Les Liasons Dangereues (Adela)

[tinkerbell]

Adela submerged into the water, only her eyes and nose were above it. Her tense muscles slowly began to relax as the water changed from a scorching temperature to simply hot. Was she sore? Adela smiled. Her thighs and hips were especially tight from their escapade last night. Hopefully, she didn’t have any other bruises. Had she hurt Josef? She hoped not but… She couldn’t always control herself in those situations. A faint scent reached her nose over the lavender. Eggs. Her favorite breakfast food besides home cooked French toast. Her grandmother had given her the best recipe. She’d have to cook it for him tomorrow. Adela sat up abruptly, causing the water to splash back and forth. Would he even be here tomorrow? He had to go back to New York. Figure out this credit card mess. Guilt welled up in her throat. She couldn’t even go with him. She had several weeks left of school. And then one more year. She couldn’t just drop everything and move and from the sound of things neither could he. But, it wasn’t like they were getting married or anything. Were they even dating? She thought about that. Yes, they were. They were exclusive. Josef would be heartbroken if she saw someone else and, though it was hard to admit, she knew she would be too. So they were dating… Apparently it was about to turn long distance unless they could figure something out. She sighed and leaned back into the tub. Josef was obviously up and cooking. Reluctantly, she pulled the drain and the water slowly began to sink. Adela stood, grabbed a towel and wrapped herself in it. She stepped on the bathmat and then wiped the fog off the mirror. The woman in the mirror looked tired but happy. Adela opened the cabinet and grabbed the soap the washer her face and applied lotion. She took the comb next and began to rake it through her fine hair. "Adela, breakfast is ready. Is everything ok?" Adela looked towards the door. “Yeah, just a minute.” She finished combing her hair and parted it to the side. It’d dry in about thirty minutes.

She opened the door to her room. Josef must have been in the kitchen. She hung the towel over the door and began to get dressed. She put on a t-shirt, one that covered her bruised collar bone, and white cotton skirt. She noticed that Josef hadn’t touched his clothes. Perhaps he hadn’t seen them. She opened the door and came out into the living room. “Smells good,” She kissed his hair as she stepped by him and sat down. She grabbed a plate and immediately went to work on the eggs. She wanted to eat a little before they started talking. After a few minutes of silence and eating, Adela set her plate down. “So,” She looked over at him, “What are your plans? When are you returning to New York?”

[Josef Ibn-Abad]

“What are your plans? When are you returning to New York?”

She had come out and begun eating after placing a kiss on his hair. She ate quietly for a few minutes as had Josef but when she asked that question, it made Josef think. "Well I have to head back to New York, I have to ensure no one tried to get slick while I've been away. You know the motto - while the cat's away the mice will play. I'll head back and immediately set up my next trip back here to see you or even fly you out there when you have some free time." This was the hard part. If they could not figure out a way to see each other it would most certainly turn into a long distance relationship. "I'm going to ensure no problems arise from the credit card thing and," He paused knowing Adela must not like the line of thinking he did when he talked about his Board of Directors, "no one tries to bring me down because of it." He was a financial bully with his Directors, that much was certain but he'd always done it for his employees. "After that is all resolved everything should settle down before fourth quarter of the fiscal year hits. When June hits usually my bank gets swamped but luckily we are able to get everything done on time." He beamed with confidence. "A good bank if a financialy stable bank." It sucked but he would need to leave if they could not figure out a way for him to prolong his stay. Was this going to be a test? Could Josef feel trusting enough to allow Adela to be on her own even if it was for a week or so, possibly longer? That was the question at hand. What trust had developed between the two. Sure Josef said he could but now that this problem had arisen, could he still give that trust as he already stated he would.

Yes.

"We may have to be apart for a couple weeks..." he paused, "... but I'll ensure I can fly out here or bring you out there as often as possible hon." Hon? Already have a pet name for her? Josef laughed at himself internally. Not original but hey... his shell had been cracking and another piece had fallen away. "Sucks..." he mumbled in regards to having to fly out. Yet but he knew he could trust her with his heart. Hell she'd saved him but if it would only make the pair stronger together then it was definitely worth it! "I'll fly out first and then work out for you to come out. We'll work out your schedule cause I can technically work from home in New York since I'm within the City and if I have to, can still get to the bank. So if you fly out for a couple days I'll be able to work from home or infact, work ahead, so I can show you around New York properly. You know all that tourist stuff people seem to enjoy." He stuck his tongue out at her before continuing, "I have well.... plenty of frequent flyer miles... they just built up over time so we would not need to pay for plane tickets." Was he getting ahead of himself? Did Adela want to see him after today? Jo barked at him. Of course she did. Why else would she go out of her way for him, "Let's not fret, we'll figure it out!" He gave off his cool, reassuring smile, "For today, all I need is a phone for that one call then we have the rest of the day to ourselves." It dawned on him, the time difference. If it was nine in the morning its was still three to four back in New York. So they had a few more hours before work had to rear its ugly head. It was time to talk about something a bit more relaxing. It was time to get back to the twenty questions. "Question four - So where do you go to school? Is it close by?" He laughed as finished off the last of his toast.

