Wearisome Uncertainty (Robert)

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

Cadence was not sleeping well. She was spending her days drifting in and out of sleep for the most part, and the rest of the time was spent thinking about Robert and Sebastian. Sebastian was more than willing to do her dirty work for her as long as she guided him, but with her newly acquired knowledge she didn't know how to feel about her boss. She had spent a life time hating him and plotting against him only to learn that he had tried to save her brother. She should let it go. She knew she should, but there was a part of her that just couldn't let it all go. He had used her over the years knowing fully well who she was, but she had allowed him to get close enough to do that. She had practically begged him to. She would do the same thing in his position.

Then there was the fact that he had been partially responsible for Jude's death. All those thoughts swam in her mind and she was constantly teetering between wanting to overthrow him somehow and wanting to let it go and live her life. While she decided, though, she behaved as she always had, not letting on her internal struggles as she worked for Robert.

The dirty looks, for the most part, died in the office. Yes, Peter threw glances her way often and watched what she did much closer than he used to, but she offered no reason for alarm. She went about her business professionally. Well, mostly. There was nothing professional about what she did with Robert when he looked at her that way.

"The reports you asked for and a coffee." She said when he beckoned her into his office after she'd knocked. She placed the reports in the inbox on his desk and the coffee near him. There were files on the floor and she picked them up, moving them to the filing cabinet and putting them away to keep order in the office as always. When she was finished she made her way back to Robert, picking a few pieces of lint from his jacket. "May I?" She asked, waiting a second before reaching to his neck and adjusting his tie, pressing the collar of his shirt down over it neatly and then sliding her hands down the lapel of his coat to neaten it. She stood back and looked him over with scrutinizing green eyes before nodding. "Better." She offered.

Her eyes danced to the couch where they had rested together a few days earlier. Sleep had been a little easier since then, but she was still deprived. "Forgive me for being so bold, but why is it you have no interest in a partner?" She inquired, folding her hands in front of her. She wasn't insinuating he should be with her. She knew that they wouldn't work that way, and further more it would look dreadful for him to be seen dating his young personal secretary. "Perhaps the Gargoyles would see you as a kinder, softer figure if a woman were at your side. Might gain you some popularity." She offered, unsure why she even mentioned it.

[ROBERT SNOW]

Robert was slowly adjusting to being practically human. The whole thing put him in a foul mood, though. Humans were weak creatures, and he was not human. So why did this darkness insist on making him feel like one? He wanted to go back to the powerful, intimidating being he had always been; he could pretend he was still strong and impenetrable all he wanted, but he knew the truth. His body was weakened by this darkness and that needed to be remedied. In any spare time he had, he was delving into different versions of the legend to see if there was any clue as to how they could seal the darkness in again. There were books, old and new, littering his office, each book open to random areas or bookmarked with shredded slips of paper. Cadence and Peter knew about his project, and Peter was helping when he could, but Robert liked knowing that the project was mostly under his control. At least something was.

When Cadence knocked on his office, he turned from his computer screen and waved her in. He was still receiving reports, several of which had to do with Gargoyles passing out from exhaustion and supposedly on the brink of death. There were reports that suggested sleeping pills might work, and Robert suggested they be obtained for those cases. In fact, he was thinking of investing in some for himself. The more rested he was, the longer he could work without stopping, and the closer they would be to an answer for this darkness. “The reports you asked for and a coffee.” Robert nodded, glancing back to his screen to complete reading the report pulled up there. “Thank you,” he mumbled as he brought the coffee to his lips. She grabbed the files that he had placed on the floor to make more room on his desk and let her go about her business as she put the files away. The report he was reading accused one Gargoyle of harming another due to a lack of sleep—basically, he was pleading insanity, and there was a whole separate report explaining this defense and the affects insomnia has on the brain. He actually found it very interesting.

Cadence came around his desk, however, and he glanced at her as she started to pick lint off his jacket. He let her, looking from her back to the report momentarily, before he watched her again. She did make sure he always looked nice and he appreciated it. “May I?” She indicated his tie and he nodded, lifting his chin so she could adjust his tie for him. Her hands brushed over the lapel and he watched her as she did so, though not thinking anything in particular. When she stepped back, she was obviously scrutinizing his look, and he just watched her patiently. “Better.” He nodded and turned back to his computer without a word, sipping his coffee again. Cadence didn’t leave, though, and he looked back at her, wondering what else there was. He wasn’t irritated, but there were many other reports to go through besides the one in front of him. “Forgive me for being so bold, but why is it you have no interest in a partner?” The question threw him off completely and his brow lowered over his eyes in confusion. It occurred to him that maybe she was thinking about the night they had spent on his couch and immediately feared he had misread her discomfort with the whole situation. “Perhaps the Gargoyles would see you as a kinder, softer figure if a woman were at your side. Might gain you some popularity.”

