Disclaimer: I don't own Orlando Bloom or any living person depicted in the story. They deserve my utmost respect.
--------------------- CHAPTER TEN --------------------
Zoë snuggled closer to her mother, still holding Orlando's hand in hers.
She was drifting into sleep, lulled by the sound of Orlando's soft voice. They were in Verena's bedroom, on her bed, while he was reading aloud.
It had been a lazy day, since Orlando had devoted all his time to pampering Verena and keeping her lying down. Both had put their best effort into starting their "friendship" over.
After the scare of waking up to Verena's scream and having seen her vulnerable and in pain, Orlando had been devoted to take care of her and they had agreed upon trying to start from the scratch.
Zoë had been amazed when she was picked up from school by Rita and then arrived home to find her mamma and Orlando flipping through Verena's portfolios and albums in a cozy, friendly fashion. The tension she had sensed between them had eased into the easy chatting she was used to seeing her mother share with Georgina or Spencer.
Verena's headache had receded into the limits of bearable pain, but she was still a bit dizzy and pale. And she was convincing herself to let her defenses down and enjoy Orlando's company.
She had been right in her first impression of him: he could charm his way through the world with one sweet smile. But now she sensed some deep sensibility beneath the clownish wild boy act. The unsuspected depth of his personality was drawing her like the complicated angles of a Dalí painting or the innumerable shades and colors nature paints at sunset. There was so much more to him that she, who normally took pride in her knowledge of people, felt embarrassed that she had kept herself from seeing beneath the façade.
Orlando stole a glance once in a while towards Verena and Zoë, while reading aloud "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."
He had enjoyed the day thoroughly, though he was still worried about Verena. He had not dared to ask her further about the nightmares and heavy headaches and she had not elaborated on the subject. She had opened to him though and he saw her as someone other than the woman he had been trying to outwit for months. She was not the overbearing bitch he had convinced himself she had to be, and he was now upset with himself for not even trying to know her better. After three whole months living under the same roof, it had taken her breakdown to make him realize he did not know a thing about Verena and that he really did want to know more.
First he had been counting the days to his freedom, now he surprised himself thinking that the time until the release of the Two Towers was much too short. He suddenly didn't want to move on, at least not away from Zoë and Verena. But he had no choice.
Zoë was fast asleep. Verena smiled up at Orlando, while she tenderly stroked a strand of hair out of her daughter's face.
Orlando reveled in the feeling of the intimate moment, when the woman and the child seemed to belong with him.
"I should take her to her room," said Verena softly, sitting up slowly.
"I'll do it, V. But let her stay here for a little while longer?" he asked.
Verena's keen sight read his face and her heart lurched.
He was treasuring the moment, and the longing in his eyes matched the loneliness she felt inside.
She was older, she knew better. He had no business getting too attached to them. There was no place for them in his future, no matter how much they were enjoying this brief instant. But she hadn't the strength to deny him, not at the moment. So she just nodded and laid back, closing her eyes.
"Orlando?" she whispered.
"Yes V?"
"Thank you. For everything."
*************************
Angelic.
Verena had thought Orlando had an angelic face the first time she saw him, but one look into the face of Andre Schneider was enough to lead Verena to believe she had met the tale-told fallen angel.
Not even his short-cropped blonde hair could change the impression of a beautiful face and eyes that spoke of heaven and hell, with a sparkle of irony .
Orlando had picked him up from the airport and they had just arrived at the house.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Devereaux. I was told you are OB's babysitter?" said the lanky German, shamelessly flirting with her. "But I don't imagine how he could behave being around YOU."
Verena laughed out loud. "Call me Verena, or V. And I assure you that Orlando does behave, for which I am eternally grateful or I'd have to be the proverbial witch, with a "b". But he already knows that."
"Then you are achieving more than even Fiona, V. And please call me Atti," continued André. "And where is the other beauty of the house? OB told me on the drive from the airport that there was a princess here somewhere."
