PEPPERY HAIR - An Alan Rickman fanfic.

Chapter 2 - party

Chapter 2! Enjoy and feel it :) Don't forget to vote!    

The large hall in the hotel was bustling with music playing at full volume. My ears tingled with the constant loud screaming of people who were obviously having a good time, for which I was grateful. I wore a long white dress with short sleeves, my long hair braided into a single ponytail on the side of my face. The red lipstick didn't look great on my thin lips, but I couldn't complain.

People walked past me, greeting me, and I smiled and responded politely, even though I'd had enough of everything for the day, I just wanted to jump into bed and eat whatever I wanted while watching some depressing movie to make me feel better about how ironic life could be. I had to smile like I was feeling my best, even though I was such a crazy introvert.

How does an introvert manage to build something so great? I don't really know, I do shake with nervousness in front of a big crowd, but I love this job even though it's so damn challenging at times. But if you want to accomplish and build something, you have to put all your energy and time into it. I've put my whole life into this and if this building collapsed, my whole life and what I've accomplished in it would probably collapse too.

My feet were aching after not sitting down for so long, I wore pumps instead of some comfortable shoes and sweatpants, but I had to look presentable as the owner of something so big. People were cheering and happy for me and I was happy that everyone in my family was so proud of me

The world can be a tough and harsh place, but sometimes a rainbow comes out and you have to grab it now or it will retract again. People who know it will understand, and those who don't will find out when the time is right. Nobody's life was easy so I couldn't complain, after all everybody had their problems, I never felt sorry for myself but lately I've found that sometimes I need to cry on somebody's shoulder and complain about how hard my life is.

My legs were shaking, my hands were gently shaking and I walked to the bar. I immediately sat down on the uncomfortable bar stool at the counter that always makes my butt hurt so bad. My body immediately felt a certain sense of relaxation, my muscles had been tight all day and needed to loosen up. I sighed in relief, maybe a little too loudly but it didn't matter. Standing at the bar was Mark, who asked me with a smile what he could actually offer me. I said wine, that was all I ever drank and we were driving home so one glass of wine was just right.

As he brought me a glass of red wine I thanked him with a smile and exhaustedly rested my head in my hands and stared at the wood, polished and beautiful bar counter that smelled of alcohol, or was it the counter? Maybe it was more the people. My eyes dropped at how tired I was. There would be an incredible commotion around me, I would open my eyes every time one of the drunks told a joke and everyone would start laughing. I needed to rest before someone would 

Someone sat next to me, a man's perfume slapped me in the face as hard as it was. A beautiful and most likely expensive perfume, but I continued to ignore it, looking at the counter with my head in my hands. It wasn't until the moment he spoke he ordered the wine that I realized who was actually sitting next to me, the voice, velvet and baritone. I froze a little, not feeling at all relaxed, he was looking at me and I tried to act as natural as possible.

"Are you exhausted?" as soon as he spoke, my breath immediately caught in my throat and I was forced to look at him. Instantly I was wide awake, my heart pounding in my chest at a speed that felt like it was going to fall out of my chest. He was smiling, his gentle and friendly smile driving me crazy.

" Oh, yes absolutely." I said more calmly, breathing deeply, relaxing as I felt him move in. Damn calm down, he has a wife back home, I mean that in a friendly way. I tried to calm down any way I could but somehow I couldn't think.

"Whoever has exhausted such a beautiful woman must be a very brave man if he does not treat you like a lady." he said gently and simply and I almost fell over, he called me a beautiful woman. My breathing instantly became even heavier, even though I didn't think it was possible anymore. I looked deeply into his eyes and laughed, somehow I couldn't think of anything else, it was impossible to think at that moment.

I ran my eyes over him from top to bottom, he looked very handsome. His hair was grey, so it matched the white shirt he was wearing perfectly, the top two buttons undone so his grey hair stuck out of his shirt. The cashmere black trousers must have been tailored, because they fit him perfectly as well as the shirt. I took a deep breath and looked away after a few seconds so I wouldn't look like a fool for still staring at him.

"No man, I'm just exhausted from work, that's all there is to it." I said, responding to his earlier insinuation that I was tired of some stupid man, I couldn't even think about a man, I had to focus on my career.

"No man? I'm sorry. I just thought you were married. Marriage can be hard sometimes, I know that. I've been married a short time, but I've been with my wife long enough to talk." He said very emphatically and I nodded, looking into his eyes. I could tell he knew what he was talking about.

" I'm not married, I don't have much time for men. My work takes up all my time, and in the evening I'm happy to go to bed and have a moment to myself. " I said and he smiled at me even though I could see he was thinking, he looked very thoughtful and yet he listened to me, a talented man.

" You should take time off, take a break from all your worries, life is not all about work. You have to have someone to share all your worries with, it all goes by like water, and when it's too late you'll realize what you've lost, love is beautiful even if it's hard sometimes." He said and I realized I was sitting next to a wonderful man, he was so smart and thoughtful, he was very wise. I gave him a smile and he gave me the same.

" Yes, I guess you're right." I said and he smiled and nodded. My hand reached for the drink that was sitting on the wooden counter, I poured the rest of the contents in my glass in a graceful manner and then I looked up into his face again, his gaze was direct, he wasn't telling me anything, no one would know anything from his look, not even if he was sad. 

" You look very handsome, by the way." he said and I wanted to hide under the table because my cheeks were warm. Such a perfect man thinks I look good, my breath caught in my throat and I thought for a moment I would melt and spill on the floor and stay in a liquid state forever or until he retracted his praise. " That is so very kind, thank you so much. You look so much better than me though." Somehow the praise flew out of my mouth at him, my mind wasn't planning the same things as my mouth.

" oh, you're the only one between the two of us with that opinion. I'm afraid it won't get any better, but I'm afraid it will get worse. Thank you very much, though." He said, and I nodded, my original color starting to return.

We sat there and talked for so long that we started to lose track of time. I was so happy, and he seemed to be enjoying himself, which was very flattering. I was still attracted to him even though he was married, and what woman isn't, look at the perfect man sitting right across from me talking to me. 

HI, I KNOW ITS LONG TIME BUT THERES A NEW CAHPTER.