Robert considered her statement, lowering his eyes to his desk for a moment as he considered. “You do have a point. It’s not that I am not interested in a partner, however. There was one woman who I wanted to have a relationship with, but she turned me down. I tried once to be with her seven years ago and again the night of the masquerade, and both times she refused me. She had different political ambitions,” he explained, not really liking to think about Eponine’s rejection. “I have not met a woman who would be comfortable in the spotlight I am placed in, nor one willing to deal with me on a daily basis. Even you get some days off.” He smirked at her slightly. “I am a busy man, Cadence. It makes it hard to maintain relationships. Are you applying for the position?” It was a flippant question and he smirked wider to indicate that, but Cadence surely didn’t mean her question that way. She couldn’t be so foolish as to believe they had a chance as a couple. Since Peter’s insistence was almost daily that she be let go, he would lose many of his supporters if he began publically dating the secretary who he refused to fire. No, as much as he enjoyed her during their extracurricular activities, he would never be able to date her openly, no matter how beautiful she was.

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

She watched him as he pondered the question, looking to his desk for a moment. “You do have a point. It’s not that I am not interested in a partner, however. There was one woman who I wanted to have a relationship with, but she turned me down. I tried once to be with her seven years ago and again the night of the masquerade, and both times she refused me. She had different political ambitions,” Cadence silently rolled her eyes. She was sure there was more to it than politics. Whoever the woman was she probably saw his cruel streak. If he fucked her anything like he did Cadence, she would definitely see his cruel streak. She wondered briefly if that was how his sex life was normally like, or if he use her so roughly because she allowed him to.

“I have not met a woman who would be comfortable in the spotlight I am placed in, nor one willing to deal with me on a daily basis. Even you get some days off.” He smirked at her and she allowed the corner of her lip to quip up just a bit. She did get breaks from him now and then. “I am a busy man, Cadence. It makes it hard to maintain relationships. Are you applying for the position?” She raised a brow at him. Her? No. Certainly not. "though I would be honored, I assure you I'm not interested in the position sir." She offered kindly, not intending to insult him. "Our relationship is one more suited to the office only. Either this or your personal one at home." It was clear what she meant; she was only good for firling and fucking. At least to Robert.

She tried to think of the women he'd danced with at the masquerade. There had been a woman with red hair and dark hair. She was sure it wasn't the redhead. She could not recall any Gargoyle women with red hair, so it must be the brunette. "Politics can be overlooked, Robert." She said softly, moving closer and leaning against his desk, her ass partially on it as she gripped the edges, looking down at her boss. "There must be another reason. Surely you could woo her if you wanted her that badly. I've never known you to turn down a challenge." She wasn't entirely sure why she was pressing him to go for this woman. Or any woman, really. Maybe it was a deep seeded desire to fuck it all up for him, to make herself jealous somehow, or to see if she even got jealous. "Every time I've challenged you, you've had no problem putting me back in my place, and look at me.. still here, challenging you." Her eyes were smiling, though her lips were not.

"What could possibly be standing in your way?"

[ROBERT SNOW]

“Though I would be honored, I assure you I’m not interested in the position sir. Our relationship is one more suited to the office only. Either this or your personal one at home.” Robert actually chuckled a bit. Good; he wasn’t going to get into that with Cadence. “I couldn’t agree more,” he said softly. Robert liked Cadence as an assistant and a sexual plaything, but he would never have a public relationship with her. It would be catastrophic if he had a public affair with his assistant; he would be the Gargoyle Bill Clinton except without the wife. Eponine had been a different story entirely. The woman was smart, beautiful, and ambitious. She would have been perfect to stand beside him and no doubt was very accomplished in the bedroom. Unfortunately, he would never know. It still shocked him that she had turned him down, but he could understand why she would. As Robert’s significant other, she would be forced to abandon her own political ambitions in favor of his…and Eponine just wasn’t that kind of woman. It was part of what made her so attractive to him, and at the same time what infuriated him. Why shouldn’t she want what he could offer her? He knew the answer: because it wouldn’t be her own.