"While you are falling all over V, MY princess is giving me my rightful good morning hug. Zoë, meet my friend Atti. Atti, meet Zoë, my best friend in LA."
"I am sure Elijah might take offense at that, Orlando," said V smiling as Atti went down on one knee to shake Zoë's hand at her height.
"Elijah is a wanker, V. And he knows that given the choice, I prefer women," said Orlando.
"Indeed you do, OB. Most of the time at least," commented André batting his eyelashes at him.
Verena's raised an eyebrow while observing them. She wondered if the innuendo was for real.
"It is my pleasure to meet you Zoë. Orli tells only great things about you. Would you be my friend too?" Atti asked Zoë.
"It depends," said Zoë.
"Depends?" asked André.
"Yes. It depends if you are as nice and lovable as Orli. I don't have many friends, you know? And Orli is my bestest friend in the world. I wish I find someone like him when I grow up and marry. But then, you seem to be nice too. Can you read Harry Potter aloud? Can you play with girls my age? Because that is very important if you want to be my friend. I like your eyes. They remind me of a picture I saw once of an angel," said Zoë.
Orlando swept her up in his arms and she squealed, while holding on to his neck. "So you won't marry me, Zoë? I am shattered."
"Don't be silly, Orli. You are too old for me. How old are you, André? And if you want to be my friend, I have to show you my bedroom right away . Can you assemble puzzles?" Zoë said, taking Atti's hand and dragging him towards the stairs.
"Zoë, I am sure André has other things to do and he is probably tired from the flight. Maybe you can show him your puzzles later?" said Verena.
"Nonsense, Mamma. Atti is fine. Or do you want to sleep? Maybe I could fix you something to eat. Do you like cereal? I love it. Do you drink real milk or the one Orli likes?" Zoë rattled on, not even stopping on her way to her room, Atti in tow. The blonde man shrugged and gave V a blinding smile before disappearing into Zoë's bedroom.
"My God, I created a monster!" said Verena to Orlando.
"Not at all. She is sweet and independent, knows her mind and takes the world in stride," commented Orlando. "Just like her mother,"
"Orlando, I'd swear you implied I am sweet?" said Verena.
Orlando blushed. Somehow their new friendship did not include him being totally at ease with V. She was still a powerful presence and he wondered if he had upset her.
"I .... well ...I meant ......," he stuttered.
Verena laughed sincerely. "Don't worry, honey, I've been called worse. What are your plans with Atti?"
Orlando looked back at her, wondering if she was going to trust him.
"I'd like to go out with him, a bit of clubbing, eating something out, don't know," he said.
He saw the doubt in her eyes.
But she said, "Just promise you'll keep a low profile and stay out of trouble. No tabloid-attracting antics, okay?"
"Of course V, but if you prefer that we'd stay home ..." replied Orlando.
This timid exchange of concessions was uncomfortable for both.
He raked a hand through his longish curls and was the first to break the awkward silence.
"Listen V, you don't have to loosen the reins just because ..."
Verena's eyebrow shot straight up. This was very interesting.
"Just because ...?" she repeated. She would not help him out; she had to hear what he would say.
Orlando blushed. 'What was he going to say now? Just because we are friends? Behaving like civil human beings to each other? Starting from scratch? Forgetting ourselves? Or because I'd rather hit my head against the wall than lose the truce we have?'
Verena took pity on him. "It's okay, Orlando. You are a grown man, and, as I have been trying to convince The New Line people, a responsible professional. So I will trust your better judgment. Go out and have fun."
Atti walked out of Zoë's room. "No future in puzzle-assembling for me, I am afraid. What are the plans for today? "
Orlando grinned at his friend. "A boy's night out, mate"
Atti looked towards Verena and said, "I wouldn't mind taking the lady along, mate."
