A Vixen and A butterfly

"The dress leaves the top of her shoulders uncovered, while falling around her body in loose but elegant fit taking some attention away from her figure. She did it purposely, to attract her next victim...The man who cannot stop himself from the innocent and yet charming looking woman."

Kate Peralta read through the lines and looked at Harvey with a raised brow... "You seem smitten with this woman."

Harvey nodded," Yes! I want all the readers to be smitten. They should be sure that this woman is not the serial killer that our hero is looking for. They should be so blind that they wouldn't even notice when she killed them... And when they do discover that she is the killer, I want them to be so angry that they would curse me all the way!"

Kate looked at her author with a thoughtful gaze. She had worked with Harvey Elliott for the last five years and the man had never been like this as she was seeing him now. His work which had always been off the charts seemed to have somehow improved and his manuscript was on time! Something that she had not thought possible. But this time, he had perfected perfection! Usually she had to keep pushing him to submit before the deadline which usually resulted in her having ulcers and suffering a cold shoulder from an irritated Harvey. A very very horrible experience to be sure, being on the receiving end of his cutting remarks.

And yet, here he was, with the first ten chapters of his next piece already on the table without even her having to take a single antacid or make a single threatening phone call!

Closing the file, she placed her hands on it and questioned," We spoke last month and you said that you were facing a writer's block.. And now, you have two month's worth of chapters written and edited, ready for the creative team to get ready working for the cover. How? Did you lie to me? And what is with your appearance? What happened to the starving, poor and unkempt look that you usually support when you are writing?"

Harvey laughed at this and shook his head," Kate! You are a nag! First, you used to pester me for not submitting my manuscripts on time. For not taking care of myself. For having dark circles! And now, you are worried because I have submitted on time. Because I look good? What?"

"Harvey! You are making me worry. What is happening?", Kate spoke worriedly. Yes, she nagged because she cared for the man. But he was behaving so oddly. He was never like this when he was in the middle of writing. What happened to the moody, depressed and irritated author?

Harvey finally stopped teasing the woman and spoke," There is nothing wrong, Katie! It's just that the book is coming off well. And that makes me feel happy and relaxed. I think I might have the next ten chapters ready by next month!"

Kate looked at him carefully with narrowed eyes before deciding to change the subject as he was trying to do. She will let him be... for now. "So, I tried coming over to your place last week. The bar tender told me that you are not coming to the pub these days. Care to explain where you are doing all your writing?"

"I usually don't go there when I am writing. You know that."

"Yes. But you are not holed up in your room above the pub also! Which is where you are usually when you are writing." Kate countered. "What are you upto Harvey? And where are you living? As your agent and manager, I have a right to know that."

"You are more like a guard dog for the madam.", Harvey muttered but then immediately apologized when he saw her hurt expression.

"I am sorry. I am sorry. That was uncalled for. Kate, you can tell the madam that I don't want to see her and that she should stop using you to try and get to me. It is not your job to report my whereabouts to the madam. You know."

"Harvey! Stop calling her madam! She is your mother."

"I don't accept her as my mother and you know that. Also, that does not justify her using you to do her dirty work. She wants to talk to me, let her come at the pub or to my room to wait. I am not going to visit her in her lair."

Kate exhaled sharply. Harvey came across as someone easy going and laidback but the man was unforgiving to those who dared to hurt him. Knowing that she would not get anywhere with him at present, she spoke," Fine. At least tell me where you are living now. I promise I won't tell her."

"I am living with Liel." Harvey finally answered.

Kate frowned at this trying to recollect if she knew someone by that name. A few minutes later, however, her mouth fell open as she looked down at the file in her hand and then the man in front of her.. The main protagonist in the new book was named Liel...

"You are living with this woman?" Kate asked in shock.

She knew that Harvey was no less than a bear when he was working, forgetting to eat and sleep or even clean up after himself. How and where did he meet a woman and then live with her? And recollecting the lines where he had almost droned poetic about her looks it seemed he was smitten with her as well.

"Who is this woman that has brought about this miracle? And when did you get yourself a girlfriend?" Kate asked sharply. Feeling that she had exposed her feelings, too much, she softened her tone a bit and continued," I am just wondering..."

"Oh! I just found her. She is a witch. I am sure. A mix between a vixen and a butterfly. Cunning and innocent. Cute and a bit vicious. She is not my girlfriend... yet. But there is some connection between us. That makes me feel as if she might be just the one...

Kate picked up her now cold cappuccino, trying to hide her own tumultuous feelings. She had never imagined that Harvey Elliott would ever talk like this. Like a love struck teenager. She narrowed her eyes at him. How sweet...And how weird..

Drinking the beverage in a sip, she spoke," I want to meet her." And she would have to report this to his mother.