long meetings. The same low-pile carpet from the hall extends into the room in natural gray a shade lighter than the wainscoting that rises halfway up the wall. Above, the white walls offer a canvas for a series of nature pictures of the ocean and forest. The only window in the room faces into the hall, with vertical blinds next to it, ready to be pulled for privacy.
Do the blinds get pulled once everyone’s here? Or only on special occasions? What would warrant a special occasion at a bank? Billion-dollar deals? As a bank used by demons, do they do billion-dollar deals? My deal was only a few thousand. Was that normal or laughable? Did they only agree to see me because they wanted me for other reasons?
I reach up and check my chignon, where I carefully tucked my blue tips away so only the white shows. Not a lot of demons have white hair, but there are a few. And with Emil as the bank president, I might be mistaken as another ice demon.
While they never said I needed to hide that I’m a succubus, I figure it will be easier to get a read on the person if they don’t know to be wary and hide their thoughts in advance. Part of my limited success with Tally comes with her purposefully leaving her mind open. I’ve never seen into the guys’ minds, no matter how lustfully I stare into their eyes.
I circle the table, my wings restless in their hiding spot. When I imagined my life, this wasn’t part of it. It all feels very… corporate espionage, and I’m the least sneaky person in the world, as Kellen’s proven time-and-time again when I try to surprise them.
Maybe they should just sic Kellen on this client.
The door clicks open, and I freeze next to the chair on the far right of the table.
She walks in, a tray balanced on one arm. It holds a bowl-bottomed carafe of ice water and four glasses.
I frown at the setup. “You’re serving Mr. König ice water?”
She casts me an irritated glance as she settles the tray on the table. “What else would I serve him?”
I lift a brow. “Something hot?”
She lifts one glass and fills it halfway with water before thumping it down in front of me. “He’s a winter god. He needs ice water.”
Now my frown turns into a scowl worthy of Tobias. “Are you new here?”
She straightens, her displeasure clear in the curl of her coral pink-glossed lips. “I’ve been with Mr. König for twenty years now. I think I know my job better than his newest plaything.”
My shoulders snap back, chest puffing out as I rise onto my toes. I don’t like her implication, the way she links herself directly to Emil instead of the company. “Excuse me? Plaything?”
She smirks. “You are the newest succubus in the long line of replaceable energy suckers, are you not? I’m surprised to see you at the company. Usually, your kind knows enough to stay in bed and wait for your next fix.”
My nostrils flare as I take in her fiery red hair, golden skin, and the slight scent of charcoal under her expensive floral perfume. A fire demon. Someone naturally warm, possibly appealing to my heat-loving ice demon.
My fingertips tingle as my claws push for release.
Logically, I didn’t know Emil before this past summer, so I can’t gut this woman for possibly sharing Emil’s bed before we met.
Instinctually, I want to destroy her before she can further tempt Emil. He’s mine, and I need to make her aware she will never touch him again.
Eyes locked with hers, I curl my fingers around the glass of ice water, the condensation cold against my skin, and spindle out enough of Tobias’s power to bring it to a rolling boil. “Emil doesn’t like ice water.”
She lifts the carafe and fills another glass, setting it in front of one of the two chairs that face the door, the place a meeting director would take.
Stubborn, I set my steaming glass of water in front of the other seat as footsteps sound out in the hall.
A moment later, Emil strides into the room, followed closely by Tobias, who carries a folder in one hand.
Emil’s frosty gaze sweeps over the room before it settles on me. “Ms. Pond. I hope your drive here was to your satisfaction?”
I grin, my annoyance with the secretary salved by the reminder of my new car. “Very satisfactory. And yours?”