Stacking a few paper up neatly, I set them to the side while I grab my pencil case and head out of my office. Today, James, the much talked about James, is to arrive and talk to us.
Supposedly.
I walk into Azrael's office, and he's standing behind it while getting papers together. He notices me and smiles, which I return. It's around an hour past noon, and we already had lunch. James is to arrive in ten minutes, so we're heading to the conference room we were supposed to meet him last time, but he didn't show up.
"Do you think James will be here on time?" I ask Azrael curiously as we leave his office.
Today, he has on a black dress shirt, and also a white necktie. An inverse to his usual getup of white dress shirt and black tie. He also has on a dark grey sweater under his jacket.
"I would like to believe, that he will be here," says Azrael as we walk to the elevator, "but I may know elsewise."
"Has he made any indication that he will definitely be here?" I ask.
"He has promised, though I don't know if that means anything," says Azrael, and we get into the elevator as it's arrived.
"Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see," I say as the door close shut and we descend.
"You are right," says Azrael with a smile.
Descending down, we get out after it stops, and walk to the conference room. Nobody is in here, but that's expected, as of now.
Sitting down, Azrael from a folder he carried down here pulls out several papers onto the glass table top, several which I recognize as I worked with them, among others I don't know.
He leaves two papers in the folder however, and doesn't take them out for some reason, I don't say anything though, and just lean back in my chair, waiting for James.
Azrael looks at the papers he has pulled out, and I get to see his profile as he does so. His black hair has gotten a little longer, and it sticks out in some parts in subtle spikes. His grey eyes that I can see partially scan the paper quietly, and watching him do so is calming to me.
After sitting three minutes past when James is supposed to arrive, I hear feet come toward the conference room. Azrael looks up as they stop at the door, and after a knock sounds he says, "Come in."
The door opens, and a dirty-blonde man enters. I recognize him, but don't know from exactly where. He wears a grey-toned suit, and also has a coat over his arm. I notice that he has light brown eyes, and also a face that seems serious, were it not for the grin that seems to pull at the edge of his mouth constantly. He immediately sees Azrael staring at him, and he smiles more.
"Hello, Azrael," he says in a heavily French-accented voice.
"Hello, James," says Azrael, "you're late."
"Oh, yes, about that," says James as he closes the door and sits down while smiling in an embarrassed way, "I was caught in many things."
"That aside," says Azrael, "there are many things to discuss."
"Okay," says James as he pulls up his chair on the other side of Azrael as me, "what is it?"
"Firstly," says Azrael as he slides two papers in front of James on the glass table, "this is the receipts and cheques for the security appliances you installed for me."
"Oh, thanks," says James as he looks over those.
"That however," says Azrael as he turns in his chair to him, "doesn't have anything to do with an issue that you caused, earlier this week."
I can see James visibly swallow, and his smile on his face falters and he tenses in his chair.
"You interacted with Cale, didn't you?" asks Azrael, not accusingly, but in a tone to confirm what he already knows.
"I..." says James, looking up and away from Azrael, but then settling down and looking at his knees guiltily.
"Yes," says James, "he came to my office, and I talked to him."
"You slipped up and told him that you were going to visit me, didn't you?" asks Azrael, again with the same tone.
"I-I may have," says James, still with his French accent, but guiltily hanging his head.
The room is quiet for a moment, and James looks up apologetically at Azrael.
"I will make it up to you," he says, "somehow."
"It is quite often that you say that, but not often in the same frequency that it truly happens," says Azrael as he sighs and leans back in his chair more, "I would like to think that perhaps you were going to make it up, but I have a hard time believing so."
"Well, how about," says James as he parks up and looks at the receipts on the table, "how about I cancel these expenses? Does that help in making it back to you?"
"There are issues that money solves," says Azrael, "and there are issues that money doesn't."
"How can I make it up to you?" asks James, his light-brown eyes looking imploringly at Azrael.
"I suggest you come on time to any future meeting we may have, for one," says Azrael, "not to mention, you try to keep your mouth somewhat closed when in the presence of Cale. Haven't you made your position to the Collection evident already?"
"I have, but they are rather...fond of trying to get me back," says James as he scratches the back of his head, "they seem very attached the technology that I have and developed."
"You are making your things available to them?" asks Azrael, a brow of his rising.
"No!" says James as he raises his hands, "I would never! Then I'd be in their loop."
"If you keep letting them into your life, then you are in their loop," points out Azrael.
"Oh, true..." says James, the looks back down at his knees for a few moments.
"What do you think I should do?" asks James to Azrael.
