by JD Nixon
“Who’s Bick?”
“The guy from Select Security. He made sure the bastard didn’t come near me again.”
“First name basis with Select staff? You never fail to surprise me, Matilda.” His voice was cold.
“He wants to defect. Are you hiring at the moment?”
“Maybe. I’m always looking for good men. Tell him to send me his CV.”
“I will. I really like him. He doesn’t care for Kirnin’s unethical behaviour.”
“You seem to have found out quite a lot about him in a short period of time.”
“He was surprisingly friendly.”
“Most men are with you, my sweet.”
“I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean.”
“Nothing. It was merely an observation.”
“Well, I tend to find that most men I meet hate my guts and try to beat the crap out of me.” I rubbed my jaw, feeling sorry for myself.
“I don’t think you should continue with this job. This man sounds as though he has a personal vendetta against you now.”
“But I didn’t do anything! Anyway, Patricia wouldn’t be happy with another person. She wouldn’t be comfortable with one of the men,” I protested. Time to change the subject, fast. “Have you had a chance to talk to that ex-SAS guy about training for me?”
“Yes. He’s a good man. I’d be happy for him to teach you some hand-to-hand moves. And I’m fairly sure he won’t kill you.”
“That’s a relief,” I smiled, wincing again at the pain in my jaw.
“Maybe I should be worried about you killing him though?”
“Ha ha,” I said sourly.
“You can start with him when you finished this job.”
“Excellent.” I smiled with satisfaction and changed the subject again. “How was last night?”
“I met someone.”
“You usually do,” I replied lightly.
“No, it was different this time. I think I want to see her again.”
I stared at him. He avoided eye contact, keeping his own eyes fixed firmly on the road. He’d never expressed this desire before. His one-night stands were strictly that – one night only. He didn’t do repeat performances. I didn’t like what I was hearing.
“Really?” I said with deceptive casualness. “She must have been special.”
“I felt as though she wasn’t giving me everything. That intrigued me. Most women tell me everything about themselves with little effort from me.” He threw me a sideways glance, his sexy half-smile playing on his lips. “I’m quite the charmer, you know.”
“Quite the egoist as well!” I snorted rudely.
He merely laughed at my shrewishness. “She was wild, but also intensely reserved. Almost as if she was holding something back. As if she has a secret. I want to know what that secret is. I rarely feel that level of personal interest in a woman. Perhaps only once before in my life.” His eyes rested on me with silent significance.
It was my turn to avoid eye contact. I didn’t want him to look at me that way while he was talking about another woman. And I really wasn’t happy about what I was hearing about that other woman. “Heller, she doesn’t sound like an open kind of person. What do you know about her? Have you checked her out? Maybe she has a secret that’s harmful to you?”
“Matilda, look who you’re talking to. Of course I’ve checked her out. She’s from out of town and works as an art dealer for a big auction house. I looked up their business website and she’s mentioned on it, with a photo and biography. She’s here on an extended buying trip. She’s legitimate. I also looked through her belongings when she was in the bathroom – her driver’s licence and credit cards confirm who she is.” He glanced at me sideways. “You sound a bit jealous.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not jealous. I’m just urging you to be cautious, that’s all. It’s not unknown for a man to be guided by something other than his brain when it comes to sex.”
He laughed. “I told you, she’s clean. Nothing for you to worry about. And my brain is fully functional, thanks for your concern.”
“What’s her name?”
“Vanessa Langmore. Are you going to compile a dossier on her?” he teased.
“Why would I bother?” I replied coolly, forcing myself to look out the window as if the topic bored me. “I don’t care who she is.”
But of course, that was a shameless lie. And the more I thought about it, compiling a dossier on her sounded like a capital idea . . . Maybe I should talk to Clive about it surreptitiously? I slapped myself across the face mentally – talk to Clive? God, what was I thinking?
I didn’t say any more about her, sure he would only accuse me again of being jealous. And I guess I was jealous. Any woman who captured Heller’s attention must be spectacular.
I’d hoped for some time with him tonight, but he bounded off upstairs ahead of me as soon as we parked his car. I went to my flat and spent ten minutes resting with an icepack on my bruised jaw, before nibbling on a late snack, drinking a glass of wine and watching TV until I went to bed. As if in consolation for Heller’s news, I had an erotic dream during the night. But I found that the man I straddled and humped enthusiastically in my dream didn’t have Will’s curly brown hair and soft brown eyes, but instead had an alluring smile, wavy black hair and dark blue eyes. Hmm, that could be a problem, I thought to myself drowsily, before drifting off to back to sleep.
Again I woke up early and went to the gym. I couldn’t wait to start some hand-to-hand training so that I could put tools like Warburton back in their boxes much more quickly and decisively in the future. After my shower, I examined my face critically. Yep, definitely more bruising on my jawline. I reached for the concealer with resignation. I went through a tonne of it every year covering up the excesses of high emotion, mostly mine. I did tend to lose my temper easily and with little provocation, but in my defence, I was exposed to more dropkicks than the normal person.
