Eros
As the approaching dawn paints the sleek surfaces with subtle golden hues, the penthouse remains a silent witness to the unsettling calm left by the night. This morning has just created one question after another for me. The scent of coconut lingers so strongly, reminding me that she occupied the same space I currently am. My thoughts since the incident have been consumed by Juliet, Such a beautifully broken woman, caught between the real world and her dream land. Even in the middle of terror, I’ve never seen someone look so graceful.
It’s about twenty to six and I’ve already made it clear to my staff since last night that Juliet is a high priority guest and her safety is our highest priority. Which means that for the next couple of days, I will be doing everything with her and going everywhere with her. She will not leave my sight. Not after what we went through last night. She seemed so small, so fragile but I have no doubt she would have taken advantage of that underestimation if she knew how. I start making my way down to the lobby to pick up the wardrobe I got Ciara to put together for Juliet.
“Good morning Sir, I have Juliet’s sample bag for the new wardrobe here. Please just make sure she either tells me what she likes out of the bag and what her size is, or just tell me yourself preferably before the end of the day” Ciara’s standing right outside the elevator holding a tote bag in one hand and a cup of coffee out in the other hand. I let out a big breath when I make eye contact with the full steamy coffee cup “I figured you’d appreciate not having to make your own this morning. We all heard you pacing back and forth throughout the night when we went for our patrols on the 17th floor.”
“Thank you Ciara, I appreciate your thoughtfulness.” I give her a small smile and nod when I grab the bag and cup and click the button for the 17th floor.
Walking up to Juliet’s door, I give it a light knock and take a big step back. The last thing she needs to see first thing in the morning is a man she hardly knows taking up her entire door frame. I glance down at my watch, 5:55. Well, I did tell her clothing would be dropped off at 6am sharp, and if she wasn’t awake it’d be left for her. I was just hoping I’d be able to see her before driving her to work, see if she was actually okay enough to go. The silence beyond the door stretches on, punctuated only by the faint sound of birds chirping in the distance.
Just as I’m about to knock again, the latch clicks, and the door creaks open, Juliet stands there completely disheveled. Dark circles under her eyes betray a lack of sleep, and her hair is tousled as if she’s just rolled out of bed. Despite her tired demeanor, a faint smile tugs at her lips as she greets me. “Morning,” she murmurs, rubbing her eyes. “You’re early.” She says, staring at the bag in my hand.
“Uh, yeah.. Ciara got these together for you, She said to either let her know what you liked and your size or to just drop the bag off on our way out and she will assume anything missing is your size and what you like.” I stretch my arm with the bags of clothes out for Juliet “I also wanted to check to see how you were doing, if you needed anything and what time the car needs to be ready for you to go to work.” Her tired eyes look up at me for a moment and there’s something that flashes through them for the quickest of seconds. She reaches out to grab the bag of clothes
“Coffee, I need coffee before I can even think about your questions.” She mutters out and turns back into her room, closing the door behind her. Well I guess I’m getting her some coffee. I turn on my heels back towards the elevator and press the button. Hopefully Ciara had another kind gesture in her before her first coffee of the day. Elevator doors sliding open, I step in, press the lobby button and bring the coffee cup to my lips. The scolding hot coffee brushing past my narrowed lips.
“Jesus fucking christ, why the fuck is this coffee so fucking hot. What the actual fuck.” I say after spraying the inside of the elevator doors with the hottest coffee I’ve ever had the misfortune of drinking.
As the elevator descends, I can’t shake the image of Juliet’s tired eyes from my mind. There’s something about her that draws me in, despite the chaos that seems to follow her every step. The elevator dings with the opening doors and I catch Ciara’s eye.
I watch as she stiffens and drops her conversation with Michael as she hurries towards me. “Is everything okay sir? Did she like the clothes or do I need to make an emergency run for different ones?”
“Actually Ciara, It appears we need another cup of coffee if that is at all possible. She seems to be one of those woman that you should fear until they consume their morning caffiene.” I grumble out. Ciara’s chin tilts up at me slightly and an amuzed smile starts to play across her face.
“Sounds almost exactly like someone else I know.” She says walking away towards the kitchen. “I will be right back with a coffee for the lady, sir.”
As I wait in the lobby for Ciara to return with the much-needed coffee, I can’t help but feel a sense of impatience gnawing at the edges of my consciousness. Despite my concerns for Juliet’s well-being, a part of me bristles at the thought of playing the role of a mere errand boy. After all, I’m a business owner, not a coffee fetcher.
But as Ciara emerges from the kitchen with a steaming cup of coffee in hand, her smile warm and welcoming, I find myself unable to maintain my facade of annoyance. After all, it’s not every day that someone gets to go out of their way for such a woman.
