New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

Alexander waited for close to half an hour, standing next to the car, until Violette came out the front door. Her earlier excitement was nowhere to be found, and her eyes seemed a little puffy.

“Let’s go please, Alfred.”

“Yes, young lady,” the chauffeur responded, bowing.

He then picked up her luggage and set it in the trunk of the car. Violette silently sat inside the cabin, looking at her feet all the while passing next to Alex.

‘Is she mad at me?’

Alex sat in the back of the car, sitting next to the downtrodden girl. When the car started moving, Violette looked up at the chauffeur’s mirror.

“Alfred, can we get some privacy for a moment, please?”

“Of course, young lady.”

The man pressed a button on his dash, and a small tinted window started rising, separating the driver from the back. Then Violette burst into tears.

“Oh, Violette. Please don’t cry.”

Alexander didn’t know whether he should hug her or just let her be. He had never consoled a girl before, so he was at a loss.

“I’m sorry my dad attacked you. Please don’t be mad at him. He’s not a bad person.”

Violette started apologizing for her father’s actions, choking on her tears at the same time, and sniffling her words out. This gave a mix of anger and sadness to Alex.

He was mad that she felt the need to apologize for her father’s inexcusable actions. But he also felt sad that she thought it was the right thing to do.

“Violette. Stop apologizing. You have no fault in this situation. Your father is responsible for his own actions, and you don’t have to apologize for them.”

The girl kept sobbing, but she stopped apologizing. She eventually leaned in on him, and he hugged her, trying to help her calm down.

“I’m not mad at your father for attacking me. I understand his actions, and I would probably feel the same way in the same circumstances.”

“I am sorry for punching him, even if I think my action was justified. I am only mad at your father for striking your mother, nothing more.”

“Now. Let’s talk about what we should do in the next few days. I don’t know how long you will stay with me, but we can’t just be playing video games, now, can we?”

Violette stopped sobbing. Tears kept rolling down her cheeks, but they did so in silence.

She looked pensive as she calmed down, and eventually stopped crying entirely. Alex found it slightly weird that they hadn’t yet reached his building, since the trip to Violette’s house had taken less time.

But he surmised the driver was probably taking a long roundabout to let them have their conversation in peace.

‘This chauffeur is used to these situations. A real professional,’ Alex thought.

Once Violette had stopped crying, she leaned forward and tapped on the tinted window. A moment after, it started sliding down.

“Yes, young lady?”

“You can drive us there now.”

“Very well.”

Not ten minutes later, they were stopped in front of Alexander’s building. It seemed they hadn’t strayed too much from it.

Violette had been silent for the remainder of the trip, her mind too busy thinking about what they should do. This was like a long sleepover for her, but she hadn’t had many of those.

Alexander went to the back of the car to grab Violette’s bag, but the chauffeur beat him to it.

“I can carry her bag inside. I’m sure you have other things to attend to, sir.”

“I will bring the young lady’s bag inside, Mr. Leduc. Those are my instructions.”

ƥαṇdαηθνε|

“I insist.”

When the chauffeur said those last words, the stare he gave Alexander gave him chills.

‘This isn’t just a chauffeur,’ Alexander thought, as he swallowed his dry saliva.

“S… Sure. Whatever you say…”

He then let go of the bag.

Alexander led both of them to his elevator, swiping his pass card, and entering his code and biometrics, before the elevator door closed.

The chauffeur looked at the security panel and nodded silently.

‘He’s probably tasked with ensuring her security. Better stay out of his way for now.’

When they arrived at his penthouse, Alexander left the elevator and tapped a code in his security system, which elicited another nod from Alfred.

“The rooms are up the stairs. I have two guest rooms. You can pick whichever you want.”

The chauffeur walked up the stairs, his eyes scanning the whole place as he did, with what could only be called an experienced gaze. Alex guessed the man was maybe ex-military, or something similar.

As that happened, Violette was already exploring the main floor, oohing and awing at the luxury of the place. She then walked out on the balcony, to look at the amazing view.

“Be careful Violette. We don’t want you falling.”

“Wow! We’re so high up! The view is so beautiful!”

The chauffeur came down the stairs at that moment, throwing a stern look at Alex, before walking outside and inspecting the balcony. Alex could tell that the man had more than likely already inspected the one upstairs.

The man knocked on the glass door on his way out. The knocks were not hard, but Alex could tell he was checking the solidity of the window.

“They’re bulletproof,” he told the chauffeur.

The man nodded another time before walking up to Violette.

“Young lady, I have inspected the premises. You will be safe here. I will now be going back to the Bellemare residence. If you ever need me, do not hesitate to call.”

“Mm,” Violette responded with a smile.

As the chauffeur walked back toward the elevator, he stopped next to Alexander, whispering something to him.

“Please take good care of her. If harm were ever to befall her while she is under your purview, the implications would be… less than ideal for you.”

*Gulp*

“I will make sure she stays safe.”

“If the need ever arises, you can call me directly on this number,” the man added, handing a business card to Alexander.

The card was plain black, with a number printed in red on it.

“Goodbye, Mr. Leduc.”