[tinkerbell]

Adela didn’t want to hear what Josef was saying. She had known it was coming. Damnit! He’d been in Paris for five days and she hadn’t even spent 24 hours with him. It sure as hell did suck. Adela leaned back in the love seat and the pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. “Oh Josef…” Thirty minutes ago she was doubting how she felt about him. Now, she couldn’t bear the thought of spending the summer without him. “Maybe I could…” She rested her head on her knees, “Come visit for the summer? Class doesn’t start back up until August and as long I keep up with painting then I guess it doesn’t matter where I spend the summer.” She smiled at the thought of spending a summer in New York with him. “You don’t need to take off work for me and fly back here. Especially if you’re worried about it. Two weeks is nothing.” She sighed heavily. The next to weeks were going to be difficult. And she had a feeling her phone bill would probably skyrocket. But, it would be worth it. They would make it work. "For today, all I need is a phone for that one call then we have the rest of the day to ourselves." Adela stood and went into the kitchen where her purse was. She pulled her cell phone out and handed it to Josef, “Here.” She sat back down next to him. “Question four…” Adela rested her head on his shoulder. “Parson’s School of Art and Design. It’s a forty minute walk from here.” She sighed, feeling incredibly down at the moment. “Thanks for breakfast,” She lifted her head and kissed his cheek, “It was wonderful.”

[Josef Ibn-Abad]

The call didn't go as Josef had anticipated. Abad wanted to just leave a message on Franks cell, unfortunately Frank picked up which meant he was not sleeping but what unfolded next threw him aback even more. He was wired immediately into his Board, whom had all heard of the card being used but also that Josef had been in an accident and for whatever reason were holding a Board Meeting without Josefs prior knowledge. Not even gone a week and already secret meetings are being held at three possibly four in the morning? He'd gone back and forth with Frank, the most senior member of the board next to him in a private converse and for the most part it had been heated. Frank did not believe for a second that Abad had been injured. The man was too smart. He knew of no banks in Paris that would be interested in meeting with the Bank of Luzon and that line of thinking in itself was Franks downfall. When the conversation started to get out of hand, Frank unexpectedly transferred Josef into the middle of the board meeting. Josef wasted little time in reminding people whom was the boss. "Thank you all for this meeting." Josef stated as soon as he heard the click that stated he was on speaker. A false thanks at best but still, a proper greeting.

"Are you ok?" A softer voice, beloning to Sarah, another Senior on the board, asked. She was just as coniving with Frank but she knew better than to assume the worst of people. She did not openly question Abad. She believed him.

Instead of going into the yes or no answer that a question like that warranted, Josef decided to tell the story, a lie, but still a story. If he hesitated at all during, they would know he was lieing. "I was meeting with the Royal Bank of Scotland's Paris Branch. I've been a long time acquaintance to their C.F.O. We were discussing the possibility of sharing toxic assets." He heard light mumbling but ignored it, "Since our bank has 6% more than they do, any chance to even it out would help but anyways, on our way of Le Chavez, we were nearly struck by a speeding car. We were not hit but to avoid it, we both had to jump out of the way, unfortunately I landed on a sewer lid whos metal had been warped and bent and a shard sliced into my hand. The C.F.O. and a good Samaritan by the name of Adela Jager got me to the hospital. I told the hospital to charge my card but they used the wrong one. If you want the medical records I can have them faxed to you within the hour." That was an outright challenge to Frank and any other who did not believe the story. Had Josef been lieing he would not have said such a statement... unless he was bluffing and Abad never bluffed, not with work. He had been irritated by the constant back biting, the constant whining, the constant everything by his Directors. They never believed a word he said and it was getting old. Deciding it was time to ensure that everyone understood just what kind of man they were dealing with, he let his next statement slowly escape his lips in a cold, mythotical manner.

