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“We’ll get to that. Why don’t you tell me about yourself? Succinctly.” I’m impressed that she's not blubbering, not babbling from the second she comes in the door. She's quiet, thoughtful, and she's… irritated with me.
“What?” She cuts to the chase, to the fact that I’m staring.
“It’s strange. Usually, the look I get is fawning, or awe. I am exceptionally good-looking.” Her eyebrows rise at my statement, a hint of disdain on her face.
Odd.
“I don't mean that to sound haughty. Most people are disarmed with how good I look when they come to see me. I can also be charming when the mood arises.” The mood does not.
So I motion for her to sit down, barely giving her the time of day. This seems to rankle her even more, which has me fighting a smile. Still, she takes her seat on the edge of the chair, maintaining her composure.
“So? What is your sob story?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing, but since you’re not a sharer…” A mocking smile, this one sharper. Angry. She’s got claws… Distracting. “Before I do, would you at least tell me what you do, what this is?”
“Well, I assume since you made an appointment with me that you already had a pretty good idea of what it is that we have to offer.”
“Right, because your card is so informative. Why don't you enlighten me? Pretend I'm an unwitting customer.”
“Unwitting, yes. I doubt that's far from the truth.” She openly scoffs as I say it, clearly not on purpose, but she regains her composure quickly. Some self-control. “People come here… looking for relief.”
“Is that a come on?” The response is snappy and quick.
“Would you like it to be?”
Her lips press into a thin line. Damn. Not quite the right direction. I find myself momentarily captivated by those lips. Full. Perfect, really. With just a hint of dark lipstick. A flash of it nipping along my collar…
Stop. Focus.
“We make dreams come true.” I open my palms, smiling.
At that, she laughs right in my face.
A sneer pulls at my lips. How dare she…“You came to me looking for my help, might I remind you.”
“Sorry. Can we start over? Maybe you introduce yourself to me, offer me coffee, tea, a bottle of water, treat me like a human being, and we go from there?” Her expression is calm. Cold.
My, my.
I wait to see how she’ll proceed.
“You really know how to play host, don't you? Just because you have the upper hand here, you think you can taunt me, test me, toy with me. Thank you, but I’ve got more important things to do.” She rises.
Shit. Pushed a bit too hard.
Usually, I rig the game, always knowing just a little more than the other guy. I come off like I’m doing them a favor. I mean, the whole point of this endeavor has always been for me to come out on top. For my organization to win.
The way to do that is to get people to do what I want them to do, thinking they’ve won the lottery in doing so. It's simple, because people are simple.
Hellena, apparently, is not so simple.
“Wait. Please.” I gaze to the next few files on my desk, cases more in line with my natural inclinations. It gives me an idea.
I wonder…
“You haven't seen me begin to play host. Allow me to reset. Sit down. Consider this a negotiation. I simply wanted to see how you behave. How you react.” I wave toward the chair.
“Why would you need to see how I behave?” A blush suffuses her cheeks. Lovely.
