Forbidden (Closed for Rock and Britwitch)

[RockYourWorld]

Jonathan Foley had never been handed anything in his life. Everything he possessed, enjoyed, and held close, he worked hard for – both to obtain and to keep. Life was a struggle for Jonathan. Abandoned by his father and pretty much ignored by his mother, he had fended for himself pretty much for as long as he could remember. Rather than use that as an excuse for turning to a life of crime or self destruction, Jonathan charged full speed ahead into the rough and tumble world of international investing and banking. He was able to obtain a position with the prestigious firm of Duke and Duke, one of the oldest and most respected brokerage houses in the world.

Success came quickly and steadily to Jonathan, although he continuously found himself put down, ridiculed, and cast aside because of his working class background. Jonathan often outperformed many of the other brokers in the firm, but being from more established families, those brokers often were invited to the home of Roger Duke, the current Chairman of the firm, and Great Great Grandson of the founder. An invitation to the Duke estate was considered a feather in the cap of a broker. Jonathan was determined to get there one day, despite his handicap of being from the wrong side of the tracks.

The day came, finally, when one of the brokers who had been invited to the estate suddenly left the firm to take another position. Jonathan’s supervisor added his name to the list, and Jonathan received a fancy calligraphed invitation in his inner office mail. The night he arrived, he was nervous, but maintained his posture, staying in control. That is, until he saw a ravishingly beautiful woman, someone he had never seen at work, but seemed to be comfortable in the surroundings. When he asked around about her, he was told she was Miranda Duke, Roger Duke’s daughter. Instantly, he knew he had to meet her. But just as instantly, he knew that such an effort would be met with stiff resistance…maybe from Miranda herself, maybe from her father, and even from his snobby co-workers. But when he looked at her again, he knew he had to take the chance.

 

[Britwitch]

Miranda sighed, carefully pinning a final lock of her hair into place, her clear blue eyes looking back at her. Her delicate features framed by the chocolate curls hanging down her back, a few draping forwards over her shoulders. She knew was pretty, more than pretty, but it didn’t matter. Not really. Her life was strange in that even if she’d been born with less flattering features than those she had been blessed with she would still find herself surrounded by admirers. For it wasn’t her they admired. It was her father’s business and her family’s money, the fact that she wasn’t exactly ugly probably helped the apparently endless supply of young men who would take her out for drinks here or a meal there. Even with all the attention given, she had never felt truly valued for being herself.

She moved back and gave herself a glance in the full length mirror. Wearing a midnight blue dress that clung to her curving figure, reaching to the floor but with a more than daring split up to the middle of her thigh on one side, she knew she looked the part of an heiress. Even if it was a part she didn’t enjoy. The large house, the servants, the cars and the lands around it all felt more like an expensive prison. Somewhere to keep her until her father found her someone he believed suitable for her to marry. Someone who would benefit the firm, someone with class and breeding. Someone almost certainly boring and uninterested in her entirely.

She headed down the grand staircase, her eyes passing over the crowd of business associates and other cronies her father had invited. She smiled as she was met by her father who guided her around those milling around. Introducing her over and over again, Miranda trying but failing to remember the names of all those she met, her manners impeccable as she laughed lightly at the bad jokes made in front of her before excusing herself once she had met everyone her father thought she should. Taking a glass of champagne from one of the staff walked past, she moved to stand near the foot of the staircase, occasionally looking around at the sea of faces before her. Wondering how long she would have to stand like an ornament to her father’s achievements before she could reasonably feign tiredness and escape back up to her bedroom, when across the crowded room her eyes met those of a stranger.

 

[RockYourWorld]

Jonathan found himself staring at her. He had to, she was beautiful, it was impossible not to stare. But when they made eye contact, Jonathan felt somewhat embarrassed, and quickly darted his eyes away to look at the people milling about. But from his peripheral vision, he could see that she continued to glance his way.

Summoning up courage, he began to walk toward her, but almost immediately he stopped. Miranda had drawn the attention of several young men around the room. Jonathan had watched as Roger Duke had paraded his daughter around the reception. Most of the men that were now converging on her had already been introduced to her, yet they felt as though she were somehow missing more of their effervescent conversation.

