It's you, fragrance guy" she repeats with an unwavering confidence. I look to the person who knows her in desperate measures, she has lost her mind and needs to leave this place.
Fortunately, he understood my expression then motion to her side, "Eleanor, I believe it's time for you to go". "Ben...you think I don't know that? I cannot drive me home" she pushes him away, whimpering.
The Ben who's now frustrated yells, "Order an Uber, isn't that what you do all the time you come here?"

All the time she comes here?
"But my phone battery is out" she pouts. This conversation is not leading anywhere.
"I'll take it from here. We live in the same building, don't worry, I'll get her home safely" I interject although slightly regretting my decision because I need to remain sober enough to drive whereas that wasn't the plan, great.

Ben on the other side heaves a sigh in relief by my gesture, but queries again.
"Are you sure it's okay by you, sir?"
I nod in reply.
He and the waiter scamper off, leaving me with the lady whose name I've learned to be Eleanor. She's staring at me now, slowly glancing downward to my bottle of martini and instantly rushes to grab my quarter empty glass which I stop midway to her lifting it, she struggles to get her wrist off my grip and also my firm grasp on the fragile thing, her feeble attempt doesn't match what she wants to do.

In surrender, she drops the glass and puffs at me, looking away from where I'm seated, then faces me again.
"If you're really going to be taking me home, I should know your real name, fragrance guy".

"Fragrance guy?" I question now irritated by hearing her call me that for the third time in a row.
"Yes, I see you don't like it when I call you that, so, tell me your name" she demands.
I ignore her question, what I'll call an interrogation.
My question should be, what have I gotten myself into? And the second, what am I doing with her?, while the third is, why am I having this conversation? That's a lot of questions with none having reasonable answers.

I look at her face, taking in the wide brown eyes staring impatiently for a reply, the same brown eyes that glared at me on Friday night and still wouldn't budge from my intense stare on Saturday in the elevator.
My fifth question,
What's with this girl?
I take my mental annoyance out by slamming my hands on the table, which alarms her as she jumps in shock but quickly regains composure even still drunk. "What was that for?" she wants to know everything.

"What's your name?" I ask smoothly instead, ignoring her second question yet again. She shrugs, oblivious to how I'm diverting the questions from her to her
"Ugh! I'm a nobody, but they call me Eleanor." I know this, stupid of me to ask.
"Why are you this drunk on Fridays?, I saw you at the elevator the previous Friday staggering around, I'm convinced, drunk as well".

With the surprised look consisting of wide brown eyes and hanging jaws, it tells she wasn't expecting such question. Eleanor shut her now familiar brown and eyes does something I wasn't expecting to happen, a tear trickle down.
Damn
I made her cry but how?, she was okay just a minute ago. It seems my question must have been so sensitive or personal to her that I actually made the girl cry.

"Eleanor"— she opens her eyes slowly upon hearing me call her name for the first time.
"—I better take you home to rest."

She obediently stands to leave but shockingly fell back on the seat unconscious, this time passing out.

=======

After arriving home, I drop her from my shoulder to the large bed located in my bedroom. If someone had told me I'd be bringing a girl in tonight, I'd have punch them right in the face, but here I am, with a crazy drunk one in fact. I stare at her restless frame, her scattered curly hair that's covering most of her eyelids and the jerky breathing movement of her chest, even the plain green tees she's on has been stained by something brown.

The first day I saw Eleanor which is at the elevator was the day I arrived to Tarleton, the same day I learned of papa's passing.
Being the son of a fugitive from justice, Papa had to relocate us; his family away from Brechfield to Pearlbot when I was a bit young. Mama saw the change and took the opportunity to once again stop him from his endeavors, his business. For once, she was actually convinced he'll put everything he's worked so hard to achieve to a stop and get a decent job as any normal father and husband would, but papa contradicted her desire and came back stronger, wealthier, more powerful.

Even through his stubbornness and she slowly destabilizing his business, they loved each other immensely, unfathomably, which is strange.
Everything went fine until I turned fifteen, the time for Papa to formally give me an insight to what he does for a living. He started my combat training, putting me in the way of danger which got me so much scars and bruises, she feared for my life, but I knew I have not a choice.

Mama forbade it, Papa rejected her and I wanted it.
That was the end of the love we shared, they shared, the love the whole family experienced and shared bringing rise to Sara's hatred for me.
Then on that very day I saw Eleanor leaning by the elevator and the hard glare she threw my way when I was about walking past. I wanted to hit her first to wipe off that glare then after, if I feel to, inquire what her problem was until I smelt it, she reeked of alcohol which changed my complete view of her.

There's nothing bad in drinking, so I let it be, even though it's unusual seeing someone so beautiful and in pristine condition staggering about like a lout would do.
As if that weren't enough, on the next day, after burying Papa, I meet her by the elevator, this time she was lost in thought, out of this world. When all couldn't get worse, she made me smile for the first time throughout the day with that intimidating stare she tried, but it all faded again when I remembered Sara's attitude at the wake and how she's brainwashed our little sisters against me and Papa, I took a little of my bent up anger on her in the elevator which shouldn't be.

