The restaurant was near the top floor, naturally, so it had a jaw-dropping view of the bay, but I couldn’t appreciate it when I was doubly terrified, of heights as well as my ex-fiancé.
“Follow me,” the waiter said with a professional smile meant to make me feel at ease and like I was in good hands. In control. It’s good that someone was in control. It wasn’t me.
He led me past dozens of other patrons I knew from the many society affairs I’d attended with Clint. The table had the best view, both to see out the window and to be seen by everyone in the restaurant.
Clint stood when I arrived at the table, brow arching as he studied me with a slight twist of his lips. “What happened to you? Were you mugged on the way?”
I looked down at my skinned knees, ripped skirt, everything covered in dog hair. I sat down abruptly in the chair the waiter pulled out for me, my legs refusing to operate anymore. My body was already revolting, and I hadn’t even talked to him. I took my water in my shaky hand and sipped it while I tried not to notice the man settling into his seat opposite me.
“I’m sorry that I was late,” I whispered, barely able to get out the words.
He gestured to me. “You clearly have your reasons. Did you have something you wished to discuss?” He checked his watch, clearly having other, more important things to do with his day.
“Thank you for meeting with me,” I said quietly as I took the tablet out of the inside pocket of my jacket. “I have a business proposition to offer you.” I hesitantly opened it and slid it over to him, but he didn’t touch it, didn’t look at it, instead leaned back to study me with lazy calculation.
“I’ve done enough business with Haversham. If that’s all, we can end this meeting, which you so clearly do not wish to have.” He stood while I sat there, feeling small and breakable. I needed this, but I couldn’t seduce him like before. I couldn’t even manipulate him because he knew me too well.
“Did you ever meet Philippe?”
He slowly sat back down. “Your cousin, the Haversham heir? I’ve never had the pleasure.”
“Not the heir, at least not yet. I have equal power in my grandfather’s company, but only if I can stop my cousin from going through with a merger. If you would sell me the stocks you have in?—”
His jaw tightened, but his voice was as nonchalant as ever. “Oh no. I earned every penny of that. I’ve never worked so hardfor something. Try again.” He never interrupted me. In fact, that was probably the first time it had ever happened as long as I’d known him. What did he want? I used to read him so well, but this was new for both of us. I was going to lose. That meant that I’d have to kill my cousin and go to jail.
I smiled wanly. “Do you know Maples, the doorman’s dog?”
His eyes narrowed. “Should I?”
I shrugged and accidentally looked out the window and flinched. “I want a dog big enough to really hug, not one of those little squeaky ones like Dirk’s mother has. I hate heights. My mother wanted us both to die, but I hung onto the slate tiles until someone found me. I hate my cousin. He killed Dirk’s sister.” My voice was monotone, the same level mentioning the dog as Dirk’s sister even though my stomach knotted up and I wanted to sink under the table and die.
I shook my head and stood up. There was no point in wasting any more of his time, and I had Philippe to murder. Would I be able to pull the trigger? I’d use my knives if I had to. My knives had never let me down. The waiter set beautiful dishes on the table, all of my favorite things for me, while Clint had a steak, simple, rare, setting off my elaborate settings with the contrast.
“Do you need something?” the waiter asked me.
Forgiveness? I looked into Clint’s eyes and saw pain. Was he really on the edge of a precipice that would send him tumbling into absolute psychopathy? He’d been surprisingly stable for the time I’d known him if he had the super serum running through his veins, but what did I know about how much he hid? I didn’t know him any better than he knew me.
I sat back down and fiddled with my fork.
“You’re not usually so indecisive,” he murmured, not touching his steak.
“I… I’m sorry.”
“It’s really all the same to me.” He finally picked up his knife and started cutting into his meat.
I twisted it out of his grasp and had the point at his throat before he realized what was happening. “I like knives. I’ve stabbed more people than I can count, but for you I had to be the perfect blend of ice queen and dominatrix. I became everything you couldn’t resist, but somehow in all of that, I got confused about who I was. I started thinking that maybe it was real, that I’d never have to go back to my grandfather again, that I’d be safe, but I’m not the person that became your obsession.
I’m terrified. All the time. I’m going to kill both of them, because that’s the only way they’ll be safe. Even you. There’s no way Philippe won’t hunt you down the second grandfather stops protecting you.” I shook my head and put his knife back down on his plate. What was wrong with me? “Sorry about that. I’m terrified that I won’t be able to do it. The last time I tried to shoot someone, I froze up, and…” I rubbed my sore arm. “It was messy. Like my mind. I’m taking therapy. I’m sure you can see how much I need it. I’m crying again. Is there anything more annoying?” I wiped my face and tried not to feel self-conscious about the people watching us. It didn’t matter. I’d be in the paper for something much worse next week, and they could gossip about how I’d gone completely unhinged after trying to get back with my ex after my husband dumped me, and then gone on a killing spree taking out my family.
“You could hire someone to shoot whoever you’re killing.”
I nodded absently. “Yes, but I want it done right, and who else could get close to them?”
“Ah. But you aren’t really a killer any more than you’re a dominatrix.”
My hands were shaking so hard. Could I take a clear shot with these hands? “What am I?”
“I think that we can all safely agree that you are a musician.”
