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xavierramzi · 8 months

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Conversation was entirely underrated in his mind. Physical touch was something that anyone could do, but converse over everything and nothing at all? That was the real challenge. The slight ache in his cheeks was proof of how much he'd enjoyed being in her company, even if the late night was professionally induced. "Sounds like I'll be on remote protection duty until sunrise," he countered teasingly, only teasing his gaze from her to peer over at the remote that sat peacefully on his bedside table. All jokes aside, he would have quite enjoyed watching her gracefully disassemble the remote before piecing it back together expertly. It was one of the many things that he was all too curious about. "Shame. I was actually considering giving you a chance. I mean, I think that desk would be a good workspace and you've got wine and good company to fill the silence. What more could you need?" He chewed at the inside of his cheek as his dark hues scanned over her features. She was gorgeous, and her mind was just as comprised of beauty.

Arrogance was a mask he wore well. He'd made a name for himself at the company in hopes of straying away from the whispers that he was only there to do his father's nepo bidding. Her confession had him craning his neck, a look of raw curiosity slipping onto his features in response. She felt as if she had too much power over him and more than that... she liked it? He felt betrayed by the way his stomach stirred with excitement, his head spinning all the same. He wanted to know what else she liked, but that devilish question was swallowed down with a hefty drink of whiskey. "I don't know that you're wrong." He'd been eager to agree to personalized tours and more moments with her, but it was all driven by the desire to know her past the mask she wore too. The one everyone wore while in the company of strangers. "And I think I'm okay with that." Scratch that, he knew he was, but on the chance of biting back a bit of desperation, he left a lingering sense of doubt.

For the first time in the night, his smile faded into something akin to painstruck disappointment. He'd dealt with his fair share of backhanded comments, but by the sounds of it, she'd had it much worse. "I'm sorry. For people's ignorance. That wasn't fair to you." Fear made people do terrible things, but it was no excuse. It was all that much more frustrating to know that she'd been alone in that fight. At least, by the sound of it, she hadn't had anyone in her corner. "You're right those. Kids are awful in the worst of ways. They still are," he assured with a soft look of understanding. His gaze dropped to her hand on his arm and without thinking, he brushed his thumb lightly across her knuckles, her skin cool to the touch, but still causing heat to trickle into his fingertips nonetheless.

Mariana was the best kind of friend that anyone could have. Chaotic, certainly, and she never failed to bring out those parts of him too, but she knew things about Zay that would make the rest of the world view him differently. "She's the best. I wouldn't be the same person I am now without her." She'd taught him things in life, some not so great, some reasonably good, but life lessons all the same. "Their loss, right?" He stole a glance towards the other, her genuine compliment triggering another flush to his face. At least with as much whiskey as he'd guzzled, he could blame it rather than the effect of her words.

Her question mixed with a statement left the male's tongue swiping over his teeth as he considered how right she was. He didn't talk about her much, but it wasn't a lack of love or understanding, but more so, his father had a way of being the center of every conversation. "She's around," he countered quickly, tone soft. Between the two of his parents, his mother was the kind and warm hearted soul. She was the one he took after the most, though his father had tried to mold him into a mini Karem from a young age. "She's not so much on the business front and my father... he has a way to make himself into every conversation, but my mother? You'd like her." And if her were being honest, he was certain that the older Ramzi woman would like Halime too.

He didn't have to do anything, but he wanted to. In fact, he couldn't remember when he'd wanted to do something more. Her offer to watch with him was met with an eager nod and tipsy infused smile, one that made the whiskey flush that much more believable. "Of course. It wouldn't be the same without your commentary." He was a reader from time to time, mostly on pieces covered by the firm, but he enjoyed a good book at the end of a busy night when his mind wouldn't shut off from the day's work. "If you trust me with your books, sure. You can drop those by too." He'd take good care of them, but if her were lending out his favorite series, he would have had his own worries too. "I know I don't have to and trust me, I don't do things I don't want to do. So, we'll see if they're for me and if they are... I'll have to repay you for opening me up to new things."

A glimpse at the clock and the early hour it read (or late?) would have normally caused him to grumble in defiance. However, he was perfectly fine with watching the sun creep into the sky if it meant getting to linger in her company a little longer. As he waited with a bated breath, he feared that she'd hear the pounding of his heart in the silence. However, her response left a low exhale of amusement pushing past his lips. "I can pull a lot of strings, but I don't know about ice cream. Is there a specific flavor you're craving?" He was tempted to reach for his phone to search for the nearest convenience store, but he stayed put, fingers still curled around his whiskey glass and heart still pounding wildly. "If it counts for anything, I'm glad too." She was a force within the company, but more importantly, he was quite enjoying the journey of getting to know her.

The counter had Zay emptying the contents of his glass once more, but rather than refill it, he placed it easily atop the bedside table and shifted on his side of the bed to stretch out more than he had been moments earlier. He patted at the pillows as he snaked an arm beneath them to rest the side of his head against his fist. He was far more comfortable now, but the longer he stirred on her question, the more he realized how honesty could break the moment entirely. "I'm thinking that if I lay here too long, I'll end up falling asleep." A half truth, at least. The other thoughts? He wanted to feel her touch on his chest in all of the places the cool breeze was brushing against — wanted to taste more than the wine on her lips. "Exciting stuff, right?"

Although to other it might not have seemed much, to someone like Halime, who appreciated whenever people offered to spend time with her because time was too precious to be wasted on silly things, her short list of things to do with him seemed long enough to keep her busy for at least a few days. Besides, spending time with someone as handsome as him? It never hurt, right? No matter how innocent such time was.

The way he teased her so innocently, reminded Hali that things didn't always have to be this hard. That she didn't have to keep finding excuses to be liked by people. That the right ones, would eventually find their ways to her... just like her dad had once assured her it would happen. Back when she would come home crying because people were calling her a weird. Ugh, rich kids and their entitled attitude. "Oh, please. I'm thinking about tearing it apart even more now that you've brought it up!" She was quick to meet his humor and if the remote wasn't placed on his side of the bedside table, she would've definitely gotten up to take it, but with her lack of balance and the way the wine was coursing through her veins, chances were, she would end up falling on top of him and that would be yet another romcom cliché waiting to happen. "No, no..." She shook her head, a light chuckle escaping her lips as she did so. "I've moved on from my remote destroyer days, so that remote is safe by my side. I promise." But it would have been a nice theory to test. To check if she could still do it...

There it was again. That smooth-talking, childish grin of his. The one that Halime could no longer deny made her smile, too. It was almost automatic by now, and this was what—the second, maybe third time they'd met? Granted, it was the first time they'd spent this much time together, but still, she had seen it before. And before, it had been easy to ignore, but the more time she spent around him, the hardest it was to pretend she didn't like it. Or that it didn't make her feel like grinning, too. Actually, that grin made her feel like doing a lot of other things, but ones she wouldn't dare saying out loud. "I think I'm holding too much power over you." She said, her voice slightly raspy due to her throat feeling a little dry. Was that—desperation? "And I think I like that." Shit, she actually loved that. Hali couldn't remember the last time she felt that powerful or badass. And even though they were just joking around, it caused some heat to flush up her cheeks, then go down between her legs as she watched him. The Xavier Ramzi who was all tall, dark and handsome, having a childish grin, being a dinosaur nerd and having so much in common with the loner girl from Manhattan. "So maybe I'll keep this information to myself—for now."

