Addison stood in the middle of Julian's suit slash office slash sleeping area slash meeting room slash display of quite, prominent, old power and clapped. A slow clap, the sort of thing that, when paired with the blond mans twisted half-smile became sarcasm born. The sharp strikes of palm to palm grated on Julian's nerves as he reached up to loosen his tie. A gesture few, if any, ever saw him do. Under the coffee hue of Julians skin, he looked pale. Pinched. Addison, too busy being Addison, missed this vital clue.
"We-heh-hell done, Boss. Wow. " Addison put his hands in his pocket. "Still got it I see. That was a great interview. Two now, in what—three months since you been here"
"Think you broke your record." "Addison, I am not in the mood. Some things simply must be done." "Sure, Boss. Sure."
Julian let his jacket fall to a chair. One of the men in charge of his clothing, or woman..or some one would be in to pick it up and carefully hang it later. Hands behind his back, the dark haired man in silk shirt crossed the room to hesitate by the wide, french doors that led to the balcony. The heavy draw of thick, unusual material was already drawn over the windows. Julian picked at the edge of one restlessly but did not move the fabric out of the way.
"I trust our guest is doing well?" He began. The inquiry to any other ear would have seemed so flat and dull. A polite but passing question pressed upon him, to be asked out of manners and necessity.
Addison however, straightened immediately. Julian could shed a skin like a snake. Trying to follow him these last few decades had become increasingly difficult, given their two vast differences.
"She"is," Addison replied with such caution as to bring to mind little children trying to sneak past sleeping parents. "She's been complaining about bed rest....Julianna brought her a meal yesterday and tells me that she looks better. Her color has returned."
"Has it," flatly, Julian echoed. He did not turn around to face Addison and at that moment' Addison was glad of it.
"Bring her to me." It wasn't a question, so Addison did not dare open his mouth to be flippant. In fact, the command seemed to wipe the grin off his face entirely.
"I'm sorry," he began quietly. "We've looked everywhere, we really have. You'd think it'd be easy here where no one cares?" "Bring her to me," Julian said lowly. The words were soft but bitten and chewed through the air. "Sir," was all the reply the blond man gave. Bowing stiffly from the waist. Addison did not stay a second longer.
"We-heh-hell done, Boss. Wow. " Addison put his hands in his pocket. "Still got it I see. That was a great interview. Two now, in what—three months since you been here"
"Think you broke your record." "Addison, I am not in the mood. Some things simply must be done." "Sure, Boss. Sure."
Julian let his jacket fall to a chair. One of the men in charge of his clothing, or woman..or some one would be in to pick it up and carefully hang it later. Hands behind his back, the dark haired man in silk shirt crossed the room to hesitate by the wide, french doors that led to the balcony. The heavy draw of thick, unusual material was already drawn over the windows. Julian picked at the edge of one restlessly but did not move the fabric out of the way.
"I trust our guest is doing well?" He began. The inquiry to any other ear would have seemed so flat and dull. A polite but passing question pressed upon him, to be asked out of manners and necessity.
Addison however, straightened immediately. Julian could shed a skin like a snake. Trying to follow him these last few decades had become increasingly difficult, given their two vast differences.
"She"is," Addison replied with such caution as to bring to mind little children trying to sneak past sleeping parents. "She's been complaining about bed rest....Julianna brought her a meal yesterday and tells me that she looks better. Her color has returned."
"Has it," flatly, Julian echoed. He did not turn around to face Addison and at that moment' Addison was glad of it.
"Bring her to me." It wasn't a question, so Addison did not dare open his mouth to be flippant. In fact, the command seemed to wipe the grin off his face entirely.
"I'm sorry," he began quietly. "We've looked everywhere, we really have. You'd think it'd be easy here where no one cares?" "Bring her to me," Julian said lowly. The words were soft but bitten and chewed through the air. "Sir," was all the reply the blond man gave. Bowing stiffly from the waist. Addison did not stay a second longer.