Hollywood was twenty-eight minutes away from her home, which meant she would have to leave twenty minutes earlier than normal if she wanted to get there on time.
Vivienne was not the crazy driver with an insane sense of urgency, and there was no way she would get there in time to see the movie. Why Gavin would choose such a place for their first date, she had no idea. Left for her alone, they would be in a restaurant again, eating under the cool breeze from the air conditioning with soft music in the background.
"The car is ready, ma'am," the new bodyguard she hired courtesy of Amelia's pressure said.
"Thank you," she replied.
After their discussion, a lot changed. She agreed to go out with Gavin even when she expected nothing but the worst.
"Have you had something to eat?" She asked, noticing that he had been around all day.
He didn't smile or say anything, he shook his head and maintained his stance.
"I didn't get that," she said, not satisfied with his communication.
"Your safety is my priority, ma'am," he said and shut his mouth.
She stared at him for a while before shaking her head. "I don't like this," she muttered under her breath as she got down from her island stood. "I think you should get something before we step out. I'll wait," she crossed her arms over her chest, waiting for him to disagree, and when he didn't move, she picked her bag from the table and made her way to the door.
He opened it and stepped aside so she could walk through. "Ma'am," he said.
"Thank you," she replied and the naughtiest thought came into her head. She wanted to lock him in and throw the key, but knowing these men, they probably had a thousand keys to her apartment alone.
He followed her to the elevator and they entered together.
She hummed the lyrics of her favorite song as she admired the bracelets on her wrist. It was from a line she was working on in collaboration with a fashion house and they decided not to make it public until the movie they were featured in was released. She could never get used to the joy she derived from creating magic with jewelry, and the happiness she got from wearing them.
"What do you think about my bracelet?" She asked him, "How does it make you feel?"
He gave a half-smile and cleared his throat. "It's classy, ma'am" was all he said.
Vivienne felt like dropping her purse on the floor, loosening the bracelet, and making him wear it around his neck.
Classy was not the word she desired to hear, and it reminded her that you don't always get what you want.
*It's good to know you think my bracelet is classy," she said through gritted teeth. "But is that all you think?" She asked.
He looked down at it and looked at his wristwatch at the same time. She couldn't tell where his attention was, so she decided not to push it.
The elevator dinged and he stepped in front of her to block every possible threat. "This is why you need two of us in here," he muttered under his breath.
"Can you say that again?" She asked and he was startled. "I didn't hear you clearly the first time."
"Um," he started before stepping out of the elevator. He scanned the area before he turned to her, fully looking at her without staring protectively for the first time. "I think your bracelet is beautiful. It exudes class and it's what you'll see people of royal lineage pass on for generations," he smiled.
"And?" She asked. She got the hunch she always got whenever Amelia had more to say.
"If this is to go for more common people, then I suggest you cut down on the stones. It'd blind them." He didn't hesitate to say.
"Hm," Vivienne hummed, impressed. "Remind me to pack something for your wife, or girlfriend." She nodded and he continued leading her like they did not just have a civil conversation.
"It's all clear. We can move," he said and they were at her car in no time.
"Ms. Chavez," the second man greeted at the car. "We're running late and we'll have to take another route if you don't mind. You don't want to be caught in the traffic."
"Alright," she said and entered through the door he had opened for her.
"Great," he nodded and walked back to her car. He seemed more friendly, and although she understood it was against work ethics to be friendly with clients, she appreciated his company over the others.
"Do you have a family?" She asked him as he started the car. She had to try her luck at a conversation since the only person she talked to was too busy for her these days.
He became tensed and put pressure on the clutch as he tried to change gears.
"Wrong question, I guess," she said and leaned into the car seat. This was going to be one awkward ride.
Sitting in her house now, she remembered it as her first ride to hell. It was on that day she made the connection with Gavin. It was also on that day she decided to take a chance with him.
Every step was planned and carefully executed, one minute after the other, one day after the other. Every second meant he was a step closer to his goal.
The hugs, the kisses, the smiles, were long overdue preambles waiting to tell broken stories, missing lines of happiness, cheer because you only want to remember the bad parts.
Take a ride to hell and back with the devil and you're sure to recognize every trail on your way back because you'd want heaven, and heaven looks nothing like hell.