Chapter 26
Dante
She dragged herself through this like she was heading for execution—and it thrilled me more than it should have.
From the way she wrenched the door open, letting it almost slam into me as it closed, to the way she had to drag her body up the stairs. All of it was her way of showing me she didn’t want to do this.
Or, she wanted to do it, but she didn’t want to do it with me there.
Tough shit.
Contrary to popular belief, I actually couldn’t give a fuck that Rachel went on a few pathetic dates with this guy. As far as we were both concerned, the relationship between me and her was over and done with. She was free to see whoever she liked.
That’s not to say I wouldn’t have intervened had it got serious. But it wasn’t, and so I had no problem with the odd awkward kiss and a fumble at her front door.
I’m not sure why she was acting as though I was one breath away from tearing the guy limb from limb. I wasn’t that insecure. And it amused me to no end that he thought he had a chance with her.
Rachel might like to play her game of pretence, but the only person she was fooling was herself. She craved the darkness, she just didn’t like to admit it. Any run of the mill, vanilla relationship would soon grow boring to her.
It’s why I didn’t feel so guilty about keeping her shackled to me. If she really wanted to go, she would have. I’d track her down, and I’d make her pay, but the point is, she liked being here. She liked the drama and the chaos.
She just didn’t like owning that shit.
As we got to the top of the stairs, I almost smacked into Rachel as she hesitated.
That’s what you get for staring at her ass and not paying attention!
“Problem?” I murmured, doing my best not to laugh at the way she looked at the office doors and then back at me.
“Look,” she said, turning around to face me. She placed her hands on my shoulders, forcing me to look her way as she stared down at me.
Just.
She was a few steps above me, so she was only just slightly taller.
“John… well, he was good to me. He helped me when I had no one else. If you’re going to insist on coming in that room with me, then Lord knows there’s nothing I can do or say that will stop you. But I want you to promise me you will not harm him in any way.”
“Why, Rachel, I didn’t realise you cared so much. You’re going soft in your old age.”
“I don’t care,” she was quick to respond.
Like fuck she didn’t. I felt myself getting more and more pissed off at how much she was willing to defend this bloke.
Did she have stronger feelings for him than I had suspected?
“I don’t want you going in there all guns blazing, because he doesn’t deserve it.
He was just a guy who offered me a job.”
“And that’s it?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
“No,” she said, and then sighed heavily. “Look, you may as well hear it from me now. And I don’t want you kicking off or making some silly threats. It’s in the past.”
“Go on,” I said, growing impatient.
“Promise me, Dante.”
“I promise you I will not kick off in this stairwell, no matter what you say. Scout’s honour,” I said, holding up my fingers.
“I still don’t believe you, but here goes. John and I went on a few dates—nothing serious, and it was over before anything even started. But it happened.”
“If it was nothing serious, why are you telling me about it?”
“Because there’s a chance it might get brought up. I figured the best way to keep your temper under control is knowing about it in advance.”
“If it was nothing serious, why would it get brought up?”
“I…” she hesitated again. I already knew the answer, but I wasn’t going to make this any easier on her. “It may have been more to him than it was to me, okay? And I never told him about you, so he—”
“He may lash out when he sees his competition and realises that he doesn’t and can't compare?”
“I… Yes,” she said, sighing in defeat.
“There,” I grinned at her, spinning her back around and slapping her ass. “That wasn’t so hard, was it? Let’s get this over with.”
I heard her tut in front of me, but she walked over to the office doors anyway, tutting again when she remembered she didn’t have her card to scan in. She pressed the buzzer and then knocked loudly.
“I mean it, Dante. Best behaviour.”
“I remember giving you the same speech outside Iris’ house, and what did you say to me then?”
“It’s not the same.”
“Out of the two of us, I definitely know how to keep my temper under lock and key.”
She scoffed. “That’s bullshit, and we both know it.”
I didn’t respond as a shadow crept over the room, followed by the shape of her boss as he came closer to the door. He opened it, a huge grin on his face.
“Lisa!” He beamed. “I was getting worried for a second.”
“Hi, John,” she said. He held the door open further, allowing her to come in. And then his gaze fell on me.
I bit my inner cheek to keep from smiling.
The guy was only a fraction taller than Rachel, which mean I towered heads and shoulders above him.