Verena smiled at André. "The lady isn't up to go out tonight. She has some work to do. And besides, I doubt you would have fun with me around. Go, enjoy and behave." Her eyes didn't leave Orlando's face. She was surprised to see him interested as Atti suggested she should go out with them, and then his face fell again, as she declined. Even though they had been getting along famously the last few days, she still thought she had to put a limit somewhere, to stop him from getting too attached to them and to keep herself from ... losing control. It was better for all involved.
**************
Orlando didn't know that many clubs in LA, but he knew he would avoid the Viper Room and so they were at a new club he had heard Lij talk about.
It was an impressive place, with luxurious furniture, three or four dance floors, and a great light and sound system.
They were shown to a booth big enough for four people. They ordered drinks and sat down for a while, checking the surroundings.
Atti was delighted. The club seemed great and there was good music, beautiful people, good vibes ... but something was missing. Orli.
Since they couldn't talk much among there because of the loud music, they just toasted each other and watched the dance floor. But there was something different about Orli since the last time he had seen him. He seemed to not be enjoying the outing, and if he didn't know better, Atti was sure he had seen OB checking his watch as if counting the hours until he could go home.
Atti made Orli a gesture to go dancing, but Orli shook his head smiling at him and screaming back, "I'll join you in a minute, mate," and continued studying his drink.
André got to the dance floor. While he was dancing, merging with the mass of bodies, his mind wandered back to his friend. There was obviously something going on between OB and the very hot Verena. But André could not exactly put his finger on it. And whatever it was, it was definitely troubling OB, who wouldn't behave so differently if wasn't so.
Orlando sat in the booth, contemplating his glass and thinking about Verena.
At least, before the truce, he had known he hated her behavior towards him. That was a clear path. But now, he was as far that on one hand, wanted her so much, especially after the kiss, that his body hurt being near her and on the other hand, he was thankful to be able to enter the sphere of those who got closer to her. Orlando had come to respect her work and care about her since the truce. And he knew for sure that she cared for him. As she would care for a little brother or a friend. Blast it!
He gulped the last of his drink and stood up. He needed to change his frame of mind. He stepped to Atti on the dance floor and began dancing, letting himself go and immersing into the bodies moving to the rhythm.
He closed his eyes. The music lead him, he sensed people around him and longed to disappear in the mass. And forget.
A soft body began touching his in the rhythm of the dance. First he thought it was a coincidence, but the third time the body was rubbing against him, making him uncomfortable.
He opened his eyes and saw a nice brunette, rubbing against him to the rhythm. An unknown female. Very young female. He sighed loudly. Couldn't he have peace for once?
The brunette turned to him with a blinding smile. "Hey Orli! Wanna have fun?"
"Have we met before?" He was sure he did not know her but … better to check.
"No, but I know who you are, and I love your work, and I think you are the sexiest man alive," she purred.
'Well, that was surely a turn on,' he told to himself. He saw Atti observing them with a huge grin on his face. The bloody fool was enjoying himself!
"Pleasure to meet you, errrr…" he started saying to the brunette, while trying to get some distance between them.
"Sharon, Orli, my name is Sharon," she told him and tried to hook her arms around his neck, but as he took a step backwards, she stumbled and fell.
He went down to help her up. "Sorry, miss, are you okay?"
Her face was red with embarrassment, but now she had his attention.
"I twisted my ankle, I think …" she said and stood up, crying out in pain, while he supported her. He sighed again and swept her up in his arms, bringing her to the booth. Orlando knelt on the floor and took a look at her ankle. It was swollen.
"Are you alone here? Maybe you should go to the hospital or at least get home and take care of this," he said, trying to sound civil. He was very upset.
"I came with my friend Janice … but I don't know where she is," Sharon said, and her eyes were actually feasting on him. Would he ever get used to it?
Orlando turned around looking for Atti and found him standing a few steps away.
"Hey mate, would you please try to locate someone by the name of Janice?" he turned questioningly towards Sharon.
"Webster, Janice Webster" said Sharon, still ogling him.
Atti laughed out loud and went to the DJ booth to have the other girl called. Half an hour later, Janice stood by them and the bartender approached them to let them know that there was cab outside for Sharon and Janice.
