Ona said...

“Last night when we spoke about the new building, you said that it wasn’t far from the warehouse.  I only asked because I don’t want this change to inconvenience the children.”

“It isn’t far from your current location.  Actually, when we purchased it, the plan was to demolish the building.  Currently, we have three architectural renderings for a series of projects, ranging from housing, office space and retail space.”

“Have you decided?”

Yes, he had decided; but the project would have to wait.  Lucien smiled, then he said...

“I’ll tell you after you see the space for yourself.”

Ona shyly smiled, and she sat quiet for the remainder of the ride.  The limo turned off on a street that she recognized and it wasn’t too far from the Conclave Square.  Her heart beat fast, because until now, she had not considered what would happen if a member of her Sect noticed her getting out of a limo with a man.  She told herself, that being with Lucien was necessary for her project, and therefore her behavior didn’t violate any part of her Creed.  But she’d been raised to observe a certain set of standards; and this wasn’t one of them.

When the limo came to a stop, Lucien stepped out first.  He offered her his hand, to assist her, and when she stood on the street, her jaw fell slack.  They were standing in front of a building that had once been a grand place.

Lucien noticed her expression, then he said...

“Wait until you see the inside of this place.”

He placed a gentle hand at the base of her back, then he said...

“Let’s go inside.”

When he opened the door, they stepped inside, and they were greeted by one of his employees.

“I’ve got everything ready for you.  Lights--air conditioning--heat; whatever you need.  The place is good to go.”

“Thanks Mike.”  Lucien said, then they walked passed the man.  Ona had never gone to the Movies and she’d never been inside of a theater, so it made perfect sense that she would be awed out of her socks.  As they walked, passing ornate door frames, with delicate designs carved in the wood; at every turn, something unique and unexpected caught her eye.  Swirling patterns, on every imaginable surface, baffled her imagination.  Overhead, large draping chandeliers lit the lobby area like stars glistening in the night sky.  Ona said...

“What was this place?”

He laughed, then he said...

“An opera house--then a movie theater.  In the late sixties and early seventies, for a short time it showcased burlesque dancers--striptease.”  he clarified, then he added...

“After that, the city cleaned up its act, and the place sat empty.  Someone bought it back in the nineties and tried their hand at debuting off-Broadway shows, but due to poor management, and bad financing, they closed after the first year.  That’s when my family bought the place.”

“And what have you done with it?”

“A lot.  Party planners love this place.  It’s great for masquerade parties, theme parties...you know; that sort of thing.”

No--she didn’t know, but she nodded, pretending that she did.  Her mind latched hold to something he’d said.  “Party planners love this place”; that would mean, that they pay a great deal to use it.

Ona said...

“Mr. Delors...”

He stopped her saying...

“I thought we resolved the use of our first names months ago.”

She smiled, then she corrected herself.

“Lucien...I cannot begin to imagine the cost to rent this place.  You know that if you submit this buildings address to the Conclave--there will be questions.”

“Let’s cross that bridge when we get to it.  For now--imagine yourself and those kids in here.  Can’t you see it Ona--a real stage for them to sing, or play their instruments.  And if you wanted to, you could use the auditorium to put on a play or let the kids have recitals.”

Her eyes went wide, because she had not considered that.  So many of the children had made great strides, learning how to play the instruments.  Sahara would love being in control over that.

Ona felt Lucien guiding her forward.  He said...

“Ona...we can make this work.  Just tell me what needs to be done and I’ll do it.  I want you to have this space to use for however long you want to use it.”

“But...”

She wanted to protest but he interrupted her, when he said...

“No but’s Ona.  This place is yours.  So you might as well accept it.”

They were standing backstage, and the view from that vantage point was magnificent.  How had this happened?  How had she been so lucky?  When she turned to face him, the answer danced in her head.  Lucien Delors; thanks to him, her project had not fallen apart.

He slanted his head at an angle, and his admiration mushroomed when he noticed her black band; a symbol of her innocence.  She was single but he recalled the Samaritan man named Geff.  He wondered what was said when she returned his band.  He didn’t have to be a fly on the wall to come to certain conclusions.  Since the return of Geff’s band, Ona still wore the band that symbolized her unweddedness.

Lucien’s lips parted spreading into a lovely smile, and she fought the urge to swoon.  He’d been staring at her hand for a few seconds, but the passaged of time felt like an eternity and when her world rocked; she didn’t know if she’d recover from the shock.

Lucien mindlessly took a leapt of faith.  His hand hovered inches above hers, giving her the chance to move or avoid what was about to happen next.  He lowered his hand, until their hands lay one on top of the other.

Lucien released a tight breath, relieved that she didn’t pull away.  He said...

“Let’s go back to my place.  We can continue this conversation there.”

Ona didn’t look away, but he detected a note of wavering.  She was mulling over a thought, then he reeled in his desires.  On the whole, he was getting what he wanted, and he couldn’t expect her to ignore a lifetime of norms.  He lowered his eyes, checking the time.  They still had one hour before the last ferry left the dock.

Lucien said...

“Look...use the weekend to think about this.  You can walk me through the Conclave process another day.  I don’t want to be pushy.”

“You aren’t being pushy.”

Her voice squeaked because he’d begun a slow stroke of her fingers and she wasn’t sure if even he realized what he was doing.  They stood silent, and being there was a history making moment.  Not just because and agreement had been made; their presence meant so much more.  Beneath wires and curtain cables, this is the place were an unspoken understanding had been bridged.  As they left the building, they each knew that being there had been the beginning of something.  The start of something beyond either of them.

Lucien tried not to overstep his mark, but her serene presence eclipsed his sense of right and wrong.  The back seat in his limo was spacious and no part of their bodies needed to touch; and that wouldn’t do.  Lucien moved close enough for their thighs to touch.  Ona had been contemplating her thoughts while staring out the window, and she didn’t hear his movements.  Like the knocker that rings the bell; two things happened all at once.  His touch and the sound of his voice.  Ona jumped, but his hand lay on her leg, to steady her.

There was no delay nor a pause when he said...

“Ona...I don’t mean to be forward and I’m not sure what the protocol is in this situation but, just hear me out and if I offend you while trying to be open and honest--Well, I’m asking for your forgiveness in advance.”

Ona’s voice was a whisper when she said...

“Okay.”

Lucien cleared his throat.

“I don’t know exactly where to begin because, for a long while now, I’ve taken an interest in you.  Not as a friend or a partner involved in a charity.  I think about you, all the time.  I think of ways to see you and I worry that maybe you won’t want to see me because I am not a member of your Sect.”