Haze

BFOL- Black Cars And Expensive Cuffs

Alwin Shepherd stood in one corner of the glittering hall, near the reception table, observing skeptically the man that handsomely leaned against the mahogany table, speaking to the receptionist with a businesslike look. No one would guess what he did to women - to something that looked the way she did. He had his luggage by his side, and was probably checking out.

Just when he was about to turn around after Sally screamed bloody murder in his earpiece, he noticed Joan walk down the staircase, with all her grace and elegance, and a pleasant expression on her face per usual, which made everyone want to talk to her and just keep looking.

But that morning had made him look at the Joan past Miss Steele. Of course what he had witnessed was not all there was to her; but it certainly made her look more human to him. She was no longer a fairytale. He stood right there, half turned, looking at her walk to the receptionist, and into the extended arms of the monster with a smile, as if nothing ghastly had happened to her just this morning.

He let out a frustrated breath, conflicted between turning around to leave and standing there to look on.

'You lazy son of a-come here this instant Al!' a roar punctured his eardrums and he wrenched the earpiece from his ear and shoved it into his pocket.

Smart move there Alwin. Mommy will be so proud.

He kept watching the scene unfold, the man spoke to Joan in the interval he didn't have to speak with the receptionist. His arms held her shoulders securely, the expensive cuff showing. She looked at peace, smiling lightly at the little things he was saying to her, wolfish grin in place.

Taking a deep breath in, Shepherd decided to take his chances. He walked towards the center, with a newfound courage but no plan as such. Except, maybe-

Stop hogging the spotlight you freak.

'Oh yes, there he is. Alwin, carry their luggage to their car please. Thanks.' The receptionist grinned widely, just like the man had a few minutes back. Half listening to the receptionist apparently mad with delight, his head snapped to Joan, to see if she recognized him. And very rightly, she had stopped to look, lagging behind from the man who strode forward, fastening his suit. A confused and then a brilliant smile lit her face when it looked like she recognised the usher.

With the man not around-Alwin liked to think- she even took the plunge of waving to him excitedly, and also wait for him to catch up with the bags.

This was the perfect opportunity to get acquainted, not as an usher and a customer, but as two persons. He had been itching to speak to her ever since he saw what he did. Like prodding and testing someone that had gone through something one had never imagined. But besides that, he wanted to know. He wanted to know what made her give in to such monstrosity, when he had thought so differently of her. And something he didn't dare articulate in his own mind- his desire to rescue her.

Joan Steele decided to humour her fan. But she didn't feel like she was obliging, it was something he quite unabashedly demanded. She liked having no options. Her lip twitched, like it had been throughout the morning, reminding her of the ugly mark she had concealed in her compact. She spun around, reminded also of the fact that Alwin had been there when she had just been beaten, which made her urge to twitch her lip stronger.

'How you doin' today Miss Steele?' Alwin greeted her with a beautiful smile that showed off his particularly pointed canines.

'I'm good, Alwin.' she looked at him just in time to catch the surprise followed by another one of the famous smiles.

'Over here!' both of them looked at the man in the blue-black business suit, waving at them standing next to an Audi.

Alwin carried the bags forward in a daze, a whistle escaping his lips before he could stop it. The car was a beauty.