Wait--was it the wine, or there was some sexual tension going on? Fck, she hated being too literal to pick up on these things right away!

She furrowed her brows, slightly confused at his chuckle, but as he explained why, Halime joined in on his chuckle, too. "Kids were awful. I can't tell you how many times I'd gone home crying because they had called me weird." Way too many times. She had even asked her parents to change schools, but as her mother explained, kids would continue doing that anywhere she went, and it was up to Halime to stand up for herself and not let the bullies change her essence. She never did... change her essence, that was. She was still the same quirky weirdo she was twenty years ago. "9/11 definitely didn't help either. I even stopped wearing my hijab to school that first semester. I mean, I stopped wearing it altogether in college, but it hurt to be somewhat forced not to wear it so they would leave me alone." She let out a sigh. Maybe it was time for a topic change, otherwise, Hali feared she was going to become a sad drunk and that was the last thing she needed right now. Lucky for her, Zay started talking about his youth and his friends, so that was a nice change. Not that Halime didn't have a happy youth... of course she did. But some dated things made her feel very lonely back then. "Aww..." Hali stuck her bottom lip out into a pout, gently rubbing Xavier's arm. "Thank you for saying that, Xavier. It was very sweet of you."

What a difference from his to hers upbringing. Halime couldn't say she envied him, especially because she would have hated to be surrounded by people who didn't really care about her, but she was glad that Xavier had people on his corner to look out for him. He didn't seem like he had been a very happy child. But then again... what did she know, right? "She seems like a good friend." Hali nodded her head, then shifting in bed to sit with her legs in crisscross, facing him. "And I'm sorry people weren't interested in getting to know you... because they missed out on a great guy. We both know how stupid kids can be." Which, could also refer to the previous topic of their conversation: her childhood and teenage years. "I have only known you for a couple of weeks and I'm already liking it." And it almost made her laugh that this part of their conversation, plus her body language, made her feel like they were children getting to know each other at the playground. "You... don't talk much about your mother, do you? Is she... still around?"

It warmed her heard how they could simply go back and forth on all of those different topics, tapping on all of these different feelings and emotions and then all of a sudden, Hali is snapping a silly picture of Xavier to save as his contact as her laughter echoes around the room they're sharing—although, if he hadn't posed, she would have probably looked for a silly dinosaur picture to save to his contact instead. And then, they are talking about her favorite movie that Xavier has just rented to watch. Was she important because she was a client or because of another reason? She really should have asked and Hali knew that, but the alcohol kept her from doing so. Instead, she just nodded at his partial invitation. "If you won't mind me smiling like a silly goof or even saying a few quotes that I like along the movie, I'd love to join you." It was her favorite one, after all. "I can lend you the books if you like it. It's a really good adaptation." Some loved The Little Prince... that one, Halime had always found it so boring. But Howl's Moving Castle? Yes, she loved that children's book. Always have. "Oh, come on. I won't hold it against you, I promise. I know these movies, especially the Matrix, isn't for everyone. I'd be happy with you just watching them... which, you also don't have to." He didn't have to do anything for her. Why would he, right? But she would definitely be happy if he did.

Another easy giggle escaped her lips at the mention of him preferring caramel over chocolate. How the hell was a man like him doing in a hotel room with a woman like her and they weren't making out? "Noted. Now I know what to get you whenever I stop by your office." His question, however, was a little harder to answer, because right now, none of the possible answers she wanted to give him, were professional enough, and the wine was making her feel friskier, so she probably would have to drink some water soon to cool herself down. At the fear of being called out on her bullshit, Hali refused to look at him as she thought about how to answer his question, because he was on her mind at the moment. Doing something reckless for once in her life. Crossing the line, tasting how that whisky felt on his tongue, pressing her body to his, all of that. But biting on her bottom lip, she simply shrugged. "That I'd kill for some ice cream right now." The words rolled off her tongue mixed with yet another sweet laugh of hers. "No, no." Pause. "I'm thinking that... all things considered, I'm really glad I've decided to move to Briar Ridge." This time, she was looking at him, getting lost in his dark hues for a moment. "What about you? What's on your mind right now?"

#filed under — halime yazici.

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xavierramzi · 8 months

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Graceland | 1x07: Goodbye High

#filed under — mariana cabrera.

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xavierramzi · 8 months

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#filed under — visage.

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xavierramzi · 8 months

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"We've got time. Plenty of it," he countered with a glance towards the digital clock that sat on the bedside table. It was minutes past midnight now and while he knew that eight would come early, he just couldn't be bothered to care as his gaze was inevitably pulled back towards one of the most beautiful he'd ever seen. Maybe it was the whiskey that made him hyper aware of the glimmer in her eyes or the way her smile sent jolts of warmth throughout him, but whatever it was, he could no longer ignore it. "Doesn't sound like much when you list it out." He'd already managed to build somewhat of a gameplan. Not only would he give her a tour of both the city and the smaller town a mere forty-something minutes away, he'd show her some of his favorite spots that no one else had ever been privy to. "If you think of anything, don't be afraid to share."

He caught her gaze over the brim of her wine glass and daringly, he held it for a few seconds before forcing his focus elsewhere. If he looked too long, he feared getting lost in her dark brown orbs. It had to be the late hour, lack of sleep, and the whiskey that made his heart thrum out of beat against his chest. The warmth of the amber colored contents in his glass anchored him the bed they were going to share. Even as the cool breeze washed over his exposed skin, the liquor and her gentle touch at the back of his head was enough to keep him warm.

While he'd never admit it aloud, he liked how it sounded rolling off her tongue. Then again, he was certain he would have liked anything that fell from her mouth. Internal thoughts or not, it felt wrong to consider just how attractive he found her. From her ambition, to her ability to tease, to... this. He wondered how many others got to see the great Halime Yazici in her laid back form, away from the keyboard and her the mindset of work. "Should I hide the remote in here?" He bit back a grin, but it played on his mouth the moment his gaze met hers. Of course her version of troublemaking was far more innocent than his own. Though, Zay hadn't gotten into much trouble himself outside of wanting to do things that normal teens were supposed to.

Neck craned in response to her smoothly calling his name. "You see me, huh? Does this mean you're going to share my secret with everyone? Let them know that I'm not so big and bad after all?" He knew that everything he learned within the space of the hotel room would be for him. It was selfish, but Zay had never claimed to be anything other than such. "Or... is that for you?" Smile faded slightly, his gaze glued to hers as he swallowed down the breath that had bunched in his throat.

Attention was only shifted after he'd lifted his glass once more, only to find that he'd emptied the contents within. Carefully, he scooted up against the headboard to steady his frame as he reached for the bottle and tipped it over the cup for what felt like the tenth time of the night, or morning? Body buzzed with excitement as he settled back into his spot with his knee bent and arm curled over it. "Exactly. It's all about money and the government and quite frankly, I'm not a big fan of either." It was hypothetical coming from the man who'd played under his father's thumb out of fear of losing everything he had, but there was a difference in enjoying wealth and doing whatever one could to procure it. "I've heard people call him Crisp Rat. Can't say I disagree." He couldn't have cared less about the main cast, but the storyline was a good match to what a modernized version would look like. "With a flare. Not my least favorite scene," he countered with a half grin most certainly fueled by the whiskey.