"We have forgotten who we serve. We have forgotten that without our employees, we have nothing. So I have asked a Federal Regulator to look through every single one of our financial profiles. Just as a spring cleaning maneuver." He lied. Well for now. Josef had contacted no one about such an action but he would... very soon. "I will be returning to New York once my business with the C.F.O of Royal Bank is done. Expect me to walk through the front doors with this new Regulator. If there are any... and I mean any... reasons that you would lose your jobs over, leave before I get there." He ended the call with New York and immediately shot a text to the Royal Bank C.F.O.; Scott Reinke and Josef did have a long history. They'd met a couple of times in London, once in Miami, once in Manila and Tokyo and once in Riyadh. Each going to world meetings with key bank leaders to discuss the financial turmoil and both had an deep respect for their counter part. The text simply read, 'Call Coming from New York. Told them I met with you. Cover.' He would not play games. Never had. Never would. If more of his Directors were messing around with things, he would remove them and remove them in the most embarrassing of fashions. Josef set the cell on the table and looked over at Adela. She'd remained quiet the entire time he'd been on the phone. "Sorry about that. Parson's School of Art and Design?" He paused, "Don't tell me you walk forty minutes one way every day? That's unacceptable!" He remarked. No one should have to walk that long, not to school. He would be correcting that immediately. "You take public transportation at least?" He smiled, Americans could complain all they wanted about their gas prices but Europes skyrockets. Most European countries had to rely soley on the mid east were as the U.S. has Asian and South American nations for support as well as the Mid East. If gas cost two bucks in the states, it would cost six in Europe so he understood if she did not have a car.

Two weeks? Wow. Still it was going to be a hard test and he planned to pass it with flying colors, "My home is your home and I would be insulted if you did not come out for at least the summer...." He held her tightly and kissed the side of her head, "I'm glad you liked breakfast." He suddenly felt cold and he remembered he was almost in next to nothing. "If it's ok with you hon, could we go out shopping today? Need some other clothes besides what I brought... also... any idea were my clothes are?"

[tinkerbell]

She wanted to give him some privacy while he talked on the phone so Adela got up from the sofa and went into the kitchen to make them both coffee. She had no earthly idea if Josef liked coffee. But, she liked it. She needed to get through the day. Adela pulled a mug down from the cabinet and put cream and sugar in it and waited for coffee to finish brewing. It seemed that Josef ruled his company with a strict iron fist. Adela simply wasn’t interested in the politics and games of the business world. It bored her. Even if Josef didn’t play games, everyone else around him did. Toxic assets, numbers, calculations, her brain didn’t function in that fashion. Colors, texture, feeling…. That’s what got her mind churning. Adela looked up as Josef spoke her name. No doubt he was telling them about the ‘accident.’ Adela turned back to the coffee maker and poured herself a full mug. When he said her name it sounded so much prettier than she thought it could. It sounded like he was wrapping up the phone call. She poured a second mug and took both of them to coffee table. She smiled at him as he hung up the phone. Adela turned away from him towards Barnie, her goldfish. “Barnie? Still alive in there?” The goldfish was tucked away in his plastic castle somewhere. Adela screwed the top off the fish food and dropped several flakes into the water. She set the food back down and turned around just as Josef set the phone back on the table. "Sorry about that. Parson's School of Art and Design? Don't tell me you walk forty minutes one way every day? That's unacceptable! You take public transportation at least?" Adela shook her head, “Sometimes I take the number ten if its raining. Which, it does a fair amount. Even then, I still like to walk it, even in the rain.” Just then, Adela had a sudden flash of a memory. They’d had a guest speaker one day several months ago in her Interactive Art class. She’d been working, so she hadn’t paid the man much attention. But, she could have sworn he’d said something about a New York campus and how they had to apply by the end of the year to transfer. There was no way. Adela smiled to herself. She decided not to say anything until she had more information. No need to get anyone’s hopes up prematurely. She sat back down next to him and cradled her coffee in her hands. “Of course we can go shopping. I think there are some men’s boutiques in the shopping district a couple blocks from here. And your clothes,” She smiled, “Are clean and resting on the dresser in my room. We can finish the coffee and go. How do you like yours, by the way?”

[Josef Ibn-Abad]

“Of course we can go shopping. I think there are some men’s boutiques in the shopping district a couple blocks from here. And your clothes,” Adela's smile made Josef feel good. “Are clean and resting on the dresser in my room. We can finish the coffee and go. How do you like yours, by the way?”


"It's good." He Replied, "Boutiques?" he laughed. In all honesty a boutique sounded better than shopping at a discount shop. Josef had certain opinions about discount clothing. He was a firm believer in a person gets what they pay for. The more a person pays, the better quality something was. Could that be a fallacy? Most definitely. It was like automobiles. Sometimes the most expensive vehicles turned out to be lemons which meant even clothing from a higher up area could be... poorly made, though Abad hoped that was just a few and far between issue."I've never shopped at a boutique. Is that one of those places with all the frilly stuff? Like...." He thought about how he wanted to phrase his question, "I walk in and see, like, two racks on each wall with four pairs of clothing on each. This large room with eight or so articles of clothing with snotty salesman with a mic in their ear as well as clinging to their shirts?" So Josef only knew about boutiques on what he saw back in New York. In the city a boutique was a place to buy womens clothing and everyone who worked in them gave off the classic boutique persona. Either an uptight chick or an overly gay man. Josef didn't have any problems with either types of employees but he thought the women could loosen up and the gay men could die it down a bit. He'd never stepped foot into a 'boutique' and was hestitant to do so now.