I caught a lift to the hotel with some men who were heading off to another job and knocked on Patricia’s hotel room. She opened the door, looking a bit worse for wear, but assured me she was feeling fine and able to go through with the day’s meeting. Corella drove even more erratically, running a red light and then a stop sign, busy rehashing the events of yesterday.
“You should have killed the prick,” she said, almost with respect. She glanced at me in the rear view mirror, before changing lanes without indicating and cutting off another motorist. She drove on, seemingly oblivious to the abuse that driver hurled at us.
“I wanted to,” I admitted.
“How’s the jaw?”
“Painful. Bruised. Used a trowel to apply the concealer this morning.”
“Thought so.” She almost sideswiped a cyclist and a parked car as she swerved dangerously to avoid a turning car in front. “I have to give it to you. You have a pair of balls, all right.”
“Thanks. I guess,” I said without any enthusiasm, clutching the headrest of Patricia’s seat with both hands in fear.
She barked out what I presumed was meant to be a laugh. “Not such a compliment really, is it, when you think about it?”
“Not really. I don’t want to be more like a man. Especially that rude jerk-off.” I suddenly remembered who I was with. “Oh sorry, Patricia. No offence.”
She laughed timidly. “No offence to me, Tilly. I happen to agree with you.”
For once, Warburton was on time. I didn’t want to admit to myself, but I was crossing my fingers and toes that Bick would reappear and I could spend some more time talking to him. But my hopes were crushed as soon as I saw the walking mountain that preceded Warburton into the room. Select Security had sent a different man along for protection this time. I hid my disappointment and checked out the new guy. He was an ugly brute with a mean face who glared at me with open hostility when he clocked my Heller’s uniform. I could tell it was going to be a long, chat-free session.
Warburton was on his best behaviour that
day and even held the door to the negotiation room open for the two ladies to enter. I don’t know who he thought he was impressing, because it wasn’t any of us. I eyeballed him right up until the door closed, and he sneered at me in return the whole time. I guess I wouldn’t be getting an invitation to his divorce party.
There was complete silence in the waiting room for the next two hours, except for the wheezy breathing of the Select brute. He stared at me the whole time in an unfriendly manner, which is quite a disconcerting experience, let me tell you for free. I did my best to ignore him and stared at the wall in front of me, avoiding all eye contact. He took a phone call and grunted his way in monosyllables through the conversation before hanging up. It was the most exciting thing that happened the whole time we sat there together.
Until he spoke to me.
“Can’t believe Warburton needs security to keep a pussy like you away from him,” he scorned, his voice gravelly and rough.
I stared at him impassively. “I have real bad breath.”
He grunted in contempt. “Got a smart mouth on you too, I can see. Hate that in a bitch. Surprised the Man would hire a smartarse pussy. Heard he had tough balls. Guess not if he hires pussies like you.” I presumed ‘the Man’ was Heller, and that ‘tough balls’ were a desirable feature for a man to have. Sounded painful to me.
“You seem obsessed by pussies. What’s up? Not getting enough?” I just couldn’t help myself. He was asking for it.
“Fuck off, bitch.”
“Want me to take my pussy with me? Or do you want to think about it for a bit longer?”
“Smart-mouthed piece of pussy,” he spat out. He obviously didn’t possess a huge vocabulary.
“There you go again! Like I said, you’re totally obsessed. You know you can pay women to show you theirs, if you’re that desperate.”
“Fuck off, bitch.”
“You already said that. Run out of small talk so soon? And I was really starting to enjoy our conversation too.” I shook my head in mock-sorrow. He crossed his arms and glared at me aggressively, and I knew that I’d just made another friend for life with my winning personality. But it did the trick. He shut up and I was grateful for small mercies. For a little while anyway.
“Been doing much driving lately?” he insinuated slyly. My hackles rose immediately.
“You know something about that?” I demanded, dangerously quiet.
It had been staff from Select Security who had shot Niq and me off the road in our car where we smashed head-on into a concrete wall. We were both lucky to be alive after that accident and had spent months in hospital recovering. The operations I’d needed for internal bleeding had stuffed up my ovaries so now there was no chance of me ever getting pregnant. Needless to say, I had no sense of humour about that incident at all.
He just laughed and gave me a smirk that stayed on his face for the rest of our time together. I wanted to kill him, choke the life out of him, right there and then. I breathed in and out deeply, thinking about the good things in my life, until the murderous impulses dissipated. Just in time for the warring parties to exit the mediation room. Everyone seemed much calmer today and the session hadn’t lasted as long as previous days, but I could tell from their faces that they still hadn’t reached a settlement.
“Same time tomorrow,” Corella snapped to Gerry and the three of us stalked out of the building to her car.
“No luck?” I asked sympathetically, doing up my seatbelt, checking twice to make sure it was secure.
“They’re playing hardball. But that’s totally expected. We’re just going to have to play harder than them. Warburton doesn’t have the patience to continue much longer,” said Corella confidently.
Patricia sat quietly in front, staring straight ahead, not contributing to the conversation. I was starting to worry about her mental state. The whole divorce settlement was proving a terrible strain on her – one with which she didn’t seem to have the ability to cope.
