Page 64 of Salvation

“I…” she hesitated again. I already knew the answer, but I wasn’t going to make this any easier on her. “It may have been more to him than it was to me, okay? And I never told him about you, so he—”

“He may lash out when he sees his competition and realises that he doesn’t and can't compare?”

“I… Yes,” she said, sighing in defeat.

“There,” I grinned at her, spinning her back around and slapping her ass. “That wasn’t so hard, was it? Let’s get this over with.”

I heard her tut in front of me, but she walked over to the office doors anyway, tutting again when she remembered she didn’t have her card to scan in. She pressed the buzzer and then knocked loudly.

“I mean it, Dante. Best behaviour.”

“I remember giving you the same speech outside Iris’ house, and what did you say to me then?”

“It’s not the same.”

“Out of the two of us, I definitely know how to keep my temper under lock and key.”

She scoffed. “That’s bullshit, and we both know it.”

I didn’t respond as a shadow crept over the room, followed by the shape of her boss as he came closer to the door. He opened it, a huge grin on his face.

“Lisa!” He beamed. “I was getting worried for a second.”

“Hi, John,” she said. He held the door open further, allowing her to come in. And then his gaze fell on me.

I bit my inner cheek to keep from smiling. The guy was only a fraction taller than Rachel, which mean I towered heads and shoulders above him. He craned his neck to look at me as I followed Rachel into the office space, and then took a step backwards, as though he didn’t want to be too close to me. His eyes took in my leather jacket, frowning when he saw the Devil’s Disciple logo on the back, and the president's patch on the front.

I grinned at him, and leant against one of the desks, crossing my legs at the ankles and folding my arms. Rachel could take the lead on this one.

“Where have you been, Lisa?” John asked, doing his best to ignore me. I saw the way his gaze kept coming back to me, though. He didn’t trust me, but he was too much of a pussy to voice that opinion.

“I… I’ve moved back to Leeds. I’ve only come here to hand in my notice.”

I cleared my throat, and Rachel shot me a dirty look before she added. “Effective immediately.”

“But why? I thought you were happy here.”

“I was. I loved it here, John, you know I did. But—”

“I’m surprised by you, Lisa. I would expect this from someone like Jack, but I never expected you to be the kind to leave the company in the lurch like this.”

“Don’t make this any more difficult than it needs to be. This is non-negotiable, and I won’t be changing my mind.”

Attagirl.

“I’m afraid I’ll need you to work your two weeks’ notice, as per your contract,” John said, straightening to his full height.

I chuckled as I saw Rachel stiffen, and her eyes narrow.

Poor John. He had only ever known Rachel when she was on her best behaviour. Whatever he thought he knew about her, whatever illusions he had about her, they were all about to be shattered.

“Unfortunately, that won’t be happening,” she said, her voice a touch harsher than it had been.

“I guess I’m just struggling to see what has you fleeing from here so quickly. The last we spoke, I allowed you to leave early so you could organise your son's party. Next thing I know, you’ve gone AWOL and then you appear back here days later quitting. It seems unfair after all I’ve done for you, Lisa.”

“He’s right,Lisa.” I couldn’t resist adding. “He’s done so much. I mean, an entire half a day for your son's party? It sounds like he really pushed the entire boat out for you.” I kept my face completely deadpan. Rachel shot me an angry look, and John nodded, absolutely oblivious to my sarcasm.

“At what point did I say I did not appreciate all you’ve done for me?” Rachel snapped.

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