The chuckle that raspily fell from his mouth was nothing more than a surprised response. People not liking her? He couldn't believe it. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean," he attempted to explain, cheeks flushing red once more. Would she think he was an ass for laughing? Or would she understand? "I just meant... I can't imagine anyone not wanting to get to know you." Kids were harsh though, so maybe it wasn't all that surprising after all. From that point on, he stayed silent, intent on listening to every word she offered. While she'd felt like an outcast, he'd had a similar feeling, though it was a much different experience. While people avoided her, people had flooded him and not for solid friendships, but for the status he carried. "They were the only ones that missed out." It was a soft hum of assurance, one he doubted she needed, but he gave it anyway.

There was no jealousy (not that it would have been justified if there had been) in the realization that her best friend was another male. It would have been hypocritical considering his own best friend was female. "I do." He and Mariana had known one another since they were kids, but it hadn't made his parents like her any better. "She wasn't really a fan of my dad. My mom... she uh, didn't really say much about what I could and couldn't do growing up, so my dad was the bad guy. Always." Sometimes he'd say no just because he could and while Zay had never pushed back, Mariana had from time to time. "I had plenty of friends, you know? Everyone wanted to hangout with me but... no one really ever cared except for Mariana." And Cali, but he'd gained her alliance through the other. Thumb tapped quietly at the side of the glass, his gaze fixed on the vibrations of the liquor within. "Sometimes it's more lonely to be surrounded by people than not."

Her teasing resurrected a smile on his mouth and without looking, he felt her shift to reach for her phone. Dr. Dino Nerd. He'd been called worse. "What's my contact picture? It has to be equally as fitting." He offered a tooth grin towards her and muttered the word cheese as if waiting for her to take a picture. After a few seconds, he dropped the look and rested his head back against the headboard, this time with a gentle landing. Panic flooded his system as he watched the gears turn in her mind, it doubled when she asked if he'd ordered it and why. "If it's your favorite, then clearly it has to be good, right? I need something to watch anyway and it would be nice to watch something for the first time. You're welcome to join me," he offered nervously as he scanned over her features to get a better read on the situation. Had he done too much? Had he crossed a line? As for the Matrix, he'd get to that too, but her favorite movie of all time had topped the list. "Oh, I'll watch that too. Promise I'll give you an honest review of both if won't hold it against me."

Another mental note was made — Halime liked caramel. Scratch that, she loved it. It was an important thing to know, wasn't it? "Alright, good to know. For the record, I much prefer caramel over chocolate myself." Maybe coffee wouldn't be the only thing he surprised her with in the future, but for now, he had another task at hand. "I don't know if there's a question as important as favorite ice cream," he countered with a deep exhale and shake of his head. He now knew her coffee preference, favorite movie, and her favorite flavor of ice cream, what more was there to ask? A brow popped up in contemplation as the jeopardy theme song played in his mind. It was a much harder question than he'd expected, especially considering the fact that he wanted to know everything. "Alright, alright. Serious question... what's on your mind right now?"

To be completely honest, Halime didn't know how to answer his question without letting the alcohol coursing through her veins guide her words, so, for the sake of their good professional relationship she decided she would answer his question when her thoughts were less clouded by the wine she kept drinking in his company. "I'll think about it. Can't go around giving you half-assed answers, right?" She went for a teasing route instead of speaking her mind. Lucky for her, Halime's thoughts weren't clouded enough to make her say inappropriate things just yet, despite the 'half-assed' having escaped her lips just then. "I'm already getting a tour of the best spots both here and in Briar Ridge, movies at the drive-in..." She counted on her fingers, letting her words fade into a chuckle as she went ahead and hid it behind her glass of wine, then she took a small sip.

Hearing him talk about his job and how committed he was to it made Halime understand that she had done the right choice in wanting to keep their business with Ramzi Public Relations. Or at least, to keep the business in Xavier's hands, because she hadn't been the one who had dealt directly with his father, neither back when her own parents were alive nor before moving to Briar Ridge. Huh... maybe the decision of keeping things there hadn't been hers after all, but still, it had been a good one. She liked listening to Xavier talk, she reckoned. She could listen to him talk about work for hours. He had that magnetic way of speaking that captivated all kinds of audiences and Halime found out that she liked that about him. Although, it could also be dangerous territory. Those of magnetic souls could be hard to shake off if necessary.

She noticed how a flush of blood had rushed all the way up to his cheeks after having accidentally bumped his head against the headboard. Her hand gently rubbed the spot to dissipate the pain—even if that didn't seem like it had been all that serious, and as he asked once more to drop the titles, Hali raised her free hand in a defensive way. "Okay, okay. I was just joking with you, but no more 'Mr.' business from me, I promise." And as they moved along to other topics, Halime felt more at ease in his presence. There was still a part of her who kept hoping he wouldn't end up murdering her in that hotel because she knew lots of women had been in this position of going to a hotel room with someone, feeling at ease with them and then never returning home because they'd been killed. At least Henry knew where and who she was with. Okay. Maybe she could relax? Hello, brain? Please?

She almost sighed at her inner monologue, but that would have been strange, wouldn't it? To sigh out of nowhere?

"Hmm..." Halime scrunched her nose as she looked at him. "Yes, and no." Again, she gave him a similar answer as before, and again, she didn't take too long to explain what she meant. "If you'd consider me being a troublemaker, tearing things apart at the house because I wanted to put them back together, then sure. I was." God, she had lost count the amount of remote controls she had unscrewed to see how they worked, just to put them back together, but not the way they were supposed to, which resulted in her father having to buy a new remote control from time to time. But other than that, she wasn't that much handful. "See, but I've never said I wasn't a nerd." She pointed out, also pointing her glass of wine towards him. "I know I'm a nerd. I've been one for thirty-four years and I'll probably continue being one." Her eyes were trained on his, a goofy smile tugging on the corners of her lips. "But you, Xavier Ramzi..." She paused for a second there, her gaze falling to his lips for a split second, before returning to his eyes. "You walk around all tall and mighty in your fancy suits and you make people think you're not this nerd who's into dinosaurs. But I see you now." And... she actually liked it a lot.

She agreed completely with the fact that yes, humans were horrible and should never be allowed to bring dinosaurs back to life if there was a way to do so. "I agree. And I'm happy they haven't found a way to restore and copy DNA like that. Especially here in the U.S. They would just either weaponize the dinos or commercialize them." And Halime didn't know which one was worse. "I have to say, though. I haven't watched the newer movies. There's something about Chris Pratt that bothers the hell out of me." She confessed, and since Hali didn't have time to pay attention to internet gossip, she couldn't blame it on the Internet's witch hunt, if he had ever been cancelled or something. "Plus, I heard there's a scene where the lady is running from a dino in heels?" That seemed the most absurd to her. Anyone who had worn heels in their lives knew just how awful it was to run in those.

