His lips curl into a thin smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I wasn’t suggesting we have our date here.” He doesn’t say it in a playful way. It’s more exasperated, like I’m one of his line cooks and I just cut the carrots too small.
“Of course,” I say, trying to clamp down on the frustration seeping into my chest. “ImeantI have other plans toni?—”
“I have to be honest,” he interjects, cocking his head to the side. “I don’t really want to go on a date with you.”
Those last words are rasped, causing me to narrow my eyes at him. I’m afraid he mistakes my anger for lust because he leans forward, placing his hands on my hips, and attempts to kiss me. The move is slow, almost sluggish, so I’m able to move my head to the side in time, sliding my hands down to shove him off me.He stumbles back, but then he’s on me again before I have the chance to reach for my purse.
“Come on, babe. I can make you feel so good,” he mutters as he attempts to kiss my neck this time. That’s when I smell it. The alcohol on his breath. It’s clean and clear—probably vodka or gin. That explains why his movements are happening in slow motion and why, for the second time, I’m able to push him away.
“Stop,” I say firmly.
His eyes hood, but he retreats a step. “It’s okay, Allie. You don’t have to pretend anymore. I know you want me. Hard to get is fun for a little while, but at some point, you just have to give in, you know?”
“No, I don’t know,” I say, my voice even and devoid of emotion.
He chuckles and it’s nothing like the beautiful laugh I’ve come to crave. It’s abrasive and grating. Not like the smooth drip of honey sliding into a jar.
“You know I tried to call you,” he says, a slight edge to his tone. “Imagine my surprise when an elderly man answered the phone and said he had never heard of anyone named Allie Montgomery.”
Of course, he’s butt-hurt about that. I was trying to make Ashton jealous when Craig came to the office a few weeks ago, so when he asked me for my number, I gave him a fake one instead of turning him down outright. I thought he would take the hint and that would be that.
Apparently, not.
“Listen, Craig. That was my attempt at turning you down politely, but since it seems you have trouble understanding, let me make it clear. I’m not interested.”
If this were Ashton, his lips would turn up into that smug grin of his, and he would chuckle before spouting some lame comeback.
That’s not what happens.
Craig’s nostrils flare, the vein in his forearm twitching as he takes a threatening step forward, crushing the tiny bit of space he gave me earlier.
“You know how easy it is for me to get pussy? Women practically bend over for me the minute I step into a room.” He puts his mouth to my ear, the invasive move making my skin crawl.
Nothing like when…
Stop, Allie. Fucking focus.
“You should go find those women then.”
He laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “You think you’re so different, huh? You think you’re better than them? Smarter because you can string a sentence together?” He taps the side of my computer as I try not to gag, his words and the stench of alcohol causing bile to rise in my throat. “Guess what? You’re not. You’re a piece of trash from Rocky Falls, and you need to learn your fucking place.”
Before I can even register what’s happening, he reaches out and grabs my shoulders, pushing me into the desk. His arm comes around my hip, his fingers gripping the zipper of my skirt. He attempts to tug it but fumbles with it instead, cursing in frustration.
As much as my mind and body are screaming at me to beg him to stop, I won’t do it. I refuse to be a victim.
“Wait, wait, Craig,” I say, taking on as calm a tone as I can muster. “Let me help you.” As he looks around in confusion, I take the opportunity to slip my hand into my purse that tipped to the side when he pushed me down onto the desk. I feel the small bottle right away and conceal it in the palm of my hand.
He sways back and forth. “Help me?” he slurs, as he abandons the zipper and reaches out to unbutton my blouse. There’s a banging sound in the distance, but I ignore it, too laser-focused on the only way I have out of this. Craig makes it through three buttons before I rest my hand on his.
“Yeah.” I gently guide his hand away and unfasten the lasttwo buttons of my blouse with my right hand, keeping my left behind my back. He’s confused again, staring at my lacy bra and licking his lips. “You were right. I was playing hard to get,” I say in the most disgustingly seductive voice I can manage.
His anger momentarily melts now that he’s getting what he wants, but he won’t let my admission go. Ashton was right. Craig thrives on making people feel insignificant.
They prey on those they deem weaker. They make examples out of them.
“See, was that so hard?” he mocks. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist for this long. You just needed a little kick in the ass.” This time, I actually do gag, but Craig doesn’t notice as he reaches out to touch my breasts. At the same time, I slide the bottle down my hand so my finger can reach the nozzle and whip my arm around, pressing firmly as I aim straight for his eyes.
He screams in pain as the spray hits his irises, his hands flying to cover his eyes as he stumbles backward. I’m on him right away, taking the opportunity to grab his arms and bring my knee up, jamming it straight into his groin before elbowing him in the jaw.