"I'll trust your judgment... just pick a place... that seemes to be me." He joked. He finished up his coffee and slowly rose to his feet, "I believe I should get dressed. I might be too tempted too want to stay in the nu...." he gave her a playful yet sly grin and rushed off to the bedroom, ending his statement before he could finish off the last word. His clothes were where she said they had been, on her dresser. How he missed them earlier was beyond comprehension. They were right there! He chose his same denim pants, a black dress shirt with a regular white below it and his belt. Not too business like yet not casual completely. It was a good mix though it would be nice to pick up clothing that we're more... his style. Docker pants, dress shoes... things of that sort. Slacks yet polo shirts and possible some turtle necks. France was much colder than he had expected at night and would not be caught off guard again. When he felt prepped enough for Adelas presence, he vanished into the hall bathroom once more and double checked himself. Always a good idea. He adjusted his hair using only water and ran through a list of what else he needed, "...shaving cream, a razor, a new toothbrush..." it was about time he replaced his old one anyway. He noticed his hand and continued, "...more gauze, padding...." He stared back in the mirror, "..ok, let's go." Why was he so concerned looking good in Adelas presence. Obviously she liked the way he looked, she had not run out the room screaming when he was nude and there had been plenty of opportunities to do so.

"It's cause it's Adela." Josef spoke to himself quietly. Yet another check over and he emerged from the bathroom, shutting the light off as he left. He snagged his wallet, and noticed the cell on the table blinking. The screen turning blue, then black, blue then black. Lifting it up, he recognized the number that just sent a text. He laughed when he read the message to Adela. "My friend says 'Ok. I'll cover. And your an ass for not coming to see me if your in Paris. Punk.' Ah the wonders of friendship." Abad laughed. "Well..." he handed her back the cell, "Let us make our leave!"

[tinkerbell]

“Um,” Adela laughed and turned towards him, “I usually enjoy stores that have more than two items on the rack. But, if that’s what you’re looking for then I’m sure I can find a store to suit your needs.” Adela stood and took her empty coffee cup to the kitchen. She’d finished it quickly. They’d used up a lot of energy last night. “There’s a place a few blocks away called Paul Smiths. I think you'll like it." It was a high end store but, honestly, Adela didn’t know Josef’s style. It seemed he liked expensive clothes and Adela couldn’t shop at Smith’s even though they did carry some women’s clothing. As Josef excused himself to go get read, Adela took their plates and glasses to the sink and rinsed them off. She truly didn’t want him to go tomorrow. They’d just started getting used to each other presence and he was going to put thousands of miles between them. Adela hoped she’d heard right about a New York campus of Parsons. She knew she’d move there in an instant if she could. Smiling, she put the dishes away. From under the sink, she pulled out a small medical kit. She was short on band aids, but she did have some gauze and bandages. Adela set them on the counter and waited. Josef made his way back into the room. "Let us make our leave!" Adela shook her head. “Just a second mister. Let’s see that hand.” She took his injured hand and very carefully began to unwrap the bandages from it. The cut was bad. But, it didn’t look any worse than it had at the hospital. That was a good sign. “And, you need to take your medication after this. I won’t allow you to go back into the hospital.” She led him into the kitchen, carrying his hand in hers. She placed the gauze on his palm and then wrapped it snugly with the bandage. She looked at him, then raised her hand to her lips and kiss him softly. “All better. Now…” She filled a glass with water and then counted out the correct medication. “Take these and then we can go and shop to your heart’s content.” She held the pills out and smiled, feelings happy about being able to take care of him. Adela wanted to be needed by him. But, more importantly, she felt that she needed to be wanted by him.

[Josef Ibn-Abad]

He felt stupid, well not so much stupid... as uncomfortable. Josef was not use to shopping in boutiques. The salesman of Paul Smith's were kind, polite and gave him his space but still, nothing really screamed Josef. He already had the colored suits they offered back home, the slacks both cuffed and un-cuffed, the belts, jackets and shirts. Nothing called out to him. Though some of the dress shirts looked great, especially the peach and pastel colors they offered, it all seemed more of the same. Sharp point collars, wide collars, narrow collars, rounded tip, fitted... everything just reminded him of what he had back home. In another part of the boutique, Adela must have been wandering around as Josef had handed her his wallet to hold. Why? He didn't know, he just wanted her holding it. Was he afraid of spending too much or going overboard? Nope, never did. He just felt comfortable with Jager having it. Frustration was setting in. Shopping was never like this for Abad, usually he could spot immediately what he wanted, find his size and then be done within minutes but they had already been here for about thirty and not a single outfit had been chosen. Then that little voice inside started arguing. Why was he shopping for suits? Was he that much of a man of habit that the first thing he sought out in a store was suits? He was in Paris, with Adela. Work was not here. Why should he shop for it? He made no sense and thats when he decided to ask Adela for a bit of help.

