Chapter Text
Elizabeth Keen hated events like this, she always felt like she didn’t belong among the socialites of the city. Sure she was pretty, maybe even beautiful, but compared to some of the women who attended these functions she was an ugly duckling. At least that’s how she felt. Alas she had to be present at this shindig. It was being put on by the city and every agency had to send a division to represent them. This time her task force drew the short stick.
Liz stood in her room in front of the mirror appraising herself. It was a formal affair so she opted for the red one shoulder cocktail dress. She decided to keep her hair down since she had been growing it out, the chocolate brown tresses fell gently just below her shoulders. She skipped the necklace and settled on a simple pair of diamond earrings and matching bracelet, the only gift her cheating ex-husband ever gave her. Satisfied with her attire she slipped on her black stilettos, grabbed the matching clutch and headed out the door to the waiting cab.
Arriving at the gala she confidently walked into the ballroom looking for her team. She can feel the heated gazes of lustful men taking in her form as she made her way through the crowded room, not paying them any attention. She finally located Cooper, Ressler, Samar and Aram near the bar and quickly made her way over to them and immodestly ordered herself a glass of wine hoping to calm her nerves a bit.
Raymond Reddington absolutely loathed these galas. Being the private man he was, attending these functions made him feel terribly uncomfortable. He didn’t enjoy parts of his life being thrown in the spotlight. Not to mention the usual people would show up, business men looking to kiss his ass and try to contract business deals or attain monetary donations, and those woman who came on to him for the bragging rights and access to his wealth. It wasn’t like he was a bad looking man, granted at fifty he was no longer considered an Adonis, but he dressed well, kept himself in good shape and he was well groomed. He was getting tired of consorting with the same kind of women though, gold digging broads who were only good for an orgasm. He wanted something deeper, something more meaningful with a woman. He wanted THE woman, but she was proving to either be completely elusive, or non-existent.
Letting out a deep sigh, Red adjusted his bow tie, took one last look at himself and headed downstairs. He made a quick detour to his study, poured two fingers worth of scotch and quickly tipped it down his throat. Immediately the feeling of warmth from the alcohol flowed through his system, loosening him up enough to try and enjoy this evenings events. Besides, maybe something will happen which will make tonight at least a little worthwhile.
“Raymond it’s time to go.” Dembe announced from the doorway. Placing the glass on the tray he turned and looked at his best friend and body guard. He took his overcoat and fedora from Dembe’s out stretched hand and followed him out of the house into the waiting Mercedes.
Fifteen minutes later, Red stepped out of the car, entered the Gala and spent the next hour smiling, shaking hands and making polite conversation. Finally his good friend, Robert Waltz quietly informed him that his introduction and speech were coming up in ten minutes and for him to find his table.
Liz was quietly talking with her team near the bar when the announcement was made, stating that the event was about to begin. She quickly ordered another glass of wine to be brought over to her before making her way to their assigned table. She tried not to let out a sigh when she discovered that they were sitting right at the front. She took her place next to Ressler and his fiancé Audrey, looking around the table she tried not to feel depressed about being the only one at the table without a date. She wasn't allowed to dwell on the subject for too long however, the lights dimmed and Robert walked onto the stage.
“Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you all for coming tonight.” He paused to take a sip of water. “As most of you know, The Christoph Petersen Humanitarian award was created over five years ago, however tonight, for the first time ever we have finally found someone who truly embodies what this award if all about and tonight it is my greatest honour and privilege to introduce its very first recipient. We are all gathered here tonight to recognize the incredible work of Mr. Raymond Reddington. A man who has done an incalculable amount to help numerous charities and organizations across our great country. Mr. Reddington has spent the last two decades building schools, hospitals, clinics and youth centres across the nation. He has created hundreds of thousands of jobs, and introduced new technologies which make the lives of those in need much better. So without further ado it is with the utmost pleasure that I present the Christoph Petersen Humanitarian Award to my dear friend, Mr. Raymond Reddington.” The whole crowd rose in a standing ovation as Robert finished his introduction.
