completely piss me the fuck off… make me wash my hands of you. With peppermint soap,” he joked. She barely smiled. “Regardless, Yasmine, I want this opportunity to prove to you that I’m worth your time and to prove to me, that you’re worth the fucking effort.” She looked at him for what felt like the longest, trying to sew together the right words. Instead, something unsophisticated rolled out.
“I’m not buying any of this shit. My mother always told me, if it looks like a snake, moves like a snake, sounds like a snake, it’s a snake. You won’t be able to do that. Just be honest. I am one of many, aren’t I?”
“No. I’ve never offered this to anyone else before. I never gave anyone else my business card before. Those consultations were for a select few but I never wanted anything more from them than sex… and to help, of course. Consider yourself special.” Used car salesman antics. “Look, baby, it’s simple, really. Don’t complicate it. I’m trying to meet you halfway, give you an insurance policy, if you will. Don’t be scared. I may surprise you. I could be exactly what you want, forked tongue and all.”
He snapped his fingers in the air. The waiter finally arrived, snatching her out of the moment.
“I’m so sorry for the wait! Oh, my goodness.” He shook his head as if exasperated. “We’re a bit short-staffed today. Have you both decided what you want?” The server asked. Raze slowly stood from the table, grabbed his suitcase, and ran his hand along his chiseled jaw as he looked down at her. Intense heat dwelled in his eyes… reminding her of the gaze of a horned beast.
“Yeah. I know exactly what I want. I made it clear, already picked it off the menu.” He smiled at her, then winked in that maddening way of his. “As for the lady, give her whatever she wishes. Put it on my company credit card. It’s on file with the restaurant manager. At my law firm we are regulars here.”
“Yes, of course. That’s perfectly fine.”
“Wonderful. Meeting adjourned.”
“What? No, hold up! It’s not perfectly fine. Nix! Are you serious? You’re leaving?” I don’t believe this shit! She hated how shrill her voice became as her irritation soared.
“Yeah. You need time to think. I’d hate for you to fuck up and make the wrong decision. Drink and eat up. I’ll contact you when I feel like it.”
You piece of shit. She would have said it verbally had she not been so concerned about being overheard. The crowd was thickening like pea soup.
“How the hell am I getting back to the office?! I didn’t drive over here. You picked me up!” she called out when he turned and began to walk away just as cool as he pleased.
“Call the number on the slip of paper in the back of the journal. Max will make sure you get anywhere you may need to go today. He’s the firm’s driver. My treat.” He raised his arm in the air to wave goodbye but never stopped or deigned her with a glance. Floetry’s, ‘Say Yes’ played through the speakers in the restaurant as he slipped away like a dark vapor, a murky shadow with a mind of its own. He was the death of all that was steadfast and made sense.
This didn’t just happen… This man did not just do this to me!
She sat there, her stomach in knots. A rush of mingled excitement and fury raced within her, pulling her apart in two different directions. She looked at the waiter, then at the door.
“I… I will have the fried brussels sprouts and bar harbor mussels, please. Oh, and a glass of white wine. House is fine.”
“Great choices. I’ll get it right out to you.”
“Wait a minute.”
“Yes?”
“He told you not to come over here, didn’t he? That’s why it really took you so long, isn’t it?”
The waiter’s face grew red.
“Uh, yes… Mr. Rossellini doesn’t like being interrupted when he’s in meetings.”
She sucked her teeth and shook her head in disbelief.
“Yes, I’ve noticed. That sly son of a bitch… he planned this all along. Made sure he got out everything he wanted to say, then dipped. Okay, thank you.” The waiter nodded, removed the menus, and sauntered away. Just as she was cursing Nixon, Raze, the gotdamn Satyr – whatever the hell he called himself – out in her head, her cell phone buzzed with a notification of a new text message. She snatched