Jonathan had met Roger Duke once. They hadn’t exactly hit it off. Word had reached Jonathan that Roger had made a comment or two, questioning the need to have “his kind” employed by the firm, and joked that maybe the firm could be refunded taxes for its “charity work” by hiring Jonathan. Only after Roger became aware of Jonathan’s capture of an Initial Public Offering at a markup of over 300% did Roger grumble something about allowing Jonathan to stay on…”for awhile longer.” Jonathan knew that the money he made for the firm was more than welcomed to stay.

He also noticed that while parading around his daughter, Roger had failed to introduce her to Jonathan. How interesting. He had been shown into the grand reception area and told to stay near this particular spot. Being the good, obedient employee, he had done so. Taking his eyes off Miranda for a second, he caught on to why he had been told to stand where he was…he was surrounded by domestic staff….maids and butlers. This was what Roger Duke thought of Jonathan Foley. Nothing more than labor. Certainly someone to steer Miranda clear of.

But Jonathan had not achieved his level of success by being pushed aside. He gulped down his Champaign and began the long walk towards Miranda.

 

[Britwitch]

Miranda couldn’t take her eyes off of the stranger’s face. Even though he looked aside almost as soon as their gaze was shared, she continued to look his way. Conscious not to stare or to draw attention to herself, she was certain he worked for her father but he was a face she couldn’t place. One of the few she hadn’t been forced to ‘make nice’ with. Although the others she hadn’t been introduced to she knew were people she had met before at previous events, he was different.

Movement towards her made her move her eyes, sighing inwardly as she noticed several of her father’s junior partners heading her way. All with similar looking, false smiles painted on their faces. She noticed their eyes dip to her low necked dress containing her rather ample cleavage, fighting the urge to roll her own eyes as they moved to engage her in yet more pointless conversation. She didn’t understand the world of finance and she didn’t want to, even if her father would consider letting her take over the ‘reins’ of the company after him, she would not.

She had wanted to go to college, to study, to get a real job. She had entertained dreams of being a doctor or a vet, a teacher even. Of having her own place that she paid for herself, paying bills, buying food. Having a life.
But her father had put his foot down, saying such things didn’t befit a daughter of his. That had been the end of it. That was the way it had always been, ever since she had been child.

Miranda smiled and tried not to look as bored as she felt as the men fawned over her, trying to win her over with proud statements about their achievements in the office, trying to outdo one another with figures. After a while, they decided they had done enough for the moment and they left her. She sipped her champagne and glanced back to where the stranger had been stood last and gasped a little to see him walking towards her.

She felt herself blush a little, lowering her gaze as he drew nearer. Miranda looked back up, meeting his eyes as she held out her hand, smiling warmly, and genuinely for the first time that evening. A smile that made her blue eyes sparkle a little.
“I…I don’t believe we’ve been introduced…I’m Miranda Duke…”

 

[RockYourWorld]

“Yes,” said Jonathan,” I do believe our introduction was somehow, eh…postponed. My name is Jonathan. Jonathan Foley. I’m a broker with your father’s firm.” Jonathan glanced around at the men that had converged on Miranda, but had just as quickly moved away. He smiled. “I can see that such a distinction doesn’t exactly make me unique in this room. I see so many co-workers, I feel like maybe I should be preparing a lunch order.”

He motioned over a waiter and took two glasses of champaign, handing on to her. “I have been meaning to thank your father for inviting me to your home. I am very excited to be here. I haven’t had the chance to thank him, or even see him, really. But I’m sure he’s very busy.” Jonathan smirked a bit.

As Jonathan looked at her, he noticed her beauty was even more breath taking from close up, and he began to think that she was even more beautiful when she was away from annoying crowds. “I think your home is absolutely beautiful. I haven’t had the opportunity to see much of it. Perhaps at some point in time, you will provide me with a tour.”

He sipped his champaign, looking in her eyes as she did the same. He was looking for something there, but he was not sure what. Did she think he was just another loser from her father’s office, here to bother her? Was he maybe somewhat interesting to her, but only to hold a conversation with while they stood here, right now?

Jonathan knew he was dealing with very long odds by feeling an attraction to Miranda Duke. He wouldn’t be able to count the obstacles that would be put in his way if he were to attempt to develop any kind of relationship with her, let alone pursue her romantically. But as he always had, Jonathan knew that if there were something he wanted, he would have to get it himself, and no one was going to give him anything.

In this case, it was a someone, not a something. He had to allow for the dynamics of that fact. He had a good idea in his head that Miranda Duke wasn’t someone who allowed herself to be viewed as some sort of prize.

