Chris knew he had to make the call. It would look suspicious if he simply accepted this twist in the routine without protest. Still, with Justin curled next to him and J.C. not five feet away, he couldn't help wishing for enough real magic to freeze time.
Ideally he would have liked to hold the talk with Dani in Elven, mesmerize her just enough that he could get the true answers about Robin's appearance at FuMan. Instead, he'd just have to listen carefully for the little hesitations and inconsistencies that would alert him to Dani convincing herself of an untruth. At least he knew her well enough that it wouldn't be difficult.
"Mr. Kirkpatrick!" Dani teased, her voice resonating warmly in Chris' ear. "I expected a call right after the show. What took you so long?"
"I was uh... busy," he explained over Justin's snicker. "What's the deal Dani? What do I need an assistant for?"
"You know all those times you call and ask me to look for something, or check out a particular fabric, or send you colour swatches?" she asked. "Stuff that's not in the president's job description, but I do 'cause it's you?"
"Yeah. And I really appreciate it. I know it's hard with me on the road and stuff." Justin rolled his eyes and made gagging motions. Chris swatted at him blindly.
"Would you be surprised if I told you that over the last couple of months Robin handled most of that?"
"What?" Chris was reacting more to the ring of truth in the statements than anything else. It had all been Dani's idea. Robin had managed to come along at the perfect time, and all she would have had to do was convince Dani to give her the job. He'd expected a whole web of complicated lies, not... coincidence.
"She's really good," she enthused. "Learns fast, great attention to detail. She's a little weird, but if anyone's an expert on weird, it's you."
"You couldn't warn me?" he complained good-naturedly.
"I thought you liked surprises, Chris. I can't have some fun?" It was infitesimal, but Chris caught the pause. Robin had kept her presence a secret. What the fuck for?
"You understand Ms. Raabe, that this type of "fun" could get you fired," Chris informed her in his best CEO voice. He could almost hear her rolling her eyes and wished he could enjoy the conversation more. Talking on two levels was draining.
"Yes boss. And if I wasn't company president already, I'd probably get promoted. Look, I know not everyone is a road person, and if she's not I'll pull her. But I think this could really be good for all of us."
"All right, all right." Justin snuggled up to be petted as Chris played up the melodrama as expected. "For you, Dani... I'll make this sacrifice."
"Oh, I'm honoured." Danielle was all business in the next breath. "Is Robin with you? I have a few notes before you start with her."
Chris looked up to yell for Robin and found her standing in the passageway, a notebook under her arm. Calm violet eyes met his for a moment. She knew what the conversation had really been about.
"Ms. Raabe wants to talk to you," he informed her, handing over the phone.
"Good morning saieen. Yes... fine, thank-you." She pulled out a pen and propped the notebook against the wall. "All right." The pen moved rapidly. "No...no...all right. Could you spell that? Mmm hmm. Yes. I'll discuss it with him. Very well. Have a good day saieen. Good bye." Robin clicked off the phone and returned it.
Chris had tensed during the conversation, even though he knew Justin could feel it. Hearing Robin slip an Elven term into her conversation left him cold. The other voice singing the morning prayer that morning had been thrilling and scary enough. He wasn't sure how he was going to deal with having the elfin and everyday worlds so close together.
Justin, with his knack for trouble, had picked up on the unfamiliar word. "What did you call Dani?"
Robin showed no surprise or hesitation. Chris wondered if he'd return to find the whole FuMan office tossing Elven around at him.
"Saieen. It's Welsh. It means... I suppose in that sense it means "boss"."
"Saieen." Justin tested out the word. Chris felt fear and joy as his lover spoke for the first time in the language of his heart. "So does that make Chris your saieen too?"
Someone else might have laughed. Robin simply explained earnestly, " No, "saieen" is the female. Mr. Kirkpatrick would be "tokken"..." Chris glared at her, unnoticed by Justin. "...or "saiea""
As much as he hated titles, Chris decided he'd have to be resigned to "my Lord". Certainly anything was better than the "your Highness" she'd threatened.
"So, saiea," Justin began conversationally. "What's on the agenda?"
"Number one on the list," Chris stood. "The grown-ups are going to go work. You pester J.C. for a while."
"I am insulted..." Justin began, but was ignored as Chris and Robin moved to the back of the bus.
"Cut us off," he instructed quietly, sitting on the couch. She nodded and hummed a few bars that would keep anyone from overhearing the conversation. "I'm going to be honest with you, Robin. I don't like having you here, and I know you probably don't want to be here. We both know we don't have a choice, not until the next in line hits thirty, anyway. I know that's a few years off."
"Your sister Lisanna is not quite sixteen," he was informed.
"Great," he groaned. "Meantime, no one knows I'm not mortal, let's keep it that way. If you have to cast spells, be discreet. Let me know before you cast anything on Justin, J.C., Joey or Lance. I'm guessing you know who Joey and Lance are. Have you met the bodyguards?"
At her nod he continued. "They're good at what they do. Let them do it. No one needs to see you swinging daggers. And most importantly - protect J.C., Lance, Joey and especially Justin the way you would me. Got it?"
"Yes my Lord."
"Ashkala's eyes!" The elfin curse slipped out so fast Chris startled himself. "Leave... leave the "my Lord"s to Elven, okay? I know you have protocol and shit, but I don't like it. I'm gonna be light on the orders. This is probably the last time you'll get any direct orders from me." He passed a hand over his face. This was definitely not going to be easy.
"All right. Now, what was Dani telling you on the phone there?"