Eleanor shifts from her position, distracting me from my thoughts. Staring at her as she sleeps isn't a sight worth beholding, she looks weary even in her sleep.
Maybe the atmosphere here isn't to her liking, I would have dropped her off at her apartment as it is the right thing to do, but I know not the exact door nor the code to get in. So, here we are, on the fifth floor, in my apartment that is sorted out yet.
I walk over to the closet to get a fresh blanket to wrap her in, maybe she'll settle, but just as I was about to place the clothing on her frame, she jolts awake and sits up, then immediately holds her head in pain, groaning.

"Ohhh!!" She wails loudly, there is the aftermath of every drinking session.
Excruciating hangovers.

"Where am I?" She asks
"In my apartment", I say as a matter of fact. Her eyes widen in surprise, but recovers suddenly.
"What about my apartment?
Guy's bar?
Oh! My Gosh, what about my baby?".

"You have a baby?" I shudder, suddenly searching for something to hold unto.
She held her hands out immediately.
"Of course not, I mean my car, dummy".

I ignore her snide remark, turning to leave.
"Wait!" she called then adds when she's gotten my attention, "I'm sorry for calling you that, it's just...I'm just..."
I stop her, "Get some rest".
"No, I'll go to my apartment, it's down anyway" she insists, taking to her feet to leave, not without groans and huge sniffs. I watch her struggle in pain, if she wants to leave, I'll let her stubborn self leave. When she's fully stood, I see drunk Eleanor again, the staggering one, as her feet moves for the third step, it gave up, and she came crashing to the floor.

I don't know how I got to her side so fast, but I did in seconds, holding her collapsed frame from hitting the floor. I didn't have time to see her expression, just to lift her fragile body into my hands. I can't help but feel worry about this girl reeling from my heart, especially the way she clings to my shirt for support and her soft yet heavy wails.

When she's on the bed, I had the slight chance to glance at her face, before she turned the other way, there were tears already falling from her closed eyes, brown vibrant eyes probably seeing how messed up she looks.
"Eleanor—" I start off, not knowing what next to say.
"Do you want to talk?, I know we're not best of buds, but I can be your listening ear".

"So you can feel more pity for me?, I don't think so".
Well, that's true, if I indeed hear her sad story, I'll feel more pitiful towards her.
"Okay, as you want it, I won't be any more than the person who won the mini staring contest we had in the elevator" I avow.

"Who won? Excuse me? There wasn't any winner, remember?" she gibed from the opposite side, It's notable that she's one who doesn't back down.
I push on, "That's not how I recall it, you looked away first".
She scoffs loud enough, "that's because you wanted to smile, who smiles during a staring competition?".

I chuckle a bit at the instant change of her voice. Upon hearing mind, she turns the other way, her whole body to where I'm seated on the bed.
"Next time, you should try smiling too" I offer. "As if they'll be a next time" she rolls her eyes
"It's up to you" I shrug.
There is a moment of silence, just the sound of her heavy breathing from the sobs.
"I'm sorry, uhm!.. I don't know your name, but I'm sorry for being a bother" she spoke, sincerity in her now red eyes.
"Leo, it's Leonard"
Her face lights up, "I'm Eleanor"
I nod.

"Get some rest, I'm in the living room if you need anything" I assure her before stalking towards the door and making certain to shut it behind me.
In the living room, I move the boxes that contain my things from Pearlbot away from the passage, checking all seven of them to ensure Axel didn't leave anything important behind, luckily my trusted best friend and right-hand man didn't, he's too meticulous not to.

I pick my phone to call him up, on the second ring, he picks.
"Axel"
"Evening Leo, how did you like the bar?"
I walk to my refrigerator and pull out the jar of orange juice.
"Nothing exciting" I lie with ease.
"Ha!, I expected it from you".

"Now, back to work. How's everything concerning the hotel, are they ready for the event on Monday?" I put him on speaker and drop the phone on the kitchen counter to pour myself a glass.
"Yes boss, Mr. Colin in fact said the staffs are super excited to meet who'll be their real boss".
"Remind me to fish out nosy workers" I recall
"Done that".
"How you know me so well is spectacular Axel"
"It's just who I am".
I can already picture the gigantic smirk on his face,
"What about the media and the press?" I inquire.
"I'll send word to them tomorrow, unfailingly".
"That's what I want to hear Axel, unfailingly, no room for mistakes"
"Sure Capo. Well, are you going to be okay managing a mere hotel?" He asked, agitation engulfing his bass tone.
"I know what I'm doing, Axel, just keep an eye on the new client".

"Okay Leo, got to go" he mentions before hanging up right after.

========

Thank you for reading this far.
~Darasimiwrites