Chapter Text
Armitage Hux or simply ‘Hux’, was a man with simple needs. He liked his coffee hot, his shirts starched and his profit margins, high. Since graduating from university at the top of his class with a degree in Business, Hux had immediately went to work for his Father at First Editions Inc. For many months he had been trying to prove himself worthy of his lofty position and now he was on the brink of achieving that success. Opening a flagship store in London was a huge boon for the book store chain, and it was all down to Hux’s excellent negotiation skills.
With his latte in hand, Hux walked through the building site that was soon to become the newest member of the First Edition’s family. He took a sip of his coffee and smiled as he surveyed the amazing amount of square footage before him. He frowned as his eyes settled on one of the workmen. The builder was crouched down in such a way that it allowed far too much of his rear-end to spill out from his inadequate trousers.
‘You eyeing up that builders crack?’ Ben asked coming up behind Hux and slapping him on the shoulder. Hux rolled his eyes. Ben Solo was an old family friend, he was also a very sought after designer and Hux had brought him on as a consultant for the build. Working with Ben was both a help and a hindrance for Hux. Ben had an incredible eye for detail but he also enjoyed teasing his straight laced friend on an all too regular basis. Hux bore it because Ben was a damn good worker and he scared the hell out of the other contractors.
‘What are you doing here, Ben?’
‘Just getting a feel for the place, you know, letting the creative juices flow.’
‘Well don’t let them flow too liberally, we don’t want a mess now do we?’
‘Hux! You made a funny! I’m so proud!’ Ben said smacking his friend on the back.
The slap stung and Hux rubbed at the tender area. He decided to extract himself from the situation before he required medical treatment.
‘Well I must be going, lots to do.’
‘Yeah, me too. See you later, Hux. Enjoy the view,’ Ben said with a wink and a nod in the direction of the workman’s ass.
Hux waited until Ben was out of earshot before releasing his irritated sigh. He liked Ben, he just wished he didn’t have to be so aggressive! He finished his coffee and excited the building. As he walked along the busy streets he had a spring in his step and a tune on his lips. The store was going to be his crowning glory. His way to show his Father once and for all that he was worthy of his nepotic position. He felt on top of the world and nothing was going to stand in his way.
**********
Rose hummed happily as she lifted the shutter on her small boutique children’s bookshop. ‘Pages’ was Rose’s pride and joy. Named after her sister who died when Rose was still a young child, Pages had grown from a small market stall to a fully fledged book purveyor in the heart of London.
As Rose unlocked the door, Rey appeared at her side. Rose smiled. Rey was her friend and her best sales assistant. There was one other assistant Finn, who worked part-time and was never on time.
‘You’re very cheerful this morning,’ Rey observed.
‘Am I?’ Rose said feigning innocence.
They entered the store and Rey continued to eye her suspiciously, then her eyes opened wide as if she had discovered something.
‘You’ve met a guy,’ she announced.
Rose blinked.
How did Rey do that? Sometimes she was so intuitive it was frightening.
‘No I haven’t.’
‘Oh yes you did. Spill.’
Rose went to the register and checked for change.
‘I haven’t met anyone.’
‘Liar.’
Finn come strolling in through the door. Rose looked at her watch and cocked an eyebrow at him. Finn shrugged.
‘Poe hates it when I put on my alarm, so I didn’t set it, but then inevitably, we slept in.’
‘Poe is your excuse for everything!’ Rey retorted.
‘He is a naughty boy,’ Finn said with a wink.
Rose giggled.
Finn pointed a finger at her.
‘You laughed! I’m off the hook!’
‘Fine,’ Rose replied.
Rey began to stack some shelves while Finn priced up some new arrivals.
Rose wondered if she had time to check her email while her two troublesome employees were occupied. She sneaked into the back office and turned on her computer. She waited impatiently for the internet to connect. Once she was online she checked her mailbox and found she had one new email. She pulled in a sharp breath, then laughed at herself. There was no reason to believe it was from him. It could have been from anyone. It could have been spam for a new face cream. She opened her inbox and saw the email was from GeneralGrievance34. She smiled and bit her lip. It was from him.
She looked over her shoulder. No sign of Rey and Finn. She clicked on the message and started to read:
Dearest One,
It is Autumn, the season I love the most and I can not help but wonder what you take pleasure in at this time of year? Do you enjoy the crunch of leaves under your feet? Or the blustery winds as they tangle through your hair? I myself enjoy being able to put on my favourite winter coat and walk through the streets of London with a Latte in my hand and a smile on my lips. Sometimes I imagine you are by my side, holding my hand as I walk. Perhaps we would laugh at a passerby’s resemblance to their canine companion or marvel at the street vendors ability to completely ignore even the basic rules of hygiene. Anyway, I hope that whatever you are doing, it makes you as happy as you deserve to be on this fine, crisp fall day.