You know, to hear that he too had someone he could run to when things got overwhelming, brought a smile to her lips. Everyone deserved a friend like that. Sadly, Halime only met hers when she had already moved away for college, and while there, she also had Cam to be her home away from home, so she didn't have to think about how lonely she used to be back then. "People didn't really like me growing up." She chuckled awkwardly as she shook her head. "Remember when I told you I liked asking questions because it's hard for me to read people and I don't find things as obvious as others do?" Halime asked as her fingers tapped gently on the crystal of her glass. "People used to think I was weird, so I didn't have many friends growing up." Saying that out loud might've given the impression that she had been an unhappy child. Quite the contrary. She had lived her life the fullest before moving to the Upper East Side. That was when teenagers started calling her weird. "Especially after we moved to the Upper East Side. Pretty sure I was the only Muslim girl at school, and people didn't like that I asked too many questions, so I'd just read and join every STEM club I could." Halime focused in her studies and did not let others change who she was. In the end, she had felt like she had gained a lot by staying true to herself. "I met my best friend when I was in college. And... have you ever felt like... like you've known this person your whole life? That was how it was—well, still is with Henry." She would always speak about her best friend with so much love, that it sometimes gave people the wrong idea. "Why didn't your father like your friend, though?" Usually mothers were the ones with the spidey senses, but Xavier hadn't mentioned his mother once. It was always his father... which made Hali wonder if his father was more controlling than caring.

"What--your new nickname? Do you like it?" She giggled. "Here, let me change your contact name to Dr. Dino Nerd." Hali set her glass aside and picked up her phone, pretending to change the way his name was saved in her contacts. She was ready to tell him all he needed to know about her favorite movie on this entire planet, as well as her favorite book, but the second she heard him saying he had ordered it to watch later, Halime stopped in her tracks. What the—why was he doing this? Giving her this type of attention, making her feel like her likes mattered...? In so many ways, she felt heard. She felt seen like she hadn't been in a while, but at the same time, this was all too confusing to her. This couldn't have anything to do with their work together since this was a personal preference, so... why? It took an extra heartbeat to go back to the present, but again, she couldn't take her eyes off him. And her gaze had lost the lust it had been carrying from time to time, giving way to a mix of confusion and appreciation. "You... just ordered it?" She repeated his words, and even though he had said that he was going to watch it because it was her favorite, it still made Halime question him. "But... why? I... are you really going to watch it because of me?" There was a slightly nervous chuckle that bubbled out of her lips as her sentence was coming to an end, getting mixed with her words as she looked at him. "It's... it's okay if you don't like it though. I promise I won't hold it against you like I did when you mentioned not having watched The Matrix."

As the conversation went on and she asked him the ice cream question, there was a pang of guilt for not thinking about Kira's shop before asking. But unlike Xavier, she had only been living here for three months as opposed to him, so of course her first thought would be Ben and Jerry's. She could have also gone for Haagen-Dazs, but they didn't have fun flavors like the other brand had. "Although I'm a sucker for Cherry Garcia, I'd have to say the Karamel Sutra Core because there's dark chocolate, vanilla and caramel, the love of my life. Ugh." She groaned, feeling her mouth water just by thinking about the ice cream. She should probably buy herself some tomorrow on her way home. "Honestly, anything caramel I'll eat. I love me some caramel." She paused briefly, long enough for a light sip. "It's your turn to ask me a serious question."

#filed under — halime yazici.

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xavierramzi · 8 months

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Being a team player wasn't something he excelled at. In fact, he lived by the mantra his father had pushed into him, it was doing things himself was the only surefire way to get an unchallenged win in life. "Noted." He'd save the apology and speech of gratitude for after they pulled off the first place spot. "We're going to win this. No doubt." Okay, so maybe there was a little doubt, but it was washed away the moment they started planning their plan of attack. "I like caramel bits and waffle cone pieces in a brownie sundae. It's not typical, but I like to think more outside of the box." Hot fudge would everyone's go-to anyway. Luckily, her suggestion of white chocolate was easy to work with. "White chocolate goes with everything, no?"

Unfazed, a lopsided smile still answered him. "I know, I got the hint - I'm just saying in the future the best way to ask someone to be your buddy isn't usually 'I could win this on my own but...'." A chuckle softly lingered in her throat, gingerly nudging his arm with her elbow in a teasing light-of-heart manner. "I mean, clearly we'll know what we're doing on the field so it makes sense to me. We're going two n' two." As competitive as Nia could be, she was humble enough to admit with football he definitely had her. Still, when you're raised a division one athlete, no matter the sport, you can hold your own. "Yeah, that's a good idea. What's your favorite dessert? We have to brainstorm a theme." She'd paused, realizing she said yes and then adding. "Uhh... right, something white chocolate, I have to taste test if it'd work for our sundae masterpiece."

#filed under — nia bailey.#event — santa on the sands.#flashing lights tw

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xavierramzi · 8 months

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#filed under — visage.

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xavierramzi · 8 months

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Toeing the line of professionalism wasn't something he did often. His father had spent a lifetime building up the Ramzi name and seeing as he'd already used up his get out of jail free card, he couldn't afford another mess at his fingertips. His intention, or lack thereof, was simple. If he was going to be the middleman of the firm and her company, he wanted to get a good hold on what YZC Tech valued the most. "I'm glad you asked. It's actually dealer's choice. See, I've given you a list of what I can offer, but now I'm curious... what do you think a VIP like yourself should be getting?" Dark hues slid over the bed space between them, neck craning in an attempt at getting a better look at her. It was no secret that she knew her worth, but whether she'd own in that moment was something he was all too curious about.

With years of standing in the background of big meetings and deals, he'd grown well accustomed to being the listening ear of the room. While others were eager to drop their pitches, Zay was tailoring his to perfection. It was why in the end, he more often than not landed the gig while others were left to wonder where they'd gone so wrong. "Exactly. It's what I've been trying to express to some of our newer executives that wonder why their pitches never get picked. This job... it's not about what we think is best. It's about what our client wants to see." And the sooner the others figured that out, the better. It was the very approach he'd taken so gracefully with her CEO in between jokes and kind words. Anyone could hold a conversation, but it was those who could stay silent and still contribute at the end that made all the difference.

The drop of his head against the headboard had been planned as a gentle landing to say the least, but the quiet thud that had greeted him caused a flush of redness in his cheeks that he'd blame on the liquor if she happened to notice. "I'll just be on my way now," he exhaled between boyish hums of laughter that he did his best to bite back. Her comforting touch triggered a deep inhale that soothed his nerves with utter ease. "And please, no more of that 'Mr.' stuff. I've never liked formal titles." Even in the office setting, he preferred his colleagues and clients to use his first name. When he took over the firm someday, maybe then he'd consider something more professional sounding.

The laughter between them died down as she spoke once more, this time offering more about her life. Only child, busy parents, big dreams. He knew that childhood story better than most. "Handful, huh? Are we talking a troublemaker?" He could see it, mostly because he'd been a bit of the same. He played by the rules, at least most of the time, but he'd still tempted fate from time to time. Zay's chin tipped downwards as he shook off the wide stretched grin that dared to play on his mouth. Her playful insult was far more of a compliment in his mind. "Nerd? Takes one to know one. I think you're forgetting that only one of us does all that nerdy computer stuff and uh, it's not me."

In a matter of seconds, she had his undivided attention and without the company of more teasing. "Shame we were robbed of such an experience, but I'm also not too bothered that it never worked out. Seeing as the newer films showed us just how terrible we as humans can be." It wasn't that deep, and yet, it was. When he looked over, the shy move she'd made with her hand had him tempted to reach out to gently move it away from her face. Instead, he gripped his glass tighter and held a breath. "See, when I needed a break, I called up my best friend, Or she was calling me up. Parents were never a big fan. At least, my dad wasn't. We usually got into trouble somewhere. Wasn't much on movies." They'd gone to the drive-ins plenty during the summers, but even that had been an escape from under his parents roof and not so much about wanting the movie on screen. He'd been ready to offer a dash of tispy charm when she'd said it anyway, causing him to chew at his bottom lip for a moment before he spoke up. "First off, that's a new name for me, and secondly... I'm not familiar with either. Tell me a little about it?"

