dark / light

i was just waiting for you, waiting for you. all my life praying for you, paying for you. all that I wanted was someone to come and sit up on my table for two. i was just waiting for you. don't know how i fell and don't know why and now I'll pick myself up one more time. 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐦𝐮muse count: 002

[pcrsephonies]

— SETTING: Ramzi PR ; — AVAILABILITY: closed starter for XAVIER RAMZI | ( @melpomcne )

After having returned to a place she would now call home, Halime got everything ready for her next big move. She had spent a few weeks away from South Carolina both drawing strategies to increase YZC Inc's hold in the tech world, as well as lobbying in DC for different laws in terms of network security and data transaction, however, once everything was said and done the brunette didn't hesitate in jumping on a plane straight back to Charleston and then making the quick drive to Briar Ridge so she could spend the next weekend hiding from everything and everyone.

Well, that, and of course, she had a new plan she needed to set in motion, and in order for that to happen Halime needed this meeting on Wednesday afternoon to go perfect. So, she reviewed every law, every hiccup, and she chose her words carefully so there wouldn't be any comprehension problems, nothing that would keep her from reaching her goal in that company.

When Wednesday finally arrived, Halime put on her best executive clothes: a high-waisted pair of beige pants with a white buttoned blouse tucked in and a suit jacket of the same color as her pants, and to give it a nice, serious touch, instead of her usual pair of running shoes, Halime chose a pair of classic, caramel heels. She wore her hair up in a loosened ponytail, a strand of hair covering the hairband, making it look like it was her hair holding her waves up.

As per usual, her expertise and charisma were enough to win the room from the start, explaining her plans to Mr. Ramzi and being completely enthralled by her own objectives in building him a safer, more tight-knit system when it came to his clients' data; so much, that she only noticed that Xavier had joined them when the brunette stopped to answer some questions posed by the older man and CEO, which, of course, she easily answered them in the best way she could, ensuring that he received the information enough to secure this deal and make this an even more successful partnership.

Once the meeting was over, she took the elevator towards the highest floor, then took the stairs to the rooftop to watch over the city. Halime felt proud of what she had presented, and despite being asked to wait until Friday for a response, she was deadly confident about it.

The door opened, revealing Xavier in his perfectly tailored suit, his well-shaved beard, and his boyish grin. All she could think of at that moment was desperately wanting to kiss him the last time they were together.

And she found out, looking at him, that it hadn't changed.

"Long time no see, Ramzi." The petite brunette smiled, leaning onto the rail as she watched the sky begin to change its colors. Autumn had already started making the days last less. "Are you a sunset fan, too? Or are you just taking a break?"

[melpomcne]

Business had dragged on as usual, even if his mind had been everywhere but on the job itself. Who could have guessed that one good night in a hotel room with a woman could have left him feeling so damn... distracted. Despite lingering thoughts, he had accepted every task handed down to him and per usual, had knocked every single one of them out of the park. He'd even been granted a compliment by his father after a deal had been saved, no thanks to the representative that had been appointed to handle the account.

As a wise person once said, if you want something done, do it your damn self.

Day after day, he'd dug into the firm as much as he could. It wasn't unusual for the Ramzi heir to assist across the board, but his unwavering dedication had doubled in hopes of working a woman from his mind. After all, he couldn't think about her if he was too busy to wander off mentally. For the most part, his efforts had been fruitful to say the least. So much that he'd been surprised to receive an invite to the weekly meeting in which a very important client would be speaking. A client that he'd been trying to force out of his mind since she'd taken residence there.

His heart had thudded wildly against every pulse point in his body as he watched her speak so smoothly. She'd managed to captivate the whole room with her words, her beauty having little to do with the sway she held over everyone. It was impressive, but not surprising. He'd only slipped out as the presentation came to an end, his tie and suit jacket suddenly feeling tighter than he liked. Mindlessly, his venture up to the top of the building had been quick and he welcomed the fresh air that washed over him like a wave of reprieve.

How could someone he'd never had before be so intoxicating? The door opening behind him caused the male to turn, his smile widening as his gaze fell upon the very woman he'd attempted to distance himself from. With the setting sun's rays beaming down on her, it only made her seem even more gorgeous than she already was. "It's been a whole five minutes," he countered with a playful wink. Maybe she hadn't noticed him sitting in the back. "Little bit of both." He followed her gaze up to the colorful sky, his heart thundering against his chest once more. "What about you?"

