Clumsy

Nodding to the man and accepting the paper, she then looked back to the woman and smiled kindly at her. She seemed so nice, though at her age she would think the woman would be retired! Still though, she was not going to turn away a maid, and if her new boss hired her then she wasn't about to seem rude by wasting his money or the woman's time. Think a bit in silence, she looked back over to the woman with a small grin.

"Are Friday's any good?" She asked as she glanced at the paper, reading the simple list as she nodded her head before looking back up at the woman. "I mean, any day works for me really. I'm not to picky about which day you come. The fact that I will even have a maid is very nice so whenever is really fine."

Tucking both papers into her purse, she stood there politely and waited for the kind woman to answer her question. It wasn't like she had to be anywhere that moment, and she certainly didn't have to much to worry about when it came to the packers, they'd be dealing with the furniture and books while she packed up her clothing and things like that. Besides, if this woman was going to clean her house then she should get to know her right?
 
"Sure thing! My Fridays are available," Mrs. Swanson said, nodding and drawing out a small planner to write Marie in. With that done, she tucked it back into her bag and smiled at the younger woman. "I'm so glad that Damon's finally using the penthouse again. It'll be nice to see him with more company than those grumpy guards he always has with him. Anyway, it was nice to meet you, dear. I shall see you tomorrow around noon," she said, waving cheerfully before turning and walking out the front door.


The phone behind the desk rang and the man picked it up, listening for a moment before nodding and placing his hand over the end so that he could speak and not be heard, as was generally considered to be polite.


"Miss? It's for you," he said, offering the phone to Marie.


"Good evening. Is the suite to your liking? The decorating was decided by my personal assistant, so if you don't like it, you need only say so and it can be completely refinished to your satisfaction," Damon said as soon as Marie had answered the phone.
 
"Great! I'll see you then." Marie said as she watched Mrs.Swanson leave the building.

She seemed like a very nice woman, though her words did perk some curiosity in her. So her boss seemed to have left the penthouse for a long time if she was going to comment on it. Maybe it had personal connections? Well, as long as nothing against the law happened in that room then she didn't feel the need to bother him about it. After all, everyone was allowed to keep some things to themselves.

She was just about to be on her own way when the man at the desk said the phone was for her. A little surprised, she took the phone and answered, finding it to be her boss. Smiling a bit at his question, she nodded her head, though quickly remembered that this was a phone call and he couldn't see her do that.

"Yes, It is perfect. I would never change it, or at least not any time soon. I want to thank you for this since I couldn't do so before as at the time I was being walked out...so thanks. Also...The maid was a bit of a surprise, though also very much appreciated." She said simply, though there was a grin in her voice.
 
Damon couldn't help but grin, gesturing to his driver to circle the block a few times instead of stopping. He was supposed to have another meeting, but he seriously didn't care about it and they deserved to be kept waiting. Besides, he'd rather take his time with this call than rush it.


"Ah, Mrs. Swanson. I'm glad to hear that she caught up with you. I believe you'll like her very much - she's very good at what she does and doesn't pry if she finds anything that you'd prefer be kept on the back burner," he said, his amusement evident in his tone. "Also, you're very welcome for everything. I do it for all employees that work for me personally, it's no problem. It's my ideal that a person is provided a place to live on top of the paycheck. Seems like common sense to me, I suppose," he added, then cleared his throat.


"Seeing how you were settling in isn't actually the only reason I called, Marie.. I'm actually in a bit of a tight spot. I have a very delicate business meeting taking place Saturday night at a small party of mine. Intimate, just a few business associates. The issue is that my potential client is working under the impression that all I do is business," he said, the grin in his voice betraying that the assumption was probably true. "I assured him that I would bring a lady to prove him wrong. The person I had asked just called to cancel - apparently her husband didn't understand it was purely business. Are you available? You will be paid for your time, of course, as well as provided a session at Delilah's to pick a dress if you'd like," he said, naming an insanely expensive dress shop uptown.
 
Marie blinked a bit at the very sudden invitation. She wasn't completely sure if he was serious but after so casually naming a dress shop that sold things at a minimum of $600 or more, she had a feeling that this was no joke. She smiled a little more but seemed to hesitate with thought. She was moving tomorrow and with all she had, she would have to figure out where to keep it before she could do much else in the apartment. Still though, to wear a gown that expensive out on the town was a treat that was hard to turn away...but her friend was coming in that weekend to see the new apartment!...but on Friday afternoon. She said something about leaving Saturday because of other plans.

"Alright, I'll go. Though I feel a little bad making you cover a dress of all things. I'm sure I have something for the occasion." She said softly, hoping that if my turning down the dress she might be able to give herself more time instead of having to spend hours at some fancy shop trying things on."