Signed,
GG O
‘Who is GG?’ Finn asked.
Rose jumped as Rey and Finn appeared behind her. She quickly shut off the screen and stood up.
‘No-one,’ she said as she headed back to the shop floor.
‘You’re blushing!’ Finn announced pointing at her glowing cheeks.
‘I am not! It’s just hot in here!’ Rose exclaimed.
‘Finn leave her alone, she doesn’t have to tell us anything.’
Thank You, Rey,’ Rose said with a grateful smile.
Finn’s shoulders slumped.
‘You’re not going to tell? That’s so mean. But so romantic,’ He said with a sigh.
Rose pressed her lips together.
‘Okay I’ll tell you.’
Rey and Finn both bounced over to the counter and rested their chins on their hands.
‘We met in a random chat room. He was having an argument with some guy about proper vacuum maintenance. I explained how I souped mine up so it sucked up twice as much dirt. He was very interested in my methods so we got to talking and we’ve been chatting ever since. That was about a month ago.’
‘So you two know nothing about each other?’ Rey asked.
‘Nothing. Not even our real names.’
‘He could be anyone,’ Finn looked around suspiciously at the customers.
‘He could be a psycho killer,’ Rey said calmly as she turned, pulled herself up onto the counter and dangled her legs over the side.
‘He is not a psycho killer!’ Rose said angrily.
Finn made his hands into claws and stalked around the counter towards Rose.
‘He could be. He might want to chop you up into tiny, little petals, Rose! Ha ha ha ha ha, ouch!’
Rose smacked Finn on the arm.
‘Will you two stop it!’
Finn rubbed his arm and pouted.
‘She’s quite protective of him isn’t she?’ He observed.
Rey jumped down off the counter and smiled.
‘She’s in lurvvveeee.’
‘I am not! But I think, I think I like him,’ Rose admitted sheepishly.
‘Well then, you have to meet,’ Rey said.
‘Yes, I agree,’ Finn nodded.
‘He’s never asked me to meet him,’ Rose admitted.
‘You ask him then,’ Rey said.
‘Yeah, Girl Power!’ Finn shouted.
Rose shushed him as the customers started to frown in their direction.
Rey and Finn got distracted by some children who wanted to talk about the new Knights of Ren comics and Rose pretended to be studying some invoices while she mulled over their advice. It wasn’t a bad idea...why didn’t she just ask him out? What was the worst that could happen.
He could say no…
Okay, that would hurt, but what were they doing to do just email each other for the rest of their lives? If he wasn’t going to make the next move. It was up to her. She decided to ask him that very evening.
Finn finished up with the children and came back towards the counter.
‘Rose have you considered that this guy might be a girl?’ He said wagging his eyebrows.
Rose rolled her eyes at him.
‘Get back to work.’
‘Yes boss!’ Rey and Finn said in unison.
**********
‘Honey I’m home!’ Hux called as he arrived home to his studio apartment that evening.
He waited for his beloved to respond.
‘Meow!’
Millicent his pampered Orange tabby cat prowled towards him and wound in between his legs.
‘There’s my girl! Did you miss me? Did you miss your daddy?’ Hux picked Millicent up and she rubbed her fur covered head against his chin.
‘Shall I get you some dinner?’
‘Meow!’
Hux placed Milli on the kitchen countertop and opened the fridge. He took out some pre-cooked chicken, much to the little cats delight. Millicent had a very particular diet. She couldn’t stomach cat food so Hux made her a special menu tailored to her individual needs. He put the chicken out on a small saucer and placed it in front of Milli who immediately started to wolf it down.
‘Bon Appetit!’ Hux was with a flourish.
He moved into his study and clicked on the computer.
‘You have mail,’ sang the notification.
Hux smiled when he saw the sender was FlowerPower49.
Hey you,
What I enjoy most about Autumn is the fresh young faces of the children as they finish their first days at school. I don’t have children myself, but through my occupation I get to come into contact with so many of them. I get to hear all their exciting stories, how many friends they made and who they sat at lunch with. How they learnt to jump rope or sing a new nursery rhyme. Those first school days are so precious.
It made me smile to read that you sometimes imagine I am walking beside you. I sometimes imagine that you are with me while I eat lunch or grab a coffee. Perhaps...perhaps it’s time that we make our imaginary meetings a reality?
Hopefully,
FP
Hux stared at the email. It hasn’t occurred to him that she would want to meet him in person. Their correspondent relationship was so perfect, so pure. Why did she want to ruin it with the inevitable disappointment meeting him in person would cause?
Milli jumped into his lap. He ruffled her fur absentmindedly as she padded his thighs.
‘Maybe it isn’t such a bad idea? I mean, you like me don’t you Milli?’
‘Meow!’
