Page 11 of Retaliation

“It’s very nice to meet you, Miss Sloan,” he whispered, bent down, and kissed the top of her hand, never taking his eyes off hers.

Electricity shot through her arm as if she had touched the fence of an electrified fighting cage. The shock made her snatch her hand from his grip and drop it to her side.

“She’s the one I told you about,” Topaz went on, oblivious to the tension in the room. “She’ll be able to bring your ideas to life.”

“Do you mind if I pick her brain for a moment?” Scorpion asked Topaz without looking away from her.

“Sure, go right ahead.”

Electricity turned to fire as rage swelled in her chest. Who the fuck did they think they were? Discussing her like a piece of property to be handed over. As if she wasn’t in the room with them.

“If you will excuse me,” she spat through a clenched jaw. “I have a pitch meeting to get to.”

“Oh, yes. Yes. Of course.” Her boss looked at the clock on the wall. “Apologies, Mister Thompson. We’ll, unfortunately, have to reschedule.”

“No worries.” Scorpion shrugged. “I’m the one who showed up without an appointment. You go ahead to your meeting. I’ll show myself out.”

Without another word, he walked out of the office. But not without winking at Poison as he passed by.

She wanted to follow him. To demand an explanation for why he couldn’t get away fast enough from her last night but had the audacity to show up at her work. She took a step but stopped when her boss called her back.

“Yes, sir?” She turned and gave him one of her favorite chilling stares.

“After last night, I thought you’d have a bit more respect for our clients,” he fumed, his neck turning an amusing shade of purple.

“After last night,” she fired back, her eyes a cold glare. “I thought you’d realize what I’m capable of when provoked.”

Topaz paled, which caused a smile to crawl over her lips. Oh, he realized, alright. And with that, she stomped out of his office, trying to catch up with Scorpion. She found him waiting for the elevator down the hall.

“What’s your deal?” she demanded, storming up to him, her eyes flashing with anger.

He feigned innocence and placed a palm on his heart. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Little Viper,” he said innocently, his tone dripping with mock sweetness.

“Yes, you do,” she hissed, her frustration bubbling over. “And do not call me that.”

“What?” He stepped closer, his voice lowering to a seductive whisper. “Little Viper?” Another step. “I think it very fitting. Don’t you agree?”

She centered herself, refusing to let him see the effect his voice, his whole damn presence had on her. Her pulse quickened, but she masked it with a steely gaze.

“Snakes can miss their target. Poison gets them every time. Now stop avoiding my question.”

“Sorry,” he said, his eyes glistening with amusement. “You’re just so…” He sucked in an audible breath through his teeth. “Distracting.”

“And you’re just full of it,” she shot back, irritation

sharpening her words.

“Don’t give me an opening like that,” he warned, mischief dancing in his eyes.

“If you make a dirty joke about something being full, I swear I’ll kick that smile off your pretty, smug face.”

“You think I’m pretty?” He batted his eyelashes at her, and despite herself, she felt a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

“Obviously, you think you are, so what does my opinion matter?” she scoffed.

“Oh, it matters.” His eyes darkened, and she had to look away, her mind straying dangerously close to the gutter.

“Back to my question.” She needed to remember how to breathe. “Last night, you couldn’t get away from me fast enough, and today, you show up at my work. Why the hot and cold treatment?”

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