 

[Britwitch]

"Yes...I do believe our introduction was somehow, eh…postponed. My name is Jonathan. Jonathan Foley..."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr Foley..." Miranda's smile grew slightly.
"I’m a broker with your father’s firm...I can see that such a distinction doesn’t exactly make me unique in this room. I see so many co-workers, I feel like maybe I should be preparing a lunch order.”
"I'm sure you set yourself apart from the others in this room, Mr Foley. Everyone my father invites here has done something the others have not..." She took the offered glass of champagne and tilted it towards him in a small toast before taking a sip.

“I have been meaning to thank your father for inviting me to your home. I am very excited to be here. I haven’t had the chance to thank him, or even see him, really. But I’m sure he’s very busy.”
"He can be a little difficult to approach at these things," She sighed. "So many people to see, so little time...I'm sure you know how it goes..." She met his eyes, seeing a glimmer of something familiar there. Almost as if they both could see the business politics of her fathers actions that no one else seemed to see floating beneath the surface of everything.

“I think your home is absolutely beautiful. I haven’t had the opportunity to see much of it. Perhaps at some point in time, you will provide me with a tour.”
"Thank you," Miranda let her eyes roam around the ornately decorated room with a light sigh. "It is a gorgeous building and the grounds, I think, are the best for miles around...I would be delighted to show around...some time..." She said softly, lifting the glass to her lips as their eyes met once more.

It was strange. He was suited and booted like all the other minions from her father's office but, while they looked like they had stepped out from a magazine page, two dimensional and unlifelike. He seemed real.
There was something almost glowing in his eyes as he looked at her. It wasn't something she saw very often, many of the eyes she saw glancing her way were already glazed over with the idea of her family's money and business.
She couldn't deny he was very handsome, far more manly than the pampered and preened 'daddy's boys' that had swarmed around her before. He was dressed smartly and correctly but there was an edge to him, something that didn't quite fit. And it was entrancing her...

Part of it she knew stemmed from the fact that he hadn't been introduced to her by her father, nor had her father spoken to him. Rarely did her father invite anyone to these events that he did not like or approve of.
So why invite Jonathan only to ignore him...?
She knew she would have to try to find out why and she also knew that whatever happened, she would have to somehow see him again.

"So...Jonathan, may I call you Jonathan? It sounds so much better than Mr Foley..." She smiled, almost shyly, leaning a little closer to him as if about to share a secret. "...do you mind if I ask you a personal question...?" She glanced around to make sure no one was close enough to hear her before continuing. "Jonathan, do you...do you find this all as boring as I do...?" She winked at him before leaning back and sipping her champagne, looking every bit the wealthy business man's daughter as she did so.

 

[RockYourWorld]

Jonathan wondered just how much of himself he should share with the young Miss Duke. She certainly was attractive, charming, and so far at least, easy to talk too. She did not seem to be intent on causing harm to Jonathan in any way, but Jonathan was not a trusting type, and too often in his life, the people that had done the most harm to him were the people that smiled in his face. As Miranda spoke, Jonathan could sense that she was sizing him up, determining his worth. This happened to him all the time. In the circles he chose to populate, people were constantly making judgments about Jonathan. Some dismissed him immediately as of poor breeding, not worthy of even a conversation. Other’s like Roger Duke, Miranda’s father, tolerated his presence as long as he made money for the firm. And rarely, very rarely actually, someone came along who appreciated Jonathan for the person he was, and expected nothing else from him.

Where did Miranda Duke fall into this spectrum? She had not dismissed Jonathan with a backwards wave of her hand, or politely dismissed herself upon his introduction, so at least he could eliminate the first possibility. The second possibility was still to be determined. Jonathan had been a major producer for the firm of Duke and Duke, mainly through his work on the IPO a short while ago. How much, he wondered, did Miranda care about what happened at the firm? Did she keep track of the big earning brokers? If so, she seemed to hide it well. Several of the men currying her favor a short while ago were stars in the firm, yet her interest in them seemed to be tepid at best. It was too early to tell, so far, if Miranda was just another Duke with dollar signs in her eyes, but the early indications were good.

Jonathan looked at Miranda as she spoke, and for one of the few times in his life, took a gamble where he didn’t fully know the outcome. Miranda Duke was going to see Jonathan Foley as he was, and she was going to see this from the very beginning. This way, regardless of how things progressed from here, both would know where they stood.