[pcrsephonies]

She was, indeed offering. Maybe not today, but once things had settled down after her return, she could greet him while bringing in both her Howl's Moving Castle books and some freshly brewed Turkish coffee. Halime was going to re-stock on her trip to California, but she made a mental note to check if there would be anywhere in Charleston that she would be able to find Turkish coffee, too. Fuck... she'd lost track of thought while watching him blow the steam off the top of his coffee cup. Never had one simple action been sexier than now... which... probably meant Halime needed to find a healthy distraction soon. Was she ovulating or something? She needed to check her calendar once in the bathroom. "Hm?" Halime blinked a couple of times, prying — with a lot of effort — her eyes off him. Or his lips. Or... just him in general. "Right! Yes. Yes, I'm offering. Sorry, I um... got distracted for a second there." Hali confessed. She would be safer away from him. Not that Xavier had presented any kind of threat, but she would end up making a bigger fool out of herself if she spent more time in his presence.

Hopping off the bed, she made her way to the tray and left her empty cup there, before going to where she'd set her bag down. "I appreciate the offer." The brunette said while looking over her shoulder as she made sure she had indeed another pair of clean underwear there, as she thought she had. "But it's mostly planning for the next year and going through some projects. I think I got it. But I promise I'll text if I need some PR expertise." She smiled, before disappearing inside the bathroom.

This time around Halime took her sweet time under the hot water. She couldn't understand what had gotten into her to make her act that way around Xavier. She wasn't desperate... her sex life was perfectly normal, averagely active, so why the hell was she acting like a dumb teenager around him? Better yet, a hormonal teenager around him? Sure, he was exciting to be around, and he looked at her in a different way. Not exactly like a piece of meat, but hell, he made her feel wanted. And feeling wanted, made Halime weak in the knees, she realized.

Once out of the bathroom, she waited for Xavier to finish getting ready and then grabbed her things, heading out to the elevator. "Are you reporting back to your father about last night's meeting?" She asked, stepping closer to him, hands flying to adjust his tie after a soft 'excuse me' had left her tongue. Once she was done doing so, Hali stepped back, just in time for the elevator to arrive. "Or have you already done so?" Given the time she'd spent in the shower, she wouldn't have found it odd if the exchange had been done through text or a phone call already. And, although she had merely asked that to keep listening to his voice, Halime was deep down, excited to hear his response.

••••••

It didn't take long for them to arrive at the building that held the Ramzi PR offices. It stood taller than the other buildings surrounding it, and Halime made yet another mental note to check out the view from the rooftop garden the next time she was there to visit. "So..." Hali began as she parked in front of said building. "Will I see you soon?"

[melpomcne]

Every moment in her presence was one he knew that he couldn't afford to take for granted. Soon enough, they'd be back to their own lives rather than tucked away in the comfort of a suite. A suite that had once seemed fairly large, but now seemed small as her perfume stained the air all around him. He'd flashed a grin of approval as she disappeared into the bathroom before his heart sank into the pit of his stomach at the realization that their safe haven was soon to be interrupted. He glanced at the time on his phone, the minutes ticking away all too quickly.

While the woman showered, Zay made quick work of tidying up the room. He placed their bottles near the dishes that would be picked up after they left, and was mindful of to dust a few crumbs from the mattress top that he'd dropped during his brief stint atop them. When he heard the door click open once more, his heart thundered and his head spun towards the quiet padding of her steps.

"I am. I'm sure he's curious about how well received we were. I think it's safe to say we were well liked." Seeing as the CEO had all but sang Zay's praises, it seemed like a safe bet to wage. A breath hitched in his throat as she stepped closer, the pressure of her wrists against his chest as she straightened his tie enough to make his lungs feel as if they'd cave in. It was only when she'd stepped back that he'd managed to catch his breath. "He's not much of a text or email kind of guy. Much prefers to get these updates in person." It was a power thing, Zay knew that.

Her question struck a nerve of excitement, though he made a conscious effort to keep it at bay. "Well," he trailed off, mocking a look of thought before a small smile spread on his mouth, "I think I can arrange that. How soon were you thinking?" If he had his way about it, he'd see her in a couple of hours, but that seemed far too eager for a man who had no clue where she stood.