Before she could respond, Zay carefully shifted to retrieve his phone from within his pocket. One Google search later and his phone was chiming to signify his purchase. "I just ordered it. If it's your favorite, then it's worth watching." Even if he wasn't much of a fan, maybe it'd help him understand her and that alone was well worth the risk.

Shamelessly, his gaze followed her frame as it shifted atop the mattress. Even in her nightly attire, she seemed so put together. That, and the material flowed smoothly against every curve in a way that had his heart doubling in pace. "I'm more of a Sugar Scoops guy, but if I'm going Ben and Jerry's... it has to be American Dream. There's something about having waffle cones crushed up in the ice cream. What about you?"

Drinks with a friend certainly sounded better and less impersonal than drinks with a client, but this was all an attempt to keep things within that professional barrier between them. Or, more like... to keep them within that professional dome. And hell, being called a VIP once again really did things to her. Maybe it was the wine, maybe it was his sly smirk, or maybe—just maybe, there was something in being important to someone, even if professionally, that made her feel all warm on the inside. "Good. I like being a VIP. What else do I get?" Because, so far, she was already getting a tour, movie nights and a great PR strategy to carry her company's name towards another level, so, it almost feel like she was being spoiled. Huh... that was the feeling she had been trying to decipher she was feeling: the warmth in being spoiled. Maybe that was why she didn't reprimand herself when her head turned to the side and she watched him with a sly smirk of her own. Yes, maybe it was the wine talking now.

As Xavier let her in on his thoughts about how hard it was for people to listen, Halime darted her tongue out to wet her lips as she nodded slowly a couple of times turning her head away from him, though completely in agreement with him. "I agree. People want to tell you want you need without listening to what you need." And this wasn't only about professional or romantic relationships. She had realized that most people weren't willing to listen to what she had to say, hence why her circle of friends kept getting smaller before she moved to Briar Ridge. It was funny how people here were actually interested in listening. What was it about this town anyway? Xavier's question brought her back to the present and brought her gaze back to him. Only the best for the best, right? She replayed those words in her head as she lifted her wine glass and once again, clinked it against Xavier's whiskey one. "Right." It made her think about something she had noticed the moment she had connected her laptop to their internet and how easy it was for her to find herself digging into some holes in their security system. Maybe she could do something about it. Well... not her, but YZC Tech.

The moment his head hit the headboard, her hand moved to touch the spot he had hit. "God, be careful!" Hali couldn't stop laughing at his silly move and her own response to it. Even if Xavier didn't seem like he'd gotten hurt, but her nurturing nature mixed with the alcohol coursing through her veins caused her to gently rub that spot, like her mother used to do whenever she'd hit her head. "Will I have to cut you off early, Mr. Xavier?" She teased, before turning on her sides on the bed to listen to Xavier speak. Her elbow rested on the headboard so she could lean her head against her hand, Halime took another sip from her wine. "I'm an only child, too. My mother was revalidating her doctor's diploma when we moved to the US, my father was busy with the company, so I imagine there was no room for another child. I was handful enough." She chuckled, knowing she had made her parents earn a few grey hairs more than a few times. "I mean, even though I remember asking her for a sibling, now I understand why that never happened. Children are hard work." And yet, she would like to mother a couple of them. The mention of Jurassic Park had Halime shaking her head, making her cheek press against her closed knuckle from time to time. "You're such a nerd." Which, wasn't at all bad. It was different from the man she thought he was. It was a pleasing surprise.

She had been more into dinosaurs as a child, because she too, was a nerd. But her love for technology and engineering overcame that with time. Before she knew, it was The 5th Element this, The Matrix that... "Hmm... yes, and no." The brunette replied, watching as he matched her on the bed, both their bodies not facing each other. "I too wanted to visit Isla Nubar growing up, but the closest I've ever gotten was the Disneyworld attraction." Halime pouted. Oh God, she was pouting... to a stranger. But her lips didn't stay that long as a giggle erupted from her lips, making her move her hand to hide her face from him. "But I think that my real love for movies only started in my teen days? It was a good distractions whenever I needed a break from homework or extra-curricular activities." Plus, she had moved to another side of the city, to a different school, with different friends and different life priorities. "You're going to laugh if I tell you what my favorite movie is, maybe I shouldn't say it." Because people often said it was a children's movie just because it was an animation. It was so very unlike her, the choice, I mean. So she was debating whether or not she should share it with Xavier. It did take an extra try from him, but she finally conceded. "Okay, fine Mr. Dinosaur nerd. My favorite movie is Howl's Moving Castle." Maybe he was probably expecting her to choose the Matrix or something more sci-fi-y, but Hali loved Howl's so much. The book, too.

Halime adjusted her body just so she could grab the bottle of wine again, and refilled her glass before returning to her previous position, with her body facing him. "Now, a very important question for you." The brunette arched one brow, the edges of her lips curling up into a little suspenseful smirk. After a brief pause to drink from her glass and wet her lips, she continued. "Favorite Ben & Jerry's flavor?"

#filed under — halime yazici.#pls don't feel the need to match length #i got carried away

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xavierramzi · 8 months

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He wasn't a stranger to sliding into a stranger's bed and slipping out before the morning sun reached its peak. In fact, he often preferred it, but there was far too much on the man's mind and not enough appeal to drag him into the arms of another. "Good things come to those who wait. There's no fun in rushing the whole night away." He sucked in a shallow breath, eyes rolling in response to the other's justified question. Was he seeing anyone? Not officially, at least. "No. Is it really that surprising that I'm not looking to go home with someone right now? I haven't even gotten to enjoy three drinks yet. The night's still young."

Niko scoffed at Zay when he called him kiddo, giving the other man the silent treatment for a few moments. They were two young men supposed to be out enjoying life, but the other man had suddenly turned babysitter. "And we don't need to sit here looking at each other waiting for something to happen when we had two beautiful women interested..." A thought came to Niko and he narrowed his gaze at his friend, then shuffled closer. "You're not seeing someone, are you?" That would explain the reluctance.

#filed under — niko stewart.

