Choking On Sapphires

53 The Rat

You're standing outside the looming stone building among the other men and women waiting for their cars. You'd met Niko at the location, and therefore you could leave whenever you wanted.

So you shake a few hands and kiss a few more cheeks before standing out on the curb in the bitter cold. Your fur coat pulled tightly around you and Niko's long, lean arm covered in almost as much fur as your coat is around your shoulders, hand rubbing your upper arm in a thinly veiled attempt to get close to you.

You'd flirted with Niko plenty in the past, it was all part of the job really. His father really liked you and although it was all due to his sexism of finding a woman doing what you did absolutely unbelievable, he was always willing to work with you if you were willing to put up with the pet names and condescending tone. Niko was different from his father it seemed, he looked like he did but obviously much younger. Dark and handsome, clean shaven and coiffed and usually well dressed, Niko for any other woman would be a perfectly suitable companion. He was polite and had been able to pick up on your uncomfortable reactions to his father's crass words on occasion and even apologized in his own way for his actions while escorting you out to your car from meetings. He'd been well-behaved tonight and you'd expected nothing less from him.

"This is me." you say walking towards your car, his arm moving away from your shoulders.

"Did you have a good time tonight Genevieve?" he asks, his head tilting slightly, taking your hand and kissing it.

"As much as one can at these functions." you say with a disingenuous smile.

"You've seemed distracted if you don't mind my saying so." he keeps hold of your hand, his face lowering slightly to speak more privately.

"Oh." your face loses it's tension, not realizing you'd let your emotions show through so much. "I suppose I am. Just business. You understand. Lots going on with me as of late." you give a small series of nods.

"Good. I would hate for something to be wrong." he says supportively. "Did you find me a suited partner for you tonight? I'm not acustomed to attending this such as this." he gives a charming and almost shy smile.

"You did just fine, dear." you give his hand a pat that still held yours, the touch becoming more and more concerning.

"Would you like to do it again?" he asks with lowering of his chin.

"When I have another to attend I'll let you know, certainly." you give him a charming smile. And you suppose that was your mistake, he was such a decent bloke you didn't want to be rude.

"Then I will bid you goodnight, Miss Genevieve." he says softly as he looks at your lips.

But as always it seems, your signals are misread and he leans in tries to kiss you. You pull the hand he held out of his, placing it on his chest gently.

"Niko." you say quietly, in a tone that let him know to stop.

"You can't blame a man for trying." he lets out a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "May I ask if it is something I've done?"

"I can't do that with anyone right now. Don't take it personally, you're a very nice man and a catch, certainly." you pat his arm and give him a smile that's real and full of apologies.

"Thank you." he gives a small smile and he moves to open your car door for you.

"You're welcome, Niko." you shake your head at him with the same kind smile and he takes your hand and kisses it again before shutting the door.

"Until me meet again." he says with a still hopeful lilt to his voice that makes you feel sorry for him.
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The day after the board meeting Alfie is back at work before dawn, as was usual now, he'd made his rounds, yelled at everyone who deserved it and some who didn't but he didn't really care. They'd fuck up at some point and he'd miss it so might as well cover all the bases.