Tracking her down, Josef approached cautiously. He had never asked for opinions when he shopped and this would truly be a first. As if filled with embarrassment, he stood close and spoke in a near whisper, "Umm..... Do you think you could...." his head motioned to the more casual looking clothes, "I guess what I'm trying to ask is, could you..." again he paused. Jo started barking within. Why was Josef embarrassed to ask for help? Was he ashamed? Was he pathetic? Did he have too much pride? No, it was cause it was Adela. What would she think of him asking for help in shopping for clothes. He had always done it alone. Would she find it pathetic? Resent him slightly? Again Jo barked within and finally Josef finished what he wanted to say, "Can you help me pick out some clothes?" Rushed and somewhat panicked, "I don't think I want suits. I want something that says 'Josef Abad', that looks good but is casual. Not business casual, not dinner date casual but... going to the park casual or sitting around your apartment casual. You know... casual casual." He probably made no sense and just rambled on about being casual without a clear point but Abad did not know how else to phrase it. Was there a better way to help get the point across. The look in his face of stress and frustration should have been a dead giveaway. Josef was not having fun. Perhaps with Adelas help this shopping experience would brighten up. "I mean I see stuff over there that looks nice but I don't know what screams for me. Ya know? I'm just not use to dressing in casual but I don't want to be walking around in Hager or Dockers pants forever. Denim, Cargo, different pants that look good on me and shirts to go with."

He gave Adela the classic puppy eyes, "Pretty please? Help me shop? You pick the outfit, I'll try em' on and we'll both decide?"

[tinkerbell]

Adela had found a beautiful black number. It was a black cotton dress with an embroidered belt and key hole back. She spun in a slow circle in the dressing room. The high waist gave the appearance of hips on the slender werewolf’s frame. That almost sold her the dress right there. But, there was something about the placement of the tired ruffles on the bottom of the dress that just tied it all together. Was that…? Was that her butt in the mirror. Adela looked over her shoulder at her arse. “Wow, not bad at all!” Yep! She hadn’t planned on buying anything, especially here, but she was pleasantly surprised to have found something. Adela stripped out of the dress and pulled her clothes back on. She hoped Josef was having just as good of luck as she was. She placed the dress on the counter and smiled at the young woman behind the register. She opened her purse and smiled. Josef had asked her to hold his wallet. Why? She could guess. Perhaps it got in the way while he was trying on clothes. Maybe he was testing her. She’d hate to make a second mistake with his black card. Adela wanted to think, however, that he simply trusted her enough to ask her to hold. Simply to hold it for him. Perhaps for no reason at all. He’d trusted her. She pushed past his wallet to her own, a thin pink wallet that probably held an eighth as many cards as her. Adela slid her debit card towards the cashier and finished paying just as Josef came up behind her. She could smell the nervousness coming off of him before she even turned around to look at him. What was wrong? Fear tried to take hold as Adela turned stiffly in his direction. But, something told her that there was really nothing wrong. "Umm..... Do you think you could.... I guess what I'm trying to ask is, could you... Can you help me pick out some clothes?” Josef dove into a rushed description of what he was looking for. He had been nervous about asking her for help. Adela knew she had to tred softly. She didn’t want to insult him or make him feel worse than he already did. “Of course,” She smiled and headed past him towards the area with more casual clothing. Immediately, she spotted a pair of light linen shorts. They very comfortable and casual because they were thinner than most shorts but not so thin that you could see through them. She looked up at him and guessed his size. “What’s your size?” She asked, handing him the correct pair as he told her. “Shirt…shirt…well,” She pulled a blue and white striped polo down from a nearby rack. It was longer and slimmer than a normal polo but she had a feeling he could pull it off and then some. “You could go with something like this,” She held up the polo, “Or something like one of these,” She grabbed a black t-shirt off a nearby table. It was basic with a pocket in the corner and some metallic designs on the back. “Why don’t you try all of them on and then we’ll see what we like.” She smiled, put the clothes in his hands and pushed him off towards the dressing rooms.