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xavierramzi · 8 months

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He was mindful of every minute that ticked on while the sound of the shower fell throughout the entire room. He wondered if she enjoyed the heat of the water as much as he had. Chin lifted upwards as the door sprung open, a quiet creak being all that announced her arrival. Dark gaze trailed down her frame, but the sound of her voice had his attention shooting upwards. Shamelessly, he wounded just how sweet it tasted on her tongue, but he washed down the sultry thought with a sip of rosé that left him nodding in approval. It wasn't his favorite, but it was far better than some of the bottles he'd taste tested with Mariana after a liquor store run and a game he liked to call swipe the corporate card for the most expensive bottle in house. "Out having drinks with a client? And here I thought I was staying in and having drinks with a friend." If it weren't for the teasing tone and devilish grin she wore so well, he would have worried that he had in fact crossed an unprofessional boundary. While Halime shifted on her side of the bed, Zay did the same. He brought one leg upwards, arm resting atop his knee as the other laid flat against the mattress. "He likes to know that our clients are well cared for. Call it quality assurance, if you will." Karim set the standards and while he might not have been following them firsthand, he expected every executive to do just that and then some. "But you are a VIP." The security firm was big for them, so big that his father had requested direct updates before and after every big move. The whiskey had him buzzing, but her touch warmed him to the core. "Listening is the hardest part for some people. They think it's all about delivery, but how are you supposed to know what you're getting if you can't sit back and listen a little?" He'd enjoyed the brief back and forth they'd had at the office and how freely she'd spoken about her side of the firm. If it hadn't of been for the chiming start of the meeting, he would have listened for as long as she could have gone on for. "The best for the best, right?" Her question had Zay smiling wider as a quiet thud sounded in response to his head falling against the headboard with ease. What had his childhood been like? A glorified shit show. "No apologizing," he hummed softly, only lifting his head to take another sip from his glass. Thumb tapped quietly against the side of the whiskey neat, his gaze inevitably finding hers. "No siblings. I guess my parents were a one and done deal. As for movies... not really? I used to go to the firm a lot with my dad. Other kids were doing kid things and I was here in his shadow." The times he wasn't, he was probably with Mari, Cali, or both — something that his father had loathed for years until he realized that nothing he could do or say was going to change it. "If I had to pick one... I'd go with Jurassic Park. I always wanted to visit Isla Nublar. Dinosaurs were kind of my thing." He hid his boyish grin beneath the brim of the glass, but a low hum of breathy amusement still rolled off his tongue. "What about you? Were you always big into movies, or did that come later in life? And what's your favorite?" As he awaited her answer, Zay shifted once more, this time angling his frame more towards her in playful anticipation.

Five minutes, as he had promised, came and went rather slowly and maybe it was because Halime wanted to continue their conversation, but she kind of missed the sound of his voice. Fiddling with her ring, the brunette offered him a small smile as she walked past him and went into the bathroom. She could feel the heat that still fogged the mirrors brushing against her skin as she stripped from her clothes and her jewelry, welcoming her petite frame into its smokey territory. Finally, as the water washed over her worries and the weight of the day, she let out a sigh of relief, knowing that this had been a good one. She'd made it through another one.

Upon returning to the bedroom, Halime almost shivered at the temperature difference, but she knew her wine would keep her warm enough. "A sip it is." The brunette nodded, taking the bottle of Rose from the ice bucket and serving herself some more, then offering Xavier the glass. Her eyes lingered on his lips as it touched the glass, something Halime had to once again reprimand herself over, before she was downing yet another big gulp of her wine. Why was she acting like that? Sure, the man was handsome and oof—incredibly hot, but it wasn't like she hadn't seen a man in years or hadn't been sexually contempt these last months. Yes, contempt, because some people she'd slept with hadn't bothered pleasing her. "So... big day at the firm tomorrow and you're out having drinks with a client." She poked fun of their own predicament, finding comfort in their conversation once again.

She adjusted herself on the bed once more, legs crossing in a lotus position as Halime drank from her wine glass again. "Do you always update your father on meetings?" This time, there was no hint of playfulness as she asked him. Halime had worked under her father, before, but she didn't respond directly to him at the time. She responded to the head of her team of software engineers. Just like many in her company, she too, had worked her way up. "Or do I, once again, get the VIP treatment?" Just so he wouldn't much of her question, Halime added a small nudge to their conversation, trying to keep it light. "I do like it that you seem to care about everyone's comfort under your care. You do something not many people do... you listen." She paused it briefly, just long enough to take another sip from her wine glass. "My CEO liked it too." Halime shared, mentioning the text her CEO had sent her while she was in the shower, mentioning how much he had enjoyed the meeting and Xavier's inputs, as well as his strategies. "We're in very good hands." With that, she reached over and clinked her glass against his, her foot gently nudging his before returned to its previous position.

As they toasted, Halime was reminded of something else he'd mentioned in their conversation. "How were things like growing up for you?" Was this too invasive? I mean, they were already sharing a bed, not much more intimate could this conversation be? "I mean, sorry..." She chuckled nervously, almost immediately correcting herself as her hand landed on his shoulder for a second there. "Let me ask that again. What I meant is: do you have siblings? Did you watch a lot of movies? Because you said you hadn't watch the Matrix, so it kept me wondering." But she didn't think he had siblings, otherwise, he would've mentioned them, right? Or they would be working there, too. Maybe. She couldn't know. "What was your favorite movie growing up?"

#filed under — halime yazici.

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xavierramzi · 8 months

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His greatest fear had rolled so sweetly off her tongue that he'd almost missed it in favor of her voice. Heat rushed to his cheeks, his smile stretching wider as he bit back a laugh in response. Contrary to popular belief, he wasn't in the business of wanting to show off anything, especially to a woman be barely knew outside of a work setting. Luckily, he wasn't the only one flustered by the moment. "For the record, I didn't think that you were." Her jokes had taken him by surprise for most of the night, but each and every single one was welcomed to say the least. If every late night at the office was spent in such a humorous fashion, he'd consider doing more of them. "But... I think you're right. I should probably get back and dressed. Five minutes? I swear, I'll make it quick." Most nights spent under the same hotel were planned. Whether it was a late night at the office, or a date within the city, he never failed to pack appropriately for what the night (and the following day) called for. Of course, the one time he'd failed to do was with in the company of a gorgeous woman. "You think so? I'm not usually so unprepared." Had she not been there for the meeting, it would have been a toss up on whether or not he made the drive back to Briar Ridge. Sure, he was tired, but nothing could top his king size bed and memory foam mattress. "Tomorrow is a big day at the firm. I'll have to update my father on how our meeting went last night, and then I have to hop over to another account to make sure they're sitting comfortably." It was always something or another, but at least he never had to worry about being bored. His gaze had only trailed towards the bathroom once he'd heard the shower start up. He chewed at his bottom lip, stifling a smile as he pulled his darkened gaze to the bed space at his side. Even a king size seemed small now that he was in it, but they'd agreed to make it work. He sipped at his whiskey, only refilling once in the time she was getting ready for bed. The door clicking open captured his buzzed attention. On a half finished meal of chinese food, the whiskey was settling just right in veins. "I think so? I tried to take my time, but you've got some catching up to do," he teased, the bottle on the bedside table nearest to him. He'd refilled his glass, but it only held half of the liquor that it had after his pour. "By your own silliness?" Her comment had been harmless, but had it fallen from his own mouth, he would have felt the same way. "I don't know about an entire glass. Maybe just a sip?"

Halime nodded when he mentioned still having plenty of hot water to go around, but, as much as she ran cold, it had been such a hot day that she doubted she would make much use of it. Okay, she would, but not in the same amount as he had. She also nodded when he said he needed to get dressed. "You mean, you weren't trying to show off by coming here practically naked? Got it." Although she chuckled pointing her wine glass towards his general direction, Hali was quick to wave her hands, as if trying to erase her own words. "Allah, Allah—that was awfully distasteful of me, I apologize." Hali set her glass aside and hid her face in her hands for a moment, before she slid her hands up her hair, then rested them on the back of her neck. "I didn't mean to imply you were being unprofessional or something." With that, the brunette waved at him, urging him back into the bathroom. "Please. Go, before I say another improper thing."

