004: Communication Skills

It was after nine on a Saturday night and Kayla was still at work. She'd been Rick Raven's personal assistant for nearly a week and so far, she'd stayed late every evening. It wasn't because her new boss had asked that of her, but she'd done it by choice. She liked working for Rick and helping him get his things in order. She'd been at the office since around ten that morning and most likely wouldn't be heading home until well after eleven. She hadn't seen Rick at all that day. She was seated at the desk that was now hers, dressed in a pair of black leggings, a white blouse, and black heels. Her blonde hair was partly pulled back while the remainder rested on her shoulder.

In front of Kayla was his datebook which had needed a complete overhaul. She'd been working on it on and off for a few days and was proud of how it had turned out. She had even snuck in a few positive affirmations as well as fun stickers and washi tape. She was just getting ready to set him up with a mood tracker as she was startled by the appearance of another person.

"Oh shit!" Letting out an exhale, her hand came up and rested on her chest. When she saw it was her boss, she sighed. "Jesus, Rick, you gotta wear a bell; you're too stealthy."

He was decked out in a full suit, complete with buttoned vest, looking as dapper as could be as he smiled sheepishly. "Didn't mean to startle you. Just got back in from a meeting in LA," he rolled his eyes at the mention of it. "Traffic from the airport was an absolute nightmare. Feeling as though I could use a drink. Care to knock off early and join me?"

He looked as handsome as always and she couldn't stop the smirk that crossed her face. "I don't know if my boss would give me the okay. I am elbow-deep in stickers and stamps."

Feigning a horrified gasp, he shook his head. "Well, we can't interrupt sticker time. I'm sure your boss is a real piece of work and all… but I'll put in a good word. Tell him you need a few hours of fun to iron out all this undue stress he puts on you." Glancing back towards the door that eventually led through into the noisy club, he seemed almost pensive. "I'm not sure I'm in the mood to be a good host tonight. Would you like to join me upstairs in the penthouse? If you're hungry, I can order something."

It was on the tip of her tongue to say no, but she wasn't sure why. They were becoming friends and work friends met for drinks. There was some disappointment that the mood tracker would have to wait, but it would always be there the following day. "I'd like that." She got up from the desk and walked around to meet him.

Like a perfect gentleman, he held out his arm to her, willing to be that perfectly dapper escort. "Well, I'm going to show you a secret passage." He grinned and led her into the hall, down past the office to what seemed to be a blank wall. He pulled a card from his inside pocket and tapped it against a black box mounted on the wall. Then and only then, she noticed a seam and heard the sound of machinery rumbling behind the wall before it slid to the side, revealing an elevator that was far wider than the one she generally used that opened up into the club. "Service elevator," he murmured, winking as he took in her surprise.

"It's like something out of Hogwarts." Her tone of voice betrayed the fact that she was indeed impressed. Sliding her arm through his, she went with him onto the elevator. "I'm guessing your penthouse is just as impressive?" She looked up at him, "that seems to be a theme with you."

"Impressive?" Rick chuckled, shaking his head. "I don't know about that. It does have a lovely view and a very well-appointed kitchen."

"Those are two impressive things, especially in this city." Kayla could smell his cologne and she liked it. "Yanno, you've been helping me a lot since you hired me, and I don't know how I'm going to repay you."

"What a strange thing to say." He commented as he scanned that card again before pushing the P button. "Why would you be expected to repay me?"

She thought about this and couldn't find a reason why he would expect that. "I honestly don't know…" She felt a bit embarrassed and sighed as the elevator doors shut. "So here's a bit of info for you. I sometimes stick my foot in my mouth and make things awkward."

"I find it rather endearing, if we're being candid." He turned towards her, completely serious as the car lurched into motion so fast that it felt like a carnival ride. It was over so quickly that she barely had time to register it before the doors were sliding open again. The space was vast, mostly open and stretching right across to the windows that went from floor to ceiling. Beyond was the Vegas strip, lit up and dazzling. "Home sweet home," Rick said softly as he stepped off the elevator, holding out his hand to her. "I'll give you the spare key for this elevator tomorrow. Remind me."

"Wow, this… is gorgeous." Her eyes were wide as she took his hand and let him pull her out. "This kind of puts your secret elevator to shame." Little goosebumps had risen on her skin when their hands touched. It made her almost dizzy at how much she'd come to like him in such a short period of time. There was this little voice in the back of her head that told her he wouldn't hurt her in some way. She wasn't sure how that could be predicted. She trusted him and it had been a long time since she trusted someone like she did him. "Your place is stunning."