[Josef Ibn-Abad]

Adela has a completely different sense for fashion than Josef had. As she shuffled through the racks, picking out various shirts, shorts and the sort, he watched carefully. She seemed to glance him over, his figure and knew what should fit right compared to what might fit right. She went for a bit of a more fitted look. Suits were a god-send of sorts but the problem with them was that they often his a male figure. The same with business casual clothing. The shorts she handed him, the polos were meant to show off the various aspects of his body without revealing too much. Whether or not Adela was consciously avoiding clothes that might offend him such as body hugging stuff due to his cultural upbringing but if she was, Josef would be impressed. Most people took a look at him and the first thoughts that crossed their minds were September the Eleventh. In all honesty, Arabs only got their just desserts. How long could a culture try and hide and seclude itself away without people becoming cautious and wary? That September day only gave people the little push they needed to become suspicious of Arabs. Still, the fact that Adela was avoiding the obviously... more unique clothing was a relief. He would have felt horrible had she grabbed one of those muscle t-shirts that were two sizes too small that some men liked to wear. Casual and simple - that would be Josef's motto with his first all casual wardrobe.

He had not even spent four minutes in the dressing room before emerging. Having slipped out of his shoes, pants, and shirt and sliding into the lenin shorts and blue and white, Abad only took a minute to decide how many buttons on the polo should be buttoned or unbuttoned. "One?" He closed one. "Two?" He closed a second. "Three?" He closed the last button. "Or none?" He undid all of them. "Bah!" He said in a frustrated laugh, "Adela!" Abad called out. He had emerged from the mens dressing room and stood directly in front of her. Ok so Abad was not the most muscularly fit man around. Of course he was built but not like a professional wrestler or even body builder. He worked out in his home gym just about every morning from five to six thirty. His calves were like rocks, his thighs were steel. The shorts were a tad tight around the waist and because of it when he walked they gave off the appearance of daisy dukes. The fabric felt good though but still, he would need a bigger size. Passing Adela and using his hands to try and hold down the short leggings, he grabbed a size bigger and rushed back into the dressing room and quickly changed.

Finally he reemerged with a strawberry red face. Abad was not to keen on blushing himself but Jager did not seem to judge him. "Well?" He asked. The shorts reached the knee cap, the polo hung just at his hip and all the buttons were undone. The sleeves of the polo nearly touched his elbow they they themselves were like a perfect glove. The ends of the sleeves hugging the bicep perfectly when he moved his arm. "I like the shorts. It will take some time getting use too but...." He twirled once and only once so she could get a good look at the entire thing.

[tinkerbell]

Adela waited patiently on a small chair outside the dressing rooms. She checked the time on her phone. They probably had less than twenty four hours left together before he would return New York. Adela sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. She’d been doing that a lot lately in Josef’s presence. Trying to fight back emotions that she didn’t normally experience in a day. Anger, sadness, fear…love. No, not love. Lust, yes, but Adela didn’t she was capable of loving Josef yet. She wasn’t even sure she was capable of loving at all. Her heart had ripped out and stomped on by God or fate or karma or whatever you believed in. Maybe Josef would be different for her. Perhaps he would rebuild her heart piece by piece. Or, most likely she believe, it was a task too great for any one, no matter how much they loved her. A tear escaped and began to travel down her cheek slowly. Adela dabbed it away before anyone could notice. She could hear him counting inside the stall. Was he preparing to come out? Counting down his grand entrance? “Adela?” Just then, Josef scampered out of the dressing room past her. She stood and watched as he grabbed a different size pair of shorts and rushed back into the dressing room. She smiled after him, “Josef? Is everything alright?” She called softly, trying to swallow her laughter. He seemed so awkward in this situation. After a minute more, Josef finally emerged. He was definitely embarrassed. Adela didn’t want him to feel that way, even though his slightly rosy cheeks made him all the more sexy. Her face straight, she stepped slowly towards him. She gently ran her hands across his chest and over his shoulders, both smoothing the wrinkles out and enjoying the feel of his muscles under her palms. She buttoned the bottom button of the polo and then placed her hands gently on his shoulders and turned him to a full length at the end of the hall of dressing rooms. Behind him, she smiled and her fingers down his neck. “I think you look wonderful. Handsome and very Euro. You look…” She smiled and kissed his neck. Adela didn’t have words to describe him. “Like you.” Was that what he wanted to hear from her? Just a casual Josef. Maybe the should go to the park nearby, since he was dressed for it now.

