Page 20 of Greed

Clearing her throat, she said, “Would you like a drink?” She snatched a bottle and held it out to the stranger, almost hitting him in the chest with her closed fist. “We have orange and… blue, whatever blue is, but we don’t have cups. If you wanted a cup, then I can’t help you. Did you want a cup?”

The man’s features looked shocked. His eyes were a little wide as his mouth hung open. “Callista,” he whispered, his brows furrowing together in what could only be confusion.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know who that is. My name is Minetta.”

His face darkened, his features morphing as he glared at her with annoyance. His dark stare turned on her dog that was still pushing at her with his big head, the whining persistent.“Quiet!” the man ordered, and Toby instantly stopped. She looked down at Toby, and a small ball of pissed off began to burn in her gut. No one talked to her dog like that. He put his hands on his hips, and he seemed to tower over her with that angry stare. “What kind of trickery is this?”

“Trickery?”

“You’re human, but why are you wearing her face?”

Her eyes grew wide, and it was her turn to look shocked. What the hell kind of question was that? Before her brain could come up with a good comeback, he spoke again.

“And why is there no greed in you? Better question, why don’t you want me? You should want me. Everyone wants me, but not you. This is very peculiar.”

Minny’s mouth dropped open. Something was becoming very clear—she was a magnet for crazy and assholes. “I really hope that isn’t your usual pick-up line because it sucks.”

Turning, she marched around the table, Toby sticking to her side like glue. Penny had stepped away from the table, her eyes staring at her feet, and she had to wonder if this jerk said something mean to her friend.

“Did you do something to her,” she asked, her hands balled into fists. She cocked her hip as she glared at the overly rude man. It didn’t matter how good-looking he was. She’d delt with enough jerks for a thousand lifetimes.

He looked between her and Penny. “To the Erinyes, why would I care what it does?”

“I don’t know what that means. Is it an insult? You really don’t make much sense. Do you want a drink or not? If not, can you kindly move along? You’re standing in the way of others.” She pointed to the gathering group of people that were jogging in place as they waited.

The stranger’s mouth fell open, and she knew by his look he was gearing himself up for another rude remark.

“Penny, can you take over? I’m going to go get those cups after all.” Looking back at the ignoramus, she shot him a little sneer. “You were in the lead, but it looks like you’re going to be middle of the pack at best. I guess better luck next time. Maybe you should move along before you’re dead last.” She marched away, not even sure why she’d been so uncharacteristically rude. But one thing was for certain, it had felt right to tell that tall, delicious drink of water off. In fact, it had felt so good that when James got back from his boys’ vacay, she would do the same to him.

She was done with letting men treat her like crap. No, she was done letting people, in general, treat her like crap.

This was the new her, and she liked this version of her so much better already.

I ran down the street faster than I should. I was getting stares as I raced by all of the much slower humans. My feet hit the ground harder as I replayed every word that girl said to me. She’d been rude and sarcastic and completely insufferable. How dare she speak to me that way. Almost everyone knew who I was, and those who didn’t, felt my draw, felt my presence as their superior, and craved to have my attention in some manner. Greedily, I wanted all their affections even though I couldn’t stand the pathetic creatures. It was the constant torturous conundrum I’d been forced to endure.

I mean, the girl looked at me like she was interested, but her mind seemed blank or impenetrable, which was impossible. All humans’ minds could be penetrated. I rubbed at the spot in my chest that still held remnants of the tingling sensation. It had started about a half-mile out from the water station and had become stronger with every stride. It had been driving me crazy, and I was sure that Michael was lurking in the shadows of one of the buildings.

And why did she have Callista’s face? That was a face that had haunted my dreams for years after my fall. Was this some new form of torture that the golden bunch up on high decided to use against me? I could picture all of them looking so smug as they sat around and watched the cat and mouse game.

I ran past the final human just before the finish line and raised my hands in the air to the clapping and cheers that accompanied my win.

Last, ha! I’d never been last. I barely have to put in an effort to beat these hairless cats. I could’ve completed the race ten times before another competitor even sniffed at the finish line, but that wasn’t the point. I wanted to show Father that his human creations were inferior as much as possible. I marched up to the small podium they’d created for the three finalists and took the top step waiting for my medal to be presented. The human announcer from earlier ran over with it dangling from his hand, and I snatched it, placing it around my neck before waving to the crowd’s applause. A girl in the front row lifted her top to show off her tits, but I just jumped off the little platform, not waiting for the others to get their medals, and went on the hunt for Shilo.

I found him in the exact location I’d asked him to be and breathed a little sigh of relief that at least some things were reliable.

“Shilo, let’s go,” I said, and he fell into step with me as we continued toward my car.

“Sir, did something happen?” Shilo glanced at me.

“Why?” I glared at the old angel and sighed, taking a deep breath to calm myself as he took a step back. This was crazy. Why was I allowing one stupid human girl to bother me like this? Her comments were nothing to me, yet I was about to do something even more confusing. “Shilo, I need you to find someone.”

“Of course, Sir. Who would you like me to find?”

“It’s a human girl. Her name is Minetta.”

“Minetta what,” Shilo asked.

I just stared at him, blinking as my brain screeched to a grinding halt. I didn’t know her last name.