The Beautiful Guardian: Vengence

Chapter Twelve: Surprise for Chloe

Chloe's record store is busy today, both in the sales of recordings and the recruitment of muscle for the underground organizations. Chloe, in her trademark black, goth-like garb, walks with her back straight, one hand on her walking stick, looking out and about her shop like an overseer. Customers move like ants around the store going from one shelf to another.

Chloe looks slowly back and forth, with a smile on her face at the customers, nodding a greeting to those who catch her gaze with their own. She casually, but methodically, works her way through the storefront. Jackie comes up to Chloe and whispers in her ear that they were getting short of a product on some of the shelves. Chloe nods her understanding and quietly goes to the back storage room.

Chloe moves down the hall, past her office, and further down to a modest size storeroom where she stops at a sight which catches her by surprise.

In front of Chloe is a woman facing away from her, bent over at the waist, looking through the store shelves. The dark-colored leggings fitting tightly on the hips and thighs. The heeled boots situated close together encase the unknown woman's feet. Chloe's eyes involuntarily widen as a predatory smile appears also as she tightens her grip on her walking stick. Chloe manages a cough, catching the attention of the customer.

The woman quickly straightens up her posture and turns around revealing a tight-fitting shirt layered with a waist-length vest. Her black hair loosely tied back framing the medium tan face with glasses that enhance the brown eyes. Her wide-eyed expression is exaggerated with her dropping some recordings that were in her arms.

"Oh crap! You scared me!" she exclaimed.

Chloe snaps out of her daydream, "I'm afraid you are in a room not normally open to the public."

The customer nervously runs her fingers through some hair that was falling loose, "I am?, I'm sorry, I was caught up looking for a record! I didn't realize that I had gone in here."

Chloe raises a calming hand, "It's quite alright, no harm done, What are you looking for If I may be so bold?"

"Oh, I'm looking for something pretty old, A group called Abba, do you have any albums from them?" the customer asks.

Without breaking eye contact, Chloe gestures with an upturned hand toward shelves on the other side of the room, "Over there are our disco albums, you may look over there if you like."

"Will that be ok? You won't get in trouble will you?" The customer asks.

"I will be ok, it's my store after all," Chloe then extends her hand toward the woman, "The name is Chloe."

The woman grasps Chloe's hand, "I'm Sophia, nice to meet you."

Chloe watches with interest as Sophia passes by her, "The pleasure is all mine."

As Sophia begins to go through the albums, Hacker, Chloe's employee, enters the storeroom with a paper in her hand. Chloe waves her hand at Hacker in response to the unspoken question regarding Sophia. Hacker hands the paper to Chloe.

"The information Maxine wanted, do you want me to contact her?"

Chloe shakes her head, "No I'll take it to her tomorrow at her gym, will you kindly take care of Miss Sophia when she is finished?"

"Sure thing boss," Hacker responds with a smile.

Chloe manages to get another look at Sophia before leaving the room with the paper.

The next day, Chloe enters Maxine's gym looking about with searching eyes. She slyly moves up to the counter where an attendant was working on a computer. Upon seeing Chloe, the young woman takes a clipboard and places it in front of her in a casual attempt to hide from the famous eyes of Chloe. Chloe's eyes try in vain to scan the young woman as a predatory smile appears.

"Is Maxine available?" Chloe asks.

"She is, but she is with a new member giving her a tour," answers the attendant.

Chloe begins to go around to the workout area, "Then I will just look for her then."

The young woman hurries around the counter, "Ma'am, Wait, I'm sorry but you aren't allowed to go back there! Maxine's orders!"

Chloe picks up her pace, "It's ok, It will be fine! I'll just pop right in and right out, I promise I won't cause trouble."

"What's going on over there?" demands Maxine who is standing next to a woman, both in workout gear standing next to some equipment.

"Maxine, I got the information that..." Chloe begins.

The new member turns around and reveals herself to be Sophia, whom Chloe met the day before. Chloe stands silent as she holds the paper loosely in her hand. Maxine moves quickly to retrieve the paper and looks at it.

"Hey thanks, Chloe you better go now, I'll talk to you later ok?" Maxine says as she leads Chloe away.

"Ok" Chloe answers absentmindedly.

Maxine returns to the workout area, "Ok, Where were're we Miss... Where she go?"

Maxine scratches her head as she wonders where her new customer went.

Chloe exits the gym as if she was in a daze. The visage of the brunette was playing over and over in her mind. It was as if she could hear her voice call out to her.

"Chloe"

Chloe smiles at the thought of her being near. Why did she feel this way?

"Miss Chloe"

Chloe's rubs her arm a little as new fantasy begins to play out in her mind.

"MISS CHLOE!'

Chloe snaps from her daydream and turns and sees Sophia jogging after her. Chloe adopts her usual stoic stance with a smile when she gets near.

" Yes?"

"Miss Chloe, I normally don't do this, but... um, are you busy tomorrow evening?" Sophia asks nervously.

"I'm not busy at all."

"Then will you have dinner with me?"

"You're asking me out on a date?"

"If you not into dating women then.."

"No no, It's fine! I would be glad to go with you."

Sophia lets out a relieved laugh, "Then I'll pick you up, say at your store, around six?"

Chloe smiles as she notices Maxine and company peek out of the door of the gym, she looks at Sophia with her predatory smile.

"Sound good, Can't wait to see you then."