A Thief's Seduction (Closed)

[Orithyia]

I was at work when my phone went off and without but a pleasant smile I ran off to read the text that I knew was from Alex. I swelled with joy and warmth after reading his text. I was such a little girl! I thought to myself all but skipping back to the counter.

"I thought I missed you."

I turned with a smile on my face and spotted Tristan at the front of the line.

"You would have but I knew you were here and came back just for you." I was in such a good mood. After not hearing from Alex for a whole day receiving a text from him felt like the first day of spring. "How could I miss you savoir and favorite regular."

Tristan smiled and locked eyes with me. "So, look, I know that you are involved but would it be too much to ask if you would be my friend? I know it should childish but I would love to get to know you better and not in the I'm after you in a relationship sort of way. I just-"

He would have gone on but I waved him off and nodded my head yes. "I could us a friend as long as that's what you plan to be." I narrowed my eyes attempting to give him a stern look but I just couldn't stop smiling. "I found this cute farmers market type place just a few minutes from here that I was going to go to after work. If I happen to meet you there, say, around five it wouldn't ruin my day." I had been fixing his coffee as we talked and handed him the pastry for the day.

"Great!" Tristan smiled grabbing his coffee and bag without the finger brushing.

The rest of the day I was pleasantly with the book side of the job. We had a large shipment of books come in and I helped identify and price books. There was nothing better then the smell of old leather bindings and aged yellow paper. When there was a slow lull Henry and I traded stories of our life. I was surprised with myself that all the stories that I shared that day with him were true happenings of my life. Of course edited so that they were legal but still true. I really like Henry and there was something about him that reminded me of my father and I grew to even care for him.

"Here I got that." I took the heavy box form Henry and followed him to where they went.

"I had it perfectly under control young lady." He tried at lecturing me but I could see that he was tired and appreciated it.

"I know but I have to make myself useful somehow." I charmed him with a sweet smile and he batted me away with a wrinkled hand.

"Shouldn't you be leaving?" He asked looking at the clock.

"I should but I have the The Works of Herman Melville to finish and the Book of Kells to go over. It's in bag shape and I want to look it over and see if it's even repairable."

"Finish the Herman Melvilles then be off with you." He grunted with a shyly hidden smile.

"Alright." I gave in. If wasn't about the money it was the history of these books and the stories they told with their words and the life they had telling them. If Henry would have allowed it I would have got threw all the books today but it didn't seem like I was going to have it my way.

Nearly an hour and a half after the time I was timed to get off I made it to the market. I wasn't sure if Tristan would still be there or if he even made it but I didn't let it bother me as I started to look around.

 

[Josu_T]

After sending the message I went out and worked on getting furniture for my apartment. I wasn't going to sleep on the floor all the time. I ended up buying cheap things since I figured I wouldn't be there long term. I went and bought most of the furniture as do-it-yourself kits. I didn't want to move tons of furniture that was already made to make it obvious that someone was moving in so close to the book store. I was able to buy it all so it would be in boxes and I could put it together myself. The main issue was with the mattress. Fortunately I was able to get it delivered in the evening after everyone was gone home. I realised that some people would talk about it. I just hoped that she didn't learn about it. Or if she did, that she didn't worry about it at all.

After lunch I had everything dropped at the apartment. I spent the afternoon putting furniture together and getting it set up. When it came time for Eden to be finished work I left the apartment and grabbed something to eat across the street from the shop. I sat and watched the door, wearing my disguise. When she didn't come out on time I waited for a while until I decided she must have left already.

After leaving my spot across the street I started to explore the neighborhood a little more. I wandered for a while, taking note of everything that was nearby. Eventually I arrived at the small farmer's market that Eden had discovered the day before. I began to look at all the little stalls and bought some of the various goods. At one point I noticed a man I thought I recognised from the coffee shop. He seemed to be waiting for someone. I didn't really think anything of it. I wasn't even sure he was the guy I had seen. Even if he was it wasn't important. It was around six and he seemed annoyed or impatient. After passing him I forgot about him and continued to explore the market.

 

[Orithyia]

"I have a feeling you just like making me wait." Tristan appeared at my side as I finished my purchase of farm fresh cheese.

I kept form jumping back in alarm and smiled up at him. "Isn't there a quote about waiting, something like 'All things come to him who waits.'" I countered with a lift of my eyebrow.

Tristan looked at me for a moment as is deciding if he wasn't to argue but in the end he just smiled and took the bags out of my hand. "Here, let me carry these."

I was glad that he didn't argue or bring up the fact that I had said I would be there nearly ninety minutes ago.

"You you I go this way to and from work and never knew this was here." Tristan mumbled as I stopped to look at the offerings of homemade knitted crafts.

"Yeah I found this place exploring one day after work. Oh look dessert tarts!" I chirped happily rushing over to a older couple selling assorted baked goods, jams, fruits and young fruit plants. I barely looked up in my hurry to the vendor with the best blueberry plants I'd ever seen when I bumped into someone. "Oh sorry." I waved when two steps later I was chilled and my arm rose with goosebumps. Behind me I heard Tristan properly apologize for me but I didn't hear a reply. I looked down at my tingling arm and wondered if I was having a heart attack. I was almost convinced with my racing heart, dizziness and numb like tingles before I remembered it was the left arm that did the going numb and not your right.

