Heart of Stone

Intruder

Eloise allowed herself to sleep in for a bit. It was a Monday, and Mondays were one of the days she gave herself to recharge after a long week. She stretched under her blankets, looking over to find Luna staring at her from the space beside her. She'd allowed her to sleep in her bed with her last night, and the dog looked absolutely satisfied to be waking up next to her. Eloise smiled and scratched her head, causing her tail to wag lazily from side to side.

She got up, walking over to the numerous glass windows in her room and rolling up the thick blinds. The morning sunlight over her large garden stretching far beyond the apartment greeted her kindly. She sighed happily as she admired the sight. Julian may have tried to ruin this for her, but she wasn't going to let him.

"Come on, Lu." Eloise said, using the dog's nickname.

She jumped out of bed excitedly, following Eloise down the hallway and into the kitchen. She unlocked and opened the glass back door and let Luna out to do her business. While she waited for her, she took a large bowl out of the fridge, uncovered it and put it on a warming plate in between the two back burners on the stove top. It had a myriad choice of different meats and organs, quail eggs, and a few different veggies.

She set about making herself some coffee and gathering ingredients for pancakes. Once the coffee was done, she spotted Luna waiting at the back door. She paused what she was doing to let her in and then made herself some breakfast. Before placing her own plate on the table, she took Luna's bowl off the warmer and placed it on her mat where she sat patiently waiting. She dug in happily and Eloise smiled at her enthusiasm, patting her on the back. She rinsed and refilled her water bowl, then sat down to her own food.

After she finished eating, her phone began ringing. Picking it up from where she'd left it on the counter, she was surprised to find "Maybe Alexander Pearson" across the screen. She had his office number so he must have been calling her from his cell phone. She had received his order yesterday from Emily and had already picked the flowers for it. With equal parts excitement and nervousness, she answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi, LouLou." His deep voice came through.

"Hi, Alexander. How are you?" She asked with a smile he couldn't see.

"I'm fine. How are you after the other night?" He asked.

'Is he calling just to check on me?' She wondered.

"I'm alright. I stayed at a friend's house just to be on the safe side, but I came home yesterday." She said.

"I see. I'm glad you're home safe." He said.

"Thank you. Your order will be ready today in time for pickup." She said, wondering if he was also calling for his order since it had been so last minute.

"I appreciate that. Yesterday Emily told me you take Sundays and Mondays off, so why don't I save you a trip? I can pick it up directly from you." He offered.

"Are you sure?" Eloise asked hesitantly, wondering if it was wise to give him her home address since she was still hiding from him that she was his wife. "I don't want to make you go out of your way."

"Do you live far from town?" He asked.

"Not at all, about 15 minutes." She answered.

"Then it's not out of my way at all. I can grab them on my way to the venue. How does 6:00 sound?" Alexander asked.

"That's perfect." Eloise said, chewing her lip nervously.

"See you then." He said, his voice dropping an octave with a hint of mischief.