Page 37 of Partners In Evil
“Oh, son of a bitch,” I grumble, knowing exactly what’s happening even before Raven opens the doors and glides inside. “I thought I told you—”
“Oh, honey, you know I can’t stand it when you get so bossy like that. I just so happened to be in the neighborhood and thought we could walk to lunch together.” Raven walks to my desk, places her hands on the edge, and bends over enough that her breasts are practically spilling out of her dress.
Funny, once upon a time I used to find that sight irresistible. Now I just find her display trashy.
“Fine,” I say coldly. I stand and grab my suit jacket before marching out of the office. I intentionally take a route that avoids as many coworker’s eyes as possible. Luckily Emma is seemingly already out at lunch herself, so I don’t have to exchange any awkward glances.
“Hm. Remember when we did it over there?” she asks, pointing at the janitor’s closet. I press the down button to call the elevator. It can’t come fast enough. “Or there. Ooh, that one was my favorite. Of course, we’ll always have…” She pauses as the elevator dings and the doors slide open. “The elevator.”
“Not today we won’t,” I say as I step inside. I briefly consider hitting the door close button in her face, but she’s practically glued to my side.
Raven looks up at me and pouts. Her lipstick is light pink today, as if she’s trying to exude an aura of dainty innocence. I see right through it.
“Why are you being so rude today, Finn?” she asks, going for my arm again. I wrench it away. “See? Like that! A gentleman is supposed to escort his lady.”
“You’re not my lady, Raven, you’re my parasite.”
Raven’s eyelids lower, that scheming look returning to her face. “Careful, Finn. You don’t want to hurt my feelings now, do you? You know I can return the favor ten times over. Besides, why would you want to ruin this little trip down memory lane for us? Don’t those times mean anything to you?”
I shake my head shortly. “No. And there’s a reason they don’t, Raven.” The same reason we broke up.
Raven is uncharacteristically quiet the rest of the trip, only breaking her silence now and then to sigh dramatically. After we sit down and put in our drinks order, she leans over the table and tries to take my hands. I’m very careful to place them back into my lap.
Her trademark pout is now a frown. “Alright, spit it out. What do you want to talk about? It’s obviously not a marriage proposal, or else you absolutely suck at it.”
“I want you to leave the firm alone,” I state plainly. Start with the basics.
Her frown turns back into a smile. “But Finny, I already told you how to make that happen.”
“I also want you to leave me alone. Completely.”
Raven leans back in her chair and shrugs her shoulders. “No can do.”
“Why?” I ask, hitting my fist on the table. “Why me? Come on, Raven. There’s hundreds of men, richer than me even, who would love to be under your spell. They’d do anything for you! They’d even let you make them do anything for you! Can't you understand that? I despise you! So why try so hard to make someone who can’t stand you stick around?”
Raven flutters her eyelashes and grins menacingly. “Oh, men. You’re all so worthless and stupid. You really don’t understand how women work, do you?”
“I’m pretty sure most women don’t work like you,” I retort.
“Mmm. You’re the one who got away, Finn. You’re right, I can make anyone at all love me all I want. Anyone but you. And that’s why you’re so delicious. I don’t need more money, or status, or admiration. I have enough for ten lifetimes. What I want is what I always want.”
“What you can’t have,” I state.
“Now you get it!” Raven smiles wide. “The moment you broke from my spell and walked out on me, I knew you were theonlyman who could really complete me. I’m going to get you, Finn. It’s just a matter of how much you want to hurt before you finally realize that.”
This isn't good, but I refuse to completely give in. Maybe I can negotiate better terms.
Raven places her elbows on the table, weaves her fingers together and places her chin on top. Again, she’s trying to look innocent. The waiter returns, placing our drinks down. He asks for our order but I’ve lost my appetite. Raven orders the special, too preoccupied to glance at the menu itself.
“You know I have a younger brother,” I say coyly.
Raven looks at me in disgust. “What, Luc? Ew. Do not try to set me up with your stupid little brother. Now, if Damien were still on the market you might have had something there. But no, Finn, I only have eyes for you.”
“Alright. What about this? I’ll take you on a vacation. Somewhere romantic, like an active volcano. We let the media have a field day for a while, take photos, write their columns, and then you can break up with me. Make it look like I was a cheater or something. Then the whole world loves you for being a poor victim. You get to save face, and I can move on.”
Raven looks at me like I’m some huge moron. “You almost had it, Finn, but I guess you're still not listening. So let me be perfectly clear. I. Want. You. Not money, not a media blitz, not admiration, and certainly not pity. God, how awful! No. I want you, only you, and if I can’t have what I want, then no one can. Understand?” She grabs the stem of her wine glass and takes a dainty sip.
Condensation from my glass is pooling on the tablecloth, leaving a sopping wet pond of whisky and misery behind. Of course I understand. There’s only one way to make Raven stop trying to sabotage my business.