I can do this all day

She stares at him from behind her glass, her eyes sparkle with amusement as she watches his every move. For the first time in his life Tom feels intimidated by another. Her beauty and aura astound him. It feels like a dream. The kind you never want to wake from. With delicate hands, she picks up her glass gracefully and takes a sip. Tom’s hand tightens around his third glass of whiskey as his eyes linger on her lips.

“What brings you here love?”, he raises an eyebrow slightly as she places the glass down.

“Well what did you come here for Tom?”, she counters, grinning as her hand cups her chin as she leans her elbow against the bar. Tom smirks at this and leans in closer to her.

“I asked first (Y/N)”. A soft giggle tumbles past her lips, her eyes squinting slightly as she laughs.

“I came for a drink, and also to people-watch, now your turn”, she smiles up at him, a hint of nervousness gleaming in her eyes.

“People watch? What do you mean by that?”, his brows furrow together slightly, a teasing smile resting on his face.

“Uh-uh, it’s your turn to answer my question. I’ll answer yours when you answer mine”, she sits up straight, hands moving to her lap, that radiant grin that causes Tom’s pulse to quicken, remains on her face. It’s his turn to laugh and he does, a soft deep chuckle that vibrates through her chest, causing goosebumps to arise on her skin.

“I also came for a drink”, he crosses his arms comfortably across his chest.

“Rough day at work?”, she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Uh-uh, it’s your turn to answer my question”, he smirks at her after repeating her words back to her. Her smile never leaves her face as she shakes her head slightly.

“Alright alright, you wanna know about my people watching?”. Tom nods as he gazes at her, eyes locked on hers as he listens intently.

“I like to watch people. Well it’s more like observing. Watching sounds creepy. But I like to imagine the lives people live and what they could be thinking or feeling at that moment”, her eyes no longer gaze into his. In an attempt to avoid his gaze, she stares at her hands in her lap, a little embarrassed about admitting something so personal to a man she has just met. Tom uncross his arms and leans them against the bench of the bar.

“I like to observe people too, I’m very good at reading people”. Her eyes dart back up to his, a relieved smile now resting on her face.

“I don’t think I’m very good at reading people, I prefer to make it up”. Tom grins and scans the room.

“Well show me how it’s done, make up a little story about someone”. (Y/N) looks around the bar before her eyes land on a middle-aged woman sitting alone at a table closer to the back of the room. She’s nursing a glass of red wine as she idly twists the ring on her finger. Tom catches her gaze and smiles slightly.

“What’s her story love?”.

“She’s a widow, that’s why she’s playing with her ring like that. And she’s drinking wine alone, so she seems sad, but that kind of sad you only see in people who have really seen some shit. She probably lived a crazy life, on the run from police with a boyfriend or something like that. They probably robbed a bank. Maybe they got married without anyone knowing as her family hated him”, she nibbles on her lip excitedly, nodding as she gazes at the woman. She takes a sip of her drink before she continues the scenario she has just made up.

“The husband most likely died tragically in a shoot-out with the police, and she was so heart broken she never loved another” Tom grins at her, completely enthralled by the way she speaks and how quickly she was able to come up with such a story.

“What a life to have lived”, he takes another sip of his drink. (Y/N) turns back to look at him and shrugs slightly, smiling softly as she takes in the smile on his face.

“Or maybe she’s just a bitter old drunk whose husband left her for some twenty-year-old with great boobs and she never got over it”. Tom laughs, a genuine laugh as he gazes at her with pure adoration.

“They both seem plausible explanations love”. She giggles and nods once more.

“Why don’t you analyze someone, you know like properly”, she finishes the last mouthful of her drink. Tom smiles and nods, gazing around the bar once more. His eyes set on a man at the end of the bar, women perched on him as he laughs and drinks with them. The smile falls from his face completely, his eyes hardening and his jaw tightening. (Y/N) raises an eyebrow at his sudden change of demeanor and turns behind her to look.

“Do you know him or something?”. Tom grunts and stands from his bar stool.

“Yeah something like that love”, he frowns and looks back down to her.

“I hate to leave so abruptly but I need to have a talk with him”, he continues, his eyes softening as he notices the concerned look in hers.

“It’s okay, but you don’t seem very happy to see him, are you sure you should go talk to him?” concern drips from her words and Tom’s chest swells as he hears.