"Make yourself comfortable." He'd already taken off his jacket and was unbuttoning the vest as he made his way across the room. "There are some takeout menus in the end table drawer. Or we can see what's available on Postmates. I'm just going to slip into something a bit more comfortable."

"Okay, sounds good." She threw him a smile and slid off the heels that had given her plenty of discomfort. Needing something to do, she went over to the end table and took out the menus. She saw one for a Chinese place that looked appetizing. With the menu in hand, she took a seat on the couch – it was the most comfortable thing she'd ever been on – and waited on her host.

A moment later, he walked out of what she assumed must have been his bedroom, still wearing the dress slacks but now he had a plain grey t-shirt on that was just fitted enough to show off his impressive physique. With a grin, he caught sight of the menu in her hand, "excellent choice. Their sauces are magical." Crossing the space gracefully, he sat down next to her and took off his shoes, lifting his left foot up to rest on his knee so he could rub his arch.

Kayla was seated on her knees as she handed the menu to him. "It all looks really good, so how about you just surprise me with something?" It felt kind of surreal to be sitting with him like this. The t-shirt he had on was flattering and she realized that she'd only ever seen him in his impressive suits. Somehow, he looked even better dressed down like this. "Thanks for inviting me up, I honestly can't remember eating anything other than a breakfast sandwich this morning. It kind of tasted like an old tire swing. Not that I know what one tastes like, but I assume they're pretty close."

"Liquid breakfast and lunch," Rick confessed, taking the menu from her outstretched hand. "Enough coffee to get me out the door and a few celebratory drinks to iron out a new deal." He shrugged, as though that was normal. "I'm ravenous," the way he said it made it unclear if he was talking about his empty stomach or something else entirely. "Any allergies I should know about? Any dislikes?"

"None to my knowledge." Even though she had butterflies going nuts in her stomach, sitting with him was comfortable. It was a strange mixture of jitters and being relaxed. At his mention of the word ravenous, her cheeks did flush. "I should tell you that when it comes to drinks, I'm pretty lightweight. Give me one hard cider and I've got a buzz."

"I'll mix something subtle then." He rested his hand on her knee for a moment, "the last thing I want to do is corrupt you. Or turn you into a sloppy-drunk mess." He withdrew his hand and stood, pulling his cell phone from his pocket. "Just a moment, love. I'll order something I'm sure you'll find to your liking." He turned away and walked towards the windows, the phone already pressed to his ear.

She was grateful his back was to her so he couldn't see that her cheeks had done red. Inhaling deeply and following with an exhale, Kayla undid a few buttons on her blouse, showing off a hint of cleavage. She found that she was craving that drink, if for nothing else than to subdue the butterflies in her stomach.

He kept his voice low enough that she couldn't overhear what he'd chosen– he wanted it to be a surprise. He'd found over the last week, that her delighted smile had started to grow on him. A part of him couldn't stop thinking about the pass that LJ had given him, assuring him that she didn't mind if he needed to play while she was out of town. When he turned back, that charming smile was on his lips and he silenced his phone before slipping it back into his pocket. The last thing he wanted was an interruption. "It'll be here in an hour. I should have phoned ahead… silly me. I hope you can last that long without wasting away to a shadow."

"I suppose I'll just have to cope." Her own smile widened as she snuggled into the couch. Truth be known, she wasn't that hungry. Since her father's death a few months before, her appetite had shrunk. "And since it seems like we have some time before food and I have to head home, how about a drink?" Her hand had casually come up and let the rest of her hair down. It cascaded over her shoulders in waves.

Rick nodded, taking in how at ease she seemed with a smile before he turned towards the bar that was a smaller version of the one downstairs. "I've got just the thing in mind." He paused before he got there, taking off the black dress socks he had on. He balled them up and tossed them underhand through the doorway to his bedroom, letting out a sigh as his bare feet touched the cool floor. Few people had ever seen him without his tailored suits– he went to great lengths to keep up that impeccable image. He knew Kayla would understand why he was undoing it a little at a time. She seemed to be playing the same game. "Strawberry or watermelon?" He asked without context as he rounded the end of the bar, deciding that he'd make her a fresca mojito. "Which one would you rather?"