He craned his neck to look at me as I followed Rachel into the office space, and then took a step backwards, as though he didn’t want to be too close to me.
His eyes took in my leather jacket, frowning when he saw the Devil’s Disciple logo on the back, and the president's patch on the front.
I grinned at him, and leant against one of the desks, crossing my legs at the ankles and folding my arms. Rachel could take the lead on this one.
“Where have you been, Lisa?” John asked, doing his best to ignore me. I saw the way his gaze kept coming back to me, though. He didn’t trust me, but he was too much of a pussy to voice that opinion.
“I… I’ve moved back to Leeds. I’ve only come here to hand in my notice.”
I cleared my throat, and Rachel shot me a dirty look before she added. “Effective immediately.”
“But why? I thought you were happy here.”
“I was. I loved it here, John, you know I did. But—”
“I’m surprised by you, Lisa. I would expect this from someone like Jack, but I never expected you to be the kind to leave the company in the lurch like this.”
“Don’t make this any more difficult than it needs to be. This is non-negotiable, and I won’t be changing my mind.”
Attagirl.
“I’m afraid I’ll need you to work your two weeks’ notice, as per your contract,” John said, straightening to his full height.
I chuckled as I saw Rachel stiffen, and her eyes narrow.
Poor John. He had only ever known Rachel when she was on her best behaviour. Whatever he thought he knew about her, whatever illusions he had about her, they were all about to be shattered.
“Unfortunately, that won’t be happening,” she said, her voice a touch harsher than it had been.
“I guess I’m just struggling to see what has you fleeing from here so quickly.
The last we spoke, I allowed you to leave early so you could organise your son's party. Next thing I know, you’ve gone AWOL and then you appear back here days later quitting.
It seems unfair after all I’ve done for you, Lisa. ”
“He’s right, Lisa .” I couldn’t resist adding. “He’s done so much. I mean, an entire half a day for your son's party? It sounds like he really pushed the entire boat out for you.” I kept my face completely deadpan. Rachel shot me an angry look, and John nodded, absolutely oblivious to my sarcasm.
“At what point did I say I did not appreciate all you’ve done for me?” Rachel snapped.
John looked taken aback by her tone. “I didn’t say—”
“You didn’t need to say. Do you think I can’t read between the lines?”
“No, but—”
“But what? You did me a favour, therefore I’m never allowed to move on with my life? I must be stuck here forever. Is that it?”
“I’m not saying that, Lisa—”
“So what are you saying, then? Because from what it sounds like, you’re acting as though I owe you something. Have I ever taken anything from you? Yes, you helped me get my affairs in order in terms of my ID, but have I ever actually taken anything from you?”
“No. I’m not—”
Oh, John. Just give up now. You’re not winning this one.
I looked down at the ground so neither of them would see me smothering a laugh. Not that either of them were paying attention to me right now. Rachel was on a roll, and John looked like he was about to piss his pants.
“Have I always gone above and beyond with my job? Am I not the hardest working employee here? Am I not doing way more than my job description and taking on more responsibility than my wage demands?”
“Yes—”
“Okay, so what’s with the passive aggressive blackmail?”
“I’m not blackmailing,” he said, his tone sounding affronted. “I’m just looking for an explanation.”
“I gave you one. I’ve moved countries. Or weren’t you aware that Scotland and England are different countries?
Do you expect me to commute daily? If that’s not reason enough, shall we say that I’m currently working in an uncomfortable working environment?
What does your contract say about visiting the homes of your employees at night? ”
And there it was. Illusion shattered.
John’s head reared back as though she had slapped him. “I was acting as your friend when I did that. Not your boss.”
“And I’m acting as your friend when I tell you it would be impossible for me to work my two-week notice.
I apologise, and obviously you do not need to pay me.
I told you yesterday that I would be taking some paid time off because of my holiday days, but I won’t take them.
I’m trying to be reasonable with you, John, but I’m really going to need you to meet me half way. ”
“Does this have anything to do with him?” John said, tipping his head in my direction.
Oh, this should be good.
“Nothing at all,” she said, placing her hands on her hips.
“I guess I’m just confused, that’s all. You turn up here with… well, the only way to describe him would be hired muscle, as though you were expecting some sort of reaction from me?”