these,” she remarks out loud, climbing in the shoes. At first, she wobbles, trekking her hotel room. She falls once or twice, but catches herself on the bed or a nearby counter. With a little practice, she manages to glide in them, without appearing like a newborn giraffe.
To avoid injury, Tia rides the elevator down to the lobby. The sound of her heels echo off the sidewalk out back, as she enters the cool night air. She stands, waiting, no one appears to be out at this hour. Tia utilizes one of the benches, lining the curb, to rest her feet. A gentle breeze glides across her body, as she soaks in the sounds of the night.
At twelve, sharp, a limo pulls up to meet Tia. Mr. Leporem exits the back, dressed in a black suit, with a white dress shirt and black tie. He holds the door open, motioning for her to enter. Slowly she walks over and scoots along the seat. He closes the door and walks around the other side, crawling in beside Tia. His eyes meet hers, when he buckles his seat belt. Reality sinks in, and Tia wonders what she is thinking, accepting an invitation such as this.
“The Princeton hotel, please, Jacob.” Mr. Leporem commands smoothly. He turns to Tia who appears pale. Hotel?
“I see you found the dress I sent you,” he mentions, with a deep silk voice.
“Yes, thank you. Although, you know it is against the law for you to buy me this,” she states, as her foot jitters. Mr. Leporem places his hand on her knee, to steady her leg. Then he releases it. Her cheeks turn pink.
“I write the laws, Miss Trumble. I can break them if I wish.” The one corner of his mouth lifts slightly.
Tia’s palms begin to sweat, as she sits on the fine leather seats of the limo. Mr. Leporem pulls out a bottle of champagne and two glasses. She watches him move gracefully. He hands her one. His fingers are slender, with his nails, completely chewed to the beds.
“So,” he starts, pouring into Tia’s glass, “that was quite a show you put on today, Miss Trumble.” He finishes pouring his own. “I had no idea that you were so... diligent.” Tia sips her glass of champagne, uncertain of what to say. Instead, she asks the first thing that pops into her head.
“Nervous habit?” She points to his fingernails.
“You can say that,” he responds, glancing down at his fingers. “Tonight, I planned a dinner, for the the two of us, at the hotel where I’m staying. It’s a private room, where no one will bother us. Do you feel comfortable with that, Miss Trumble? If not, I can take you back to your hotel. I never allow a lady to feel as though she doesn’t have a choice, in my company.”
“That must be why you agreed to lead a capitol that enslaves them,” she adds politely.
“Good point, Miss Trumble. However, I would still like an answer about dinner.” Tia weighs her options for a moment.
“I will join you, on one condition.”
Mr. Leporem laughs. “She has a condition. What is that?”
“That you call me Tia.” She smirks and sips her champagne.
They arrive at Mr. Leporem’s hotel. He leads her down a hallway to a private dining room. He turns on the electronic fireplace, and walks towards the table. Mr. Leporem pulls out a chair for Tia. She sits at the small table, set up for fine dining. There is candle light, illuminating his face, as he sits across from her.
“I hope you like lobster,” he comments, picking up his cutlery. Her plate is arranged with lobster tail and asparagus with poached eggs and shaved parmesan.
“Yes, thank you.” Tia is so nervous, she forces herself to swallow each bite. “Are you enjoying your stay here, in Urbi?” she poses, still uncertain why he wants her there.
“It is a beautiful city. The country side is more appealing to me, though. Such a shame what happens to a planet, when creatures do nothing to preserve it.”
Tia is taken aback by the conversation. Humans do not usually talk like this. Other than her uncle, most humans Tia met discuss wealth or
To avoid injury, Tia rides the elevator down to the lobby. The sound of her heels echo off the sidewalk out back, as she enters the cool night air. She stands, waiting, no one appears to be out at this hour. Tia utilizes one of the benches, lining the curb, to rest her feet. A gentle breeze glides across her body, as she soaks in the sounds of the night.
At twelve, sharp, a limo pulls up to meet Tia. Mr. Leporem exits the back, dressed in a black suit, with a white dress shirt and black tie. He holds the door open, motioning for her to enter. Slowly she walks over and scoots along the seat. He closes the door and walks around the other side, crawling in beside Tia. His eyes meet hers, when he buckles his seat belt. Reality sinks in, and Tia wonders what she is thinking, accepting an invitation such as this.
“The Princeton hotel, please, Jacob.” Mr. Leporem commands smoothly. He turns to Tia who appears pale. Hotel?
“I see you found the dress I sent you,” he mentions, with a deep silk voice.
“Yes, thank you. Although, you know it is against the law for you to buy me this,” she states, as her foot jitters. Mr. Leporem places his hand on her knee, to steady her leg. Then he releases it. Her cheeks turn pink.
“I write the laws, Miss Trumble. I can break them if I wish.” The one corner of his mouth lifts slightly.
Tia’s palms begin to sweat, as she sits on the fine leather seats of the limo. Mr. Leporem pulls out a bottle of champagne and two glasses. She watches him move gracefully. He hands her one. His fingers are slender, with his nails, completely chewed to the beds.
“So,” he starts, pouring into Tia’s glass, “that was quite a show you put on today, Miss Trumble.” He finishes pouring his own. “I had no idea that you were so... diligent.” Tia sips her glass of champagne, uncertain of what to say. Instead, she asks the first thing that pops into her head.
“Nervous habit?” She points to his fingernails.
“You can say that,” he responds, glancing down at his fingers. “Tonight, I planned a dinner, for the the two of us, at the hotel where I’m staying. It’s a private room, where no one will bother us. Do you feel comfortable with that, Miss Trumble? If not, I can take you back to your hotel. I never allow a lady to feel as though she doesn’t have a choice, in my company.”
“That must be why you agreed to lead a capitol that enslaves them,” she adds politely.
“Good point, Miss Trumble. However, I would still like an answer about dinner.” Tia weighs her options for a moment.
“I will join you, on one condition.”
Mr. Leporem laughs. “She has a condition. What is that?”
“That you call me Tia.” She smirks and sips her champagne.
They arrive at Mr. Leporem’s hotel. He leads her down a hallway to a private dining room. He turns on the electronic fireplace, and walks towards the table. Mr. Leporem pulls out a chair for Tia. She sits at the small table, set up for fine dining. There is candle light, illuminating his face, as he sits across from her.
“I hope you like lobster,” he comments, picking up his cutlery. Her plate is arranged with lobster tail and asparagus with poached eggs and shaved parmesan.
“Yes, thank you.” Tia is so nervous, she forces herself to swallow each bite. “Are you enjoying your stay here, in Urbi?” she poses, still uncertain why he wants her there.
“It is a beautiful city. The country side is more appealing to me, though. Such a shame what happens to a planet, when creatures do nothing to preserve it.”
Tia is taken aback by the conversation. Humans do not usually talk like this. Other than her uncle, most humans Tia met discuss wealth or
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