"I'll be back in town in a couple of hours. Once I give this update, I think I'll be heading out, but I know you're busy with your own thing... so, the ball is in your court. You let me know when you'd like to see me again and I'll be there." It was a big promise to make, but he had every intention of following through if she allowed.

[pcrsephonies]

The way she immediately scrunched her nose when Xavier mentioned her having had the wrong kind of coffee almost made her roll her eyes, too. "I will have you know that there is no such thing as the wrong type of coffee. Unless we are talking about your Americano." She said, wiggling her index finger at her companion, as if she hadn't lived most of her live in North American territory and considered herself to be more of an US Citizen than she had ever felt Turkish, but that was for Halime to know, and not Xavier. Maybe later on, should they keep sharing its and bits of themselves like they had the night before. "Have you ever had Turkish coffee?" Hali asked casually as she moved in bed, adjusting her legs so she would sit criss-cross. It was sure an innocent question, but more than that, it felt like an excuse to see him again, bringing some Turkish coffee, along with her favorite book.

It suddenly dawned on her that... these little visits she was planning to make to his office felt less and less professional with each personal addition she placed on them. But it was becoming more and more difficult to think about them business partners. Maybe she would feel comfortable thinking of them as friends, then? It would justify the way she kept smiling at him, or how his teasing felt funny enough to bring a warm flush to her chest, or even so, to make her want to come up with excuses to see him again.

"So... what you're trying to tell me is that, you woke me up super early to have only a half day at work?" The brunette poked fun of him, shaking her head and acting like she was reprimanding his actions. Her act soon fell short as she allowed a soft giggle to roll out of her tongue, and then be hidden behind her cup of coffee as she took a sip from it. "But yes, I'm supposed to travel to California in a few days, so I have a lot to read and review. I'm probably going straight home after dropping you off at your office." Because being the head of the technological decisions in a tech company meant double work, and lots of especific licitations to go through, to brush up on her knowledge of laws and information, data, etc, regulations. "We have an important board meeting ahead of us." Not to mention, Halime was thinking of advocating in Congress for better regulations of network data, which was something she kept to herself in order not to jinx it. So she would spend a couple of weeks in California and then she'd fly straight to Washington D.C. to lobby congressmen and check what her odds were. "But I'd love to be taken for an early morning coffee next time I'm around?" Hali offered so he wouldn't think she was completely dismissing him.

One more sip of her coffee and she stood up from her spot at the bed and set the almost-empty cup on the tray it came in. "Would you mind waiting for me to shower again? I promise I won't take long."

[melpomcne]

His father would argue that coffee was the most important meal of the day and to no surprise, Zay had to agree. It was what fueled him at five in the morning to roll out of bed early enough to put in a good work out before his coffee run and forty-five minute commute into Charleston. Without it, he was nothing more than a shell of a man looking to get through the day. "Can't say that I have. Are you offering?" Lips curved upwards, his dark gaze scanning over hers as he blew at the top of his coffee and took yet another sip. That seemed to be their thing, didn't it? He'd offer a favor or two to her, and then she'd counter with something of her own? Truth be told, he had never wanted to be indebted to anyone, but with her? He looked forward to it.

The chair rocked side to side in a barely noticeable way, but he couldn't keep still. He would blame the coffee if she asked, bitter and black, and straight to the veins, but it was a boyish excitement that stirred within the pit of his stomach. They'd just spent a night together in a hotel room, professionally speaking, and he was already looking to the moment where he could capture her attention once more. Selfish, stupid, it was plenty of things, but he didn't mind either way.

"That's the offer I'm trying to make." He kept a toothy grin, despite the minor onset of disappointment that came with knowing she was going to leave after dropping him by the office. It was unfair, he had to remind himself. She owed him nothing. While he had work to do in his office, she had own elsewhere. "Ah, I almost forgot. You keep yourself as busy as I do. No days off, right? California sounds nice. Try and enjoy it for the both of us?" He envied her for that, but he had own fair share of business trips that took him out of state from time to time. Eyes narrowed at the mention of a board meeting. Ramzi PR had plenty of those, all of which were deemed important. "If I can do anything to help you prepare, I'm here." He doubted it, but the offer still stood.

He gave a small nod in agreement to her counter. At least it was something to look forward to. "I'd like that." With any luck, it could stand as a celebration to a successful meeting front all around. Zay watched as she stood from the bed and was surprised by the sudden pounding of his heart as her legs seemed to stretch onwards for days. It was nothing more than luck that he'd even registered what she'd said at all. "Sure. I don't plan on going anywhere. Take your time."