Red quickly climbed the stairs to the stage, plastering a smile on his face and made his way toward Robert. Reaching him, Red extended his hand for a shake and held himself in place for a quick photo. Smiling back at Red, Robert graciously handed him the award before moving off the stage.
“Thank you Robert, and thank you everyone for coming this evening. I want to thank the Christoph Petersen foundation for this generous accolade. I’m deeply honoured to be receiving this incredible award on behalf of my entire organization, because the good we have done over the years has been nothing short of a team effort. Working with and establishing new foundations and charities for good causes and those in need is something that is close to my-”
Throughout his speech, Red had been scanning the room with his eyes as proper speech giving protocol dictated. His speech had been going smoothly as expected, but she…she was not. When his eyes connected with Liz’s, his entire speech came to a stumbling halt. She was breathtaking he thought to himself, and there was something in her eyes that drew him in. He was lost, by just a single look. Hearing Robert clear his throat beside him, Red turned to look at him, then turned back to finish his speech.
Making eye contact with this mystery woman again he continued. “Close to my heart.” Pausing. Shaking his head he decided to cut his speech short because quite frankly he couldn't remember what else he wanted to say. Grabbing the award and lifting it in the air thanking everyone again and made his exit from the stage.
Having seen Red’s little performance on stage Dembe quickly pulled him aside. “Is everything okay Raymond?" He asked, scanning the crowd for a potential threat.
“Fine.” Red replied distractedly.
Across the room, Lizzie was stuck to her seat. ‘What just happened?’ She asked herself.
Apparently everyone else at the table had noticed the little exchange cause when she reached for her wine glass everyone’s eyes were on her. “What the hell was that about?” The voice of Donald Ressler penetrated her distracted mind.
“I uh…I have no clue.” She took a generous sip of the Chardonnay.
The speech Mr. Reddington had been giving was going smoothly until his eyes landed on her, and then he stopped. The way he looked at her, she’s never been looked at like that by a man, and she didn't know how to interpret it. The moment their gazes locked on to each other, it was like the rest of the room faded out, and a slow burning heat started to radiate in her body starting low in her belly. This feeling was completely unknown to her. What she needed right now was air, so she looked around, spotting the open door to the balcony, quickly she got up and made her way to it. Throwing a silent thank you up to the powers that be that is was vacant. She needed to cool down and get a grip on herself, and she didn't need an audience.
As the applause wound down Red quickly and politely postponed the post-speech pictures, citing that he needed a breather and then he would be all theirs. When he saw her make her escape to the balcony he followed as quickly as he could, he wanted to catch her alone. He spotted her immediately, leaning on the railing of the balcony, he turned and nodded to Dembe who closed the door behind Red as he quietly made his way towards her.
“I must know your name.” He said as he approached her.
So caught up in the whirlwind going around in her head, she hadn't heard him approach. Hearing his deep voice behind her started her out of her thoughts, and she quickly turned her head to catch his gaze. The look he was giving her was not one she expected, it was warm, and genuinely curious. Letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding, his question to her finally made its way to her brain.
“Elizabeth. Elizabeth Keen.”
“Elizabeth.” He repeated breathlessly as he held his hand out to her.
Slowly she reached her hand up to place in his. The electric shock she felt when her skin made contact with his caused her to let out a small gasp. Red was just as affected, his pupils dilating. Tightening his hand around hers he brought it to his lips placing a gentle kiss to the back of it. The feeling of his lips on her skin made a shock shoot straight from her hand to her groin, a wetness quickly pooling there.
“Raymond Reddington.” He said smoothly, his eyes
She gave him a smile. She had to give him credit, his gaze never strayed from her face. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Reddington. Congratulations on your big night.”
“I assure you, Elizabeth, that the pleasure is all mine. And please call me Red.”
Before more could be said, Dembe opened the doors. “Sorry Raymond but he was pretty instant.”
Donald Ressler stepped from behind Dembe. “Keen, there you…oh Mr. Reddington, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
Red just waved him off. Lizzie looked at Ressler. “What’s up Ress?”
“Coopers looking for you.”
“I’m right behind you.” She turned back to Red. “I’m sorry but I need to take my leave. It was nice meeting you…Red.”
