Thread: Paradise Isle  (Fades & Good Girls)

Even tropical islands get thunderstorms. That was her line, and one that, for some reason, made him smile a bit more than the rest. There was an immense feeling in his chest as he watched little Ariana control her crowd, as if it were a thing to be held betwixt one's fingers, dancing deftly between one and the next. Admiration? Attraction? Pride? It was hard to say. Maybe a bit of each. Admiration, at watching her so skillfully keep everyone enraptured, from her stage whispers to the manner in which she sat with Emilia while removing her boots, every moment of body language and tone was well-practiced, not a drop of it placed there through accident. It reminded him of many a boardroom meeting, watching the young girl tug and weave her audience in whatever manner she wished. It reminded him of himself in that manner. A bit of attraction next, because how could one not be drawn to an alpha? Even in a situation where she was about to become a beta, a clever personality like that was and would ever be a draw, giving her even more value in his eyes. And pride, as it was assumed, reasonably so, that she would more likely than not choose to solidify her role in this, and that it was alright to start enjoying that swell of pride his next 'pretty thing' inspired his chest with. It was through hope, perhaps, rather than foolishness, or anything more untoward, that he was allowing himself to assume each woman that day would do so until the moment came otherwise. Jeffrey was invested in this wholly - emotionally, professionally, socially, and as he had with Emilia when she was still Emilia Clarke , he watched Ariana Grande with a warmth building inside him that everything he was watching right now - soon enough this young woman would be his Ariana . His kitten. His coquette. His brat, apparently. Just as she gave him that lingering sideglance, a set of soft chocolate brown eyes that were somehow both doe-like and sultry, he stared back, his icy blues calm, inquisitive, but yet unable to stop a smirk that broke across the rest of his features after a few seconds of this together. Was the moment rhetorical, or was Little Miss Perfectly Petite toying at poking the bear for a response? Jeffrey allowed another moment to gap, where he glanced down at the clear podium in front of him, pulled his glasses forward a bit with one hand and brushed back some hair with the other, then placed the glasses back on again. He didn't need that moment, not to concoct anything. He was as swift as she in these regards, and more tenured as a fact. But he also didn't want to take from her moment, much as he'd given his Emilia the stage until it was time for otherwise, lest he was certain it was what she wanted. After that playful, merely two-second lapse, he assumed as such, and upon returning the brown glasses to the bridge of his nose, a brown that matched the brown on a watch on the wrist of the same hand, Jeffrey exhaled in a show of a breathy chuckle against the podium's microphone. Keeping his blue-eyed glance held straight with Ariana's, That's alright. If you're enough of a brat that, later on once we're at our new home, you still need help submitting, my palm and my lap will help get you the rest of the way. There was an immediate gasp in the crowd. This was followed by an immediate, more rousing round of laughter. This was accentuated by even a whistle or two, and one guy clapping his hands visibly above his head, most there getting a kick out of it. Jeffrey just smiled over to her though. Can I tell you something? In all seriousness. It's tremendously brave, what you're standing here talking about right now. Not just your triumphs in life, but revisiting the times where the roll of the dice didn't do you any favors, and you had to unfortunately live those moments out in public view once already. Would that we could all be so brave, to let ourselves be so vulnerable. He paused a moment, letting that thought settle with the crowd, just as people had quieted down from their amusement. Everyone has different needs. Everyone. All of us. This is precisely why I wanted to have you speak today, Miss Grande - and thank you for that. Many people don't understand what we're all doing here today, and think and speak poorly of it because of that. My desire was to show them that we are each here to fulfill something different, within ourselves - myself included - and that none of which are wrong. ...As you said, you've lived largely without rules, without boundaries, betting big multiple times and multiple times it's paid off to an astounding degree - and others, it's burned you just as badly. In all seriousness, if structure is what you need, then you would have it. Rules and expectations, in an environment where you would be rewarded with warmth, affection and adoration for embracing them. And a firm, almost fatherly spanking for when you get out of line, with a renewed smirk, and another, albeit quieter chuckle than before from the crowd, everyone fixed on listening. If you entrust yourself to me, you would be within my care. And I would endeavor to take the greatest, most cherished care of you, every single day protecting you, whilst desiring you to grow into the best version of yourself, one big girl step at a time. He stood back up straight, removing himself from the microphone, allowing the tiniest of divas the floor once more.