“Politics can be overlooked, Robert.” His eyes came back to Cadence, watching as she half leaned, half sat on his desk. “There must be another reason. Surely you could woo her if you wanted her that badly. I’ve never known you to turn down a challenge.” The statement irritated him and he frowned, warning her with that small sign of displeasure that she should watch how far she pressed him. She had no idea how far he had gone for Eponine seven years before. “Every time I’ve challenged you, you’ve had no problem putting me back in my place, and look at me…still here challenging you.” Her eyes looked amused, but he felt the need to remind her all the times her challenging had failed her. Robert liked putting Cadence in her place, but he didn’t like all the trouble that went with obtaining that pleasure. Sometimes she could be more challenging than it was smart to be. “What could possibly be standing in your way?” Robert sighed, leaning back in his chair once more. He didn’t understand why she was pressing the issue and there was little he was willing to say in regards to Eponine. It had been one of his greater humiliations and the woman had paid for it long ago. He preferred to forget it if he could, but there was a simple enough answer for recent events.

“Seven years ago, it was, as I said, her political ambition. Eponine is not the kind of woman who would sacrifice her own political career in favor of a man’s, even mine. I went to great lengths to woo her, but she was well aware what I was asking her to do, and she refused to give up her hopes of rising high of her own accord. She paid for it dearly. I knocked her down on the council and I had the council give her several impossible cases to contend with in the weeks following my rejection. It was not diplomatic of me, however, and I had ignored her for the past seven years. At the ball, I decided to make another move, hoping the years had softened her somewhat. They had, but not to me. She has another man now, one she’s fought hard for and who would do the same in return for her. It’s more trouble than she’s worth and I’d rather not go through the rejection again.” He took another sip of his coffee, bringing his eyes to her. “Why do you ask? You’ve never expressed any interest in my love life before.” Robert was suspicious that she was plotting something, but he had much greater concerns than any plot Cadence could come up with.

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

She watched her boss sigh and lean back in his chair and a part of her felt as though she had won some sort of small battle against him by making him take the time to talk to her. “Seven years ago, it was, as I said, her political ambition. Eponine is not the kind of woman who would sacrifice her own political career in favor of a man’s, even mine." Eponine.. Cadence sorted through the contacts she'd made in her mind. The name was familiar but she couldn't recall her face.

Cadence listened closely, absorbing his story of how she had shot him down and how he had made her suffer for it. That was no surprise. She'd suffered for plotting against him and she was still dealing with the emotional wounds he'd left. He'd approached her at the ball but it was no use. She'd moved on. "She has another man now, one she’s fought hard for and who would do the same in return for her. It’s more trouble than she’s worth and I’d rather not go through the rejection again.” She almost felt bad for him. Almost. There was a part of her that really liked this Eponine woman for playing with his heart the way she did. Cadence had respect for anyone who didn't cower at Robert's feet. They were all so few and far between. Even Sebastian seemed afraid of the man.

“Why do you ask? You’ve never expressed any interest in my love life before.” She raised a brow and gave an innocent look. "I like my job and the longer you stay in office, the longer I get to keep it. Where else would I have the pleasure of being taken advantage of by one of the most powerful men in the world?" She asked smoothly, stroking his ego tenderly. "Plus isn't it part of my job to aid in advancing your career? Finding a suitable partner would do that, it's simple. That and it would make our affair far more interesting." She rolled her shoulders easily, still very brave and talkative, which wasn't always like her.

"I don't pretend to know the situation, sir, but I do know that if your heart is set on her then no man should be able to get in the way of that. You have a great deal of power and you could easily use it for personal gain. Plus, you won't be leader forever. You could always help her in her political growth once your term is up. We live an awful long time.. but what do I know. I'm just the secretary."

[ROBERT SNOW]

“I like my job and the longer you stay in office, the longer I get to keep it. Where else would I have the pleasure of being taken advantage of by one of the most powerful men in the world?” Robert smirked, though he hardly felt like he was one of the most powerful men in the world. In their limited view of the world, yes, he was a very powerful man, but Gargoyles often did not see the outside world. Still, it was a pleasant thought to think he was so powerful. “Plus, isn’t it part of my job to aid in advancing your career? Finding a suitable partner would do that; it’s simple. That and it would make our affair far more interesting.” He didn’t want to break it to Cadence, but if he actually found a woman worthy of his affections, he would probably cease his far too personal relationship with his assistant. It wasn’t that Robert believed he could fall in love, but he wouldn’t risk losing a good woman because of a tryst with a woman so close to him. That was far too risky for a man in his position and he wouldn’t toe that line. But until he committed himself to a woman, he would continue his relationship with Cadence, and it would serve to make life more interesting for him.