Hux chewed his lip and furrowed his brow. He imagined meeting FlowerPower49 in a cafe, he imagined walking up to her and taking her hand in his, he started to sweat and shake just at the thought of it. No. They couldn’t meet. If they did, she wouldn’t speak to him ever again and that wouldn’t do because aside from Milli, FlowerPower49 was the best part of his day. He would just ignore the question and carry on as if nothing had happened. Yes. That was the best solution and then they could go back to the way things were, safe and orderly. Where everything was kept at a pleasant distance and no hearts could be broken. Yes, that was for the best. He looked down at Milli who blinked up at him lovingly.
‘If only all women were as easy as you Milli,’ he crooned.
‘Meow,’ came the predictable response.
**********
‘I cannot believe he ignored you!’ Rey raged as she unpacked ‘Math Maniacs’ in a rough manner.
‘He didn’t ignore me, I think the question was just ...too soon. And anyway, his response was quite lovely and I’m happy for us to remain as we are. Could you stop damaging the merchandise now please?’
‘This is some serious bullsh—‘
‘Hi Miranda! How are the Kinderman girls today!’ Rose cut Rey off as some of her regulars entered the store.
‘Rosey Posey!’ announced Miranda’s youngest daughter as she flew forward and formed a vice like grip around Rose’s legs.
‘As you can tell Layla is on top form,’ Miranda said with an amused smile.
‘And how is Lucy?’ Rose asked looking at Miranda’s eldest. Lucy sighed audibly.
‘Boy trouble,’ Miranda whispered.
Rose nodded knowingly.
‘I have just the thing,’ she said as she detangled Layla from her legs.
‘Come on, Layla, come with me,’ Rose said offering the little girl her hand. Layla cheerfully took it and they headed to the back of the store. They returned with a pile of books.
‘This is what you need,’Rose said handing the books to Lucy.
Lucy eyed them with interest. She was an avid reader.
‘What’s this?’
‘My own personal favourite choice of novels written by women about women who managed to save the world, win wars, take down aliens, and fight for what’s right all without the aid of man.’
Lucy smiled.
‘Thank you, Rose.’
‘You are very welcome. Now then Layla, which dinosaur pop up book can I interest you in today?’
‘Stegosaurus!’
‘You’ve got it,’ Rose replied.
She rang up the purchases and waved the family off cheerfully. She watched them go with a wistful smile. Rose wanted a family of her own. Would that ever happen for her? She thought about GeneralGrievance34 and sighed.
‘You need cheering up,’ Rey announced, putting down another box of new arrivals on the counter.
‘I’m fine,’ Rose insisted.
‘No you’re not. You’re sad. That means I have to fix it, like you always do when I’m sad.’
Rose smiled at Rey.
‘It’s easy to know how to cheer you up, everyone knows the way to your heart is through your stomach.’
‘Food is my one and only love,’ she announced.
Suddenly Finn burst in through the door. Rose looked at her watch.
‘You’re ten minutes early,’ she said incredulously.
Finn was panting loudly.
‘There’s a...it’s a...they’re building a….’
‘Finn, calm down,’ Rose said with concern.
‘Finn, have you been snorting something?’ Rey asked.
‘THERE’S A FIRST EDITIONS SUPERSTORE OPENING TWO STREETS AWAY!’
Rose’s mouth went dry.
‘Are you sure?’
‘Positive. They just put up a big sign that says “FIRST EDITIONS COMING SOON!” Rose, what are we gonna do?’
‘We’ve going to do nothing. That store is just a big shiny novelty. We’re an established member of this community. This store means something to people. We’re going to be fine.’
Rey looked worried.
‘Rose, First Editions put people out of business up and down the country. We can’t ignore this.’
‘The store hasn’t even opened yet! We don’t know what’s going to happen. Let’s keep the panic to a minimum for the moment.’
Finn and Rey nodded though they looked unconvinced. Rose plastered a smile on her face and beamed at them before heading for the back office. Once she was sure the door was closed behind her, her smile evaporated. She put her head in her hands. What was she going to do? A conglomerate like First Editions would chew her up and spit her out without a moment of hesitation.
‘I wish you were here Paige,’ She said sadly.
Okay, no point moping, what could she do that was constructive...
She picked up the phone and called her Ex boyfriend Beaumont Kin. Beaumont was a journalist with the Times. Maybe he could write something about the store. They had parted on good terms.
‘Beaumont? It’s Rose. Listen, could we meet? There’s something I want to discuss with you.’
‘Rose! It’s great to hear from you. I was actually just thinking about you. I would love to meet. How’s 2pm at our favourite restaurant?’
‘Great. I’ll see you there.’
Rose put down the phone. She felt restless so she picked up her coat and headed for the door.
‘Where are you going?’ Finn asked.
‘Just for a coffee,’ she lied.
She left the shop and headed in the direction Finn has came from.
‘Let’s see what all the fuss is about,’ she muttered as she headed the site of the nightmare discount bookstore.
**********