"I'm sure you set yourself apart from the others in this room, Mr Foley. Everyone my father invites here has done something the others have not..."

“Actually, I believe the truth to be that when your father saw me here, he ordered his people to keep me hidden along with the staff of maids and butlers. I know for a fact that he didn’t invite me here. I was added to the guest list when John Connor suddenly resigned. My supervisor, being someone who actually awards people based on merit, put my name on the guest list. I can’t say that bodes well for my supervisor’s short-term future as an employee of the firm.”

He knew he was bombarding Miranda with information, probably too much. But there was something about her…something real and permanent that he felt a need to touch, to make sure was authentic. Miranda was beautiful. Her smile and the glimmer of her eyes, they were luxury, something Jonathan had experienced so few times in his life. The luxury she emitted and almost seemed to be sharing with him was the kind the was comfortable, not artificial, as he experienced on a daily basis serving the company of Duke and Duke and their wealthy clients. If he was coming on too strong, he wanted to reassure her that he was not crazy. Yet he wanted to continue to make sure she knew who he was.

“I come from a different place than the rest of the people you’ll meet here tonight, Miss Duke. I don’t come from wealth. I’ve worked very hard to get where I am. I’m not sure that’s the case with my contemporaries here. And I’m very sure your father doesn’t approve of my background. But all of that aside, I hope that we can continue to enjoy this very pleasant conversation.” He smiled and sipped his champaign.

For the first time, and for all he knew, the only time, during this evening, he felt at ease, comfortable as himself, not judged. Miranda seemed to approve of his approach with her, and continued to evaluate him.

“Yes, please, call me Jonathan,” he said in response to her question, “but only if I can call you Miranda. And if you find these affairs as boring as I do, I suggest we excuse ourselves. Don’t you agree?”

Jonathan knew that asking her to do such a thing might cause a bit of a minor scandal. He studied her closely to sense how she would react.

 

[Britwitch]

“Actually, I believe the truth to be that when your father saw me here, he ordered his people to keep me hidden along with the staff of maids and butlers. I know for a fact that he didn’t invite me here. I was added to the guest list when John Connor suddenly resigned. My supervisor, being someone who actually awards people based on merit, put my name on the guest list. I can’t say that bodes well for my supervisor’s short-term future as an employee of the firm.”
"Well...whatever the reason behind your invitation, I am very glad you accepted..." Miranda met his eyes almost shyly as she spoke, her tone genuine and warm. She hadn't got a clue what went on inside the buildings where her father's company was run, the names that were mentioned during meal times, at these 'evenings' or during overheard conversations about the business rolled off of her like water from a duck's back. The world of finance was never going to be her life and she did everything to almost blot it out of her day to day living as much as she could.

“I come from a different place than the rest of the people you’ll meet here tonight, Miss Duke. I don’t come from wealth. I’ve worked very hard to get where I am. I’m not sure that’s the case with my contemporaries here. And I’m very sure your father doesn’t approve of my background. But all of that aside, I hope that we can continue to enjoy this very pleasant conversation.”
"I am quite sure that we shall," Miranda sipped her champagne, letting her eyes drift over him once more, smiling as they returned to his face. "After all, I like to make my own decisions about people...and they are usually very different to those formed by my father..."
“Yes, please, call me Jonathan...but only if I can call you Miranda. And if you find these affairs as boring as I do, I suggest we excuse ourselves. Don’t you agree?”

Miranda's eyes lit up slightly at the possibility of escaping this dreary set up, and to escape with someone like Jonathan only made things even more exciting. Glancing around, making sure her father's gaze was otherwise engaged, she gave Jonathan a blinding smile.
"Wait here, in a few minutes a maid will call you to the telephone...just follow her and our 'escape' should be easily accomplished...!" Draining the last of the champagne from her glass she placed it onto the tray of a passing waiter and headed straight for her father.
Sighing and rubbing her head slightly, complaining of a headache. She made her apologies and, after smiling and waving at a few people, she ascended the stairs and disappeared from view.