“Here you go, sir,” Ciara says, offering me the cup of coffee with a knowing look in her eyes. “One extra strong coffee for the lady, just the way she likes it.”
I accept the coffee with a grateful nod, taking a moment to savor the rich aroma before taking a cautious sip. The warmth of the liquid soothes my frayed nerves, reminding me of the simple pleasures in life.
“Thank you, Ciara,” I say sincerely, meeting her gaze with a sense of gratitude. “I appreciate your kindness.”
Ciara waves off my thanks with a dismissive gesture, her expression softening with understanding. “It’s no trouble at all, sir. Juliet seems like she’s been through a lot lately. It’s the least we can do to make her feel welcome.”
Her words strike a chord within me, reminding me of the fragility of human connection and the importance of extending kindness to those in need. With a renewed sense of purpose, I make my way back upstairs to Juliet’s room, the cup of coffee cradled carefully in my hands.
As I approach her door, I can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation building within me. Despite not knowing anything about her, there’s something about Juliet that draws me in, compelling me to seek out her company even in the darkest of moments. Maybe it’s because she’s a damsel in distress, but I’d like to think there was more to her than just this.
Taking a deep breath, I knock softly on the door, my heart fluttering with anticipation. “Juliet,” I call out, my voice soft but determined. “I brought you some coffee.”
As the door to Juliet’s room swings open softly, my breath catches in my throat at the sight of her standing in the doorway. She exudes an effortless allure, her semi-sheer white button-up clinging to her upper body in all the right places. With only one button hastily fastened, the fabric reveals a tantalizing glimpse of her pink lace bralette, a daring display that sets my pulse racing.
I can’t tear my eyes away as the material of her shirt billows softly around her, failing to conceal the curves of her figure. It’s a sight that leaves me spellbound, my gaze lingering on her exposed skin as if drawn by some invisible force.
Her pencil skirt, a sleek black fabric that hugs her like a second skin, accentuates every curve of her body. It’s a simple garment, yet in Juliet’s hands, it becomes a statement of confidence and allure.
For a moment, neither of us speaks, the air thick with tension as we stand in the doorway, our eyes locked in an unspoken exchange. It’s as if time itself has come to a standstill, the world around us fading into insignificance as we’re consumed by the intensity of our connection. But then, with a gentle clearing of her throat, Juliet breaks the spell, her voice soft but determined.
“Thank you, Eros,” she murmurs, her words tinged with gratitude. “I really needed this.” Her appreciation washes over me like a wave, dispelling the lingering doubts and insecurities that had plagued my thoughts. With a faint smile, I offer her the cup of coffee, the warmth of the liquid seeping through the ceramic and into my hands.
“It’s my pleasure, Juliet,” I reply, my voice steady despite the fluttering of my heart. “I’m here to help in any way I can, I just wanted to make sure you had settled and you slept alright. I also wanted to know when I should have the driver ready for you.”
“I start work at 9:30, I work as a secretary over at Colemans & Colsons so it’d be very appreciated if I could be dropped off there for about 9:15. There’s a staff meeting this morning and I like to make sure I have the coffee out for everyone.” She smiles at me, avoiding my question about her sleep and I feel that it may be a sensitive topic for her, so I don’t push.
I take in her words, noting the dedication and responsibility she carries in her role. “I’ll make sure the driver is ready to take you to work at 9:15,” I assure her, my tone gentle yet resolute. Despite the casual banter, there’s an underlying seriousness to our conversation, a recognition of the responsibilities that weigh heavily on Juliet’s shoulders.
“I’ll either call you when you need to leave, or have the driver ready for you so you can leave as you please. Don’t forget breakfast is at 7, you need to make sure you eat so do not be late. I can not fight off the entire building so that you can have the last pancake,” I add, a hint of amusement in my voice.
Juliet’s smile wavers for a moment, a fleeting glimpse of vulnerability flickering in her eyes before she quickly recovers, her playful spirit shining through. “Ah, breakfast,” she replies, her tone light but tinged with a hint of self-awareness. “I’ll do my best not to cause a pancake riot this time. Thank you, Eros, for the reminder. I’ll make sure to fuel up before facing the morning madness.”
“Understood,” I reply with a nod, a faint smile playing at the corners of my lips. “It’s never a problem to take 5 seconds out of my day to remind someone of something.”
With a shared chuckle, we part ways, each consumed by our own thoughts and obligations. But as I watch Juliet disappear into her room, a sense of admiration washes over me. Despite the challenges she faces, she approaches each day with unwavering determination and grace, a testament to her strength of character.
As I make my way back downstairs, the weight of responsibility settling back onto my shoulders, I can’t help but feel a renewed sense of purpose. No matter what lies ahead, I’ll be there to support Juliet in any way I can, ready to stand by her side as she navigates the complexities of life and work.
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