“Don’t worry about me love, but you probably shouldn’t watch, things could get ugly. Just stay here, I’ll handle him”, he gives her shoulder a soft squeeze before beginning to walk off towards the man. (Y/N) stands from her seat and grabs onto the sleeve of his blazer.

“I can handle ugly; besides, you’ve got me curious as to what you’re so worked up over”, she gazes up at him, all traces of concern gone. Tom hesitates for a moment before he nods.

“But stay close to me, okay?”. (Y/N) nods and she follows him over to the man, her hand letting go of his blazer and falling back to her side. Toms stops in front of the man with (Y/N) at his side, his expression once again darkening. The man now noticing another presence looks up at him, his eyes widening in fear, scrambling out of his seat as he recognizes the taller man.

“M-Mr. Holland!”, he moves behind his bar stool, trying to distance himself from the man before him.

“Samuel”, Tom spits out coldly as he glares down at the beady eyed man.

“You owe me a lot of money Samuel. And here I find you buying drinks for random women at the bar. Which you should not be doing after all the trouble you landed in with your little underground scheme”. As Samuel tries to stutter out and excuse, (Y/N) watches him, biting her lip in anticipation. The women that once surrounded him have since scattered at the sight of Tom, leaving the sleaze who was supplying them with drinks defenseless.

“If I don’t have that money on my desk by tomorrow you know what will happen to you”, Tom’s voice is authoritative as he speaks with no hesitation, yet (Y/N) is not afraid. If anything, she craves to see more of this dark side to the handsome man beside her. The cowering man nods, his eyes wide as his fingers go white from the intense grip he has on the stool in front of him.

“Of course, Mr. Holland”, he almost whispers his response.

“And for fucks sake, if I catch you chatting up another woman after the shit you pulled I will personally end you”, Tom threatens as he places a hand on his lips, flashing his gun to the man as his blazer is pushed back. Samuel nods before dashing off out of the bar. (Y/N) looks up at Tom, her eyes scanning his face in pure amazement. With a frown Tom looks back down to her.

“Sorry if I scared you love, I’ve been chasing that guy for a while and I just let my anger get the better of me”, he sighs and cups her cheek ever so gently. His rough calloused hand warm against her cheek, causing her skin to redden and her breath to catch in her throat.

“I’ve seen worse, Mr. Holland”, she adds the last part with a slight smirk.  Tom licks his lips, a glint of mischief flashing in his eyes.

“Mr. Holland huh?”. (Y/N) smiles up at him.

“You call me love, it’s only fair I give you a nickname”. Tom chuckles and removes his hand from her face, unbeknownst to the slight disappointment she feels of not having his skin against hers.

“I guess you’re right. I’ll let you call me that then”. (YN) smiles and plays with her hands shyly, her cheek still warm from where his touch just was. Tom sighs softly and rubs the back of his head.

“I really need a smoke after that, care to join me love?”. She nods slightly as she gazes up at him, her eyes twinkling under the dim lighting of the bar.

“I’d love to observe you some more Mr. Holland”. Tom grins at her response and places his hand on the small of her back as he begins to guide her out the back door of the bar.

Tom sat at the bar, drink in his hand as he stares around the dimly lit bar. His tired eyes scanning over the people in the room. A group of men playing pool in the back corner, their drunken antics bouncing off the walls of the pub. Other couples drunkenly dancing in front of the speakers which were blaring some kind of alternate rock Tom didn’t really much care for. He lifts the glass to his lips and empties the contents, the whiskey gliding down his throat with ease. With a grunt he slams the glass back down on the bar, his eyes finding the bartender’s instantly.

“Another one, add it to my tab”, he huffs out, his hand coming up to rub his face. Tom closes his eyes as he listens to the bartender top up his glass. He takes another mouthful and opens his eyes to gaze back around the bar. A frown makes its way onto his face as he notices a girl in the corner of the room. She’s standing close by to the guys playing pool. Her hair cascades down her back in soft elegant waves as she stands. Tom grips his glass as his eyes travel up and down her form. He swallows as he drinks in the sight of her. The black material of her dress hugs her curves beautifully, her heels accentuating her stocking clad legs. Tom stares at her face, her expression one of complete boredom. Her licks his lips as he watches her tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. Never has he seen someone so delicate. In mere seconds his day has gone from shit to pretty damn good as he watches the unknown girl. How could she be so effortlessly beautiful? He frowns to himself as thinks about what a girl like that is doing in a dingy glum place that he himself despises. With a huff, he downs the rest of his drink, his eyes never leaving her breathtaking silhouette. Tom sets the now empty glass back down before beginning to make his way over to the corner of the room where the obnoxious group drunkenly play pool, and the beautiful girl who has caught his eye, idly stands watching. His eyes are fixated on her face as he steps around the pool table and moves to stand in front of her. She looks up at him with her wide sparkling eyes, her lips slightly parted.