"Hmm…" She considered his question carefully, tapping her index finger against her chin. " I think I'm a strawberry girl." Getting to her feet, she walked over to the bar and leaned forward on the counter, watching him make her drink. "Whatever it is you're making, I'm pretty sure I've never had it before."

He glanced up at her before adding a few mint leaves to a mortar and pestle, grinding it slowly before adding them to the cocktail shaker. A few frozen strawberries were added to the empty glass, fresh from the tiny freezer below the bar. "Something soft… sweet and southern." He shook it and then strained the liquid out over ice. He added a straw and set it down for her, watching her with an almost hopeful smile.

"Well it looks good, so that's optimal." She picked up the glass, her eyes locking on his for a moment. "Bottoms up." She lifted her glass in a salute to him before taking a long drink. Her eyebrows raised in surprise as the liquid was sweet going down. The alcohol was barely detectable, and she set the drink down, she couldn't stop the smile that crossed her face. "THAT was reaaaally good." Her head felt a bit light as she took another drink. "Yep, even better the second time. Yanno Boss, you could always be a bartender." Her eyebrows waggled as she worked on finishing her beverage, the buzz becoming more evident.

"One can't own a club and not learn a thing or two about the craft." His smile was warm as he studied her, clearly pleased with the compliment. "I know. It doesn't fit the image, does it? Using my hands to create something is in stark contrast to the fancy suits. I find, though, that it's easier to tell someone what to do if you're speaking from experience. You'd be surprised how many of those so-called rich playboys are just lazy children with disposable income and no sensibilities."

"That's a good philosophy." She pointed her nearly empty glass in his direction. "You are a wise one." Finishing the drink, Kayla was reminded just how easily she could get tipsy. "You should put those skillful hands to work and make me another?" Her smile widened into what she considered to be a charming grin. "I'm suddenly very parched."

As requested, he started to mix another, being careful to make this one far weaker than the first. The last thing he wanted was for her to be an absolute mess before the food even arrived. "So, you've had a little time to settle in," he slipped into the casual conversation, hoping to distract her a little from paying attention to what he was doing with the drink. "Do you like it here? In Vegas, I mean."

"Mmhmm, I do." She felt relaxed, enjoying the tipsiness. "I've lived in Vegas a couple of other times and I always liked it. Staying though was hard." Both times she'd followed someone, well two different someones, but each time it ended in heartbreak. "I'm thinking third time might be the charm yanno?" And this time she had made the choice on her own, that was the important part.

"It's funny how a different set of circumstances can lead you to the same place with a different perspective." He set the new drink down next to her other glass and then poured some whiskey for himself over ice. "Taking charge of your own destiny feels a bit like getting behind the wheel and having nobody telling you what roads you need to be on – freedom rather than being a passenger along for the ride." He said it as though he knew exactly how it felt. "I came here on a whim, as a rebel. I won't bore you with the details since it was so long ago it's hardly relevant. I stayed because this city has its own magic, its own unique energy. It suits me, I think."

"This is your city, Rick." She said as she grabbed her freshly made drink. It tasted just as delicious as the one before it. "You are the embodiment of Las Vegas." Pushing to her feet, drink still in hand, Kayla started going towards the couch. "If it's okay, I'mma sit on your couch. My head feels good right now." It was a good thing she wasn't wearing her heels, or she would have fallen due to clumsiness.

"Hmmm," he'd followed her over, most concerned about her wobbliness. He'd assumed she was being dramatic when she said she was a lightweight. Now he could see evidence to support that. "I'm not sure if that's a compliment or not. Care to clarify for me?"

"It is a compliment, doll." When she made it to the couch, she managed to sit without injuring herself. "You are bright and beautiful and fun." Inhaling deeply, she rested her chin on the back of the couch, sitting on her knees. "You're just great, Rick. Scout's honor." She held up two fingers.

His chuckle was soft as he shook his head. "And you're quite tipsy so I'll take it with a grain of salt."

"And alcohol is truth serum, Sweetheart," she replied without missing a beat, a smile on her face. "Least with me it is."

"Is it?" Rick smirked, setting his glass on the table before taking a seat next to her. "Well then, is this the ideal time to play a rousing game of Truth or Dare?" He laughed, taking in the smile on her face that didn't seem to be dimming in the least. "It is nice to see you in such good spirits."

"Hmm, yeah I suppose so." Her body turned so she was facing him. She couldn't remember the last time she'd played Truth or Dare. "S'long as you've got some good dares and questions. Truthfully, I'm not good at coming up with truths or dares."

