Devi Westland.
It took the sound of the door shutting behind Sergio’s exit to snap me out of my surprise. I walked around the desk and almost lost my goddamn mind when I was close enough to get a whiff of her scent. Devi smelled like wildflowers, and I wasn’t sure if it was her shampoo, her perfume, or just her skin, but I knew I wanted to find out.
I stuck my hand out. “Cassius Sire.”
She took my large hand in her small one, and the bolt of desire that shot down my spine was strong enough to let me know I was fucked.
“Devi Westland,” she said, introducing herself.
Up close, she was even more magnificent-looking than I had originally given her credit for. Standing just below my shoulders, her dark brown hair framed a face that looked like it was sculpted by a god. Rosy cheekbones sat on either side of a delicate nose, and underneath that nose was a pair of full, soft, pink lips.
But what was really fucking me up was how her dark, arched brows were positioned perfectly over a pair of eyes I’d never seen in real life. Devi had heterochromia, with one eye a sky-blue color and the other one a pale green. And they were surrounded by a forest of dark lashes that would make them stand out even if she weren’t wearing makeup. She was also dressed in the same outfit I had seen her in earlier when she’d gone into The Opera.
When I realized we’d been shaking hands for long after what was appropriate, I finally let go, and led her to one of the chairs in front of my desk. Taking my position behind it, I sat down, leaned forward with my arms on the desk, and asked, “What may I help you with, Ms. Westland?”
She looked nervous as fuck, and I found I hated that look on her. “I…” She had to clear her throat, and I hated that, too.
“Would you care for something to drink?”
Devi shook her head. “No. No, thank you,” she rushed out.
I inclined my head for her to continue. “Then, how may I help you?”
“I…uh…I heard you…you’re a lender…of sorts.”
That was one way to put it.“And you’re in need of a loan?”
Her hands were fiddling with the strap of her purse, and it was taking everything in me not to demand why she was here. “Yes.”
“And how much were you hoping to borrow, Ms. Westland?”
Devi didn’t say anything for a long time. She was just looking at me with those rare eyes of hers, and there was so much indecision and despair in them, I could actually feel it radiating off her person.
She was here because she truly was desperate.
She was here as a last resort.
Suddenly, she jumped up from the chair. “I…I’m sorry,” she sputtered. “I…this is a mistake. I’m sor…sorry I wasted your time.” She was already halfway to the door when I jumped out of my chair and fucking chased her.
With my hands on her shoulders, I stopped her and turned her to face me. Staring down at this woman who was going to be mine eventually, whether she knew it or not, I did my best to calm her nervousness. “Whoa, there,” I said, softening my usually rough tone. I had a deep voice that didn’t always come across as friendly. “Hold on a minute.” She just stared back with too many emotions swirling around in those eyes of hers. “Why don’t you have another seat, and tell me what’s going on,” I suggested calmly. “Because, with all due respect, you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t need to be, Ms. Westland.”
“Can…can you call me Devi?” she asked.
Fuck yeah, I can call her Devi.“If it’ll make you more comfortable, of course.”
I led her back to the same chair she’d been sitting in before she began freaking out. But this time, instead of taking my seat back behind my desk, I leaned my ass up against the front of the desk and planted my hands on the surface on either side of my body.
“I need thirty-thousand dollars,” she blurted out.
Damn.
“And you’ve already tried to secure that through a bank?”
Her eyes flashed, and my timid little mouse had a backbone hidden beneath those nerves. “Of course,” she practically snapped. “I’ve applied to nearly every lender under the sun, and their responses were all practically identical.”
“What do you need it for?”
Those rare eyes flashed again. “Does it matter?”
