All In (Le Chiffre×OFC)

Chapter 6

The weekend had come and gone. I find myself looking out the window periodically to see if Jean is back yet. 

'Wow, am I pathetic, or what?'

I get cozy in my armchair in the living room and start reading my Tolkien collection. I make it through The Hobbit and part way through Fellowship of the Ring, when I realize it has  quickly become quite late. When I feel my eyes begin to get heavy enough that they won't stay open, I bookmark my page and go get ready for bed. 

I open the doors to my room and go to my vanity. I lay my pajamas over the chair and begin sliding my shirt off, when I hear a car pull up outside. I pull my shirt back down and look out the window to see Jean stepping out of his Mercedes. 

I knock on the window to get his attention. He looks up, and I give him a wave. He smiles and waves back, then makes a gesture with his arm like he's inviting me over. I nod and go back downstairs, slipping on a pair of loafers and walk over to his house. He's waiting by the front door for me. 

He lets me in and stands in front of me. 

"Glad to be home?"

He pulls me into a light hug, taking me by surprise. I hug him back cautiously. He holds on to me for a minute then releases me, looking down at me with a smirk. 

"... I'll take that as a yes, then," I say teasingly. "How was your business trip?"

"It went well. Everything is in order. I even brought a bottle of Madagascar wine to celebrate. Would you like a glass?," he asks, as we walk into the dining room. 

"Sure, why not," I say with a grin. 

He pours two glasses, and we down them quickly. We make small talk for an hour or so, and by the third glass of wine, I can feel the truth about Valenka beginning to make its way out of my mouth. I quickly try to think of something different to talk about with him; I have no idea why the words that I blurt out even came to my mind. 

"Jean, how did you get your scar?"

I wince as the words pass my lips. I look up at him and he looks taken aback, but he gives me a serious look. 

"It's a long story, but I'll give you the condensed version. I grew up in Eastern Europe, Albania to be precise, in a harsh neighborhood and became a teenage criminal by using mathematics to win at gambling, making a lot of money. However, I always carried a knife to defend myself due to being weak in comparison to other kids and once got in a fight that caused my left eye to be damaged by it."

I feel my chest constrict; the thought of Jean as an innocent kid left to fend for himself and resort to being involved in the crime world made my stomach flip. Without thinking, I rush to his side and hug him. Tightly. Then, the word vomit spews forth. 

"I'm sorry to tell you this Jean, but Valenka's been seeing someone. For a while supposedly. I found out while I was at Pirreau's; the lady helping me said she's seen her making out with sone guy named Mark the last few times she'd come in. I'm so-"

But Jean quickly cuts me off by lifting me off the ground and smashing our lips together. I feel my hands entwine behind his neck as I deepen our kiss. We gently pull apart and just stare at each other, when Jean breaks out into a very wide smile. I lightly rub my nose against his and steal another peck on the lips. 

"Not gonna lie, that… was building up since the first day I started working for you."

"I think I started falling for you from the moment we met on the elevator that first day."

"You promise you're not just saying that because we're tipsy in your dining room at close to one in the morning?"

"I swear. You seem to have seduced me with your awkwardness," he says with a smirk.