This Cruel Love

“Ooh, tied up! I like where this is going.” Cillian winked as he turned his attention back to me. He was watching us like he was at a tennis match.

“I really don’t have the energy to pretend to like you-”

“And yet, here you are,” Jackson interrupted.

“You know, in order to insult me, I have to value your opinion in the first place. Trust me, if I could be anywhere else today, I would. A day at a viper petting zoo sounds much more appealing at this precise moment.” I fought the urge to turn around and leave. I had to keep my eyes on the prize. I had to remember my Justin.

“Did you come all this way just to trade insults with me, or is there a real purpose to this visit?” he asked, looking bored and inconvenienced.

I huffed in annoyance and crossed my arms over my chest as Jackson and I glared at each other in our makeshift standoff. The two meat-heads either side of me were clearing their throats, waiting to be dismissed. Were they so dumb they had to wait to take orders from these guys? Cillian just bristled with the excitement of it all.

“Tink,” Cillian said. His eyes sparkled and his eyebrows wriggled up and down at me.

“Come again?” I had no idea what he was on about. This guy was insane.

“Tink. Tinkerbell. That’s what I’m going to call you from now on. You’re all cute and little, blonde and feisty. Like our very own little Tinkerbell.”

I wrinkled my nose in confusion at the way he seemed so pumped and excited by this whole surreal exchange. How old was he? Twelve?

“Plus, you’re wearing the same shade of green that she does, so it just… fits.”

“Let me guess, you’re Peter Pan?” I rolled my eyes with the ridiculousness of it all. One minute they’re sending thugs to our apartment to put the frighteners on us, the next I’m starring in their fucked up cartoon shit. Who was this guy?

“No, I’m more of a Marvel or DC kinda guy. I’m too dark for Disney.”

He seemed pleased with himself as he nodded at his choice, and I couldn’t stop myself from sniggering at how absurd he sounded.

“I wouldn’t have taken you for a Disney fan anyway,” I sneered.

“After living with five older sisters, I had no choice. It’s not my favourite genre of movie though.” Cillian’s eyes sparkled with sin and lust. I could just imagine what kind of movies he liked to watch in his spare time.

“So, who’s he?” I pointed over to where Jackson Caine stood, emitting pure venom my way from every pore of his being. “Is he your ugly sister?”

“Oh, no.” Cillian chuckled as he came toward me, and then growled into my ear. “He’s the beast.”

Jackson laughed at his response, and that air of pompous pretentiousness he wore like cologne wafted back into the corridor.

“More like Gaston, you mean. All brawn and no substance,” I spat out absent-mindedly, and instantly winced, waiting for the backlash.

“And on that note, kids, I will love you and leave you. Jackson, my friend, I will see you tonight. Tink, it was a pleasure as always. I hope to see you again very, very soon.”

Cillian took my hand and kissed the back, like some old time gentleman, then motioned for the two security guys to follow him back downstairs.

“Don’t let the nice guy act fool you. He’s no gentleman,” Jackson growled.

“He’s more of a gentleman than you are.”

His jaw tensed and he crossed his muscly arms over his puffed out chest.

“Is there a point to your visit today, Miss Emerson? Because as fun as it is to verbally spar with you, I have work to do.”

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He turned his back on me and went to close his office door, but I called for him to wait, my facial expression changing from argumentative vixen to moderately compliant saint. He bit his bottom lip in thought and looked me up and down, then he ushered me inside.

I declined his offer of a drink. I figured the Disney theme for the day might not be over, and it might turn out to be a poisoned chalice. He poured his own drink then sat back, indicating for me to take the seat on the other side of his desk. Figuring it was a better way to break bread with him, I sat down and placed my hands in my lap. I tried to look demure and less like the harpy I’d been minutes earlier.

He swirled the amber liquid in his glass, before looking at me over his lashes and taking a sip.