I know you (Greer) - Gilded Cage

He wasn't in her apartment, he hadn't disrespected her space, but a gentleman, very familiar by all appearances, sat outside her door on a near by bench, just waiting for Greer to arrive home.

Greer rounded to her place, flowers in her hands and fidgeting with the damn key card she passed, then paused and looked at the man. "May I help you?"

"Actually, Miss Harrington," he stood up, offering his hand, "I was wondering if I could help you. My name is Markus Jacobs. I understand you've been... distracted recently."

"Nice to meet you but we all have times of distraction." carefully said and her hands were too full to shake his hand. "And whom may I ask sent you?"

"Actually, I overheard your conversation on the beach with Miss Vella and thought that I'd offer my assistance. I believe you have a great deal of potential, Miss Harrington. Can I ask you, what is it that you want most, Miss Harrington?"

Her eyes got big "Oh no no no.... you are wrong no such things are said that ever end in a good way...." stepping back against the wall.

"Miss Harrington, please calm down. I assure you, there is nothing nefarious going on here. Very specifically, I want to help you. I am not offering to give you that which you want most, I am offering to help you attain it, if you would like my assistance."

A slow bitter smile crosses her lips "Sir there are many things I want, I will figure out how to reach them and you are scaring me in my own hall way." she says with a tight whisper.

The gentleman steepled his fingers in front of him and looked to the floor for a moment, "I am sorry to hear that, Miss Harrington. I am equally sorry to know that who ever you have sent your message to will most likely respond with violence. Such seems to be the way of your race, Miss Harrington. A pitiable thing indeed..."

His gaze rose and locked with her own and his eyes, dear God, his eyes were like... stars full of a cold light that seemed to bore into her.

Flashes intermixed with the thing from a mirror, a loosing of self in those eyes of stars, and she froze in terror.

He set a small card with a single number on the floor, "Call me, when you're ready to talk, Miss Harrington. I have all the time in the world."

Then he turned, the elevator simply opening to him as if it knew he would require it's services. He stepped in and just as quickly the door closed and Greer was left alone again in the hallway with nothing more than her possessions and a stark white card with black writing on it.

Watching the elevator close, she slumped down, "they left." she says to no one.

It didn't matter. Three minutes later and he was strolling at a very quick pace toward her apartment.

Still in the hall holding the card, shaking and just staring at the elevator.

He walked straight up to her. "What happened, darlin? Got here as fast as I could."

Looking up at him, trying ot speak but now just realized she'd been holding her breath, taking a deep breath "A thing that looked like a man was here.. .waiting for me..." holding up the card with shaking hands "Eyes like stars...." still too scared to move.

He took the card with one hand. With the other hand, he pulled her against him. "It's all right. It's gone now and I'm here."

She dropped the flowers and clutched to him tightly, "He said he could fix everything and give me my hearts desire, then then scolded me for calling out to you, then said said I'd call." clinging to him terrified. The eyes, so familiar yet not and terror radiated off of her.

He just held her. "All right. Let's go inside and you can tell me everythin' he said an' who he was, okay?"

"He knows I live here Jim." whispered but nods her head yes.

He opened the door to take her inside. "Then maybe ya shouldn't live here for a while. We can get ya a safer place ta stay for a bit. How's that sound?"

"Sounds good." still holding on to him, sliding to more scared from terror, and not letting go of him any time soon.

He seemed okay with that. He kept holding her and pulled her into his lap when he sat on the couch. "All right. Up ta you. My place, or we can get ya some place different. A different apartment building somewhere else?"

"With you please." a slow nod "But if that's bad then anywhere."

He shook his head. "It ain't bad. It's fine. All right. What did he say when ya sent out tha message ta me?"