[b][center][h2]Paige Kennedy[/h2] [/center][/b]

Paige sat quietly, legs crossed. Her converse sneaker bobbed as she waited patiently. Her figure, clad in one of her favorite white long sleeve shirts over jeans, sat smartly in one of Manami’s posh guest chairs. It was extremely comfortable and she thought she looked rather regal in it with her hair down and her arms relaxed on the rests. They had rearranged the furniture slightly and she had a clear view of the main living space and the corridor that entered from the doorway. 

[i]God this chair is comfortable[/i] She thought to herself. [i]Maybe it’s not too late to think about a different career[/i]. She glanced towards a small ornate mirror on the other side of the room catching an off-angle glimpse of herself. [i]Ugh, no, we’re too ooooooold[/i] a whiny voice in the back of her mind chimed. She sighed a little at the thought and briefly examined a few strands of blonde in her fingers. The ends were frayed and uneven and she frowned a little before letting them drop back down to her shoulder. She couldn’t remember the last time she had really got her hair done and it needed it badly. [i]It wont be too much longer[/i]. One voice said solemnly. Her eyes lifted up from the sound of a knock at the door. [i]This should be fun at least[/i]. 

Just like she had figured, it was like shooting fish in a barrel for Tao to get the security camera footage from Saturday night. He had basically scoffed at the request, considering it “beneath” his talents, but she had just as easily convinced him to acquiesce. Within the footage, they were able to identify the individual who’d attempted to force his way into the apartment.

What was a bit of mystery was how he had managed to get a working keycard, granted there were several plausible methods, none of that was going to matter anymore very soon. It was with some surprise that she found Manami willing to take on the much more efficient method of dealing with her overly obsessed fan, but Paige could sense some caged need for independence in the girl despite her nervousness. With some crafty wording, they had managed to convince the man that he had only frightened Manami by showing up unexpectedly and that she was actually grateful to have such a caring and devoted fan. Why not a nice date? Or she could even cook for him. He was like clay in her hand at that point. It was all arranged over text. He could even keep the keycard he had made to let himself in at the appointed time. 

The footsteps walked evenly down the corridor into the open foyer where Manami’s kitchen and living space combined. There was no slowness in the movement and Paige knew he had been in there before when Manami wasn’t home. It disgusted her. Everything was familiar. There was no sense of wonderment in his step. He was getting what he felt he deserved, however his victorious grin faded quickly when he turned to find Paige waiting alone.

 “Who the hell are you?” He said with more than a modicum of surprised disgust.

“Hello, Jerome.... Oh I’m just a friend of Manami’s. She’s getting ready. It’ll just be a few minutes” Paige said, looking at him with an easy smile. She glanced him up and down briefly. Just as instructed, he arrived in his most formal attire which constituted an aged suit that was noticeably too big for him and so stiff it appeared to have lived in a closet for years. His regularly unkempt hair was slicked down over his skull with a generous amount of styling gel and his slightly overweight face was red from being recently shaved. Overall he looked something like a cross between prom date and used-car salesman. However, Paige’s eyes brightened slightly at what was tucked under his arm. Also, as instructed, he brought with him the most recent copy of the [i]Yellow Pages[/i]. The final printing. Crisp and new, still with a glossy sheen on the cover. “Oh, you did good.” She said, standing up and walking over slowly. The man’s apprehension seemed to fade into unease as she approached. Her green eyes had a near paralyzing glance like he’d never seen. She was much different than Manami. Not sweet and cute, but predatory, like some wild animal. With no resistance, she gently slid the phonebook from underneath his arm and let the pages roll under her thumb before glancing back up at his confused face. “She’s going to be [i]very[/i] happy with this…” 

[@Otterpop]