I walked her to her room and saw her safely deposited. She didn’t want me to stay at all. I questioned the merits of that, concerned for her, but she insisted and she was the client, after all. I complied with her directive and left her to her own devices for the evening. I rang Heller and he came to pick me up.
We stopped at a juice bar on the way home for a fruit smoothie. I needed a sugar hit, and it was the closest thing to a chocolate binge that Heller would let me have. We sat in a booth close together, slurping our smoothies. I told him about the charming Select man I’d spent the day with and his scintillating conversation, especially his comments about Heller hiring a woman.
“I’m ruining your reputation in the sector as a hardarse with tough balls,” I said remorsefully.
He laughed and slid his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close to kiss me on the forehead. “At the rate you beat up men, I would think that you’re enhancing my reputation, my sweet.”
I laughed up at him and it was then that I noticed Will standing at our booth, looking at us. Shit! Will had this uncanny ability to spring Heller and me in an affectionate moment every time he saw us together in public. He didn’t look very pleased.
“Hello Tilly. Heller,” he said, grim-faced as he took in Heller’s arm still around my shoulders.
“Hi Will,” I replied lightly. Heller nodded at Will, but didn’t release his arm. In fact he tightened it around my shoulders. I wasn’t going to start a blather of explanations that would just make everything look worse than the innocent scene it really was. “Want to join us?”
“I’m on my way home. Just grabbing some milk. You free tonight?”
I nodded. “Sure, I’m not doing anything.”
Heller shook his head. “Sorry Matilda, but I need to go over some things with you tonight.”
“Really, Heller? It can’t wait?”
“No.”
I didn’t bother to hide my disappointment. “What about this weekend, Will? I’ll be free then.”
It was his turn to look disappointed. “I can’t, Tilly. The science head has asked me to fill in for her at a teaching conference this weekend. Her husband’s sick and she can’t go and there’s no refund, so she’s asked me to go instead. It’s all weekend. Sorry, babe.”
“Me too,” I pouted. “One day next week then?”
“Definitely.” And he ignored Heller and leaned in to kiss me on the mouth. I kissed him back eagerly, wishing that I could be with him tonight. We really didn’t get to spend enough time together.
“I’m looking forward to it already.”
“Me too. See you then, gorgeous.” He walked off and I turned to Heller.
“What’s so important that I can’t see Will tonight?”
“Nothing,” he said, without any hint of guilt. “I just don’t want you out at night when you have to work the next day.”
“Heller! You’re such a bastard sometimes!”
I shook off his arm angrily and stood up, throwing my empty cup in the bin with passion. Then I stalked out of the juice bar back to his vehicle, not waiting for him. He caught up to me in no time. I refused to look at him.
“Don’t be angry with me, Matilda. It’s for your own good. You need to be alert on this job, not half-asleep because you stayed up all night with your boyfriend.”
“Piss off, Heller! It’s all right for you to screw all night, but I’m not allowed to? Is that what you’re telling me? Nice lot of double standards you have going there, isn’t it?” I hadn’t realised that I’d raised my voice until I saw the curious stares from people around us. I blushed and continued stalking towards the car.
He pulled up alongside me again and grabbed my arm firmly in his hand, bringing me to a halt and turning me around to look at him. I refused to though, keeping my head lowered. He sighed mightily and cupped his hand under my chin, forcing my head upwards. I didn’t give up without a fight though and it took him a bit of effort to force me to make eye contact with him. Then I scrunched my eyes closed so that I didn’
t have to look at him. I’m very mature like that. Next thing I knew, his lips were pressing on mine in a very sensuous and intimate way, his tongue making its presence known. That made my eyes fly open immediately and I pushed against him furiously. He smiled at me in triumph and I wanted to slap his face hard, but I knew better than to raise my hand to Heller.
“I hate you!” I spat out angrily.
He pulled a sad face. “You hurt my feelings when you say that, Matilda.”
“Good! I’d rather hurt you right now, but your feelings will have to do instead.”
“Such an infuriated young woman,” he tutted disapprovingly. “I’m not sure I should employ such a violent and angry person. You might ruin my reputation for hiring pussies.”
Despite myself, my lips started twitching. “Stop it,” I demanded crossly. “I’m trying to be angry with you.”
“Imagine if anyone found out that Heller employed someone,” and he lowered his voice to a confidential whisper, and looked around to make sure no one could overhear, “who wanted to hurt other people. Just imagine the scandal.”
I punched him on the arm lightly, and laughed unwillingly.
“Am I forgiven?” he asked.
“No.”
“What about if I organise a treat for you tonight to make it up to you?”
“If by that you mean a booty call from you, then forget it. I’m not interested.”
“I’ll be making a booty call tonight, but not to you, my sweet. I have a date with the delectable Vanessa. And I’m really looking forward to it.”
I stopped and stared at him, furious again. “What the hell? I can’t see Will, but you’re off to shag your little girlfriend all night? You’re such a hypocrite.”
“It’s different for me, Matilda.”
“How?” I shouted at him.
“I don’t have a man who is trying to hurt me every day to contend with at the moment. You do. He’s already injured you. I need you to be alert. It seems hard, but it’s for the best. For you. Now I promise you’ll enjoy what I arrange for you tonight.”
