Bloodlust (John Wick) *COMPLETED*

Chapter Seven

LYDIA

The next morning I find myself being summoned to Winston's office, a little too early for my liking after a lacklustre sleep due to tossing and turning thinking about John. I didn't bother getting all dolled up, going with a simple pair of trousers and a long sleeve shirt liking for once I got a break from dressing all girly. I enter the office without knocking and find John sat across from Winston looking better than me, even though he was dressed down as well. Why did he have to outdo me at every corner?

'You better have something good guys to justify me waking up this early,' I half-joke and flop down on the sofa next to John. Taking immediate note that John was not making eye contact with me, instead staying focused on Winston.

Winston clears his throat, 'tell her Jonathan.'

Continuing to avoid eye contact with me, John, strokes his stubble, 'Viggo is holding a masquerade party for some important gangs, and we're going to crash it. Just like you said last night about the good old days we're going to go undercover as a couple.'

As much as it warmed my heart to think of the two of us side by side again, I was very much confused and hurt as to why he was blatantly ignoring me when we were on good terms when he left my room last night. Without another word, to either of us John gets up and leaves the office.

I turn all my attention to Winston, folding my arms over my chest suspiciously, 'did you tell John about my feelings towards him, Winston? Why am I getting the cold shoulder?'

Winston raises his hands in surrender and leans against his desk, 'I would never spill such intimate details, Lydia. Maybe he found out on his own, did you tell him even if it was by mistake.'

I try to rack my mind back to last night but come up blank. Then it hits me like a tonne of bricks, and I slap my hand over my mouth, had he heard me after I shut the door? I thought I was quiet, but he always did have good hearing. I needed to find a way to make tonight less awkward for the two of us. If his first reaction was to ignore me, maybe there was no hope for us in the future, maybe I'd have to move on and find someone else to fall in love with.

'I think you have your answer, Lydia,' Winston chuckles, 'I recommend a tasting and fitting, go with black and purple in my opinion.'

Still a little in shock from my revelation I nod and stand up, 'thank you, Winston.'

Winston bows a little, the smile never leaving his face. I turn on the heels of my comfy trainers and make a beeline out of the office. I had to get my heard in the game if tonight was going to be a success in more ways than one.

After a quick breakfast, because dad had always drilled into me that breakfast was the most important meal of the day I head into the basement area of The Continental after being informed Winston had set up both a fitting and a tasting for me. I could get use to people doing these things for me, I loved my job but sometimes found the small details a little tedious.

My first stop was a fitting, and to my delight and surprise, it appeared Winston had taken the lead on telling the tailor exactly what I wanted in a dress. The purple material was light so easy to move in, with a slit down one leg to make it easier to move in just in case a fight or two broke out and I could be prepared. It was a pretty basic design but done quite tastefully, minus the rather low cut in the chest area that really would have a lot of me on show. Maybe this was Winston's way of showing John what he was missing; all eyes were going to be on me tonight.

Along with the fitting came a stylist, who left the decision of my hairstyle up to me. I wanted something quite cute and romantic, kind of a contrast to the dress. So we ended up with my head being curled at the ends, and a rather intricate braid pulling the hair off the front of my face and pinned in the back. Since the stylist was in her element and I was a pretty easy client to work with, she insisted that she do my makeup here and now, and after seeing the black and purple mask Winston had picked out she refused to let me see the final look until she was done. Here's the thing men will never understand about women, and that's if they want us to look drop dead stunning for any event then it takes a good portion of the day to get everything in place so they should bite their tongue and be happy with the results.

I admire the smoky eyes, and dark purple lipstick adorning my face in the camera of my phone as I stroll down the corridor towards the tasting room. I'd never usually chosen makeup that stands out like this, needing to blend in with a crowd to take out a target, but tonight called for fancy, and I was going to be the fanciest girl at the whole ball.

FLASHBACK

'You look stunning tonight Lydia, I'm more than happy your father decided not to accompany us,' John remarks, taking my hand and placing a small kiss on my knuckles.

This was our first mission as a duo, and we were attending a rather fancy party which meant getting dressed up to the nines if we wanted to blend in. Dad hadn't been too happy with my choice of short black and gold dress with a rather low cut top, but he understood there was a job needed doing, and if this dress killed the bad guy then he'd let it go. Though he did give me a stern talk about avoiding John's attempts to flirt.

His words fell flat once I laid eyes on Jonathan, clean-shaven, and looking hot in his tailored suit which fit his body like a glove giving me something to look at, just like he was eating me up with his eyes after seeing the dress. After the mission we'd see where the night takes the two of us.

END OF FLASHBACK

That night we took out the targets with ease, the two of us surprising one another at how well we were able to work together. That was the night I fell in love with the arrogant man, who wasn't so arrogant anymore.

Due to the slit in my dress, I was unable to carry a gun, so during the tasting, we went with a vintage number which included a knife strapped to my unexposed thigh and two more smaller throwing knives tucked into the hair for easy access if the first weapon was found. The smaller knives in the hair were less obvious, the handles decorated to look like fancy hair clips. John would find a way to slip a gun or two inside, so together we would be pretty kitted out to deal with most needs.

JOHN

All-day I'd been thinking over what I overheard last night when Lydia shut the door to her suite. She was in love with me, and it was a lot to process. I probably could have been less cold towards her in Winston's office, but I wasn't exactly known for being the best person to show their emotions on their sleeve.

The lift pings and my breath is quite literally taken away when Lydia strolls out of the lift looking like a million dollars. This whole get-up had Winston written all over it, after I'd confessed to him what I'd overheard. I was taken back to the first job we worked together, and how I had the same reaction to her black and gold dress as I did now to the rather more mature and revealing purple number she was wearing.

'Don't you look nice all cleaned up Jonathan,' she hums, checking me out as she comes to a stop in front of me.

I pick up her hand and place a kiss on her knuckles, 'you look stunning tonight, Lydia.'

Despite the makeup, she wore I swear I see a faint blush on her cheeks, but I could have been mistaken. She smirks and removes her hand from mine, 'you can flirt with me all you want after the Russian is dead.'

I offer my arm which she takes, and the two of us leave the hotel very aware that everyone in the lobby was staring at us. Some in awe and others jealous, there was no denying we looked good together and the job would get done.