French Roses and Silk Kisses [Discontinued]

Cages

"Can you take these files and place them into the top cabinet for me?" Zaria took the files from the woman and began making her way towards the filing room.

This was her first official business meeting since they'd been in France. Max and a number of other men sat in a board room discussion things Zaria couldn't care less about, so she decided to help the secretary. The filing room was pretty isolated from the rest of the rooms on the floor and the sudden quietness made her shiver.

Stepping into the room, Zaria unlocked the cage surrounding the many cabinets and shelves of files. She made sure to close the door behind her before heading towards the back of the room. The shelves were as high as the ceiling and there seemed to be endless rows.

"Looking for this?" Zaria let out a shriek at the sudden voice, dropped everything in her hands, and prepared herself to fight.

"Woah! Easy tiger!" The man placed his hands up in surrender, she took notice of the badge on his black and red checkered shirt. Keith Washington. He was lanky, with large black frames and big brown eyes. The smile on his face was encased in braces and his skin looked baby smooth. Zaria admired his light brown hair, neatly cut into a tapered Mohawk.

"You can't just sneak up on people like that." She mumbled as she finished scanning the man over, and he handed her the discarded files. He looked oddly young, but Zaria knew he couldn't be younger than 20 working here.

"Sorry, bad idea considering how creepy this place is." He laughed lightly as he scratched the back of his head.

"I just figured you were looking for the index." He held up a clipboard filled with papers.

"Well...thank you." Zaria slowly took the clipboard from him. She wasn't sure what it was about him but she couldn't shake this bad vibe. He continued to stare at her, his smile unwavering.

"You new here?" He finally spoke as he leaned against one of the shelves.

"Not really." She spoke before making her way towards the appropriate shelf to file the reports. She didn't need to turn around to know the man had began following her down the isle. The soft tap of his dress shoes against the tiled floor seemed to ring louder than usual in her ears and she occasionally turned back to make sure he remained at a distance. Each time she turned to him, she found that same smile on his face.

"Well, what are you doing here? I mean I'm not trying to be rude, especially to a girl, well woman, as pretty. No! As beautiful, as you. I just mean I've never seen you around and I'm pretty sure I'd remember your face." He rambled as watched her find the appropriate slot to place the files. Zaria wanted nothing more than to get as far from the man as possible.

"I'm just helping out." She cut her response short, not wanting to speak anymore and silently hoping he'd catch the hint. Unfortunately he continued to ramble on about never seeing her around as she grabbed the large ladder.

"Careful!" He exclaimed as she began climbing the ladder. "Wouldn't want that pretty face to be scarred, now would we?"

Zaria felt her stomach drop as he grabbed the base of the ladder, that smile reappearing as he looked up at her. She hurriedly set the files onto the top shelf, not bothering to sort them alphabetically, as she just wanted to get out of this room.

"I think you're supposed to sort- oh okay." Zaria didn't stop to listen to what he had to say as she hurriedly made her way down the ladder and towards the exit.

"Wait! I never got your name." He grabbed her arm before she could open the cage. Zaria felt her stomach jump to her throat as he tightened his grip and pulled her towards his body.

"I don't want a beautiful girl like you to escape my grasp without even knowing your name." He whispered in her ear, his grip on her seemed malicious at this point and Zaria knew she had to act. She quickly used the heel on her boot to stomp on his toe before she threw her elbow back into his chin.

The grip on her arm loosened and she quickly threw the cage door open, the sounds of him cursing her egging her towards the exit. Before she could grab the handle, the door flew open and one of the men from the meeting nearly ran her over. Zaria's eyes met with Max's, who stood behind the man. She pushed past him and threw herself into Max's arms.

"Keith! What did you do this time? Vous savez que vous ne pouvez pas être seul avec les femmes! Voulez-vous avoir des ennuis à nouveau?" The man spoke in animated French to a now bleeding Keith.

"Come on." Max wrapped his arm around her shoulder and led her out of the dark hallway. She began to calm down as he rubbed circles into her shoulder.

"I got you." He whispered into her ear as they stepped onto the elevator. Zaria wrapped herself in him, feeling as if no harm could come to her as long as she was with him. As they made their way home, Max continued to comfort her, even as he spoke on the phone about rescheduling the meeting that had just been interrupted.

Zaria couldn't help but wonder what the man had said to Keith.

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Shorter chapter but I just wanted some spice! What do you guys think is going to happen with our new friend Keith???