June 15th

Mercedes had gotten up earlier than usual so she could resume her routine; putting one foot in front of the other as Jack had advised.

Her routine consisted of a morning workout followed by meditation, herbal tea and a massage, breakfast and finally her beauty regime. No point of this was ever skipped as it was all essential to helping her maintain the balance of beauty and calm. Stress caused wrinkles after all, and wrinkles killed a model's career.

She had soul searched after her discussion with Jack and decided sitting around moping was not going to get her home. She wasn't sure how she would get there but she didn't need to look like she had gone through an ordeal once she found her way back. She needed to be fresh and ready to resume her career. Thus her routine was reinstated and if it accomplished nothing else, it took up many empty hours that Merci had been using to cry and binge on ice cream. Her benefactor kept a very large stock of it in his freezer, she had found. How scandalous he was!

Mercedes wasn't a shallow woman though she frequently appeared to be. She had a persona to maintain. She was paid to smile and make the camera love her not to show the other traits that made her more than an object of envy and desire. At times it was difficult to separate her public self from her real self. It hadn't always been so difficult. When she had first been taken in by Jorge, her public image didn't matter. She went to a few photo shoots here and there but was by no means a recognizable celebrity. It had been easy to shrug off the role she played. Then she began receiving more and more job offers. Her face was recognized and there was the constant threat of flashbulbs and people vying to obtain her attention. She couldn't be Merci, former street rat. She was Mercedes, diva extraordinaire.

Perhaps her time in RhyDin would be a blessing in disguise and give her the down time needed to rejuvenate her spirit. Maybe Fate had orchestrated this entire ordeal and the woman would eventually regain her zest for life which had long been repressed...as soon as she overcame the trauma of being kidnapped and enslaved, of course!

Jack strolled casually up the path to Corlanthis' townhouse and lightly rapped upon the door. It was the usual time of day for his visit, this had become their routine over the past weeks.
One hand was clutching a sack with today's gift in it and the other held a to go cup of Chai latte, she had mentioned a few days prior that this was an indulgence for her and it had taken him this long to figure out what it was and to locate a vendor.
Jack was dressed considerably more casual today since they had arranged an outing that involved being out of doors. Khaki pants were paired with a short sleeved fitted navy shirt and loafers. The usual sunglasses were in place, as they always were when he was outside during the day since his eyes were sensitive to light.

.45 was resting on his hip in its self lock paddle holster and Walther P99 was in an ankle holster. It didn't matter that he wasn't working at his shooting range today or that he was "off duty" for The Division; if there was such a thing as being off duty, he still carried his pistols like they were just an extension of his own body. Normally both weapons would be in shoulder holsters but he didn't want to frighten Merci. He stood patiently awaiting her arrival to the door, expression impassive.

"Just a minute! I'm on my way!" Merci yelled from the stairs as she was descending. She checked her watch, a slight smile upon her face. She knew who was at the door and she knew it would do him some good to wait. She clicked across the floor to the first floor powder room and primped, readjusting a few choice strands of hair and touching up her light pink lipstick. Finally, she straightened and smoothed the white sundress she had borrowed from Rayvinn. Merci was much more compact than the Elven woman and had been more blessed with natural assets so it was sometimes a struggle to find something appropriate to wear.

She click-clacked her way to the door, thankfully Rayvinn's shoes fit, and paused for another moment. The door handle was finally turned and she offered Jack one of her brightest smiles, head tilted just so, as she pulled the door open. "What a pleasant surprise, Jack. Was I expecting you? I seem to forget." Amber eyes twinkled with mischief as she chuckled and held out a perfectly manicured hand for him to take so he could pass through the wards of Corlanthis' house.

Noticing that he had his hands full, she lavished an even prettier smile upon him and reached for the sack. "Here let me help you with that. Is it for me?" A faux surprised look replaced the smile. She knew it was for her as it was every day but the act must be maintained since he seemed amused by it.

"And what is this?" She pointed to the cup in his hand. "Are you bringing your own coffee now? I hope mine hasn't been that bad!" She raised a well groomed dark brow at the thought that he might not like hers. One skill Jorge had insisted she learn was making perfect coffee. He had cooks and housekeepers but had her make his coffee every morning.