Genre: Romance
Rating: NC 17
Disclaimer : Standard disclaimers apply. The characters belong to Shalz R.
Chapter 4: Leaving It Behind
Ian had a peaceful time in N. Y., in the way that he hardly ever talked to anyone and stayed within his room most of the time. The next day was the only day Ian was at home before he left with the team for shooting in Europe. Ian had everything planned out with the help of Tyler. All people he had to meet, all phone calls he had to make, any shopping he needed done, everything. He liked his things planned and organized.
Stephens was always at work at about 9:00 in the morning. She had asked Tyler to find her some time in Ian's schedule but Tyler had not been able to do so. She knew that if Ian left now without answering her queries, she might not be able to get the work done properly. Of course, getting the answers meant asking the right questions, but where was the time to even do that.
She mulled over her problem, "I would have to catch hold of him when he has some time free. No, what if he does not have time! He has to leave tomorrow; I cannot expect him to have any time. If he had not left for N. Y then he might have had some time but now! No, I will have to simply buttonhole him. Ask him my questions as soon as I see him, wherever I see him, no matter what he is doing. Plus, I would have to keep my eyes and ears open for whatever hints I might pick on the kinds of things he would prefer. I have done some designs on the house and showing them to him, I might be able to get some idea about this man. Hmm, he is a toughie. But this would be the best assignment I have done till yet, if I pull it through. "
Ian had no idea what Stephens had in mind for him. The moment he came into view, Adrian following him, coming from his study and going into his office, Stephens caught up with him. Tyler at that moment was in the hall getting the details of the flight that would take them to Europe. He had no idea either that Stephens was going to get her answers!
"Sir, good morning! I hear you are leaving tomorrow!"
"Good morning, Ms Stephens!" he nodded and continued to walk but did not answer her question. He did not need to.
"Sir, as you would see most of the fireplaces have been opened and…"
"I have seen Ms. Stephens."
"Sir I needed a few details and was wondering if you could spare…"
"Ms. Stephens I'm sorry I really do not have any time."
"Just a few details, sir…"
"Ms. Stephens if you want time with me you can get in touch with Mr. Tyler Jordan. He takes care of my schedule." said Ian in another attempt to get rid of her.
"I have been in touch with him, Sir. I need just a few queries answered from you like …"
"Ms. Stephens, I can't answer any queries like this, you may get some designs and then I can probably look them over." Ian said feeling that he had finally found a way to shoo her off.
Designs! Yes, this was just what she wanted to do! What luck! He had asked for them himself. She was beginning to feel that with her only trying get barely a word in the edgeways with him she may never get to the designs!
"Sir, I have some designs ready! If you could look them over."
Ian stopped in his tracks, exasperated and surprised at the same time. He closed his eyes for a moment controlling his temper. Adrian and Tyler were highly amused but kept quiet, even though Tyler had a hard time trying to suppress his giggles. This human pest that his mother had left for him was now getting Ian a bit irritated.
He almost snatched the designs from her hand. She started to explain the designs, "Sir, this design is for the …" but by that time he had moved to the second, she started to explain that one, but then he moved onto the third, and then the next! He flipped over the designs giving them just a glance and handed them back to her, while she was still trying to form a complete sentence!
"Perfect! Go ahead!" he said and moved ahead, into his office and closed the door behind him.
She stood there stunned and out of breath! Her brilliant plan to buttonhole him had just failed miserably. This man was more difficult than she had expected. Tyler went in behind her with a glass of water, spoke through his giggles, "Well, how did it go with your queries?" and handed her the glass before finally bursting into laughter. She gave him a quick look, took a sip, and then said, "How does one get his attention?"
"One doesn't." he said getting over his laugh. "He gets peoples' attention when he wants. If you want to talk to him, you have to wait until he wants to talk to you!" and smiled wide and then stopped smiling understanding her problem. "Look, I told you that it was going to be difficult to get him to answer your queries; one, he doesn't have time and two, he is not interested!"
She looked so forlorn that he decided that he was going to make one more attempt for her sake, "OK. Listen, I'll try once more for you, but keep your questions ready. Don't waste time in niceties, and get to the point immediately. Got it! Good!" he looked at the office door, "Stay here, and come in when I ask you to."
Tyler went in, Ian was on phone with someone; Adrian was leaning on the table reading something; Carlton was serving tea; he caught them both and whispered his problem. Adrian said, "I am feeling bad for the girl but what could we do, Ian is not interested."