Once out of sight, she headed into one of the many rooms along the upper corridor of the house, picking up the phone inside and calling the phone in the downstairs hall.
"The Duke Residence, how may I help you?" A maid's voice asked.
Miranda lowered her voice and spoke a little slower than she would have usually.
"Ah yes, I have some urgent personal news for Mr Jonathan Foley, I believe his at the house...?"
The maid answered that she would fetch him and Miranda giggled to herself as she heard the phone being set down and the heeled feet of the maid moving away. She doubted the maid would have recognised her voice, she thought she sounded more like a bad pirate impersonator than anything else.
Shortly afterwards Miranda heard the phone being picked up and Jonathan's voice speaking to her. Grinning she quickly, explained her plan.
"Ok, look like you're hearing some bad news, make your excuses to leave and go out of the front door, head to the left, around into the gardens and I'll meet you there..." She whispered before hanging up, leaving the room and almost skipping down a servant's staircase ready to meet Jonathan outside.

 

[RockYourWorld]

Jonathan didn’t usually care much for women who ignored him when he talked. Miranda wasn’t exactly ignoring him, but he did notice that when he talked about working at her father’s firm, or anything that transpired in the office, Miranda became disinterested. It was quite obvious, and the look that came over her face told Jonathan that he could not possibly tell Miranda anything new about the inner workings of Duke and Duke that she hadn’t already heard a thousand times before. When the look of disinterest came over her face, he didn’t take it personally. In fact, he took it as an encouraging sign. If Miranda was interested in keeping him close by in order to play company politics (with him, no doubt, being a pawn –sacrificed and discarded) then it was he who had no interest in her. But on the other hand, if Miranda was able to show him that all of the trappings of her wealth and the influence of her powerful family held little sway with her, and that she was her own person, with her own interests, well, this had promise.

All signs pointed in that direction when, in what seemed like an instant, she devised a plan to allow them to escape this stuffy party. "Wait here, in a few minutes a maid will call you to the telephone...just follow her and our 'escape' should be easily accomplished...!" His heart began to pound in his chest. There was excitement, the thought of possibly being alone with the beautiful Miranda Duke! But also, trepidation. There was some risk here. What if Roger Duke found Jonathan sequestered with his daughter? Even if it were harmless, Roger Duke wouldn’t see it that way, and Jonathan would surely be out of work. This would be true even if he and Miranda were spotted by his weasel coworkers, the jealous little pukes.

But what about Miranda? Jonathan thought. She was risking so much more, just for a chance to be alone with him, wherever that may be. And soon, a maid would make him aware of a phone call, and this would all come together. Soon, that exact thing happened, just like Miranda said it would. The maid told him there was a call for him and to follow her to the phone. When he picked it up, he heard Miranda’s voice. e wanted to smile, but instantly he heard her instructions to act as though he were receiving bad news.

“…make your excuses to leave and go out of the front door, head to the left, around into the gardens and I'll meet you there..."

His first instinct was to go to Roger Duke and thank him for inviting him to his home, even though Jonathan knew he had done nothing of the sort. As he made his way across the grand foyer, he saw Roger standing in a circle of other rich and powerful people. Roger, for the first time all night, looked at Jonathan. The look was intense, and had the immediate effect of stopping Jonathan in his tracks. The look on Roger Duke’s face clearly stated “you are NOT to speak to ME!” Instead, Jonathan spoke to a butler, asking him to tell Mr. Duke that Jonathan had a family emergency, and would need to leave. When hearing this from the butler, Roger joked that perhaps that meant Jonathan had to bail out a family member from jail, a remark that was met with laughter from those standing close to him.

By then, Jonathan had left them all behind. He followed Miranda’s instructions, moving to the left and looked for the gardens. It was dark back there, but that was probably part of her plan. He had to look hard to see if she was there, and he didn’t see her at first. He stepped on to the crushed stone walkway of the garden area, looking left, then right, and saw no one. Perhaps this was all part of another joke at his expense. Maybe Miranda set all of this up, and she and her other rich, sophisticated friends were all watching him from the security of the mansion, having a healthy laugh. It was time to go home, Jonathan thought, time to get as far away from this place as he could get.

He turned to his left to make his way to his car when suddenly a soft and alluring form stepped from behind a sculpted hedge. It was Miranda, alone, waiting for Jonathan, just like she said she would be.

“I’m sorry, I didn't mean to hide. I needed to be discreet,” she said, stepping toward him. “I hope you understand.”

“I understand fully,” Jonathan said. Despite the fact that he had made his escape, his heart continued to beat furiously. And despite the fact that the two of them stood in the dark, dark night of the country manor sky, Jonathan was drawn to the luminous glow of Miranda’s eyes. They seemed to be sparkling, and maybe only he could see that. But if that were the case, that made him the luckiest man at this dreadfully boring party.