“I don’t pretend to know the situation, sir, but I do know if your heart is set on her then no man should be able to get in the way of that. You have a great deal of power and you could easily use it for personal gain. Plus, you won’t be leader forever. You could always help her in her political growth once your term is up. We live an awful long time…but what do I know? I’m just the secretary.” Cadence had some fine points. Stokes could only stand in his way so far as Robert let him. But was his heart that set on Eponine? She was an ideal mate for him…he didn’t love her, and he didn’t think he ever would, but he did admire her. Not only did she show little to know fear of him, but she knew how to act in society and she carried herself wonderfully. She came from a good family and she was well connected herself. He had never come across another woman like her. And he had offered her a position as a member of his legal counsel…it would make it easier for him to access her. Surely she would expect such a move, though… He wouldn’t be leader forever, Cadence was right about that, so it would make sense to help Eponine’s career when he left office, have a family with her to carry on his name and their political prowess. It was a lot to consider and he would have to mull it over.

He realized he had been sitting in silence, rubbing his chin contemplatively as he thought her points over. His eyes came back to hers and he nodded, sitting forward once again. “You have several good arguments, and I appreciate you looking out for my career. I’ll consider all of this carefully. I may have need of your help if I do decide to pursue her.” Robert relied on Cadence for many things that a normal boss wouldn’t, but his assistant never refused. Since she had offered these suggestions on a silver platter, he figured she would hardly refuse to assist him in any pursuit of Eponine. She could at least help take care of Stokes with her charm, hopefully, though Stokes would be the lesser portion of this challenge, he believed. It would be Eponine Gascoigne herself that would prove the most difficult challenge of all.

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

Cadence had gotten to him. He was quiet and he was rubbing his chin. Robert was actually considering her words and for a moment she felt powerful. He didn't listen to many people, so to get under his skin and get him to think was quite the accomplishment. She ticked it off in her mind.

“You have several good arguments, and I appreciate you looking out for my career. I’ll consider all of this carefully. I may have need of your help if I do decide to pursue her.” Her grin was a slight one as they often were when she smiled at him. The thought of doing his dirty work excited her. It was something different and it would allow her to make notes on how he was abusing his power, which she could use later on against him if she decided to go down that path. She still wasn't sure what she wanted to do.

"You know I'm always eager to assist, sir." She said gently, pushing off from his desk and watching him with hungry eyes. She gazed at him for only a moment before looking at his computer screen, clearly having interrupted some serious work.

"Shall I leave you to finish up?" She asked softly. "Or do you have anything else for me right now." There was always double meanings to everything she said. She was feeling generous today because she had won some unspoken battle, and she would be more than willing to please him if it was his desire, but given how into his work he was she couldn't imagine he would want to break unless he had her please him from under his desk.

[ROBERT SNOW]

“You know I’m always eager to assist, sir.” That Cadence was. Well, maybe not always, but as close as made no matter. Robert knew his secretary was a great asset to him, and though he had originally hired her because of her connection to his only friend, he had come to greatly appreciate her work ethic. If he decided to pursue Eponine when this business with the darkness had passed, she would be invaluable to him. She moved from her spot against his desk and inched closer to him, her eyes bright. It was a pleasant surprise, as he hadn’t expected to rile her up so much with his agreement with her. Usually it was Robert pursuing Cadence, but he liked when the tables turned. Her eyes glanced to his computer screen and he was briefly reminded that he had actual work to do. Could it wait…?

“Shall I leave you to finish up? Or do you have anything else for me right now?” The report on his computer screen was calling for his attention. He had been fascinated by the research which the report referenced, but he was also very fascinated by this pretty young lady’s eagerness. Robert was a man after all, and how could he turn away a zealous beauty? His eyes slipped down her form, taking her in, and he smirked. Reports could wait a few minutes. He wanted to take advantage of this rare situation.

“In fact, I do have something else for you. Would you mind closing the door for me, Cadence? I’d like to discuss it privately.” He knew she would be well aware what he was referring to. As she moved to the door, he loosened his tie around his neck and undid the buckled on his belt below his desk. No one need ever know what went on between them behind closed doors.

-----------------------END THREAD-------------------------