[bloodoak]

Basset was walking down the street, her hands in her pockets, and sunglasses covering her blue eyes. She was looking for an acceptable Cajun restaurant, with little success. It seemed that the French didn't know what good southern food was, which was odd seeing as Cajun came from the French settlers. Paris didn't seem all that bad in the day light, it seemed less dirty, less filthy. She could get use to days here, but she would never live in this place. Her little house in the woods, just north of here was perfect for her. She left her companions back at the house, thinking that six wolf-huskies without leashes might scare the French, but next time she would definitely bring them, they would enjoy all the new scents. It was a beautiful day, the people where out and the streets filled with life. Right then she caught a familiar scent, curious, she followed it. That scent lead her to a little clothing store, and she got a huge feeling of deja vu. Something about the scent, she couldn't quite place it. Then she took another deep breath, there was something else, someone else that she had met before, but this one seemed much more applicable, it was male, and one that she had been in close proximity with. She stood there outside the boutique for a moment simply intaking the smell, she cosed her eyes and thought about it, what was that other smell, and why did it feel so familiar, yet so new. The males' scent held little interest to her but the other, the other tugged at the strings of her conciseness. She walked in, her hands were still in her pockets, she concentrated on little else but the smell. It lead her to the dressing rooms. There were two wolves there, a male and a female, the smell was coming from the female. The female was fixing the males shirt, she could see their faces, the wall was in the way. Basset walked toward them, "Excuse me miss, but do I know you?" The woman looked at her, and Basset saw his face, small fucking world. "Well, look at that, if it isn't Josef Abad, how you liking the Wolf life?" She tried to hold back her surprise, if Josef was here and it wasn't his scent that drew her here, what was the womans connection to all of this? Basset had never met the woman, at least she hadn't met her in her conscience state.

[Josef Ibn-Abad]

“I think you look wonderful. Handsome and very Euro. You look…” When Adela spoke, the scent of another caught him. Distant at first but none the less, a scent. His eyes widened as Jager finished her statement and he remained quiet for just a few moments while he took it in. Abad was still unfamiliar with other wolves scents. He just recognized it as another of his and Adela's kind. “Like you.” With his unwavering blue eyes, Abad simply waited as the scent grew stronger. How was he going to react. Another wolf near his mate? Sure Paris probably belonged to another pack but he and Adela were not gallivanting around like hormone raged dogs and marking every light pole and tree they saw. They had not even gotten into their wolf states thus far. Odds were, this wolf had picked up on theirs just as easily as Josef picked up in it's. "Do you smell it?" He asked, his brown eyes still locked on Adela as his face turned to stone. Jo wanted out, to protect Adela and her wolf. This was unacceptable. This wolf should stay away, not near but as the scent grew stronger, it became apparent that the two wolves would get to meet another.

With so many people around, Josef could not change if something went down but at the same time he was not going to sit back and watch if someone threatened Adela. She was his Mate. It was his responsibility to ensure her safety. If it meant risking the chance of being outed as a wolf then so be it. Jo wanted out and he wanted out in the worst ways. Had this been New York then Abad would have probably shifted but if this wolf was apart of a pack, then shifting here, in their territory would institute a challenge. It was best to hold back for now. The source of the scent was nearly ontop of them; the reason Abad could tell was the shiver that went down his spine as his body continued to tighten and the scent now engulfed their immediate area. The only time this had happened, with a wolf's scent surrounding him was when he and Adela met at the Museum of Modern Art. The wolf was in the store now.

"If this turns ugly. Get out of here." The voice was a low growl and pure Jo. The wolf within wanted out, to put up a show of dominance, any threat towards Adela was unacceptable but was this other wolf a threat? Josef tried to reason with his wolf. Couldn't this wolf simply be looking around to see who else is in their territory? The odds of this wolf being a threat were astronomical... of course there were reasons that Josef did not make bets. He ran numbers and knew the odds. This was not one of the times when the odds were in his favor yet turned against him.

"Excuse me miss, but do I know you?" As soon as she began speaking, Josefs eye's widened in disbelief. Shock taking them over but as he narrowed them, he brought them over towards the woman, a growl escaping his throat. "Well, look at that, if it isn't Josef Abad, how you liking the Wolf life?" The growl within his throat turned into a light rumble of outright rage. So low that only the most sensitive of ears would here but a growl none the less. His body tensed, each muscle stiffening.

"Basset Phoenix."

The way Josef had said that name was almost inhuman. He had never spoke in pure hate - pure rage before. The wolf within desperately wanted out, to inflict the same amount of pain on this woman as she had done to him. Still, there was no way of ever repaying her back. Everything about Josef screamed of the urge to fight. The Syrian even had to fight back even the slightest change such as his eyes. He struggled to keep them a brown when they wanted to shift, to show Basset of what she had done. This was the woman... whom had made Josef what he was. He wanted to brawl, to inflict some kind of pain on this woman... but... Adela was here. His priority was not his own sense of need or want. Both of which were to harm Basset, they were to protect Adela. The fact that this 'other wolf' was so near Jager was just as unnerving and upset. Abad had been at a loss of words since her arrival. Sweat had begun to bead on his forehead, his body desperate to fight a change that Jo wanted to horribly to happen.

