Natalie Dessay is awesome!
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Walking into the office where lunch is spent, I carry the lunch boxes I got from downstairs and triumphantly smile as I hand Azrael's lunch to him. He smiles as I walk over to his desk, and from his computer some more classical music plays. It's now a normal thing that he plays music during our lunch parties, as he likes to call them, and it helps to create an ambience in the room that's calming and relaxing, which seldom in this upbeat business world is present.
"I asked for extra bacon for the both of us," I say with a smile as I sit down and open my lunch box, which in action mirrors Azrael's.
"Amazing work, Hogarth," he says with a smile as he picks up his burger and admires it, "I could never ask for more than this beauty."
Saying so, he digs in and moans happily.
"Real good, stuff," he says happily.
I chuckle as I take a bite out of my burger, and it's amazing. The patty is hand-made and it's nice and juicy while the cheese is melted enough to blend with the cut vegetables and warm toasted bun. And the extra bacon is the final gem in the meal that makes it perfect.
Not to mention the fries are awesome as well with the perfect crunch and salt in the right amount. And the warm beans contrasts the cool coleslaw. I grabbed two waters as well, so there's something to wash it all down.
"I'm amazed at the cafeteria people even now," I say as I wipe my mouth with a napkin, having eaten half my burger, "after all the meals that I've eaten."
"It's natural," says Azrael, "I'm still amazed too. They are wonderful people in the cafeteria."
"Speaking of," I say as I start a question I never managed to ask, "what's your favorite food?"
"Mmm," says Azrael as he hums with food in his mouth, and thinks of his answer which he says after swallowing his bite, "I think it'd be anything without a shocking flavor."
"Like what?" I ask with a smile, curious.
"One time I ate barbecue ribs, and I liked that," says Azrael, "it had this amazing tangy flavor."
"Anything else?" I ask as I start to create a list of foods that he likes.
"Oh, corn on the cob. Especially when it's served with butter, salt, and pepper. That's bomb," says Azrael with a tilt of a head.
"You seem to like country food," I say with a chuckle.
"I do, don't I?" says Azrael as he smiles, "I never noticed."
"Do you like, say, biscuits and gravy?" I ask curiously.
"What's that?" asks Azrael tilting his head.
"It's a dish that is awesome, that's what it is," says Jane as she walks in, and I didn't notice. She also has a lunch box that I recognize comes from the cafeteria.
"You've had it?" asks Azrael, and then says to me, "I invited her to lunch because we had to talk."
"Oh yeah," says Jane, "grew up with that kind of good stuff all the time. I'm from Virginia, and biscuits and sausages gravy is a Southern staple food."
"Maybe one day I can make some for you," I offer to Azrael as Jane sits down at the leather chair she pulls closer to Azrael's desk and opening her lunch box.
"Do you know how to make it?" asks Azrael with mild surprise.
"I do," I say with a nod, "and the recipe itself is actually from Dad. If you come back to Texas sometime, he can make it for you. I'm not that good compared to him, it's only just a nullity."
"I think you'll be great if you made if for me," says Azrael sympathetically.
"Eh," I say say as I shrug, "I think you should have Dad's, still."
"Well, I guess that makes a reason for me to just go back to Texas, eh?"
"I guess it does," I say with a smile, happy that Azrael is open to coming back to the ranch and hanging out in my house.
"How was Alaska, by the way?" asks Jane to both of us.
"It was chilly, not that bad," says Azrael.
"I don't necessarily agree with that," I say as I smile.
"It wasn't that cold," says Azrael.
"Well, you're used to that kind of weather," I point out.
"True."
"Plus, there was so much snow. I think it snowed at least every other day."
"That means it was cold," says Jane.
"I still think it wasn't that bad," says Azrael.
"I'm pretty sure if you went somewhere warm, you'd call it hot, observing what you just said," says Jane.
"Oh, in Texas he was saying it was hot," I say as I recall.
"See?" says Jane triumphantly, "I told you."
"Anyhow," says Azrael as he brushes away the conversation with a wave of a hand, which I find as an action adorable, "how has the PR been while I was away?"
"Relatively fine, actually," says Jane as she wipes her mouth with a napkin, "there wasn't that much mention of you in the press. None actually. I don't think we're out of the woods yet, but maybe we can start to hope we can get out unscratched."
"Is this about the Collection?"
"Yes."
"Can't you just call the police?" I ask curiously.
"They wouldn't be able to do anything. If I were to start an investigation, the media would call it every foul name in the book, and the pressure would collapse any legitimate assessment of the Collection," says Azrael, "not to mention there are operatives in government put there by the same macro-entity."
"And," adds on Jane, "what Azrael said is the more civil route the Collection would take. They might send hit men after Azrael, Levi, myself, and even you. Also the board of supervisors of this firm. They are on our side, and therefore an enemy to the Collection."
"Scary," I say, "it's a good thing I got the security in my apartment, and here as well."
"Oh, were the workmen able to stop by?" asks Azrael.