I think I may be starting to get frustrated at James as well. He seems to not be able to make any decision for himself, even when the option and path he should take is evident. He's indecisive. He can't commit to something, and I don't have to wonder what it is that causes Azrael to get agitated.
"You should cut ties, vocally, with them," says Azrael, "and you should tell Cale, with strong force, that he is to avoid contact with you unless it is for legal business."
"It's easier said than done," says James as he scratches his head again.
"But if it can be done," says Azrael, "what's stopping you?"
James look up at Azrael and stares at him for a few moments, then hangs his head and says, "Myself, I guess."
"I think you can do it," says Azrael, to which James looks up at him, "I think you are more capable of helping yourself than you surmise."
"I-I would like to hope so," says James, but smiles a little, "but, maybe I can."
"That will be nice to happen," says Azrael, "but that is something you will have to facilitate."
"Okay," says James with a nod, and his grin returns to his face.
"I think the installments though are working nicely," says Azrael, "I feel safer here and at home."
"That's good. I'm happy to hear that," says James, and seems to notice me for the first time, "who is this? I've been rude and not noticed."
"Well, you're French, so that's supposed to happen," says Azrael as he turns to me, and doesn't see the grin on James' face, "this is Hogarth. He is my assistant."
"Hello, Hogarth. As you may have gathered, I am James," he says as he reaches out to shake my hand.
"Nice to meet you," I say as I shake his hand.
"I believe I saw you, at the meeting in the Collection," says James.
"I think I saw you too," I say as I remember that he was there as well.
"Yes, the one where Azrael here decided to act quite brave," says James with a chuckle.
"I'd say that I was just doing what I needed to," says Azrael in response, "but I suppose it might've helped people."
"It helped me," says James, "after you left, I said that I shared your opinion, and hightailed it out, as they say in this country."
"You ran out?" asks Azrael as he smiles a little.
"I did!" says James as he grins with a laugh, "I think I heard somebody laughing. I was told by Emerson that he and Alia walked out a little slower than myself or you, but weren't met with any resistance."
"It would be improper to disrespect the wise who have gotten so from living long," says Azrael.
"Not the elderly?" asks James curiously.
"Age itself is not an indicator of deserving respect," says Azrael, "I should know."
I think he references his own father, but I don't say anything. I can't reveal that I know, after all.
"Oh, here's another thing," says Azrael as he hands the folder, the one with the papers that I didn't get to see clearly, to James, "that you may use to try an repent for yourself."
"What is it?" asks James as he tries to open it, but Azrael closes the folder by putting his hand on top of it.
"You may look at it later," says Azrael, then stands up, "I believe that is all that needs to be conversed of. Let's be going, Hogarth."
"Okay," I say as I stand up.
"Can't we just sit and talk?" asks James as he looks up at us, "I just got here."
"I have many things to attend to, beside yourself," says Azrael, "though you may read that paper later, and you may enjoy what it has to say."
"Well, alright," says James as he stands up and gathers the papers.
"Though I will applaud you again for coming to this meeting. It should be normal that you appear, but it's not often that you do. So I have to say that you coming at all is nice."
"I...I'll try to improve that," says James.
"I hope so," says Azrael.
Azrael and I leave the conference room with James, but take different elevators up and down.
"What other work are you going to do today?" I ask Azrael curiously.
"I think maybe that I'll finish a report that was in need of attention," says Azrael, "and perhaps another audit that needs to be reviewed. But, I think it will be finished shortly."
"Do you have any plans of working out today?" I ask curiously.
I went a few times to the gym already, and so has Azrael, since we got back from Alaska. But, it's not always been together, and maybe I want to be near him more.
"I think I may," says Azrael, "I would like to, and I think that it's about time to do so."
"I'll be," I say, "why don't you join me?"
We walk out of the elevator and head to the direction of our offices.
"I'd like to, but I'm afraid I don't have my workout clothes. I have my shoes, and socks as well, but I don't think I have any running shorts and a T-shirt," says Azrael.
"I have some shorts," I say, as I think back to my own workout bag, "and I have a spare T-shirt. It might be a little large, but I think you can use them?" I say.
"Oh, well. I will humbly accept your offer, and also say thank you," says Azrael with a smile.
"It's really no issue," I say.
"Well, I will see you, around four?" says Azrael as we stop in front of his and my office doors.
"Sounds good," I say with a smile, and Azrael returns it before going inside his office.
I go in mine, but the thought that I'll have Azrael wearing my clothes is somewhat pleasant. I don't know if it's solely in my mind, but the thought of him wearing clothes I offer makes me feel like I'm marking him as mine.
That thought does make my toes pink along with the rest of me, and I can't get any work done now, as I'm left smiling like a fool at my desk.