"Excited much?" Tristan dryly laughed looking at me with a strange look in his eyes. "You almost flattened that poor guy back there for some breads and jams. You okay?" He patted and rubbed my back and his look hardened. I guess that was an odd expression on my face and I shook my head and waved him off with a smile.

"Yeah just one of those off that wall cold chills."

Tristan's eyebrows crinkled as he looked up and the blue sky and opened his mouth to mention the unusually warm day but then again thought better of it and closed his mouth. "Let my get you your tarts." And with his hand just above the small of my back he carefully maneuvered me around people and the the booth that I had been so anxious to get to.

"Thanks Tristan." I smiled up at him happy with the a tart for latter tonight and a brown oat loaf that I let him buy me and the potted plants that I bought myself.

"I've never met anyone so happy about breads." He shook his head and sighed.

"What, you don't like carbs?" I asked a frown tugging at my mouth.

"No, I like them I just won't clothes line a random stranger to get to them." He teased.

But the frown won out as I stopped in the middle of the walk way staring down at the tart that I held in my hand remembering Alex. "I'm horrible at making tarts." I mumbled feeling an ache in my chest that threaten to brings tears. I quickly took a deep breath and composed my face before looking back up. "Thanks again." I smiled reaching over to hook my finger in the bags that Tristan carried for me.

"Your welcome." He frowned getting the idea of what was going to happen next. "Do you like parks?" He asked before I could say goodbye.

My heart skipped a beat and I felt a flame grow in the pit of my stomach that quickly turned to anger. "No." I said my voice hard. "I hate parks." I added coldly turning to leave without a goodbye. I hated the memories brought up in me and knowing that I could do nothing about it made it worse. "No, your wrong." I told myself as I hurried off. The memories that came after the park and our night together and guilt that I still felt was worse.

 

[Josu_T]

I spent only half an hour in the market before I was ready to leave. As I made my way back toward my apartment I spotted the guy again. This time it was shocking because Eden was there with him. She seemed to have just arrived, but I had not expected to run into her in an unplanned situation. Suddenly she moved in my direction. As she got close I got pinned in place by the crowd. I was worried she would look at me and possibly recognise me. She bumped into me, but didn't really notice. I mumbled some noise and moved away. The guy she was with apoligised for her. I nodded and kept going.

When I felt sure I was blended into the crowd again I turned and moved closer. I wanted to hear what was going on with the two of them. With the messages she had been sending I hadn't expected her to be alone with another man. I felt a twinge of jealousy and a lot of disbelief. Was she lying to me in her messages just like I was lying to her? So far it had all seemed true. I began worrying that maybe she was playing with me and knew I was in London. I decided that I would have to work faster and put my plan in action. I couldn't risk her making the first move.

I followed the two of them, making sure to be behind other people, but close enough to hear them. It took a lot of focus. They seemed to be joking with eachother and enjoying their time together. I decided that I'd need to learn about the man some more and add him to the list of things I would target.

Suddenly Eden stopped and stared at the tart she had bought. I remembered our date. It seemed she was upset. She surprised me again. I had thought that someone like her would be able to remove the negative emotions. Then I heard him ask a question that I really wanted to hear the answer to. It added to my confusion. I stood there watching her as she left quickly. It made me question everything again. Deep inside I knew what was going on, but I refused to acknowledge it. I warped the feelings in my head and convinced myself that it was just added reason to hurry up with my plan before she played with my feelings and made sure I didn't do anything.

After a long time of standing there thinking I walked away past the guy who looked more confused than I was. I made my way back to my apartment and sat on my new furniture. I had a lot to think about and a lot to do in the coming days. I wanted to send a message to Eden, but worried that if I did I would give something away because of our encounter. I didn't want her to have any clues.

 

[Orithyia]

I arrived home in a bad mood. It was by no doubt the worst mood I had been in since leave Alex. "URGGG!" I screamed in frustration violently throwing the tart in the trash. Without much care I unloaded what I got at the market and threw myself on the couch. The only thing that I showed care for at that moment was the phone that only Alex had the number to. I caressed the face of the phone and closed my eyes.

It was unfair to Tristan to be so mean to him. He didn't know the wave of emotions I was in and how mentioning a park was so closely connected to them. I would have to find a way to make up for my behavior if I ever saw him again. A part of me hoped that I never did but the other part pointed out that it would be another person to and to the list of people that I have wronged.

"Alex." And it came back to him. I held the phone up and opened it the soft light spilling from the screen. I never texted him back. I realized with a jolt and chest my sent texts, proving that I was right. "Oh." I crinkled my forehead and hoped that I hadn't been making him worry for no reason. I opened a new message and lingered over the keys thinking about what to send him. For some reason I felt weird sending Alex a text after spending time with another guy. True that other guy thought I was with someone but that didn't stop me from knowing that he was attracted to me.

