their hands, they’re away.
‘Where are we going?’
‘You’re the one who got me out of work!’
It’s Alistair’s turn to pout now. In the short time they’ve known one another this is the pattern they’ve formed, swapping positions as it suits them, alternating who is to withhold affection, making each other work for the other’s company. Though it’s a constant wrestling match, there are precious occasions when the pair manage to sync their good moods. It’s possible that someday both of them could play the cold shoulder and really, just give up altogether, but in this instance, Ava sees an opportunity and decides to reach out. She has her mind set on fine tuning his style and directs him to take her into town.
Since she found Alistair, Ava has done little research into the crimes he was accused of, and even in close observation of his behaviour, hasn’t been looking for slips of the tongue that would reveal his seedy past, the body count he had supposedly racked up, and the list of women offended to the point of legal action. All that mattered to her was getting him under thumb. No easy task and one to be handled delicately, but, however difficult, the investment seemed worthwhile – Oh, the places they could go and the things they could do... Yes, she would train him, inch by inch if that’s what it would take. When they arrive at the shopping centre, Alistair is demonstrating the rare ability he has to appear and disappear in plain sight of those around him. Charm fully under his command, he can sink into the background one minute, and like a spotlight has revealed him at the click of his fingers, he has the attention of anybody he wants the next. With this ability, his own interests are pursued at whim. Intently fascinated by a given person, he might bore of them in a heartbeat and move on, patiently searching for another form to hold his attention. The nutrition facts on a packet of crisps have no less potential to do this than the man who sells them. Chomping down half a packet, he might drop them lightly as they leave his mind and somehow conveniently land the rubbish on a serving tray they pass in the food court. A bad habit he has, which irks Ava to no end, is stopping at windows and staring past himself as he fixes his hair, forgetting altogether their surroundings and the woman he’s with. At first, this aloofness seemed to Ava the doctor’s own method for seizing power in their relationship, a juvenile strategy to remain free and do as he pleased, but as their time together collected from hours into days, she supposed more and more that it was just who he was, and something she would need to take into account when whittling him down to a less unwieldy shape. Regardless, she was staunch in her struggle to get him where she wanted, and once they entered the shopping centre, put up with all of his delays in her stride. It isn’t until they arrive at the counter of the jewellers and he announces, ‘I don’t want a new watch, I like the one I have,’ that her patience finally snaps and she pinches his arm between two long fingernails.
She knows his watch already. In fact, it disgusts her. Having taken her time with Alistair to judge his closet by the outfits at each meeting, she has approved of his wardrobe. Tailored suits, slacks hanging just right over an ever changing selection of shoes and designer shirts, always ironed to the same standard, no matter the day, he could have been a runway model. She realises Alistair doesn’t understand or care why his suits are so good, that he just knows that they are by the price tag. Normally a safe rule, she was happy enough with the man she reeled in until she noticed there was one glaring problem with the catch – an ugly thing he wore on his wrist, the gaudy black and gold Rolex with chunky chain links and large roman numerals set into the face. It looks like something a wealthy deep sea diver would wear.
‘My old man gave it to me,’
‘Where are we going?’
‘You’re the one who got me out of work!’
It’s Alistair’s turn to pout now. In the short time they’ve known one another this is the pattern they’ve formed, swapping positions as it suits them, alternating who is to withhold affection, making each other work for the other’s company. Though it’s a constant wrestling match, there are precious occasions when the pair manage to sync their good moods. It’s possible that someday both of them could play the cold shoulder and really, just give up altogether, but in this instance, Ava sees an opportunity and decides to reach out. She has her mind set on fine tuning his style and directs him to take her into town.
Since she found Alistair, Ava has done little research into the crimes he was accused of, and even in close observation of his behaviour, hasn’t been looking for slips of the tongue that would reveal his seedy past, the body count he had supposedly racked up, and the list of women offended to the point of legal action. All that mattered to her was getting him under thumb. No easy task and one to be handled delicately, but, however difficult, the investment seemed worthwhile – Oh, the places they could go and the things they could do... Yes, she would train him, inch by inch if that’s what it would take. When they arrive at the shopping centre, Alistair is demonstrating the rare ability he has to appear and disappear in plain sight of those around him. Charm fully under his command, he can sink into the background one minute, and like a spotlight has revealed him at the click of his fingers, he has the attention of anybody he wants the next. With this ability, his own interests are pursued at whim. Intently fascinated by a given person, he might bore of them in a heartbeat and move on, patiently searching for another form to hold his attention. The nutrition facts on a packet of crisps have no less potential to do this than the man who sells them. Chomping down half a packet, he might drop them lightly as they leave his mind and somehow conveniently land the rubbish on a serving tray they pass in the food court. A bad habit he has, which irks Ava to no end, is stopping at windows and staring past himself as he fixes his hair, forgetting altogether their surroundings and the woman he’s with. At first, this aloofness seemed to Ava the doctor’s own method for seizing power in their relationship, a juvenile strategy to remain free and do as he pleased, but as their time together collected from hours into days, she supposed more and more that it was just who he was, and something she would need to take into account when whittling him down to a less unwieldy shape. Regardless, she was staunch in her struggle to get him where she wanted, and once they entered the shopping centre, put up with all of his delays in her stride. It isn’t until they arrive at the counter of the jewellers and he announces, ‘I don’t want a new watch, I like the one I have,’ that her patience finally snaps and she pinches his arm between two long fingernails.
She knows his watch already. In fact, it disgusts her. Having taken her time with Alistair to judge his closet by the outfits at each meeting, she has approved of his wardrobe. Tailored suits, slacks hanging just right over an ever changing selection of shoes and designer shirts, always ironed to the same standard, no matter the day, he could have been a runway model. She realises Alistair doesn’t understand or care why his suits are so good, that he just knows that they are by the price tag. Normally a safe rule, she was happy enough with the man she reeled in until she noticed there was one glaring problem with the catch – an ugly thing he wore on his wrist, the gaudy black and gold Rolex with chunky chain links and large roman numerals set into the face. It looks like something a wealthy deep sea diver would wear.
‘My old man gave it to me,’
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