"We must try at least once for her sake!" and Carlton nodded his agreement. Ian, while still on phone, noticed them whispering to each other. He put the phone down and looked at them. Tyler spoke up, "Umm… Ian ... uh …"
"What do you want?"
"Ian Ms. Stephens outside, uh ... She does deserve a few minutes of your time." He pleaded
"Yes, Ian a few minutes don't hurt the schedule, does it Tyler!" Adrian joined in and Carlton again nodded.
"Nope, not at all. Look, we'll be going tomorrow and by the time we come back she'd be gone. She would not trouble you again. Just once for a few minutes."
"Ian, please!" Adrian pressed and Carlton again nodded.
Ian nodded. Tyler ran out to call Stephens in. She came in looking excited for the appointment she had been allowed, but embarrassed from the treatment she had just received from the man she was about to talk to!
Ian busied himself in some paperwork, "Well, Ms. Stephens, what can I do for you?"
"Sir, I just need to know your preferences and choices regarding the interiors of your house!" she said trying to maintain her professional manners.
"Ms. Stephens. I have already approved the designs you showed me." He countered, not even looking up at her.
"Yes sir, but I would like to know details like, whether you want to keep the furniture or get new, the painting and pictures, etc…"
He looked up at her and leaned back in his chair, "Ms. Stephens, I give you complete freedom to do this house as you feel like. Just feel this is your house, now how would you do it. The choices are yours, the preferences are yours too. I give you free hand to do, as you like with it. Money is no problem, ask Tyler for anything you need. I want the entire house changed. Everything in it. Bring down any area you want, construct where you feel like. I have absolutely no problems. Anything else?"
"No sir." She said feeling surprised and disappointed. All the efforts to get this appointment had gone waste. He had again managed to wriggle his way out of her queries. And this time, it seemed, for good.
"Good. Now, if you would excuse me I have some appointments to keep. I do not like going off my schedule." He got up and left the room, with Adrian in tow.
Tyler looking just as disappointed just shrugged his shoulders. "Bad luck, Stephens! He is not always like this. Just in a hurry!" he said making up excuses for him. She smiled, knowing the he had tried, "Its alright! In a way he has answered my queries."
Tyler knew that she was still where she had been. "See he's going to leave only for an hour or so today. He'll be home most of the day, see how much can you get out of him." He added helpfully, "All the best!" Then hurried after Ian.
All day Ian was roaming from one room to another, his bedroom, his study, his library, and his office! Once while he was in the office, Stephens came in. Ian immediately picked up the paper that was in front of him and turned around in his chair to avoid her. She turned to Tyler almost as if she had come to talk to him, "Tyler, I'm going to need a place to work, a desk, a chair, where I can design and keep my tools etc. Can I be provided with that?" she meant to add 'at least' after her question but did not. She was not angry, just a little disappointed.
Tyler nodded and said, "I'm going to be off in a day, you can use my room. Its on the left, oh you know where it is."
She thanked him and left the room. Ian threw the paper on his desk. He didn't like this. Why did mom have to choose her of all the people! Thankfully, he did not have to endure her after this day!
Oblivious to him, Stephens studied him all day. What he did, what he preferred, how he preferred it. It wasn't as if it was of much help in the assignment, but it did help her know her employer a little better. Some knowledge from this study she might be able to use when she chose furniture, designs, wall color, etc. for him!
Seven in the evening, Stephens finally left. Ian was in his room looking over his packed bags. Adrian and Tyler were in their rooms checking their bags. At eight, they met for a quiet dinner. At nine Ian, Tyler and Adrian left the house.
Eleven.
Stephens was in her study, finishing some designs. "What a man!" she thought. In all her work experience, she had never had a client like this. "He doesn't give a damn to what his house looks like! I know what he had gone through, like the rest of the world that his wedding was off after more than three years of courtship. Nobody knows why. Only that it was off. And his attitude says that he is very bitter about something! Maybe it's his wedding being off. Maybe something else. But what a man!" she smiled.
Ian was in his seat, making notes of his dates in his diary. In the seat next to him, Tyler was sleeping. Adrian was in the seat behind him, reading a book. He couldn't help feeling that had the wedding taken place, by this time he would have been on his honeymoon! This one month he had reserved for him and his new 'bride'. He closed his eyes, he could still clearly remember the day he had proposed to her and she had accepted. Then the day their wedding date was fixed. And then the betrayal. How could everything going so perfect had turned out to be so distorted? Everything going so right turned out so wrong! For three years he lived in a mirage! And never realized it to be so.
In an attempt to forget it all, he closed his diary, and picked up his copy of the script!
* * *