[pcrsephonies]

If Halime could have her way, she would have probably greeted him with a good morning kiss. Though unwarranted, she had been thinking about his lips since the night before. That, and of course, the connection she felt like they had shared through their back and forth since the early hours of the night, when they were still at his office, getting ready for their meeting. But at the same time, the word meeting still hung around her head. They worked together, thus, should not cross the line she thought about crossing so many times during that night. Especially when his childish grin would bring a different kind of warmth to her chest—one she hadn't felt in a while now. Not ever since Cameron.

"Thank you." The brunette smiled as she took the white cup from his hands, not bothering to add sugar to it, but she did pick up a croissant from the plate, thanking God she wouldn't have to down this with an empty stomach. "Oh, no..." Hali waved her hand, the one she had been holding her recently-bitten croissant, then brought it up to cover her lips to keep herself from talking when Xavier offered her a seat. "Please. I'm completely fine here." It was something she tended to do on lazy mornings while home alone: have breakfast in bed. And even though she knew she wasn't exactly alone in that hotel room, Xavier had made her feel comfortable enough to not have herself questioning her decisions while in his presence.

Plus, keeping a friendly distance from him would keep her from making reckless decisions she would regret later. And she had just closed a nice deal with him and his PR firm, so of course Halime wouldn't want to put that in danger.

As she sat there, listening to him talk while munching on her butter croissant and sipping on her scalding black coffee, Halim thought about how hot he looked in that simple white shirt—which probably cost right about the same as one pair of her Nike shoes, or even more expensive than those. He really did only pack for work, didn't he? Seeing as the shirt he was wearing looked different from both the shirt he'd worn the day before and the one he'd worn to sleep. "I slept okay, too." She smiled, matching his grin with one of her own. Maybe not as childish and adorable and goofy as his, but a genuine one "I wish we could have slept more, though." Hali chuckled, once again moving her hand up to cover her lips with the back of her hand. "And I'm sorry for stealing the duvet all to myself." Which, she knew it wasn't fair to him, since he was sharing the bed with her, but she was so used to sleeping alone, she forgot to warn him that it might happen. Well, that, and also, because the wine circulating through her body made her forget to do so.

But part of Halime wanted to assume he had said that he had slept better because she had been sharing the room with him, but that would be pushing too far, wouldn't it? "Here." She smiled, getting up from her little spot on the bed and picking up a croissant to offer him. "If you don't help me eat it, I might end up eating them all and you can't survive on black coffee alone. Believe me, I've tried."

[melpomcne]

He'd cursed himself as he stared into the mirror at his own tired reflection, his grip on the edge of the sink causing his knuckles to fade into a shade lighter. If it had been his choice, no repercussions to be found, he would have laid in bed with her until the sun opted to set again and the city skyline lit up beneath their high floor window. He'd avoided attachments in every form, his two closest friends being the only people who really knew him, but he'd shared more with Halime in one night than he'd given the rest of the world in his entire life. After coming to terms with that, along with a knock at the door, he'd steadied himself on his feet and swallowed down every curious thought he could.

It didn't help that his gaze kept landing on her, but in his defense, there wasn't much else worth looking at in their room. Not even the coffee in his cup was enough to hold his attention for long. "If you're sure," he added, though he felt halfway tempted to join her atop the comfortable mattress. Instead, he gripped the handle of his coffee cup a little tighter and sat back in the chair with a quiet thud. "I know it's not much. I thought if you're still hungry, we could stop on the way in." He knew the perfect mom and pop shop a couple of blocks from the office anyway and he'd consider it a part of showing her around the city, just as he'd promised the night before.

The rising sun was bright, but her smile beamed brighter than anything else he'd ever seen. How did anyone focus in a room with her? "You and me both. Surprisingly, I feel more rested than usual though." He didn't think too much about the why of it all. He'd fallen asleep shortly after she had and to his greatest surprise, had only woken up as the sun poked through the curtains. Maybe it was the whiskey, or maybe it was the warmth that radiated off her small frame through the night. He'd crawled beneath the duvet, but most of it had been swiped by morning. "Hey, you left me a corner. It was generous," he teased with the roll of his dark hues. In her defense, he'd forgotten to turn the heat up before dozing off, leaving the room a few degrees under seventy and a bit chilly.

