Chapter 4 - Initial Contact

I was up around 5 the next morning, unable to sleep any longer. I was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement! I was going to be able to spend the entire day at the aquarium and not feel guilty for being a big kid at heart! The aquarium combined my love of exotic marine life and my insatiable need to people watch, all in the one place. It was the only place I could spend hours at and still feel like there was still more to see and learn!

I took my time in the shower, in attempt to calm myself, making sure I used the time to thoroughly wash my hair while in there. Once dried, I put on the outfit Gabe had set out the night before. I made a cup of instant coffee while debating how to do my makeup. The second I tasted the coffee, I regretted making it and remembered why I started buying my coffee every day, hint, it wasn't just to observe the people around me. I decided it was a sign to go without the makeup, instead opting for a touch of lip-gloss as I headed out the door.

I arrived at the aquarium early and it seemed that security wasn't ready for me, instead leaving me to wander while they worked out what was going on. Eventually Roy, a security guard no much older than I, escorted me through the staff only doors and down to Axel's laboratory, pointing out the emergency exits on the way. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I knew the layout of this place better than he did. It was always an advantage to be completely aware of your surroundings.

Roy knocked on the door to Axel's lab before walking away, leaving me standing there to meet Axel alone. I don't know what I expected, but the photo's Uncle Phil gave me must have been out of date and taken by a really bad photographer, because this tall drink of water standing in front of me was definitely far more handsome than in his photos showed.

He was so tall I had to look up to make eye contact, but when I did, oh man! His dark, almond shaped eyes held me captivated, and the way his hair framed his face, with some parts falling out of his low ponytail, only made him look all the more refined. He had moved his black-rimmed glasses sit on top of his head when he answered the door, which had accentuated his bicep through his shirt.

I don't know what made me think this mission would be easy, but if all of the Toma team were this attractive in person, I would be in big trouble – not that I would ever admit it. I loved a good challenge!

"Good morning, Alexandria. It is a pleasure to finally meet you!" His smoky rich tones pulled me back into the room and his comment left me wondering how much more information Phil had given him, without telling me. "Come on in and take a look around. This is our lab and where you will be spending a lot of your time.

We use the tank in the middle to look after wounded marine life until they are well enough to be moved into one of the main tanks. You should also get yourself familiar with the equipment you see lining the walls. We will use them for a variety of things, but probably most importantly to ensure the water remains optimum for our guests. While you are acquainting yourself with the room, I have a couple of emails to answer, if you don't mind looking around here without me?"

A small smile teased his lips. He wanted to see how comfortable I would be in here. "There is an additional exit through that door over there" He gestured to the doorway behind his desk. "Should something happen and you are unable to exit through the main door to this lab, you can use that one to get into the room next door and exit from there."

Safety first, I thought to myself.

"It is wonderful to meet you, too, Axel! Thank you for affording me the opportunity to work with you here. And please call me Andy; I only ever got Alexandria when I was in trouble. Now when I hear it, I am instantly in panic mode trying to figure out what I've done wrong."

"Andy" he whispered. I think he was going to say more, but movement caught my eye in the centre tank and my attention diverted. I turned toward the tank and Caught Axel's smile in his reflection. He was pleased.

"Is that a stingray?" I asked, barely able to see the eyes and stinger through the sand that had been stirred up in the tank.

"Actually, yes" Axel said frowning. "Stingray Steve, here, was brought in last week after some teenagers tried to rehome him. Apparently they thought he would make an excellent mascot at the next hockey game. When he didn't come willingly, they made some pretty deep cuts on him. It was lucky he was found when he was. I am not sure he would have lasted out there on his own."

I turned and continued to study Steve, noticing more of the damage that had been inflicted on him now that the sand had settled.

While Andy was studying Steve in the tank, Axel took the opportunity to study her. The first thing he had noticed when he opened the door were her eyes. They were an unusual grey-blue colour, with a darker grey surrounding the iris. They were unlike anything he had seen and took his breath away. They were deep soulful eyes and looking into them, he felt like he could see the entire world staring back at him.