"They were," I say with a nod, "I guess that apartment rules allowed for it."
"Oh...err...I guess that's good," says Azrael as he diverts his eyes very quickly to Jane, "how about your place?"
"I got them to come by and add the security as well," answers Jane, "you really shouldn't have."
"It's the least I could do," says Azrael, "you two along with Levi and the board may be in danger because of me. That's not resting well with me."
"It's fine," says Jane, "I'd rather be in danger and help rip apart the Collection than stand idle."
"Same," I say, "not to mention I'm supposed to look out for your health. Judging from when you were not clear with your stance regarding the Collection, you seem better off with being independent of them."
"That's true," agrees Azrael, "I do feel as if I'm more relaxed now that I have nothing to do with them."
"So it seems all of us are benefiting anyways, so don't worry," says Jane.
"And if they come after us," adds on Jane, "then we'll push back on them, and they'll fall over like a house of cards. No sweat."
"If you say so," says Azrael, taking the final bite of his lunch and then shutting the lunch box while wiping his mouth.
"But that aside," says Jane as she also finishes up lunch, "there shouldn't be that many issues. I just came up here to tell you that, and that we'll most likely be alright."
"Okay, thanks for coming by," says Azrael.
"Do you two eat lunch together often?" asks Jane as she points between the two of us.
"Quite often recently," replies Azrael, "it's one of the moments where we get to have a break in the day, and I can't live without it anymore."
"That nice, huh?" asks Jane, cracking a rare smile.
"It really is," says Azrael, returning the facial expression, then tilting his head at me, "Hogarth makes it nice."
"I try my best," I say, though I blush lightly and that only gives a slight inclination of how happy I am to hear Azrael say that.
Jane smiles more for a second before saying, "Well, maybe I'll stop by for lunch often as well. Though, I usually eat at a different time, so that might not happen."
"You are welcome anytime," says Azrael, "are you going off to talk to Levi now?"
"Yep," says Jane, "I've gotta give him the news too."
"Alright, see you later," says Azrael with a wave as Jane nods and walks out his office.
It's back to the two of us, which I don't mind at all.
"Thank you for bringing me lunch," says Azrael as he taps his now empty box, "I really should pay you more."
"It's no problem. I'm having my lunch paid for by you anyway."
"Speaking of payment," says Azrael as he remembers something, "when the people came over to install the security system, did they give you a receipt?"
"Oh, they did," I say as I recall the specific document, "do you need it?"
"I do," says Azrael with a nod, "that way I can know the amount. Also, it's good to keep those kind of things."
"Okay, I'll bring it by."
"Also," says Azrael, "just a question that doesn't have much meaning to it, but how long are you capable of being in my jet?"
"Um," I say as I think of a response to the strange question, "I...I'm not sure how to answer."
"I know," says Azrael with a chuckle, "it's a strange question. But just try."
"Well," I start to reply as I think of the plush seats and the relatively nice food that is served on his jet, "I'd say maybe a day. I think I could spend twenty-four hours in that jet. It's very nice."
"Hmm," says Azrael as he thinks for a moment, "well, we'll see about that, perhaps later."
"Are we traveling?" I ask curiously.
"Perhaps," says Azrael, and he cracks a smile as he keeps a secret.
I smile back, but then finish up eating, and then talk some more. It's nice to talk to him like this, and it's maybe my fault that we sit here for maybe an hour more before I go back to my office.
Inside, I'm surprised to see Jane sitting at one of the extra chairs, and she types away at her phone bored. Seeing me, she sighs and then stows her phone.
"Finally! I thought you'd never show up!" she says.
"Were you waiting the whole time?" I ask.
"I was," says Jane pointedly, "because I had to talk to you."
"If you wondering if I found the secret or not," I say as I walk around my desk and sit down, "I did."
Jane looks at me for a moment, and then says softly, "And what has that done for you?"
"Nothing whatsoever," I reply honestly, "it's only made me want to hold Azrael more. He deserves that much, even if it's not anything coming from me."
"I think it is," says Jane, "you're good for him. There were times I thought I saw a girl or a boy that would be the remedy of his life, but it's you. Not to mention you're true to him."
"I think my heart is true to him."
"It takes more than heart to love somebody," says Jane.
"What else do you think it takes?" I ask curiously.
"It takes courage, it takes patience, and most of all, it takes honesty," says Jane, "you have two, but the third...well, it's not exactly easy telling Azrael you know his black stain."
"No," I say as I agree, "it's not."
"But," says Jane, "you'll have a moment to tell him. And seeing how he likes your company, you'll have a good chance. It's almost certain he'd say yes for you."
I'm just opening my mouth when a loud-stepping shadows passes by my window and bursts through Azrael's office doors. Immediately, shouting begins, and Jane and I both are startled for a second before going to see what's happening.
Inside Azrael's office is a man with hair that is bleached a different color and a familiar entitled voice, and I remember where he's from.
He's the leader of the Collection. And he's here, approaching Azrael menacingly.