Victor turned around in an elegant, dance like movement looking at her from across the room.

How is everything he does so floaty and flamboyant?

She picked up her coffee and sipped it, looking back at him.

He looked like a fay of some sort, not quite human, in his balanced, but ethereal appearance. The light hit him just right to make his white shirt a little see through, allowing an involuntary peek at his slender muscles underneath. His pants clung to his legs in a way that betrayed his apparent fondness of exercise, as they weren’t as thin as one would think from his overall appearance.

Me and my beautiful people weakness.

She lamented her shortcomings in silence, as he continued to simply observe her.

“You wanted to discuss something?” finally left her lips, right before she took a biscuit from the as of yet untouched tray. She was finding him increasingly difficult to deal with.

For the first time, he wasn’t smiling when he started speaking, instead looking pensive as he nonchalantly rearranged his hair over his shoulder.

“The ribbon.”

He paused as he observed her reaction, which mainly consisted of eating her biscuit and trying not to look panicked, which for once succeeded.

“Yes, I’ve been meaning to return it,” she responded and removed in from her pocket, placing it on the coffee table.

He slowly approached it.

“It was a present, madam.”

He took it into his hand and looked from it her.

“But you knew that.”

She wasn’t sure how to respond, and finally looked up at his face again. It was somewhere between smug and doubtful, though she had no idea what was going through his head at the moment. Then, it changed again, as though something dawned on him.

“Did you not know at the time?” he looked genuinely taken aback, until his face morphed into one of amusement. He looked her in the eye, and repeated himself, “You didn’t know.”

The jig was up, obviously. Raiva wasn’t one for skirting around the issue, and she didn’t have the wherewithal after last night to give it an earnest try.

“No, I didn’t,” she sighed, sinking back in her chair and putting her hand to her temple, rubbing it gently. “But someone was so kind as to inform me.”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Oh, that must have been… Oh.”

“Yes, it was quite embarrassing.”

“I’m so sorry, madam,” he bowed, genuinely this time. “I can see how it would be… awkward.”

He straightened his back again, the shame clearly having left his body as fast as it entered, seeing as his charming smile had made a return.

“But I feel I must reiterate,” he knelt on the floor in front of her, grasping her hand lightly. “That I make it a habit not to lie.”

He kissed the back of her hand lightly, causing her cheeks to redden again, and her head buzzing.

Stop being so weak, Raiva.

She pretended to be composed, ignoring her flushing cheeks.

“Why?”

Victor smiled, knowing he had succeeded this time. Getting up, he swiftly stepped behind her and put his fingers against her temples, gently massaging them for her. He had noticed the pain reliever packet and smell of herbal tea the second he had entered earlier.

“Many reasons,” he responded softly from behind. “For one, you’re beautiful. I enjoy the atmosphere around you. You wear you heart on your sleeve. Not to mention, you seem kind, but you’re not a pushover. You treat your employees warmly and I know for a fact that my rent is generously low, but not egregiously so if you consider the numbers.”

Too perceptive.

“And you know who I am?”

“Yes, since I remember seeing you with Lord Tristan back then, though I’m afraid your distinctive appearance also gave it away. Mourning dress and all.”

She knew that he had a point, but something still felt off to her.

I can’t pinpoint it.

“I won’t hire you, you know.”

His hands suddenly disappeared and was doubled over laughing the next moment. It was a genuine, bellowing laughter.

He kept laughing until a tear was streaking his otherwise flawless face.

“I- I’m sorry, I- I can’t,” he wheezed, and struggled to get his words out, having to support himself on her desk. “So blunt!”

She poured herself another cup of coffee, and waited for him to finish laughing with a mildly confused look on her face.

He eventually wound down from his outburst and concluded by clearing his throat.

“Excuse me, madam,” he said as he finally returned to his chair, looking her in the eye, looking entirely unapologetic.

Sensing a pattern in this conversation, she continued to stay silent and wait for elaboration. He had a habit of turning her words into something that made her blush, and she was not about to encourage it.

Now calmly sipping his own coffee, he finally spoke.

“I had no idea that this is where your mind was going,” he chuckled lightheartedly. “Though I suppose I should defend myself.”

She looked at him curiously.

I obviously never actually thought he was trying to engage me as a client, but it really wasn’t so far fetched that it would be this funny and surprising. Does he think I was serious?

“I apologize if I gave the wrong impression, madam-“

Oh no, he does.

“Sir,” she cut him off, intending to ward off more misunderstandings. “It was in jest.”

He paused, his eyes wide open.

She continued, “I acknowledge that you have made advances towards me. But I am aware that you don’t seek out clients, they seek you out.”

“Oh, you were serious when you said you have heard of me,” he responded, seemingly pondering something.

“Yes. And we both seem to have some bad gossip following us around.”

“So it seems,” he smiled in a bemused manner, clearly not minding it. “Maybe that’s why I feel this sense of kinship with you.”

His speech was starting to get more intimate again, and his gaze shifted, causing her heart to beat a little faster.

“Are you seriously flirting with me, sir?”

She emphasized the titular address, in a last ditch effort to draw the line.

“I know what you’re doing, Raiva, and it’s a terrible tactic to use on someone as stubborn and contrarian as me,” he smiled deviously. “And yes, obviously.”

Damn it.