Retreat! (RP)

Persephone leans in closer and whispers to him, saying, "I'm bored and have nothing planned for the evening. Let;'s have some fun! What do you say? I can tag along or whatever while you have your meeting, and then maybe I can show you the view in my suite?"

Though she reveled in making Henry storm out, she was starting to feel a little bit concerned. It had been hours now, and there was still no word from him. She checked the time and frowned. Even if he showed up this second, he would still barely have time to shower and change. The smart clothes she picked out for him were still folded in his suitcase, where they would probably stay, at least this evening.

So much for making a good impression...

Despite everything, she didn’t want him to screw this up. Sighing to herself, she picked up her phone and typed a quick message, deliberately trying to make it sound soft

"Hey. Dinner’s starting soon. You alright?"

She was relieved when the message showed up as 'read' not long after. At least he wasn't lying in a ditch somewhere. But when the minutes dragged on, it became clear that he wasn't going to text her back.

Fine!

If he wants to make a fool of himself, that’s his choice. She wasn't going to do the same.

She pulled her evening dress from the closet, and laid it across the bed. Since he didn't bother going up to their room, she took her time undressing, enjoying the fact she didn't have to lock herself in the bathroom for it. She remembered Kat hinted at 'games' tonight; one of the few tidbits of information she could get from her. She wasn't going to risk twisting an ankle in whatever entertainment Sin concocted for them this evening, so she swapped her high heels for a classic pair of black Oxford flats: simple, elegant, and easy to move in.

She tied her long blonde hair into a sleek ponytail, leaving a few golden strands to frame her face, then added a delicate gold necklace to break the neckline. After touching up her lipstick, she stopped to appraise her reflection in the mirror. It was exactly right; polished, tasteful, but still alluring, without being overtly sexual. Satisfied, she smiled at her reflection, slipped her phone in her purse, and stepped out the door.

She was going to the Wine Cellar. Alone.

Emma led with an apology for missing lunch. She didn’t actually care about inconveniencing anyone, but she was learning that a well placed "sorry" could be just as disarming as one of her smiles. "It’s lovely to see you both again" she added "Thank you for having me, I've really been looking forward to this retreat. The place is just beautiful."

They directed her to her seat, but before she could reach for her chair a handsome man in his thirties, with sharp eyes and a perfectly trimmed goatee, rose and pulled it out for her. "Thank you" she gave him a genuine smile, looking at him with a hint of interest. "I’m Emma Harper"

Real shame he's a devil worshipper. Such a waste.

She turned to give a polite nod to the other man on her right, a distinguished, bespectacled man with hair dyed black and silvery temples, before turning her attention back to the younger man who pulled the chair for her.

Persephone smiles, knowing she has the fly in her web. She takes Henry's arm and allows him to lead her--for now.

She had arrived at the bar ready for the evening, so she need not stop by her room to change. She stays on his arm, smiling at others like the good arm candy he thinks her to be. All the while, though, she is scanning the room, sniffing for the infernal, and listening to the hushed conversations around her.

It occurs to her that her arrival on Henry's arm might upset Emma, or at least confuse her. Ah well, I'll deal with that later. After all, Emma didn't formally invite her to this affair, so how else was she supposed to gain access?

"I’m a writer" she said, without elaborating. She felt warmth spread inside her when he inquired about her. Sin never bothered to. She wouldn’t tell him more than that, of course, instead redirecting to him and asking him what he did for a living, but she was pleased that someone was interested in her, like she always was.

Then the door opened, and Henry walked in, with Persephone on his arm, and she froze mid-sentence.

For a heartbeat, the air left her lungs.

She was sitting on her bed. Waiting for Henry’s car to round the corner. She remembered the flash of headlights. Jeany was in the front seat..... She was in his room. They were kissing. His hand slipped where it shouldn’t have. When she pulled away, he told her that "Maybe he’ll go find someone who actually likes him"..... She has been waiting in her room for hours. She texted him, so many times. Nothing. Her mind was already assuming the worst. That he crashed his car driving to pick her up. That he was lying in a ditch somewhere.....

Suddenly, she was no longer a confident, accomplished, sexy young woman who could melt men’s hearts with a smile. She was fifteen again, sobbing quietly into her tear-soaked pillow so her poor mother wouldn’t hear her from across the hall.

He was supposed to be with her. Everyone knew he was supposed to be with her.

It was like being slapped in the face. A public humiliation. She was disposable. She was always disposable.

If you don’t put out, someone else will.

She could feel a lump forming in her throat. Her nose began to feel congested, and it wasn’t from the ‘dry air from an industrial strength dehumidifiers the hotel uses to keep the woes of the outside world outside’.

She wanted to get up and leave the room, but how could she, when everyone were already there, and Henry and Persephone blocking the entrance? So instead she turned her head slightly and looked at William with a tight, artificial smile.

Don’t let them see you cry. Don’t let them see you cry. Don’t let them see you cry...


Never let anyone see you cry

"I don’t know" her voice as hoarse, thinner than she intended. She kept her head turned away from Persephone and Henry, letting them only see the back of her head, as if she didn't notice they were there "I write about fashion. Nightlife. Relationships. A little gossip."

Her fingers brushed the rim of her empty wine glass. It helped to soothe her nerves as she tried to steady the tremor in her throat.

"I think…" she drew in a breath, forcing herself to meet his eyes "I think I saw your name mentioned on the news?"

Persephone speaks clearly, so that both Henry, and everyone else, can hear. She says, "My name is Persephone."

Then she leans close to him and whispers, "Maybe try to stay quiet until you sober up, ok? I'm going to mingle."

She turns to the room and scans the crowd, when she catches the look on Emma's face. Oh no... she is really upset, isn't she... So she heads toward her, saying hello to people as she moves through the room.

Flirting was like second nature to Emma. She would have slipped into her temptress persona, if she wasn't feeling so vulnerable, barely holding it together. "I only saw the picture and the headline" she admitted, still trying to keep her voice from cracking, but slowly regaining her confidence the longer she talked with him "I didn’t actually read the article" a faint, apologetic smile that didn't quite reach her eyes crossed her lips "What was it about?"

She could hear Persphone's voice from behind her, getting closer and closer, and her shoulders stiffened reflexively as she felt the pressure creeping back up her spine. She didn't turn, or look, but just help her breath, trying to focus on William's eyes to distract her from her inner turmoil.