She continued to stand there in the lobby, leaning on the counter as she hand the conversation. She felt a little strange to be having this talk in an expensive apartment building but she figured that if it didn't happen then it never would have. Still though, all these riches at one time were starting to take their tole.
 
Nodding to himself, Damon had expected that sort of answer. Most women would kill for the chance to shop at Delilah's for free, yet she turned it down. The oddity of it was appealing. He thought of the last girl he had sent there - the dress alone was over seven grand, plus she had gotten shoes, jewelry and a matching bag. Not that he minded, but ten thousand dollars to spend the evening with a woman who could talk only about herself was a bit much. He brushed those thoughts aside, focusing on Marie instead.


"Deal. I will pick you up at seven on Saturday night," he said with a smile. "Have a good evening, Marie," he added, then hung up and tucked the phone back in his pocket as he signalled for his driver to stop.


Time to get down to business again.
 
Feeling slightly better now that her boss was not going to be covering her evening wear, she smiled a little more and stood tall again. Nodding her head a bit as he gave her the time of pick up she smiled to herself and spoke simply.

"You too, Mr. Ricardo." She said before hearing the simple click of the line going dead.

Turning to the desk she handed the man behind the counter the phone and said good night to him as well before heading back over to the elevators and heading towards the underground garage. Going to the level her new car was on she walked to it and unlocked it, slipping into the drivers seat with ease. It felt strange, as if the car wasn't her's at all. And in all technical ways, it wasn't. Still, if he wanted her to have it, she would adore this BMW like it was her own child.

Pulling out of her spot, she made her way out onto the city streets and back towards her now former apartment. If she was lucky, she could start getting things taken apart that evening to make things easier on the movers tomorrow...and also give that storage guy a call.
 
Damon was slouched in the back seat of the Escalade, drinking a glass of whiskey.The last meeting hadn't gone well and now he was in a rotten mood, the good put in by talking to Marie now faded. He sighed and tipped back the alcohol, glancing out the window as the warmth spread. At least it was dark out now, which was soothing. He was silent all the way back to his house, not even bothering to glance at his bodyguard who sat next to him. The guard knew better than to attempt a conversation.


He stepped out as they arrived, walking up to his front door and into the empty mansion. Usually he didn't come here since he preferred his apartment in the city, but tonight he felt like being here. Who knows why. It was empty, cold, and lonely.


Just like every other part of his life, he realized with a flash of anger.


Oh well. He shrugged off the feelings and strolled to his bedroom, stripping down to his boxers and crawling into bed, ignoring the bodyguards posted randomly through and around the building.
 
Marie shuffled around with her other set of keys and hummed to herself. She had just stopped at her managers apartment to announce her moving, which was rather sudden, but promised to have the keys turned into them before she was gone. Opening the door, she walked into her small and under furnished apartment. It was nice, but obviously could have used a lot more than what she originally had. Though now she was glad to have so little in furniture, it meant she would have less to worry about in the move.

"Buster! Where are you? I'm home~" She called into the room as she closed and locked the door behind herself and turned on the lights.


Suddenly, from around a corner came a large maine coon cat bounding. It skid to a stop at her feet before rubbing up and down her legs happily, a deep purr emitting from the animal. Turning then, it made it's way into the kitchen, Marie following with a light laugh as she set her purse and new keys on the counter. She shuffled around with a bag of cat food on the floor and filled the cat's dish before kneeling next to him and watching him eat.

"Buster, guess what? We're moving tomorrow! The apartment is very nice...Large and plenty of room for you to roam. Though It will be a hassle to keep your fur under control...But we'll have a maid for that as well! We'll be great from now on, isn't that nice?" She said, talking to the animal.

The cat's ear just twitched before it licked it's jaws and looked up at his owner, blinking lazily for a moment before letting out a long meow. She just smiled and giggled a bit before scratching behind his ear. She would have a lot to do tomorrow but that would be alright, she was just glad that thing's were no longer as bad as they were. For once...things were looking bright.
 
Damon Ricardo lounged in the back of his limo, watching the street lights pass by lazily as he finished off a cigar and took a sip of wine. Friday had been remarkably uneventful, and earlier today had been just as bad. He was bored, and he couldn't wait to see Marie tonight. If he was honest with himself, he knew that his interests were not purely business, but that was beside the point. He would not let his own thoughts get in the way. She had been invited for the exact reasons that he told her. He needed a partner and she had agreed.


"Mr. Ricardo, would you like me to call her down?" his bodyguard asked as the limo pulled up outside her building.