Looking at her now, he could see that she was average in height, and had a small frame. He admired the way she carried herself, a graceful sort of elegance and confidence seemed to flow through her. He could tell that she was hiding a well-defined physique beneath her modest outfit and was almost certain she had been a dancer at some point.

Axel was grateful for the distraction when Marc walked in. He wasn't sure how long he had been studying her, but was sure if it had gone on much longer, he would have been caught. He didn't want her thinking he was some sort of creep.

The moment the door opened, Andy could smell the rich coffee aroma and it had made her mouth water. She wanted that coffee and hoped there was one there for her too. She could see the newcomer's reflection in the tank now, and was confident it was Marc. He had a tray, with takeaway coffee cups in it, in one hand, and a paper bag in the other.

"Morning Axel! Sorry the delivery is late, but I bought pastries! The café was swamped this morning! People are going crazy over my latest blend. Is this your new intern?" Marc asked, gesturing toward me with a nod of his head.

I turned to introduce myself, but stopped short. I know I had photos of them all in the files Dr Roberts gave me, but he seriously needed to get a better photographer, because they did absolutely no justice to the two men in front of me. I really was going to have to talk Phil into letting me take over the covert photography.

It was definitely Marc standing in front of me. There was no mistaking those beautiful mismatched eyes. He was at least a head taller than me and his café uniform showed off his well-defined chest and arms. The one thing that really got me about any guy was always the definition of his arms. I couldn't help but be distracted by how much I wanted to be wrapped up in them. I was staring and I knew it, but I just couldn't look away.

"Marc," Axel said, drawing both our attention. Had Marc been assessing me with the same scrutiny I had been looking at him? Had I been that side-tracked in my own thoughts that I hadn't noticed? This case really will be trouble for me. I normally didn't miss something like that. "This is Alexandria, Dr Roberts' niece. Alexandria, this is Marc, one of my roommates and producer of the best coffee you will ever have."

"Before you say anything," Marc grinned, handing me a cup from the tray, "try this. I refuse to let Axel drink the instant stuff they have here. I don't know how anyone in his or her right mind can call it coffee; it is more like dirty water!" This made me chuckle. "When Axel mentioned you were starting today, I made sure to bring another with the usual order."

It only took one sip for me to realise that Axel hadn't been joking when he praised Marc's blends. I complimented Marc on the coffee and asked him what this blend was. It was new organic blend he had sourced and eventually admitted it was a hazelnut mocha that he had brought in for me – his current house specialty.

"I love it, it is such a unique flavour! And please, call me Andy" I said, offering a smile and hoping it would be enough for them to ease up on the whole 'Alexandria' thing. It really did make me uncomfortable.

Marc stood there absolutely beaming with pride. He found himself wondering who this gorgeous little china doll was. 'I will call her anything she wants', he thought to himself. Her beauty distracted him again. This time he noticed that despite her dark lashes and bright eyes, she wasn't actually wearing any makeup, a rare thing these days. Perhaps his favourite thing about her appearance though, was her hair, her beautiful, rich, golden caramel coloured hair. It reminded him of the golden coffee crème that formed when making a perfect cup. It fell in curls to her shoulders. She looked effortlessly flawless. He was glad that Axel had called his attention back to the room earlier.

After Marc had left, and Axel and I had finished our coffees and pastries, we took a tour of the Aquarium. Axel made sure to take me through the restricted areas of the aquarium too. He made sure to show me the additional tanks that held newly rehabilitated animals and pointed out all the different marine life he was currently looking after, as well as the various corals they had acquired for their tanks. I enjoyed the tour and listening to him talk. You could see the love Axel had for what he did. His face lit up like a Christmas tree while telling me the stories behind each rescue, and there was an unmistakable excitement in his voice, a raw passion.

By the end of the day I was exhausted. I had met so many new people and enjoyed my time with Axel. I was looking forward to this becoming my new routine. 

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top