When Xavier returned to the main bedroom, she kept her gaze on his, trying her best to be respectful because 1) she didn't want to give him the wrong idea 2) he wasn't a piece of meat and 3) they weren't goddamn teenagers 4) she had already said something stupid already. It wasn't like she couldn't not stare at his bare chest. "Respectfully... that's sad." Hali pursed her lips, twitching them into a small pout at his words. "Maybe you should pack for your casual persona, too. He deserves more outings, you know?" The brunette tapped gently on his shoulder on her way to the bathroom. There were consequences to who would only choose work, and they weren't always the best. Xavier deserved a break. Or so she thought, from their brief conversation.

She didn't take as long as he did in the shower, choosing to wash her hair that evening for no reason in particular. Maybe because it had already been such a packed day, it required some extra cleansing. Her work clothes were traded for a pink light jogger pants, a white shirt and a long, yet light cardigan. Her hair was still a little bit wet despite her having dried her waves with the air blower, but she was satisfied with the person looking back at her in the mirror. When she returned to the main room, Hali grabbed her glass of wine and sat back down on the bed, resting her back against the headboard. "Still have some whiskey there for me?" She teased, gently nudging him with her elbow, thinking about how he'd filled his glass earlier and how she had simply ignored his question about the rose because she'd been too embarrassed by her own words from before. "Sorry.... the rose is good, by the way. I got distracted by my own silliness. Would you like a glass?"

#filed under — halime yazici.

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xavierramzi · 8 months

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As much as he loved healthy competition, nothing made for a more solid win that pairing up with someone he knew who could handle the heat. Or the chill? "I was already going to ask you to join me. I don't play with fire that often, plus, I would really enjoy a win." Her added bonus of knowing the owner's favorite flavors was an appealing afterthought. "Then it's settled. We're a team and we're going for more than one win today." He'd developed a sweet tooth with age and had made up for not liking them much as a kid. On hard days, when he managed to roll back into town before dusk, he'd stop for ice cream or some other sweet before going home to melt into the couch. "You want something? I figured the best way to build this sundae is to have a little taste test first. It's my treat."

Nia affectionately rolled her eyes, "Are you asking me to join you or trying to challenge me to an ice cream duel? The latter seems a bit more likely at the moment." She smirked, one side of her smile pooling into a dimple. "I'll have you know, I have secret insider information to offer. As in, the shop owner's favorite flavors - for example." Speaking of, her gaze skirted towards the serving window, a little disappointed when she realized Kira wasn't the one hanging out of it at the moment. "If they'd allow it, yeah. Can't say I'm capable of making it worth too much on my own." Don't get her wrong, she liked ice cream as much as the next person it was just that she didn't get out into town very much and actually go down to the shop. Much more likely to survive off a tub from the grocery.

#filed under — nia bailey.#event — santa on the sands.

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xavierramzi · 8 months

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There wasn't a room that she could be in that he wouldn't stumble up on her and feel excitement bubble in his chest. The entire night had been the very thing he'd needed to take his mind off of work and everything (and everyone) in it. Between the music, some good, some mediocre, and some giving it their best effort, it was difficult not to have a smile plastered on his mouth. Add in a witty remark from a gorgeous woman and his night was entirely set. "Ah, so you do listen. Afraid those shows are entirely private. It'd take..." he trailed off, darkened hues shifting back towards the bar as if he were counting bottles, "everything on hand for me to be up there." Granted, if Mariana got ahold of him, he'd be singing backup to whatever nineties jam she opted for. Upon agreeing to another round, Zay offered his hand with a daring grin. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I'm not sure anything can make this any better except for it to end." He hadn't even finished the statement before an off pitch buzz filled the bar, but seconds later, the performer was recovering with their best stitched effort of moving it along. "You look good." It wasn't anything new, but the compliment fell smoothly from his mouth as he glanced down at her for what felt the hundredth time of their short exchange.

Christmas during the summer seemed like the most insane thing to her family when she mentioned it to them, trying to coerce at least one of them into sitting through the screechings of karaoke night just for the fun of it. Instead, Luciana found herself there alone, though not really, truly alone, as the brewery was packed with other like-minded people who ventured out of the woodwork for the simple form of entertainment. The vibe was similar to the one during her blind date with Emil, a vibrancy settling over the room in a way that made Luci feel at ease after a long day of dealing with words on paper and clients who thought they were the next Stephen King or Margaret Brown.

The liquor in her glass had neared the bottom by the time a tall figure dropped in next to her and she didn't even have to look to know who it was as soon as the familiar voice hit her ears. "I could say the same about you," She pointed out, finally turning her gaze to catch his through the dim light of the brewery. "I thought that tiny little angel voice was just for the sake of the shower?" Luciana laughed softly, glancing at the glass in front of her before nodding. "Sure, a drink would be nice. Maybe this rendition of Jingle Bells will somehow manage to sound better with a second drink."

#filed under — luciana ortiz.#event — santa on the sands.

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xavierramzi · 8 months

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I’m jealous of you. You don’t struggle with these things like I do.

#filed under — visage.

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xavierramzi · 8 months

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He hated that he understood it. That was all part of the game, wasn't it? Pretending to be invested in someone's life so that a rapport could be forged. He'd done too many times before, a skill he'd learned from his father and up until that point, he'd never questioned it. Now, he realized how shallow it was and how hypocritical it made him for hating when people did it to him. "I think I've gotten used to it. You don't even realize it... but that's what networking is anymore. No one seems to really care about the ins and the outs. They just want to know you're down for business." Zay made a habit of building a genuine rapport with any client he had. Or at least, he tried to do so for the sake of giving them his best. If he knew them, and they knew him, it left no room for confusion or error. His gaze lingered on hers, the reassurance being met with a nod and a faint smile of appreciation. "Glad we're on the same page."

It wouldn't go to his head, not entirely. It would flutter through his veins and make his stomach dance with excitement, but he wouldn't grow arrogant at the thought. Not when a single look from her could probably crush him and every other person in the building. "Alright, alright. I'm not letting it get any bigger, I swear." His palms were facing her as he admitted gentle defeat. Sure, he was pleased to know that she'd at least taken an interest in working with him, but like his father had reminded him so many times before, everyone was replaceable. Even the tall, charming, and well worded suits like himself. "Well, good thing I like a challenge." He wasn't too keen on disappointing anyone, but disappointing her? It was unacceptable.

Movies were magic, and magic had a way of pulling one from their life and putting them in a world of another. As a kid, he'd wanted nothing more than to visit the Isla Nublar, thinking that one day there would be a real Jurassic Park there for his liking. It was only when he got a little older that he realized such a thing wasn't ever going to be real. At least, not in his lifetime and for a damn good reason. "Only the good ones. I wouldn't expect anything less." He'd smoothly delivered a few flirtatious lines of his own, but it was the playful wink that she shot in his direction that caused heat to rise to his cheeks. Had she been teasing? Or was there an ounce of interest there shared between the two of them? "Scream is a good one. It's the franchise that never quits. I guess I'm waiting on Freddie to make his return. Solid choices." Not everyone was a fan of horror films, but Halime seemed well versed in them. Considering she had yet to disappoint, he wondered if such a thing was even possible. Xavier snapped in pure agreement as she spoke the very thing he'd always tried to argue with people. "See? I keep telling some of my friends that, but none of them take me serious. It's good to know that at least one other person in the world gets it."