"No, Lukas. I shall call her myself. You know I dislike being waited on," Damon replied, earning a sparkle of amusement in Lukas' eyes. They both knew the truth.


Damon stepped from the car, standing on the sidewalk and leaning back against the car. Lukas emerged on the other side, watching but not imposing. He knew better. Damon dialed Marie's cell and let it ring, his eyes on the door of the apartment building as he grinned to himself.
 
Marie found herself to be overly excited, mostly because how she looked at the moment. Originally, Marie had planned on wearing a simple black dress she owned and some jewelry to hopefully make herself blend in with the crowd her new boss associated with. However, when her friend got word of this, after thoroughly being amazed by the new car and apartment, she refused to let Marie leave the house in such an outfit. After assisting in moving in, arraving a storage unit and having all of her stuff that she was not keeping at the apartment collected, she was dragged out to her car and forced to drive to the nearest dress shop.

It took a few try on's and some serious thoughts to how she'd be paying for gas the next two weeks, but Marie found a lovely dress. It was empire styled and fit her rather tiny and simple frame. Her friend also threw in a small home warming present by buying her a nice pair of matching shoes and a cute little choker to fit around her next, frilled with matching yellow ribbon. To say the least, Marie felt like a primed up doll....but a very very pretty primed up doll. Now here she stood, dressed her finest for the evening and praying that she'd at least did her best to find a dress that fit the occasion.

When her phone starting to ring loudly in her small white clutch, she fumbled with it a bit and picked it up, holding it to her ear tightly before speaking.

"H-Hello?"

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"I do apologize for being so early, but I'm standing outside your building right now. Are you ready?" Damon asked, not bothering to introduce himself. It was 6:58. Two minutes early. If she kept agreeing to these such events, she'd soon find that it was a constant habit - one that he got very irritable about if broken by his driver or anybody else.

[Next one won't be so short, promise D:]
 
"Y-Yes! I'll be right down in a moment. All talk with you one I'm down there." She said with a smile on her face before she ended the call.

She then grabbed a cute jacket, one that allowed her to show off her dress but kept her shoulders warm, and headed out the door with her clutch in her hand. She stood in the in the elevator quietly, bouncing on the balls of her feet as she watched the light move from one number to the next. She was so eager to get to the party, and also eager to see if she had picked out a good dress. She was really really hoping she didn't over dress, or else she'd be so embarrassed and run right back up to the penthouse, even if Mr. Ricardo protested!

Stepping out of the elevator as soon as the doors were open enough, she smiled to herself and made her way out of the building, pausing only to wave at the desk man. As she stepped out into the street, she looked over to her boss and smiled before walking over to him, her heels clicking with each step.

"Hope I didn't keep you waiting." She said politely as she looked up at him, the man still quite taller than her even when she was in heels.
 
Damon nodded once, slipping the phone back into his pocket. Still leaning back against the car, he absently straightened the cuffs of his white button-down shirt. He had left his jacket in the car, seeing no need to wear it right now. Honestly, he probably wouldn't wear it at all since they tended to make him too warm at parties. His vest and pants were a medium gray, setting off his shining silver silk tie. It accentuated his eyes, or so his tailor had claimed. He had a feeling she only said it to get him to smile at her, though.


He looked up as the door opened, straightening and giving Marie a smile. She looked absolutely incredible. He hadn't known what to expect as she said she'd wear her own dress, but her taste was clearly remarkable. Her walk told him a few things - first and foremost was that she knew her way around a pair of heels, which could be a very good thing.


"Men are eternally waiting on women. Don't worry, I don't take it personally," he said with a faint teasing tone, giving her a wink as he opened the door for her.


"You look absolutely beautiful, by the way," he added, waiting for her to get in before he got in himself. Lukas got in afterward, sitting at the other end of the spacious back and looking away as though paying no attention to them. It was an illusion of privacy, but the best they were going to get. Offering Marie a glass of wine, Damon smiled at her kindly.


"You seem nervous. Relax. This is a small party, remember."


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Marie blushed a bit at his words before stepping into in the limo after he opened the door. So far, he was being very polite and relaxed, maybe this evening wouldn't be as uptight as she once thought...though the suit still told her this was some formal event. When he complimented her she only blushed more and smiled, nodding her head a bit as she looked to him while sitting back in her seat.

"Thank you, I wasn't really sure what to expect but since you mentioned such an expensive dress shop I figured that something a little more formal was called for...I hope I guessed right." She said before laughing slightly.