A few more casual sips of coffee had warmed him (though he'd turned the heat up to a reasonable temperature upon waking up) and watched with a raised brow as she lifted from her comfortable spot atop the bed. "Sounds like you had the wrong kind of coffee." Gaze flashed between her and the croissant before his fingers brushed against hers and he took the fluffy bread from her hold and tore off a large chunk of it with his teeth. It was buttery, flaky, and absolutely the very thing he'd needed on his stomach to aid the coffee settling there. "So, big day in the office? I just have a few things to check in on and I think I'll call it an early day. I have no big meetings until tomorrow anyway. If you can get out early too, you should."

[pcrsephonies]

"That's very important." Hali fired back with a playful grin of hers when he mentioned what his mother had done for him. Growing up, her father had taught Halime that sometimes, you could tell how a man treated women by the way they talked and treated their mother... and judging by the different gleam that took over Xavier's gaze as he spoke about his own mother, she could tell just how much he cared about her. Also, she could tell how much of it was also masked by something his father had done... something, that Halime didn't dare asking. At least, not for the time being. She might not have been the best at talking to others, but she sure as hell knew how to keep her mouth shut and not ask invasive questions when the moment asked for her to do so.

Halime could also spend hours talking about her own parents, although she rarely did nowadays. It made her wonder if she would be able to do so without growing sad over their loss, because the world deserved to know how great they both had been and that losing them way too soon, left a hole not only in her life, but also in all the lives of everyone they had touched or could have touched. She made a promise to visit Muslim Cemetery her parents had been buried in Los Angeles during her visit to California within the nest few weeks, and moved on with the conversation, noticing she'd gone silent for too long and might end up eliciting questions from Xavier as to why she'd gotten quiet all of a sudden. Well, if they were to spend more time together, he would soon find out she often did that: quietly observed, or simply got lost in her own thoughts.

Eventually, her sleep and own exhaustion got the best of her and the conversation died down, as they both fell asleep.

•••

She felt a minor shift on the bed, but that didn't stir her awake, only making her curl further up in a fetal position, holding the duvet close to her chest to keep herself warm, as she was easily cold. Not even the shower running was enough to wake her up, only when she smelled the coffee take over the room, was that Halime rolled in bed, trying to wake up.

Like a child, she sat up, the duvet perfectly wrapped around her shoulders as she tried to recollect her thoughts from the night before. The wine making itself present in her body in the form of a slight headache. The word late, finally jolted fully awake. "We're late? Why didn't you wake me up?" Hali asked, tossing the duvet aside and jumping out of bed, one hand immediately moving to her hair to tie it up in a loose bun. "Where's my phone?" Stumbling across the room, Halime finally reached where she'd left her phone charging and noticed the time, stopping short on her tracks, then turning to face Xavier. "We're.... not late." She furrowed her brows, wanting nothing but to punch him right across the face, but not doing so. Instead, she walked to where her pillow had fallen on the floor due to the confusion, and smacked his arm with it. "Ugh, you scared me! I thought you were late because of me!" But hell, why did he have to look so hot while doing so?

Halime then moved to the bathroom to wash her face, and brush her teeth before heading back to the main room. "We're still not in good terms." She warned, completely joking with him, and she hoped he could sense it in her warm tone. "But we might be... after you pour me some coffee, please." Again, like a spoiled child, she waited innocently to be served as she sat down on the edge of the bed again, watching him as the sun kissed his skin, and she... oddly wished she could do the same. "Did you sleep okay? I hope I didn't take too much of the bed?"

[melpomcne]

The night before hadn't left his mind, even while deep in sleep, he'd painted her in his dreams and the ache in his cheeks was proof of how happy it had made him. It was the first time in a long time that he'd fallen asleep so easily. Granted, the early hour of the morning hadn't left him with much of a choice, but it had been the peaceful view of her near him that had lulled him into a sense of security unlike he'd ever known. It was the sun's greeting that had finally woken him, but it did little to the warmth that swelled in his chest at the sight of her. Did she always look so gorgeous? He couldn't afford to answer that question. They were business associates. Strictly, he reminded himself silently.