I bit my bottom lip and just started typing. 'There's this cute market near work that I found a few days ago and I went there again today.' I paused thinking if I should mention Tristan and decided not to even if it did make me feel bad, like I had done something bad. 'Bought a few things including a tart but it only made me think of you. Sad to say that by the time I made it home I couldn't even look at it without missing you with a terrible pain and it ended up in the trash. It probably wasn't as good as the one we shared together, you're not here to share it with me. Wish you were here.' I sounded pathetic and I almost convinced myself to erase it when I pressed the send button.

"And I think that's a night for me." I sighed heading for a shower and then bed knowing full well that if Alex texted me back I would stay up all night talking with him.

 

[Josu_T]

I sat in silence in the apartment that still felt very empty. I had no entertainment to distract myself. No tv, no radio, no books. I would need to get something to avoid becomming completely obsessed with Eden. When the phone rang I simply stared at it. I didn't bother picking it up. I knew it would be another message from her. I wasn't sure if I wanted to hear what she had to say. I ignored it while I made dinner and ate, looking out the window at the shop.

When I finished eating I finally looked at the message that had been sent. It wasn't much that I didn't already know. Though I hadn't expected to know it. There was no mention of the other man. At least she wasn't trying to intentionally toy with me. After reading it a few times I felt a mix of emotion. I missed her, but I also felt confident that my plans could work. I was also filled with conviction because even though I missed her I only felt that way because she had left. Missing her and the fact that she felt bad really didn't make up for what she had done.

I didn't respond. Not right away. I waited. It was later in the evening when I finally picked up the phone again. I carefully typed out another message. "It is a beautiful day today. I am enjoying my vacation with my family. They tried to set me up on a date with someone this afternoon, but I couldn't. They wanted me to go for a walk in the park with her. I had to say no. It made me miss you too. I wish you hadn't left. I don't know where you are now, but I hope maybe someday I'll see you again." I hit send, wondering what would happen next. I wished I could watch her reading the message.

 

[Orithyia]

I was asleep by the time the phone alerted me to a new text message and as tired as I felt I got out of bed and read the message. I brought the phone to bed still reading it. "So he still thinks about me as much as I think about him." I sighed putting the phone aside and felt torn between two emotions. I was happy that I was still in his mind but I knew it was unfair of me to keep in contact with him. He wanted to see me again as did I but I knew that it would never happen.

My mind kept telling myself to leave him alone. To stop texting him and move on. The problem was everything else say to stay to keep talking to him. It was some kind of karma payback. I laughed out loud at the hopelessness of it. I watched that hotel for my preferred target and Alex had fit perfectly and I went into the job thinking nothing of it but then something happened. I couldn't name it, it just happened and I was telling him things that I never told anyone. I felt at ease with him and safe. Two things that are dangerous in my line of work. And yet I had dropped my shields and felt something for him.

In my hand the phone turned over and over as my mind wandered. As much as I wanted to be selfish and keep this one last contact with in, it was selfishness that had gotten him fired. If I would have left earlier, spent less time with Alex I would have been able to cover the fact that I used him. It wasn't like it wasn't beyond my abilities. I sighed and sat up and leaned against the headboard. I wasn't going to be selfish again, I had to let him go.

With my mind set I felt a sharp numbness settle over my body and a dull crackle fill my ears. "You should have gone." I texted my finger slow over the keys. "You might have had fun." I cringed continuing on. There was more I should say but I wasn't brave enough yet to text it. "More than anything I want you happy." I pressed the send button and wondered what would come from this text. Half of me wanted him to find someone else and to be happy but the slightly larger part of me wanted him to stick around and be with me.

I laid back down in the bed and snuggled deep into the covers pulling them over my head. I could feel it already, tomorrow hadn't even started and I knew it was going to be a long day.

 

[Josu_T]

It was late, but I waited a while to see if she would send back a reply. When the phone rang I picked it up and read the message. It was not what I had expected from her. It made me wonder if she was thinking about herself more. I wondered if she wanted me to stop sending her messages so she wouldn't feel bad about starting something with the mystery man. It was all I needed to know that it was time to start my plan. I couldn't do as much as I wanted, but it would be enough. I could ruin her new life.

I started to type out another message. "I couldn't. The heart wants what the heart wants and I can't and won't deny that. Maybe some day I'll be over you, but right now I just can't help myself." I hit send and then I quickly opened up another message. This time I attached a picture I had taken with the purpose of making her feel bad. It was an image of myself with an attractive girl at the club clearly having a good time. I typed out a message to go with it. "Hey Dani, last night was so much fun. Sending you the picture to remind you of it. Come on over tonight and we can pick up where we left off. Can't wait to play with that sexy ass again." I felt bad about sending the message, but I was sure it would make her feel even worse.

As soon as I sent it I opened up a third and typed out a rapid message. "Oh shit. I'm so sorry. I sent you a message meant for someone else. Well screw it. Too late now. Now you know. Sorry you had to find out this way. Not that I really care. Enjoy the picture." I felt really bad about this one, but it also let me finally release a lot of the negative emotions I had. I hit send and went to bed. I wasn't going to stay up to see what response she might send. In the morning I would get everything else going. The only decision I needed to make was whether to give her a warning or not.