Sounds of Fire

11

Skin hot and mood sour, Anatolia rolled out of bed and slammed her window shut, sighing when the heat ceased. Once again she had a sticky nights sleep thanks to her inability to remember to close her room's window. She promised to remember next time, but she knew she'd break that promise.

She took a cold shower to make herself feel better and cool down her skin, then dressed well in business casual, assuming that she was to go into the firm with Derek and Lady Grace. She left her room and was about to take her first step downstairs when she heard Derek's door open. Lady Grace stepped out, and that alone had Anatolia wildly curious. She turned and started for Lady Grace.

"What were you doing in there?"

Lady Grace snapped her head up in surprise. "Oh. I was apologizing to Derek for... well, everything. I'm not sure if he forgives me but he didn't look all that angry when I left. Then again, maybe he wasn't even listening to me. It's hard to tell with him. All he does is stare." She imitated his signature blank look.

Chuckling, Anatolia shook her head. "I'm sure he understood. Are we going into the offices today?"

"I really don't want to."

"What about never taking a day off again?"

Heading to her room, Lady Grace smacked her lips together. "Sometimes we all need a vacation."

Anatolia followed at a respectable distance. "You had a week long vacation and only went in for one day. You need another vacation already?"

Lady Grace left her rooms door open so that Anatolia could come in. "It wasn't really a vacation, and I had a good reason for it. Besides, yesterday was hectic." She looked at what Anatolia was wearing. "But you are ready for the day... Want to go out?"

"Where? Should I get Derek?"

"No. Just you and me." Lady Grace already started looking for something to wear. "We can go somewhere together."

"Like..." Anatolia fidgeted, toeing the carpet with the tip of her shoe. "A date?"

"We don't have to call it anything if it makes you uncomfortable." Lady Grace stuck her head out of her closet. "It's just a day out."

"People are going to start asking questions if you keep taking me out."

Back in her closet, Lady Grace laughed. "This is only the second time." She stepped out of her closet with a black dress pressed up to her front. "What do you think?"

Anatolia puckered her lips, very much liking the mid thigh length of the dress. The long sleeves and waist were dropped, giving the dress an easy yet sophisticated look. Already accessorizing the outfit in her head, Anatolia nodded. "I like it. Do you have a gold bracelet, or necklace? A bracelet would look better, I think."

"When did you become so knowledgeable on fashion?" Lady Grace stepped back into her closet and slipped out of her clothes to change into the dress.

"I might not be high class, but I grew up around people who are. I either had to learn about style or look stupid. High class ladies really love it when you compliment them on the way they dress."

Holding a pair of red heels in one hand and black ankle boots in the other, Lady Grace showed them to Anatolia. "Are you telling me that you've dated some high class ladies?"

Anatolia picked the boots and watched Lady Grace slip them on. "Not exactly. They would never 'date' someone like me. Apparently I was good for a tryst or two, though."