"We're not," he confirmed, smile stretched wide as he beamed up at her with a look of sheer satisfaction. He had to admit, her momentary reaction of panic had made him feel far more awake than the black coffee in hand did. Zay stifled a chuckle as the low thud of her pillow slamming into his arm echoed off the walls around them. "If I were late, it would be my fault as much as it was yours." He was surprised she'd been so quick to shoulder the blame, but he'd kept the conversation flowing just as much as she had a few hours earlier. If anything, his only complaint wasn't that it hadn't lasted a few more minutes longer.

He sat in silence, sipping slowly at his still scolding coffee as he awaited her company. Once more, a wide, toothy grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Now, I think that's a bit harsh, don't you?" They'd made so much headway, now, to cut it all down because of a harmless joke? Another hum of airy amusement rolled off his tongue as he nodded in agreement to her request. Carefully, he tipped the pot of coffee that had been delivered to their room into a white glass cup, and just shy of the brim, he stopped. "Careful, it's hot." Surely she could tell that by the steam that rolled off the top, but he couldn't help but offer the friendly warning regardless.

"Here," he offered, standing from his chair. "Take this." It was far more suitable than the side of the bed and truth was, he much preferred to stand. As for her question, he shrugged, smile hidden by the brim of his coffee mug before he lowered it and forced out a warm sigh. "Slept better than I have in awhile." He wouldn't be shy about it, but he wouldn't share his reasoning on it either. If she wanted to assume, he wouldn't be the one to correct her. "What about you? Did you sleep okay?"

[aquar3gia]

The more he spoke, the more Halime found herself entralled by his words and attracted to what he had to say, which, she had to admit, hadn't happened in a few years. Her heart wasn't open for that and her mind wasn't ready for it, but strangely enough, the man laying beside her in bed, had managed to spark that interest in her with simply a few casual conversations over the weeks, and even now during this night they were sharing together. The more he shared about himself, the more Hali wanted to know, like there was no way she could stop herself from digging deeper into him, picking his brain for this and that, wondering what made him tick, what made him grin like a child, what made him angry, etc.

Hah, what an interesting piece of news to tell Henry the next morning, wasn't it?

Although she didn't think any of this was his fault, Halime did offer him a thankful nod when he mentioned being sorry for kids treating her badly growing up. Lucky for her, she had Nia and then later on, Henry on her corner, helping her keep her head up straight and to stand tall. She wanted to reach out, to caress his cheek in thanks for being sympathetic to her situation, but for obvious reasons the brunette kept her hands to herself, holding onto her glass of wine which kept getting empty all the time, forcing her to constantly refill it.

When Xavier told her his mother would like her, Halime couldn't help but to smile as she adjusted herself on the bed, her body turned towards his to face him. "Is that so? Why is that?" She caught herself eager for his answer, even though she knew that yes, it wouldn't be hard for his parents to like him. A previous thought returning to her mind that she was, indeed, really good with other people's parents. "Can you tell me more about her?" She asked, hoping not to be overstepping any boundaries with him. "How is she like? Do you take after her or your dad?" As soon as that last word left her lips, Halime stopped herself, looking up for a moment as she tried to focus on what she'd just said, then laughed softly. "Oof... too deep of a first conversation, isn't it? You don't have to answer about your mother if you don't want to." This time, as if per his previous request, she didn't apologize for asking too much or saying too much, but she did wave her hands in a dismissive was, as she often did.

There was something very—hard to explain or to describe to Halime in the way Xavier seemed ready to include her in his own narrative, whether it was by watching the things she liked, or reading a book she had offered. Wrongfully so, Hali felt wanted again. She had never been one to seek for that kind of feeling, but it was probably because she had always had it. Whether it was in the form of her parents love, Henry's love, Val's love, or Cameron's love. Now, someone who didn't carry the same weight these people did in her life, was welcoming her like that, wanting to get to know her and, for what it seemed, without no specific reason to.

"Sounds good." She smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, then sipping on the last of her wine for the night. All of a sudden, a bottle of wine throughout the night didn't seem enough, because the more she was offered of Xavier, the more she wanted to get to know him. "I'm heading to California after the Santa on the Beach event, but once I've returned, I can stop by your office with the books." She said as she shifted her body to place her glass on her own bedside table. "You can repay me with ice cream and by showing me some of your favorites, too. Halloween is coming soon, maybe we're lucky enough to catch something spooky at the drive-in." Reaching over, she took the glass of whiskey from his hand and sipped from it, the bitter liquid burning down her throat as she swallowed it and causing Hali to puff out a breath, before returning the glass to him.