"Adela..." Josefs eyes gave her a glance as if uncertain for either his or Adela's safety to occur. His eyes sent a message while his mouth gave another, "you remember how I told you how I had been changed? I brought a woman home and was mauled from behind as soon as we entered my front door... well...." his eyes shifted and narrowed to near slits once more as his jaw tightened, "...there she is." His eyes again sent the same message as earlier, 'if anything happens, run.' Adela was just as dominate of Josef, if not then more so. Both complimented the other with their stubbornness, attitudes and personality but at the same time with their affection and loyalty. If Adela was in trouble, Josef would come to her aid and he knew that that loyalty went both ways. Still, he felt the need to send her the unworded messaged with the eyes.

Knowing full well he had ignored Basset's question earlier, Abad finally addressed her, "You have a lot of guts coming near me."

[tinkerbell]

Adela could barely smell the other werewolf over the sudden rush of anger and hatred in Josef. Emotions gave off smells. Humans couldn’t detect them. Without even looking at him Adela knew something was very wrong. Josef was rank with unpleasant emotions now. Adela frowned as she looked at him. She didn’t recognize the scent of the other werewolf. It was female and the scent was getting stronger by the moment. "If this turns ugly. Get out of here." Adela raised an eyebrow. If it gets ugly? What would one werewolf have Josef so worked up about? She squeezed both his shoulders firmly, trying to get his attention. “Josef,” She whispered, “You need to calm down. And get control of yourself.” He was being ridiculous not to mention he was making her just a tad bit nervous. Just then, the shop was filled with her scent as she entered. Adela turned and watched the tense exchange between this woman and Josef with scrutinizing eyes. “Well...there she is." Oh. Well, that certainly explained Josef’s reaction to the woman. Adela turned towards her and, in a move she knew would infuriate Josef, stepped towards Bassett and in front of him. Josef was certainly not in control of his wolf and that meant he was a possible danger to everyone around them. Someone else needed to take charge of the situation and Adela had already decided it was her. She hoped the woman would not take it as a sign that Josef was weak. Or maybe she would. Either way, it would be a mistake. “Hm, what a surprise,” Adela smiled through tight lips. “Bassett Pheonix, is it? Beautiful name. No, I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure of meeting.” Adela extended her hand towards the werewolf in the tradition greeting. He grandmother had always said, ‘Kill ‘em with kindness.’ Of course, she‘d said it with an angry German accent and once while holding a shotgun, “I’m Adela Jager. And what brings you into town on this fine day. Bassett Pheonix?” She had probably come across their scents by chance. Of course, she could have come with a purpose.

[bloodoak]

Basset couldn't decide what she felt, anger or just plain surprize. It had been a long time since she had lied eyes upon the young C.E.O. She had come across his scent a few times on her hunts but recognized it and kept on her way. She didn't know why she didn't know it this time. She never forgets a scent, but it didn't matter at this point. Josef was practically roasting with fury, it was quite an amusing sight to be sure, but to laugh at this moment might make him lose his already slipping control. She couldn't have innocents hurt because his ego was still bruised. "You have a lot of guts, coming near me." She held back a laugh, he was so angry, so resentful. She couldn't see why, now that he was a Lycan, he could do more than any human. He could sense lies, he could see in the darkest night, he could run faster than most cars could go. Why would he be so negative toward it? She wondered but didn't bother asking, it would just piss him off more.
"Oh Josef, don't flatter yourself, I didn't come here for you. It is she, that sparked my curiosity." The woman spoke now, she was very attractive, a good match for such a upscale wolf like Josef. They worked well together, and to think that he would have never met her without his wolf. She said she didn't remember her and asked what Basset was doing in town. She turned toward Adela, "You are sure we have never met? I could have sworn..." Interesting, she couldn't shake the feeling that they had met before, her wolf seemed to be knocking on the inside of her soul. It screamed you have seen her before, you know her. And yet Adela denied ever seeing her at all, odd, her wolf was always right. "Cajun food, I had a sudden craving for it. Course, I can't find any that comes remotely close to the good Louisiana stuff around here." That reminded her of how hungry she actually was. The beast inside of her gut was ravenous, and started to growl. Sometimes raw meat didn't hit the spot, and at times like this, old fashion southern food was usually her default. Unfortunately finding that in France was like trying to find a eagle in the darkest depths of the ocean. She was getting off subject, this situation needed her full attention. Josef could lose control any second and she was thinking about food, brilliant. "I caught your scent as I was passing by." Basset really didn't want him to change and harm the humans that just happen to be shopping in the same store as he. In fact she was quite surprised that the people didn't really notice what was going on.