“Hi love, I’m Tom”, he smirks at her and extends his hand, gently taking hers in his as he lifts it to his lips and plants a gentle kiss on the back of her hand.

A blush creeps up your neck as you gaze up at the man. Words caught in your throat as your hand sits in his. His brown eyes gazing into your own with pure curiosity.

“Hi Tom”, your voice is barely above a whisper as you gaze back into his eyes. Slowly he lowers your hand, his fingers brushing against your own as he lets go.

“What’s your name love?”, he raises an eyebrow at you, his smirk plastered to his face as he awaits your answer.

“(Y/N)”, you smile slightly, your hands nervously interlocked behind your back. The handsome stranger in front of you smile down at you.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you (Y/N)”, he leans in closer to you, the blended scent of cigarettes and expensive cologne wafting off him in pleasant subtle waves.

“Likewise, Tom”, you relax ad you gaze at his face, your hands falling back to their sides.

“Would you like to have a drink with me love?”, he licks his lips, his posture straightening.

You bite your lip and nod. “No harm in a drink, right?”, you giggle softly as you step around him and begin making your way over to the bar.

Tom smirks as he follows close behind, muttering under his breath as he stares at your back.

Smoke dances through the air as he sits in his chair. The leather soft against his back as he leans into the chair. The cigarette he holds idly between his fingers burns red hot at the tip. The man’s free hand reaches up to loosen his tie, unbuttoning a few buttons on his white dress shirt to provide some relief on his neck. His legs propped up on his wooden desk that sits in front of him. As he takes another drag of his cigarette, his tired eyes scan the dimly lit room. The smoke fills his lungs as he inhales, it swirls around inside of him as he pulls the cigarette from his lips. He closes his eyes as the smoke travels back up his throat and tumbles out past his lips. He does so effortlessly, it comes as second nature to him, just like breathing. Ash falls from the tip of the cigarette and onto the lush carpet of his office without a care. The man’s eyes peek out through his lashes to watch the smoke dance around him. Peace washes over his body in waves as he stubs the cigarette out against the arm of his chair, the leather sizzling as he does so. He lets his mind wander, relaxation finally taking over his body as he flicks the cigarette to the ground. A soft sigh escapes his lips as he closes his eyes once more. Outside the city streets buzz with electricity, the sounds of cars, footsteps and conversations blend into a frenzy of white noise. This however comforts him as the sounds of the city whisper delicately into his ears. Abruptly his eyes snap open as his peace is snatched from him by the vibration of his phone. He peers down at his desk where his phone buzzes with ferocity, pulling him back down to earth. With a frown and a sigh, the man reaches out to his phone, pressing answer as he holds it to his ear.

“Tom, we have a situation and I really think you need to come sort it out”, a nervous out of breath voice sounds into his ear. Tom sits up straight in his chair, business becoming him once again.

“Harrison It’s sorted already, calm down”, he sighs as he rubs the back of his neck with his free hand.

“You did? Oh well, how did it go?”, Harrison asks, concern dripping from his words but with less urgency this time.

Tom stands from his chair and peers over his desk at the body laying limp on his plush carpet.

“It’s done, don’t worry about it. Just come clean it up. I need a drink”. Harrison mumbles an acknowledgement of his boss’s order before ending the call. Tom shoves his phone into his pocket as he calmly walks around his desk. He stares down at the body, disappointment plastered to his face.

“What a waste of talent huh”, he says to himself as he pulls out a new cigarette from his suit pocket. The cigarette sits at his lips as he lights it, illuminating the room with a red hue against the dark shadows on the walls. Once again, he inhales the smoke, his body welcoming it with ease. Tom puffs the smoke out of his mouth as he makes his way to the door.