Chapter 9
The two spent the rest of the day at Anneliese's home. Slowly packing up her father's belongings. With Anneliese instructing Howard to fold up Josef's clothing and to put them into the trunk she found in her father's office, whilst she packed up the small table dedicated to her mother and all his research papers. Everything that her father would need.
She didn't really want her father moving in with Abraham, nor anywhere near Stark Industrials. But it was a fight she could never win, and they both knew it. So, she agreed to spend her time packing away his stuff knowing she would be more alone, lonelier than ever before.
A task that should have only taken an hour, turned into a numerous hours. Anneliese slowly eased into the company of Howard, as he told her stories of how he tricked Alexander's father into thinking he was some big deal lawyer's son and therefore, the perfect friend for Alexander. She found the entire scenario hilarious and seemingly the perfect metaphor for their entire friendship. Anneliese was certain that over the years, the two had tricked far too many business men into bad deals and women into bed, and she was certain they would both continue in the future.
Yet, the creation of Stark Industrials all begun by a friendship built on theft; Howard stole a watch off of Alexander, and he went after Howard... offering him the opportunity to steal from his father's collection.
"And Alexander says he isn't the one starting the family drama", Anneliese laughed. As Howard informed her that Alexander even went as far to trick his family into thinking he was in a three-way relationship with Howard and some random girl he picked up in Los Angeles.
Howard was sitting on the stool in the kitchen, as Anneliese begun cooking him dinner. Usually her father cooked these days, but Anneliese still knew how to make a pretty standard meal. Pasta was her go too, easy, and somehow, not completely stigmatised.
Boiling the water, she leaned against the tall cupboards. Her mind beyond curious, so she asked. "Why did you even hire him?"
A small smirk appeared on Howard's face. "He hired me-"
Anneliese mouth dropped. "No way!", she exclaimed. "It's called Stark Industrials-"
Howard had his elbows propped onto his knees as he spoke, his boyish grin keen across his lips. "The original loan was in his name, knowing his father would be outraged by the thought of his family name being associated to a loan. So, his father paid it off, thus the company was originally Grey's. He said it killed two stones at once, nearly gave his father a heart attack and got him a respectful job as the president of a business."
Still surprised, she did not attempt to hide it.
"Alexander sounds like a very good friend to you-"
"But he likes you more-"
Anneliese laughed, "He prefers my Papa over me."
Howard picked up the wine glass behind him that Anneliese had found for the wine she was given for her birthday last year, and decided it was time to drink it.
"True to that, here's to a new Lorenz member... Alexander Lorenz," He raised his wine glass as he winked at her, and Anneliese nearly spilt her wine as she fumbled with the glass. His damn golden eyes.
"Cheers to that," Anneliese laughed nervously as she took a sip from her glass. "Might want to make a wish for yourself before you drink. Alexander is going to have your head for being out of office for this long."
Turning her back to Howard, she poured the pasta into the boiling pot of water, slowly stirring it every few moments. His eyes were trained on her every move, curiously watching her as she slowly chopped up a sausage and some smaller green vegetables.
"What are you attempting to cook?" He asked.
Turning her head over her shoulder, "Pasta, I learnt it when I came to America. The community I was in had a neighbouring Italian community who had fled years before us. They showed us some of the simple foods to cook on a budget, pasta and sausage was a favourite of mine."
He continued to stare, sipping from his wine glass. "I can tell they westernised it for you, considering you're choosing to have salt as your main spice."
Anneliese's jaw opened and closed quickly, feeling so stupid to cook an Italian cuisine knowing very well that Howard was partially Italian. If anything, he proudly displayed his heritage, because he simply could afford to do so. A luxury Anneliese never had, and she knew the truth of her own heritage would shake the American business circle enormously.
So, instead of confronting her own humiliation, she waited in silence for the pasta to finish boiling. Taking quiet deep breaths as she stared outside the window, to see many of her neighbour's cars pull into their driveways. The time was twenty minutes past five. Everyone was home from work, and suddenly the walk to work would look greener. She could tell considering the returning neighbours decided to become avid gardeners once they saw Howard's car, with his last name stamped on his driver's plates, in her driveway.
