen to the fridge and smiled politely over at the owner. I can get the drinks. You're already doing too much by giving us a place to stay for the night and cooking us a fine dinner. Just tell me where the glasses are at. Listening to his directions, she got three glasses out and filled both hers and her sons with water before asking Damien what he would like in his. With the drinks taken care of, she set about getting silverware and plates out with his direction and setting the table for when dinner was ready. Taelix emerged changed into a black cotton t-shirt and his favorite pair of jeans just when the food was declared done. They all made their own plates and the lady sat down in a chair with the boys on either side of her. A napkin was folded politely in her lap before she used her fork to eat some of the pasta. Mid-dinner, she turned to the man with a polite smile after taking a sip of her drink to make sure no food residue was left on her teeth before speaking. It tastes amazing. Thank you so much once again.
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