A Gala

Embarrassment filled Giselle's cheeks as she rang the doorbell to the LeBrie's home. A maid opened the door.

"I'd like to speak to Mrs. LeBrie."

The maid nodded and fetched the lady of the house. Maisy LeBrie appeared a few moments later.

"Yes? Oh, Giselle!"

"I'm afraid that I forgot about a dinner meeting that Louis and I had. I'm so sorry, but we won't be able to come over. Maybe another time?"

Maisy nodded. "Of course. Are you alright dear? You're rubbing your wrist."

Giselle had been absentmindedly massaging where Louis had held her. She immediately stopped.

"Of course, nothing to worry about."

Then she turned around and headed home. Maisy had seen the marks left on Giselle's wrist though.

I hope that man of hers treats her well, she thought. Poor thing.

Back home, Giselle heard Louis on the phone in his office and knew better than to disturb him. So she went to her solar room and finished her grapes and blood.

When she had just sucked down the last drop of blood, the door opened and Louis walked in.

"Did you do it?" he asked gruffly.

She nodded in assent. "Yes."

"Good."

He looked like he wanted to say something else and she was just about to ask when he turned around and left the room. Giselle deflated just a bit.

Ever since he got this new job, he's been much more distant, she thought sadly. I hope it doesn't stay that way.

She went to the kitchen to put the bowl and goblet into the dishwasher. Giselle checked the fridge and saw that Louis hadn't taken a bag of blood. So she took one out and heated it up in the microwave. Then she transferred it to a wine glass and took it to Louis. She knocked on the door to his office.

"Louis? If you're busy, I'll go, but I got you a glass of A positive. It's been warmed."

"You can come in."

She opened the door and walked in. He was sitting at his desk, typing away on his laptop. Louis looked up as she neared and smiled.

"Here," she said as she set it down.

"Thanks. Oh, we'll be hosting a Halloween-themed gala for Le Monde Oil. We're all to dress up as a historical person. Make sure this place looks the part. I want to impress the CEO."

"You impress everyone, mon amour," she said as she kissed his cheek. "I'll hire staff tomorrow and we'll have this mansion ready for next week."

"Good."

She took that as a dismissal and quietly left him to his work. Giselle took a walk around the garden out back, the moonlight illuminating her way. There were bushes, statues, and a gravel path. At some point, she came across an old fountain.

I'm going to have to hire a gardener too, she thought.

That night, she went into the bedroom that she was to share with Louis. But he wasn't there. She sighed, knowing he was probably still working. Giselle changed into a rose pink, sheer lace nightgown and took her nicely pinned-up hair out. Then she crawled into the white, plush, memory foam, king-sized bed and soon fell asleep.