Was there a specific flavor she was craving? Yes, but it wasn't ice cream related. If he hadn't mentioned going to sleep, Halime could have sworn she would have done something impulsive for once in her life and blurred those lines between professionalism and personal life. "It is getting late." And one glance over the window, watching as the colors in the sky had started to change already, and Halime was quick to rectify herself. "Or early." She giggled, sliding further down in bed and laying more cozily beside him. She took her time, gaze never leaving him as she found a more comfortable position on her sides, arms and legs curled up a little in front of her. "Xavier...?" She mumbled, eyelids slowly falling shut as she fought against the urge of staying awake to keep talking to him. "Why are you glad I moved here?"

[melpomcne]

He wasn't a closed book by any means, but he rarely spoke so freely about himself in any sense. No one had ever really cared to learn the workings of Xavier Ramzi. With a family like his, most assumed they knew him. To have someone actively pushing for a bigger part of his story? It was refreshing and he wasn't quite sure what to make of all of it. What he did know was the warmth spreading throughout his entire frame was in fact a new feeling. Was that what it meant to be understood?

"She taught me that it was okay to be something other than an asshole." He flicked a grin in the other's direction as a nervous sound of laughter rolled off his tongue. Had his upbringing been entirely up to his father, he never would have experienced much of a childhood at all. Nodding, Zay tapped at the side of his whiskey glass which now only held a few more sips of the amber colored liquor within. "She's kind. She's funny too. Where do you think my dad gets all of those jokes he tells? She's smart. I think she'd do a better job at running the place than I ever could, but she never wanted to be a big part of that. I don't think she cares about the money. She's... really great."

His mother had hailed from a family of old money too, but one couldn't tell it from the humility she showed. Karem, on the other hand, was far from humble. "I think I've taken after the both of them. I have my father's drive for business, but I have her ability to see past it too." Sure, he loved his wealth and all the perks that came with it, but he was more than a shiney watch and smile. He was more than the home he'd finally opted to share with a friend, seeing as it was far too much for one person. "It's not everyday someone asks me about her. I won't ever pass up a chance to give her credit." It was deep, but Zay didn't speak of his mother nearly enough and he knew it.

Unexplainably, it was important for the woman to know just how incredible his mother was. Why? He wasn't sure, but it was.

He watched with a clenched jaw as she gently swiped the glass from his hold, his skin burning where they'd just grazed a faint touch in the exchange. It was only after the glass had been returned to him that the male processed anything she'd said. "Going back to check in on business there?" He cleared his throat, gaze shifting the rim of the glass where her mouth had been moments earlier. "I'll be looking forward to it." To what? Seeing her again or the books? Both seemed like a safe assumption to make, but he didn't want to come off as eager. "Ice cream and a movie... I think I can manage that. You're luck one way or another. They always play original slasher movies in between new horror releases." Up until Halloween night, there would always be something to pick from.

With his glass on the bedside table and having achieved a comfortable position, one that he was happy to see she'd done with ease herself, he couldn't fight the tired smile that formed in response to her sleepy question. "Ask me again in the morning and I'll tell you," he assured, tone offering a raspy sense of reassurance.

A crack in the curtains had allowed in a streak of sunlight that had caught him at just the right angle. Carefully, he shifted from the comfort of the bed, every step reminding him of how little he'd slept. He pulled the material of the curtains closed entirely, mindful of the woman who was still sleeping. How did she always look so damn pretty anyway? Rather than waking her, Zay followed through with his morning routine. Well, as much of it as he could considering he'd been wholly unprepared for an overnight stay. He'd called down for room service using his own phone, even if it had meant jumping through hoops to get connected to the right line.

Eventually, there was a knock at the door, his once half put together work attire was now more or less put together entirely. The buttons had been pinched together and his cuffs had been rolled. He wheeled in the cart of food slowly, surprised that the other hadn't been alerted by the thuds at the door.

"Good Morning," he called out, unsure of how she preferred being woken up. He'd considered gently tapping her arm, but opted to stand near need window with a wide smile instead. "I hope you're okay with being a few hours late. I ordered breakfast. No rush, right?" If she looked towards the clock, she'd see they had an hour to spare before everyone started rolling into the office.