Chapter Text
Isabel was just a regular girl, dark haired, petite but with a cheeky glint in her eye. She could even be described as attractive. That is, if you liked your fiery latinas who, unfortunately for her, no-one seemed to be liking lately. Recently she'd been experiencing a dry spell, having been caught up in a whirlwind first year of university. For Isabel studying was the order of the day, all day, every day. She never would have dreamed how hard it would be. Her friends in Spain had told her that British students were notorious party-goers, and sadly for her, they could not have been more wrong. Isabel was lucky to go out once a month. Times were slow.
However, her final term of her first year was now almost at an end. With Summer rapidly approaching she was trying her hand in the world of work.Trying to get her foot on the first rung of the career ladder.
Today was her third and final interview with Harrods. Working the beauty counter of the famous London department store was certainly not her ultimate career goal but it would hopefully pay the bills come Autumn when she was due to start her second year of university. The plan was she'd have some spare cash and finally be able to enjoy London.
Sitting on the tube, the Piccadilly line to Knightsbridge, she was rattling through some potential interview questions and nervously mumbling her responses when suddenly a tall, looming man came barging his way down the train and sat down with a thump on the seat to her left.
As she turned, disgusted by the man's apparent lack of manners, she took in his shifty manner. He was frantically trying to hide behind his coat collar, to no avail. He looked suspicious and she was about to move seats when he turned his head slightly and she saw him properly for the first time. It was none other than the actor, Benedict Cumberbatch! Sherlock himself. On the tube! Isabel was shocked. He was even more gorgeous in real life. Those eyes!
Finally processing what just happened in the last ten seconds, it all made sense to her, the rush to get to a seat, the hiding. He was trying to go incognito on the tube and failing miserably. After taking a moment to appreciate those exquisite cheekbones, Isabel smirked to herself before taking pity on him.
"Here, take this, it will be a better cover than your coat" she said, passing him a newspaper from her bag.
"Ah, thank you" that all-too-familiar deep voice rumbled in response.
"You're welcome." she said smiling. Pausing, then leaning into him she quietly asked "So do you do this often?" She inwardly cringed as she said it. It sounded like a bad pick up line.
He chuckled slightly, "Perhaps more often than once should."
"I'm shocked you even bother, wouldn't a taxi be easier?"
"True, but the tube is so much quicker, I live right on the edge of London, the traffic is a nightmare."
"Fair enough." she conceded "That's the problem with London, it's a big place to get around."
"You say that like it's a bad thing..."
"It's not that I don't like it, I'm just not used to it."
"You moved here recently?" he asked.
With this, Isabel was silently hyperventilating. Was this real? Was Benedict Cumberbatch, esteemed British actor, really asking her about herself? Trying to maintain her cool, she replied "Last Summer, to go to university."
"Oh, what do you study?" He looked genuinely interested in what she had to say.
"Fashion Journalism, I'm hoping to be a fashion writer one day"
His mouth opened wide, he looked her up and down, taking in her Chanel (borrowed from her mother) handbag and flashy black patent stilettos. "Interesting, I wouldn't have had you down as a journalist, I'm not usually all that fond of them you see"
Inwardly thinking she would never put up with them and would probably end up throwing a few punches, she replied sympathetically "I can well imagine, they must be such a pain"
"I'll say! It comes with the job though, the perks far outweigh any issues I have with the paparazzi." he smiled, creasing up his face into one of the loveliest grins Isabel had ever seen.
With that Isabel smiled, nodding, and went back to scanning her interview notes, thinking Mr Cumberbatch would be fed up of talking to her now. She'd let him have a rare moment of peace and quiet.