"Oh, I wasn't wholly serious. I'd never forgive myself if I took advantage like that." He leaned back against the couch, turning towards her slightly. "If you want to talk though… I'll be happy to listen."

He was close enough that her knees were touching his leg. Her arm was resting on the back of the couch as her head tilted to the side and rested against her arm. "You're a good listener. You tend to pay attention to what I say. You even let me explain the plot of Frozen and didn't tune me out."

"You actually made it sound like something I'd want to watch." He smiled at her, "you light up when you talk about the things you love. It's hard not to find myself being drawn in – passion is always attractive."

"You're sweet." She looked down at her lap for a moment and then back at him. Her smile fading some. "Is there something developing here? I know we've basically just met, but I feel like I've known you my whole life." The words had come out of her mouth before she'd properly thought them out.

Rick took a moment to answer her, considering watering down the truth. He was feeling something as well but hadn't quite managed to figure it out yet. "Is that all you feel? Familiarity? Camaraderie?"

"Not all, there's more." If it had been anyone else, she wouldn't have dared to approach this topic, but with him – she had to be honest. "I'm starting to really like you and I think that could complicate things, a lot."

"Generally speaking, working with someone you like is a positive thing." He was deliberately deflecting what she was trying to say because her words were striking a hell of a chord in him. When he'd been in LA, he'd been taking pictures on his phone, things he thought she might want to see. Things he wanted to share with her. He'd almost texted a few of them, but stopped himself from breaking down that last imaginary barrier. He'd been dying to get back to see her and he hadn't expected her to agree to any of this, let alone confess her heart was in the same place.

Oblivious to his introspection, she reached over and grabbed his glass of whiskey, taking a drink. The liquid burned going down and in response she winced. "I really like working for you. With you. And just being around you." She set the glass back down, more embarrassed that she'd swiped his drink than over the words that just kept spilling out.

"Ah, complication. As in you're loath to mix the personal and the professional aspects? For me, there's no real divide." He shrugged, glancing at the now-empty glass before letting his gaze settle back on her. "I like having you around. Quite a bit. In fact, I'd go as far as to say I'd miss you if you weren't here… working or otherwise." He stretched his arm out against the back of the couch, his fingertips brushing her shoulder. "I enjoy your company, Kayla. Very, very much." 

His fingertips could feel her skin prickle with goosebumps as the smile on her face became a soft one. "Well I guess I may have to just tape up pictures in your office and around here for when I'm not with you." Picturing that in her head made her giggle. "Maybe make you a poster with loads of stickers." Her arm that had been resting on the back of the couch moved, only so she could lightly take a hold of his hand.

"In the interest of not wasting paper," he kept his eyes on her, that wicked grin on his lips as he gave her hand a squeeze, "you could just spend more time here. With me." He brought her hand to his lips, kissing the back of it tenderly. "I wouldn't complain if you wanted to indulge your cravings. Or if you wanted to satisfy mine."

As she looked at him, her eyes widened in surprise. "Are you talking about an... um... grown-up sleepover? Because I did not bring my pajamas, nor anything else." She wanted to kiss him but held back. "I've always been a people pleaser." She let that thought hang for a moment, "so... I could help you get some satisfaction."

"Whatever you desire," he murmured, moving a little closer, as though he knew what was on her mind. "Stay over if you wish. Move your things in here…" he said it without thinking and then realized it was the easiest solution to her lodging woes. He wasn't sure how LJ would react if she knew he'd started thinking of ways to keep Kayla around permanently. Right now, he didn't care. He hated being alone more than anything else. "What do you want? From me. Out of this?"

"Just you." Once again, the words had escaped before she could stop them. However, they weren't a lie. She did want him in whatever way he would allow her to have him. The growing feelings had hit her like a mac truck out of nowhere. "Whatever that entails." She sat up and brought her hand to his cheek. A moment later, her lips found his as she made that first move.

She surprised him with her boldness, but he couldn't help himself from kissing her back. He'd had hundreds of women in his arms, in his bed. This encounter, he'd hoped, would follow those same patterns. A nice shag and nothing more – he knew that wasn't in the cards. Her heart was on her sleeve, emotions there as her hands came up to grab at his shirt when he allowed the kiss to deepen. He felt something far more than simple lust for her. He lifted one hand to gently cup her cheek as he pulled back, breaking off with a soft chuckle. "Easy now, love. We've got all night."