A breath hitched in his throat at her response. Did he want that? Sure, but he had a feeling that most people who lingered in her presence would have been weak for such a confession to roll off her tongue such as that. He wondered if she even knew how easily she captivated a room. It might have been her smile that made others look twice, but her mind was just as beautiful. "I'm pleading the fifth." It wasn't an admission of guilt, but it wasn't full fledged denial either. What he wanted and what was professionally acceptable were different things.

His confidence wavered as he stood in nothing more than a towel, water droplets still coating his skin in places. "Look at that, right on time. Cowboy is good." Seeing as he didn't have his fancy spheres of ice, he'd settle for neat. He watched her gaze fall and when it didn't land on him, he cleared his throat and reached for his bag. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but he'd wanted her to feel the heat of her gaze a bit longer than he had. "Sure, plenty to go around. The bathroom is yours, I just need to uh, get dressed first. Give me a few minutes and I won't leave you drinking alone."

And with a tight grip on his bag, he nodded to himself and slowly stepped back towards the bathroom where he found a moment's worth of reprieve. Shit. He hadn't planned to share a hotel room with someone. At least, not with someone where clothes weren't mandatory. As he fumbled through his bag, he began piecing together the outfit meant for the office. Rather than button up the fresh shirt, he left it undone, opting to grant himself a little comfort for the night.

"Hopefully you pack better than I do," he teased as his shirt flowed at his sides, chest welcoming the cool breeze of the air conditioning. "Turns out, work really is the only thing on my mind most days." If he'd thought for even a second that he could have ended up in a room with a colleague, he would overpacked for the sake of having acceptable options. In an attempt at easing his nerves, he grabbed the whiskey bottle by its neck, twisted off the top, and took a swig. It was only when the heat had settled in the pit of his stomach that he turned back towards her and grinned. "Just needed a little taste test before I filled a glass." Truth was, he'd needed something to take off the edge. So, like a civilized drinker, he tipped the bottle over the edge of the glass and only pulled back when it neared the brim. Heavy handed, sure, but she'd paid for it and it would have been a shame to let a single drop go to waste. "How's the rose?"

That was when her poor social skills kicked in. In Halime's opinion it made zero sense to be chatting with someone without the intention of getting to know them. It went as far as asking a simple 'how are you doing?' question. Why would anyone bother asking if they didn't want to know. "See... that's why I struggle to understand people, sometimes." She confessed. "I don't know why would anyone go through the trouble of asking things if they wouldn't want to know the answer." Hali explained her thoughts a little more. "That's why I've always despised small talk. It's so torturing to me. Asking shallow questions and expecting shallow answers. Or even worse: people expecting shallow answers when you don't want to give them shallowness." She would rather go on without people not asking her things if they weren't willing to listen. Granted, she had gotten used to those little interactions by now, but it still bothered her. Getting used to, didn't mean she liked them. So if someone replied to her 'hey, are you okay?' with 'yes, I'm fine', then she wouldn't bother them. She would let it go and not push it any further. She had learned that after months of therapy growing up. "Okay." Hali settled when he insisted that if he didn't want to answer something, she would know. "But then... just so you know, from now on... if I ask you something, I really want to know the answer."

Did she have a soft spot for him? I mean, sure. He was funny, he was smart, no to mention, he seemed to care about the job, which was what she could ask for in terms of him handling her company's account, so yes. One could say she had a soft spot for him. Him being not too bad on the eyes could be another reason, but she wouldn't dare voicing it. "Eh... don't let it get to your head, though." The brunette teased as she scrunched her nose while looking at him. The way he chewed on his bottom lip made her wonder if he did that a lot. It drew her attention to his lips for a brief moment, before she returned her gaze to his. "We both know how life can be unpredictable, right? I need to keep you on your toes so you don't let me down." Not that she would, though. She had far more important things to do than to keep people worrying about their jobs. Well... unless it was that guy from the R&D section. That guy really needed to go. But--another thought for another time.

When, once again that grin appeared on his lips as he asked about volunteering to watch awful movies with her, Halime was yet again shadowed by the doubt of whether he was flirting with her or not, but yet again, she didn't dare to ask. They were about to start a business meeting, he had offered to take her around his favorite spots, so maybe this was just his way of being nice. Plus, she had noticed how naturally charming he was, which could easily get his niceties mistaken for something else. "See, the thing is... you'd get only the best movies, though. Like The Matrix Trilogy, Blade Runner—the classic one, not that boring one with Ryan Gosling." Without really knowing why she was doing it, Hali winked at him. It had been involuntary at best, but she didn't reprimand herself for doing so. It seemed like being at ease around Zay had made her do so. "Especially if I'm getting the VIP treatment. I can't have you going around without receiving the VIP treatment from me!" It seemed absurd, even if they were both joking. "Hm... favorite slasher..." Hali had to really think about that one. She loved so many it was hard to choose from. "I might have to go with either Nightmare on Elm Street or Scream. You can't go wrong with Wes Craven, if you ask me. But I also love Jeepers Creepers?" That weird, creepy thing scared her to death til this day. "You see, I think that's why they scare me so much. The possession movies... because these things might actually happen—there's not to say a serial killer wearing a mask wouldn't happen, but... you know? There is logical fear in the unknown. We don't know what happens to us when we die. So yes, it's scary to think of something possessing our bodies."

A little joke here and there and Halime could have easily fallen for his charms and suggested they'd test out how lovable he could be, if they weren't—or better yet, if she wasn't—constantly being cockblocked by the nagging though that they worked together, therefore it could be bad to mix business with pleasure. "Are you saying you'd like me to tell you that, too?" She knew that back in his office she had said that whenever she asked a question, Halime really wanted to know the answer, but now that she caught herself sharing the same carefree and slightly flirtatious tone as him, it made her wonder if she was really willing to cross that line. Lucky for them, the bed indeed was a good-sized bed, so they wouldn't have to cross each other's personal space for no good reason.

Once Xavier got into the shower, the brunette sat down in bed and sent a message to Henry letting him know where she was and who was she with 'just in case I don't turn up in the morning'. After all, she was a woman, sharing a room with a somewhat strange man. If something happened, her best friend would know where and who she was with. Granted, she spared Henry the detail of her sharing the same bedroom as Xavier, but still, it was something. There was a knock on her door and — now barefoot — she moved across the room to get their drinks and pay for them. Hali had specifically asked for the bottles to be billed separately, because she would let Zay pay for them, and so, she brought them back inside. After leaving both a glass and the bottle of whiskey on top of the mini-fridge, she proceeded to open her bottle of rose, to fill her glass with it, then placed it back inside the ice bucket it came in.

When Xavier appeared in the hallway, with nothing but a towel wrapped around his middle, she couldn't help but to spare a glance. Granted, she didn't allow her gaze to linger, but the way his toned abs were going to be etched to her brain it didn't really require much staring in the first place. "Mhmm." She replied while raising her glass to show him. "Yours is over there by the mini-fridge." She pointed towards the general direction of the fridge with her own wine glass while trying her best to ask casual, like this stupidly hot and unbearably unrealistic man wasn't standing in front of her. "I didn't know if you added liked it cold or cowboy, so I didn't place it in the ice bucket along with my wine. Did you leave any hot water for me, Ramzi?" Again, she teased, her gaze coyly lowering from his face, to this very interesting spot on the floor, away from any hard muscles on his body.

#filed under — halime yazici.

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