“That fucker is probably outside right now, getting someone started on the world,” Zach practically growls. I notice him squeeze his fists together in temper, which shows just how wound up he is by this. Why the fuck he doesn’t just work on the algorithm himself is beyond me... although I can’t exactly talk. I make my living by cheating and lying too.
I plaster a fake smile on my face and spin on my heels, needing to get the hell away from this man. I don't know what it is about him, but I find him seriously irritating. I know that everyone else seems to be drawn to him like flies to shit, but not me. If I didn’t need the cash I would have sacked him off already.
As the cold air hits my face, I feel my racing pulse calm down somewhat. Maybe it’s being out of that hot room, or maybe it’s being away from Zach... whatever it is, it feels amazing, so I take a second to suck in some deep and calming breaths.
“...yeah, that’s right, dude,” I hear a voice that sounds suspiciously like Sean’s speak out. “Time really is of the essence here, okay? Thanks, Gavin.”
Well, it seems that Gavin was right on one front – Sean is already working. Maybe they are both as bad as each other.
I pull a cigarette out of my bag quickly as I hear him hang up the phone, and I light it to hang from my fingers. I don't smoke, and I never have, but I find it’s always a good prop to have – a reason to be somewhere that I shouldn’t be.
“Oh hey,” he calls out in surprise as he sees me. “Michaela, you alright?”
I drop the cigarette quickly now that it’s served its purpose and step closer to him, with a shocked grin on my face too.
“Oh hey, what are you doing out here?” I ask the next question quickly, because I really don't need to know the answer to that one. “How do you feel now? That speech was great.” I didn’t even listen to it, but he doesn’t need to know that. Even if he asks awkward questions, I’m an expert at getting out of them. I’ve had a lot of practice.
“It was good,” he smiles, allowing his eyes to linger up and down my body in a way that actually makes me feel turned on. I play on that rather than feel embarrassed, because I know it will help me. “Do you want to get out of here now?”
“Sure,” I shrug in a way that I know pushes my cleavage together, drawing his attention there. “I think I know a dive bar around here somewhere – the sort of place a man like you will never fit in.”
One thing that I’ve learned from being around a load of rich guys, is that they like to feel powerful. They want you to be beneath them, to be almost a damsel in distress. It makes them feel like everything that they’ve worked towards in their life has been worth it... so I’m certain that Sean will say yes, playing right into my hands.
But he doesn’t.
“No,” he smiles at me. “Let’s not go drinking, let’s just go for a walk.”
“Oh, okay sure...” I reply, trailing off at the end of my sentence. I’m not used to working with sober guys, I find them much easier to manipulate when they’ve been drinking. But this isn’t a challenge that I can walk away from because I seriously need the money. “Sounds nice.”
I half expect him to walk me along to one of the limos, complete with champagne and a driver, but he doesn’t. He takes me further along the parking lot up to a Cadillac, and opens the door for me.
“Wow, nice wheels,” I say approvingly, thinking that he’s a constant surprise to me.
“Oh thanks,” he replies a little bashfully. “I know it might not be the coolest car, but I’ve always wanted one, so as soon as I started to make money I bought one.”
“That’s awesome,” I grin through gritted teeth, for a split second wishing that I could spend my money on luxuries like that, rather than on my struggling family... “Real nice.”
As we speed along the city, I try my best to get my head back in the game. There’s just something a little different about this job, something that I find distracting, which cannot happen. I did not get as far as I am by getting distracted.
Focus, I tell myself. Get what Zach wants, then move on. Don't get confused by this man because soon enough you’ll be out of his life forever. I can’t ever keep in contact with people I deal with once my job is done because if they figure out that I had any part in their downfall – which I do my best to never allow to happen – then the cops will get involved. I’ve kept out of jail this far, I don't want that to change.
“Here,” Sean suddenly pulls up the car and drags me back into the present moment. “I just want to show you something.”
We step out of the car and move onto the sidewalk where Sean points to an interactive advertising board, flickering between an ad for a fast food chain and a new beauty line. I nod slowly, trying to work out what I’m supposed to be understanding here, but I just don't get it.
“I designed the technology for this when I was twenty years old,” Sean suddenly confirms what I’m supposed to get, which makes me gasp out in shock.
“What, really?” I ask. “But this is cool – I thought you only did security stuff.”
“I do,” Sean nods. “That’s my business. This is something I did for fun on the side – I didn’t expect it take off.”
“Well, I have to say that I am impressed.” Inside, I know that the security stuff is much more complex, and impressive, but I don't get that... this I can understand. “It’s awesome.”
“Hang on,” he grins at me, pointing his phone camera in my direction. “Do some crazy poses for me.”
“What... why?” I suddenly panic that he’s on to me, which is stupid. I’ve given no sign of that so how could he have? It’s just my guilt floating to the surface.
“You’ll see.”
Wanting to stick to my assignment, and also enjoying the playful look in his eyes, I start acting like a model, giving him some of the funniest poses I can think of. I start off a little awkward and uncomfortable in my skin, but I soon loosen up as he laughs and seems to really understand my sense of humor.
“Oh yeah, that’s it, baby,” he puts on a sleazy photographer voice, and I fall into the role of naive wannabe model.
“Do you want me to slide off my dress?” I ask, opening my eyes wide and slipping my finger into my mouth.
“Oh my God, you crack me up!”
Soon he starts playing on his phone, and indicates towards the screen which I watch in a bemused silence. I haven’t quite worked out what the hell is going on here, but soon a filtered image of me fills the screen. I look fun, playful, and weirdly beautiful.
“Oh my God,” I gasp, slapping my hands across my mouth in shock. “You can’t do that!”
“I can,” he chuckles. “It’s my invention.”
“Whoa... that’s just amazing. I don't even know what to...”
But I don't get to even finish that sentence, because in a complete shocking gesture, Sean spins me around and pulls me to him, pressing his lips up against mine. As the sizzling chemistry floods through me in a warming bolt, I don't even resist. I simply meld into him, allowing myself to fully enjoy the moment for a second. Kissing is something else that I normally avoid when it comes to my work, but somehow, without even realizing it, Sean has managed to make me break my rule.