Orlando lifted Sharon in his arms and walked for the door. As soon as he had sent her and Janice home, he would go home as well. He had had enough for one night.
He lead the group carrying Sharon, Janice behind him and Atti as well. When they stepped out of the door, they where blinded by the light of a flash repeatedly shot at them.
When OB could see again, he saw a reporter waving at him with a sly grin and calling out, "Thanks for those great pics, Mr. Bloom. Check out the Enquirer tomorrow!" and leaving in a dead run.
Orlando brought Sharon to the cab, set her inside, and helped Janice inside too. He arranged the fare with the driver, paying it. As the taxi drove away, he turned to Atti. "Fuck, V is going to kill me for that."
Orlando and André arrived at the house twenty minutes later. They saw that the light of the study was still on and Orlando took a deep breath and walked into the house and directly to V's study. She was at her PC, and smiled as she looked up. "Had fun, boys? "
Her smile faded as she saw Orlando's somber face.
"What happened?" She stood up. She was alert and calm.
"We had an encounter with some paparazzi," said Orlando.
"Tell me about it, all of it," Verena said, and noticing she sounded sharp, she added, "Please."
Orlando told her about the incident with Sharon and the exit of the club. André added, "But it wasn't his fault, V!" and immediately regretted it, as Verena replied, "Leave it be, Atti. You sound as if you were two school boys after being caught"
She didn't say a word to Orlando, but her face was set in hard lines as she picked her cell phone and pressed speed dial.
"Spence? Where are you? Okay, I need you in the office in fifteen minutes. I have clearance for going in to extraordinary hours. I need you for a crisis meeting and possibly damage control. I'll tell you there. Bye."
"I'll see what can be done. If I am not back by the time Zoë wakes up, can you tell her I'll be back soon?" she said to both, not sparing a look at Orlando, while she grabbed her army jacket and the car keys on her way out.
"V, it's two in the morning. What will you do?" Orlando managed as she breezed past him.
"I'll see what I can do. We can try to salvage the situation or worry later. Bye," she replied not breaking her stride.
André looked at Orlando. "Tough cookie?"
"You'll never imagine how tough," Orlando said.
**************
The sun was rising as Verena parked her Jeep in the garage of the house. She was beat, and it reminded her of the old times when she would work eighteen hours a day when on the assignment.
She looked thoughtfully at the brown envelope on the passenger's seat. She retrieved the photos. There he was, Orlando, carrying a young girl in his arms, looking surprised into the camera. There were four photographs, and the contacts and negatives. If at the moment as Orlando told her what happened, she thought she could have spun the story to the positive, the moment she saw the pictures she knew they hadn't a chance. V would bet all of her cameras that the girl was under age.
It had taken her and Spencer one hour of getting names and phone numbers in the middle of the night and two hours of negotiating with the editor of the Enquirer to get these off the press and no headlines. It had been achieved with an agreement for authorized exclusive pics of OB at home and an authorized article about him. And a dinner invitation from the editor for V. But it had been solved.
She slowly stepped out the car and brought the envelope with her into the house. She left it and her jacket in the study and walked up the stairs. There, on the couch, was OB, awake, waiting for her.
"Verena, did you work it out?" he asked, standing up as she arrived on the top of the stairs.
"Yes. Go to sleep, Orlando. No tabloid headlines for you today," she replied, while tiredly massaging her neck.
"V, I am sorry. They took me by surprise," Orlando started, feeling silly.
"Orlando, go to bed. I am going too. And don't worry. I did what I am being paid for," she said and turned away, entering her bedroom.
He had done remarkably well considering the circumstances. There was no other way he could have handled the problem. Maybe he was up to it. She smiled to herself as she undressed.
Maybe the kid wasn't such a kid anymore.
Orlando observed her walk into her bedroom. He felt like a failure.
'Fabulous, Bloom! Now rest assured she will see you as a man, perhaps in your next life!' he told himself while walking up to his apartment.
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