"My neighbours are suddenly gardeners," Anneliese joked, as she strained the pasta, and slowly scooping the pasta into a pan. Frying the pasta with the sausage, vegetables and a small amount of olive oil, "I wonder how much better their flowers will bloom if you left your car here for weeks on end?"
A low laugh came from Howard, "Is that an invitation to come over more regularly?"
Her cheeks burnt red, and she was thankful that Howard wouldn't be able to see how he made her blush. Moving the pasta around until she assumed the pasta was cooked, she grabbed two small ceramic plates from under the table, and placed the pasta onto it.
Carrying both plates towards the table, Howard followed with the two wine glasses and bottle, taking his seat opposite too Anneliese's. The two ate in silence, and Anneliese figured out why they sat in silence.
"I overcooked the pasta."
"It's okay-", Howard protested.
Grabbing the wine bottle from the middle, she poured Howard and herself another cup. Choosing alcohol to cover the taste of liquidfied pasta.
"I think we should eat out tonight?", Howard suggested, "Of course, for the press", he added quickly.
Taking a sip, she nodded, "I think I will like that. Let's first finish packing my father's stuff and drop that off first."
Awaiting then, Mr Jarvis with a bellboy trolley stood at the back entrance of Stark Industrials. Anneliese exited the car, as Howard walked around to the boot, opening to find the enormously heavy trunk hiding.
"Give me a hand, yeah?", Howard asked Mr Jarvis.
The two picked up the trunk with a groan, and carefully, under Anneliese's watch, placed the trunk onto the bellboy trolley. Mr Jarvis pushed it inside the building, and towards the elevator that was completely empty, Anneliese watched Mr Jarvis press numerous buttons as she had watched the elevator man do so many times.
Mr Jarvis was and is the only male secretary in the entire complex. And he was by far one of the best. He called himself a butler, but Anneliese knew he worked more like a secretary if anything else. Arriving on the top floor, Howard entered all the security details before they entered the room, instantaneously, Howard's security had a gun at his head.
"Easy now," Howard warned, "Easy now", he repeated.
The gun dropped, and the security man and Howard shook hands. Anneliese was absolutely terrified, but knew this was exactly the method she requested upon entry. Anyone who was to enter would be met with a gun towards their head, until identified.
The sound of Howard's voice alerted Agent Carter and the two elderly germans.
Her father limped alongside Abraham, his hands clutched around Abraham's arm. "For a second, I thought my daughter left me without any of my belongings."
Shaking her head, "Never papa. Your room is just very messy."
Her father let out a laugh as he instructed Mr Jarvis and Agent Carter to follow them into his room, leaving Howard and Anneliese alone... again.
"Should we head off?"
He offered her his elbow, and the two walked back out the way they came. Yet, somehow Anneliese found herself not taking the door for the back exit, instead, Howard was walking her towards the front of the building. Press awaited, as per usual.
Lowering her eyes, she heard Howard talk to one of his employees, and before she knew it, one of Howard's more newer car model appeared in front of the door. Not only would tonight be a publicity stunt for their fake relationship, but a means to increase sales for the car to be released next week. Anneliese's life was only ever a series of business transactions, if it was through blood, money or power.
Howard opened the door for Anneliese, and she scooted over for Howard to join her. A driver taking the front seat. The flashing camera's made Anneliese, without realising, cover her face with her hands. She knew these photos would make the front page, and she didn't need to become common knowledge outside of America. So, she covered her face, hoping none would see the horror in her eyes.
Anneliese would never forget the flashing lights from the numerous family photos that were taken back in Germany, where she would watch men bleed onto white carpet and women having to mop up the soaking red liquid. It was vile, it was cruel, and to her family that was a transaction. Flashing lights came at a cost, especially someone from her family.
Scrunching her nose, she closed her eyes, breathing as she always did when in front of the press, and let out a loud breath of air. Even in all her time as a press secretary, they always managed to miss spell her surname or forget her first name. Or, she never made the paper. It was the luxury she enjoyed, being a woman behind two highly popular bachelors. She could be forgotten, and yet this game was dangerous in the beginning.
And Anneliese knew this was only the beginning.
Howard turned to face her, glancing at her curiously, knowing that what ever was on Anneliese's mind was staying as such. She never gave herself completely away, her emotions tightly locked up within her conscious. To Anneliese, if she was anything but cooly collected made her weak, she could not afford to be weak.