“Until next time Elizabeth.” She gave him a small smile and followed Ressler back to the table.
Red watched her walk away until she was swept away in the sea of people. Dembe approached him and followed his gaze. Red was mildly disappointed that she had left so quickly, he felt inexplicably drawn to her and wanted to know everything about her. He wanted to punch the ginger for interrupting them. Coming out of his musings, he caught Dembe smirking at him.
“What?” Red asked.
“That’s what happened during your speech, you saw her and froze.” Dembe replied in more of a statement than a question. He could see clear as day the emotions playing across Red’s face and couldn’t stop the upturn of his lips.
“Yeah.” Red breathed out, running his right hand over the close cropped hair to the back of his neck.
“Did you get her phone number?” Dembe asked. Seeing Red’s face immediately pale a bit, he realized his boss had missed a step.
“Shit.” Red said starting to head towards the door to go after her. Opening the door, he was greeted by a mob of reporters and journalists shoving microphones and recorders in his face bombarding him with question after question. Knowing full well that he was expected to give answers and make statements, he quickly closed the door back halting them in their steps. Turning back to Dembe, his face quickly becoming a thundercloud.
“I need you to find her my friend. Her name is Elizabeth Keen. Please find her.” Hopping the slight desperation in his voice wasn't as obvious to his body guard as it was to him. Dembe gave Red a small smile and nodded. Closing his eyes, taking a deep breath and putting a fake smile on his face, he turned back to address the bloodthirsty hoard.
Forty-five minutes later and what felt like his life’s story divulged, Red was finally able to make his escape with Dembe and went home. Sitting in the back of the car, Red laid his head back on the headrest closing his eyes and letting out a calming breath. As soon as the tension left his shoulders and he was able to relax a bit, he thought about Lizzie.
‘Lizzie?’ he thought to himself. ‘Where did that come from? Well her name is Elizabeth so it’s a justified nickname. I wonder if she likes to be called Lizzie. I like the name Lizzie. It feels right.’
Relaxing in the back seat, he reflected on the simple beauty of Lizzie. Her ocean blue eyes and the way they lit up when they met his own, the softness of her skin when he held her hand, the unmitigated feeling of warmth and contentment that he felt when in her presence, the ivory hue of her skin in the moonlight. It’s been a long time since he was completely enraptured with a woman. Sure he sees beautiful women on a daily basis and has even dated some of them, but she was different. His Lizzie was different.
‘My Lizzie? Getting possessive a bit soon there don't you think?’ He asked himself, but the immediate thought of her being another man’s Lizzie made an unexpected wave of jealousy and anger bubble up within him. He deemed jealousy to be a base emotion and thought of himself as being above that, but the idea of another man touching her, kissing her, making love to her…‘Yea not a pleasant thought at all, best change directions’. But he couldn’t. No matter what he tried to think about, upcoming business deals, the possible merger coming up, the new building he’s been thinking about erecting, his mind kept wandering to Lizzie. He had to find her and get to know her.
“Any luck on finding anything out on Elizabeth Keen?” He asked Dembe.
Dembe let out a small chuckle. “You’re lucky Jeff owed you a favour Raymond, I don’t think he was too happy to be woken up at this hour.” Red just gave him an expecting look. “She works with the FBI as a profiler, part of Harold Cooper’s task force. On such short notice that’s as much as I could get from him.”
“Well it’s a start.” Red lamented. “With her being a profiler and all, I hope I made a decent first impression. It’s been so long since I actually cared about what someone thought about me…” He trailed off hearing Dembe starting to laugh at him.
“What now?” He asked indignantly.
“You have it bad brother.” Dembe answered between chuckles. Knowing Dembe was right, Red just folded his arms across his chest and sat back with a huff.
“I will call Glen first thing in the morning and we’ll see what he can find on her.” Dembe finished settling back into a comfortable quiet.
“I don’t want her life story, at least not if she’s not telling it. Just see if he can find a place she frequents. I want to see her again but I don’t want to come off as a stalker. ” Red replied tiredly.
“Sure thing Raymond.”