The room is filled with thirty plus laughing, drinking, eating and psyched-up people, and it’s like it’s only us two in the room. And I’m doing my very best to show him exactly how much I hate him with my eyes.
He holds his hands up defensively. “My bad.”
I blink. I give my head a shake and blink again.
My bad? MY BAD?
I shake my head incredulously, mouth in an O. My head is in danger of exploding.
He keeps staring at me while I gawk, open-mouthed, incredulously at him.
“Round two! Let’s go!” Melissa calls out. I grab my gun and glare some more at him as I storm to the red door, shoving the Amex card into my pocket. Because, damn right; I’m keeping it.
***
I’m shot within three minutes of the second round, so I’m out. It’s fun to stand back and watch people take one another out. I can’t see it all, but more and more people wind up on one side, behind ropes in an open area with some benches, watching whatever action we can see happening, and the vibe is jovial. I like these people. I like the vibe of this company so far. With the one exception…
It’s Austin and Meryl at the end and the music playing is The Final Countdown. She wins, hiding for a long time and finally taking Austin out with a sneak attack. Ally and I have huge smiles on our faces, watching this.
Meryl wins a $250 preloaded credit card and she’s stoked.
Game three, ten minutes later, is every CC employee for themselves, regardless of team color. I get eliminated ten from the end, so I zip out to go to the ladies’ room.
On my way back, I spot Aiden by the bar, talking to a tall and exceptionally handsome guy that looks like a biker. Inked. Bearded. Yummy. Totally Ally’s type, evidently. I don’t know who he is, I’ve never seen him at CC, but he and Aiden stop talking when they see me. I keep moving, heading back to the red door.
Aiden’s suddenly at my back, reaching to hold the door open so I can go through.
He’s following me.
“You’re on the blue team. This is the red door,” I grumble.
“Game’s nearly over,” he replies and follows me. “I’m no longer playin’.”
“Whatever.” I keep walking.
I’m halted. He’s got fingers looped through my beltloops at the back of my white jeans.
What the hell?
“Uh… you wanna let go?” I snap.
“No,” He says simply, and then I’m spun, and he’s got me pinned against the wall. Against the wall in this dark hallway with neon arrows and lasers zooming around.
His hand is on my face. Like it was in the elevator. Cupping my jaw in his palm. The pad of his thumb moves over my bottom lip.
Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa.
“Step back,” I order.
He moves in closer. His body is now directly against me.
My face goes red.
“Enough of this shit with us. I want you,” he says.
I choke on my shock. And I shove.
“Listen,” he commands, pinning me again.