The trip was unbelievably short, as they arrived at an expensive restaurant. Anneliese knew this automatically due to the expensive taste in architecture and the line up of men and women in their finest clothing. Anneliese suddenly felt unbelievably and utterly underdressed.
And then she read the name of the restaurant... Howard was an absolute menace. It was the very same one Mr Anderson got caught fondling his secretary at.
The driver opened the door for Anneliese and Howard, and instantaneously, Howard offered his hand out for her to exit the car. His smile, charming as always, was plastered onto his face as his moustache rose with his lips. His eyes landed on Anneliese, as he whispered, "Ready for Act 1?"
A blush crept onto Anneliese's cheeks, "Scene 2?", she replied, her voice low.
Taking his hand, she stepped out of the car, and within a second, they were surrounded. The press with their camera's were much like bees... surrounding a queen bee. With her hand gripping Howard's tighter, she could sense from the swooning sounds of women in the line that he was wooing them. Showcasing his usual smile; his white teeth flashing, one eyebrow raised and his lip slightly curled.
Lights dripped from the building and Anneliese decided to focus on her surrounding as Howard set the pace as they walked towards the front... not even waiting in line with everyone else. She admired the red brick on marble, or how each brick was uniquely different and that the front was layered in all things wealth. It was a picture perfect entrance.
The host opened the door greedily for Howard and herself, and instructed a waitress to show them to a private booth. Anneliese knew this was the privilege of being part of the powerful and wealthy. And she was snapped back into reality as she felt Howard's thumb rub her fingers gently, almost comforting.
"Your table, Mr Stark."
It was impossibly beautiful, and the furthest thing from private. Raised slightly from the floor, the booth was a dark leather, and the table was decorated with a white - almost silver - table clothe, flowers and small trinkets littered the table in the same matter that intricate words littered poetry. The architecture seemed almost familiar, in a way she couldn't describe. The way red banners fell on the walls, tapestries of flowers and glowing gold thread. How the windows were enormously large, showcasing the sparkling night stars. It was far too familiar for someone who had never been to this restaurant.
Taking the seat aside to Howard, Anneliese's eyes still wondered. Every table had a three tier candle, alit, and the roof was tall, taller than anything in America, and the gold specs on the ceiling beams sparkled as stars do. It was a dream, it was heaven, it felt comforting.
"Like what you see?", Howard asked, his voice cocky, "Never thought you would be interested in architecture..."
His voice was lower, just loud enough for her to hear. Anneliese's head turned to face him, and she knew from Howard's smile increasing, that her eyes were sparkling. the look on her face must have been bliss, she assumed.
"A secret for a secret?", She offered. "Back home, my papa never allowed me to stare at the stars, I would have to sneak out with my mama."
Howard's grin grew even more. "A secret for a secret?", He teased. "I use cosmetics on my eyebrows. Can't have my eyebrows looking like a mess if everyone swoons over them."
Grinning, Anneliese hadn't realised a waiter was waiting behind her, as she stared at Howard's eyebrows. Her face closer to his face than normal as she inspected his eyebrows, and she instantly became jealous of how well the colour matched. How the powder and gel was nearly invisible to her eyes. His eyebrows were too perfectly in-perfect. Meticulously done.
She could see his eyes looking down at her lips, but Anneliese was busy studying the rest of his face, and it suddenly hit her. He had makeup on. She could tell that his skin was moisturised perfectly, a light amount of colour on his face and his lips were lightly drawn. He was before his time, and she couldn't but help stare until...
Until she heard the cough of the waiter behind them. She collected herself quickly, as Howard ordered for the two, his French flawless. The two sat in silence, until the waiter could not be seen.
"You wear makeup," Anneliese stated.
He laughed lightly. "And your face was only inches away from my own," he bit his smile back, "Definitely scared the waiter."
Stuttering on her words, she closed her lips. Watching as the corners of Howard's mouth twitched upwards, as he pointed his knees towards hers under the table.
"Every Friday, we should go out for dinner."
"I could never afford-"
His grin kept growing, "Alexander won't notice a cut to his department."
The food arrived, and Anneliese couldn't believe the day she had. It was... not magically, but... a feeling she once thought she lost.
She felt like she was home, she was welcomed into its sweet embrace.
It would be months later she would regret everything.