She blinked a bit as he offered her the glass of wine before accepting it shyly. Well, it seemed that the party was starting early. Though, she wasn't about to drink the whole glass, not in the car anyway. If anything she'd keep it as far from her as possible, if only to protect her dress from any unplanned stains. When he noticed her slightly jumbled nerves she looked to him and smiled shyly, her cheeks a little flushed with embarrassment.

"Well, I guess I'm just a little worried. I mean, You probably deal with people of...higher wealth than myself. I just don't want people to think badly of me or anything..." She admitted before she took a small sip of her wine.
 
"Ah, a valid worry. People of wealth tend to look down on others, even those who started out with nothing themselves. However you, Marie, have nothing to fear, for two reasons. One is that you look so stunning most people will assume that you either equal or surpass their bank accounts. The second reason is that you are arriving there with me, and any insult given to the woman I am escorting is dealt with in a very unappealing manner," he replied, taking a sip of his own wine as though speaking of nothing but the weather.


"And, yes, it is a bit formal, but only because I enjoy seeing people dress up. Quite honestly you could have come out of that door in jeans and I still would have taken you," he added, giving her a dimpled grin.


The limo stopped outside of a large mansion. It was Damon's, though not the residence that he stayed in regularly. This one was usually used strictly for parties. It was large, pretty, and the inside was spacious. What else was needed?


Lukas got out first and opened Damon's door, and he stepped out after setting his wine down. Straightening his vest, he waited for Marie to join him, then offered her his arm. From inside, the faint sounds of music and laughter drifted out.


"Are you ready?"
 
"I hope you are right..." She said softly before taking another sip of her wine. She blushed a bit as he mentioned he would have taken her wearing jeans before smiling a bit and letting out a small laugh. "Well in that case I'll wear jeans next time, they are certainly a lot more comfortable."

As they arrived, Marie looked out the window at the mansion. She started to feel nervous again as she realized she was really out of her environment at the moment. She watched as the bodyguard stepped out first, followed by Mr. Ricardo and then herself. She adjusted her skirt for a moment before she noticed that he was offering his arm to her. Taking his arm gently, she smiled a bit before shrugging her shoulders.

"As ready as I can be." She said.
 
Smiling, he laid his hand atop hers to reassure her and strolled up the stairs into his own mansion. It opened right into a large ballroom-type space, with tables along the right that held large trays of food. Servants walked around with champagne and wine. There were about one hundred people there, all talking and laughing with each other while a few danced. More would be dancing later, when they were more drunk.


Damon smiled to them all and guided Marie over to a small room guarded by a single man who took coats and purses. His memory was incredible, Damon knew, and he always returned the correct items to the correct owners.


"You may leave your jacket here, if you wish," he said, nodding toward the man.
 
Marie was awed...The place was huge! Some small party, there was at least 100 people or more moving apart the open space, picking at food and sipping champagne. She wasn't given much of a chance to look over the crowd for long though as she was pulled off to the side and taken to a small room of sorts. When he mentioned that she could leave her items there, she slipped out of her coat and handed him her purse and jacket.

When that was done sure turned to him and smiled a bit. She wasn't sure what she was expected to do now, possibly wander around on her own? Either way, she was certain that she would be fine. After all, he said that he would not let anyone speak badly of her...hopefully.

"Alright...What now?" She asked curiously.
 
"Now, you get to learn. Consider this an education in understanding your boss," he said with a grin that said he wasn't completely serious even though he was. "One of my solid rules is that business always comes before pleasure. I've already bent that rule by picking you up tonight. However, it's not utterly broken. We shall attend to the business and then join the party," he said, offering his arm again and leading her around the edge of the crowd.


Opening a large wooden door to the side, he guided her into a study that already had four men in it. They all looked up when he walked in with her, wearing various expression of surprise and amusement.


"I thought you were joking! Damon Ricardo with a date? What happened to all work and no play?" one called out, making the others chuckle.


"I told you that you weren't right, Nathan. I do more than work. Sometimes," Damon replied, walking around to the desk. He pulled out a chair for Marie, then took one for himself and scanned the papers before him before looking up at the men. "This is Marie, my new bookkeeper. She will be sorting through things since that idiot Bridget can't do anything other than answer phones. Marie, this is Nathan, Bill, and Vincent. You will likely see them often in my office while you're working," he said, letting the men all nod and smile at her.


"Nathan, yours look fine. Remember that the deadline is Tuesday, so it better be on my desk by Monday. Bill, come now, you know this number is off. Recalculate. Vincent, perfection. Give my regards to your lovely wife," he said after a few minutes, signing a paper and sliding the stack across the desk.


"Enjoy yourselves, gentlemen," he said, watching them all leave before he turned to Marie with a half-smile.


"Business over. Would you care to join the party or would you rather do something else?"
 
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