Chapter Three Twizz
That’s interesting. Isabella looks offended. Like I attempted to run her toes, or maybe even her whole damn foot, through a meat grinder. But the affront isn’t sincere. Some part of her wants me. Her pupils dilate when she looks at me, and I don’t think she realizes that she’s biting her lip.
“I don’t think you understand; it’s not my money, it’s my employer’s money. And he has bundles of it. Would it help if I brought you a few gold bars?”
“Gold—? Are you trying to bribe me, sir?” The way she shifts back in her seat and crosses her arms across her voluptuous chest, hiding her full tits from my view, hints that I’ve taken another wrong turn.
Very odd. I’m usually much better at dealing with humans. But this woman is strung tighter than a drum. She’s far too young to be so serious. Isabella needs to learn to have some fun, and I’m just the man to teach her.
I lean back in my chair, while slinging my arm over the top. I hope she picks up on my relaxed demeanor and mirrors it, like she’s been doing while we play this mundane game of pretend. She’s pretending she doesn’t like me, and I’m pretending I’m an ordinary human.
“You don’t like me, do you?” I put her on the spot.
“What? No! Of course not. I mean, I do. I mean, I like you.” She holds her head between both of her hands. “Look, I have nothing against you.”
“Have I slighted you in some way? Because believe me, that was not my intention.”
“No. What gave you that impression?”
“I offered to bring gold bars to show you that I have means for a large purchase, and you accused me of offering a bribe. What exactly would I be bribing you to do? To show me property that’s listed for sale? That is the job of a realtor, is it not?”
“Yes, of course it is.”
“Well then, what sense would it make for me to bribe you to do your job? Especially when you work on commission, which is dependent on you taking your client, in this case me, to see property and make an offer.”
“Huh?”
“I’m willing to show that I have the financial access to pay the agreed-upon price of a home, provided we find one that fits my boss’s needs, if it will ease your mind.”
She looks confused. I yearn to reach across her desk and let her dark hair loose from the high ponytail so that I can run my fingers through it.
I appreciate the time and care she took to style it with accent braids on either side of her head, using yet another braid to cover the elastic band holding it all in place. She looks classy and stylish.
“Is there something wrong with my blouse? Something on me?” She looks down and pulls the front of her shirt out for her inspection.
“I’m sorry,” I say, “I’m just admiring the time and care you put into your personal presentation.” The quizzical look on her face encourages me to explain. “Your hairstyle and all-around professional look.”
“Oh, thank you.” She smiles while running her hand down the side of her head. The room brightens like the sky putting on a show with the Northern Lights.
“Now, where were we?” I pick the conversation back up. I don’t want her to think I complimented her as a way of evading her questions. “Money.” I look up at the ceiling, thinking of the best way to pose this to her. “Master Larkin comes from a very well-to-do family. Generations of wealth.”
“Master? Why do you call him Master? Are you his butler?”
“Not exactly a butler. More of an assistant. He’s my boss, and I take care of many of his personal things. Such as finding him the perfect new house for our move.”
“What does he do with his time that he’s too busy to come house hunting himself?”
“As I said, Master Larkin is old money. I can provide the bank records to show you. Currently, he’s an entertainer and works nights.
When he has the opportunity to work during the day, he focuses on his investments.
He has a good business sense and has grown his financial portfolio into a personal empire.
My house hunting is just me taking a chore off of his plate, and paying for the house outright takes away the headache of jumping through hoops for a mortgage. ” I smile at her.
“Oh my goodness!” She sounds alarmed.
Did I accidentally say that Master Larkin is a vampire? “What’s wrong?”
“Just now, when you smiled, it looked like your eyes changed colors. They sort of rippled like they were filled with water, then turned a darker shade.” She leans forward on her desk, bringing her head closer as she takes a long look at my eyes.
“But that’s crazy, isn’t it?” She says more to herself than to me. “They’re still a striking blue color.”
“Why, thank you.” I smile proudly. “I’m glad you noticed.”
She’s right; the blue of my eyes flashed a deep, dark color for all of a nanosecond before returning to the familiar cerulean blue that humans are accustomed to and comfortable with.
It’s a trick I use to draw them in. Looking deep into someone’s eyes creates a sort of intimacy.
With intimacy, you tend to give a little leeway. Offer a hint of trust.
“Has anyone told you that there is something about you that lights up a room?” She asks.
“Funny, you should say that. I’ve been thinking the same about you, Ms. Sweeny.”
“Bless your heart.” Her smile grows wide.
I take a quick look around the office, trying to decipher if her last comment was a compliment or an insult.
Doesn’t matter. What’s important is building a rapport with Isabella.
Not just to find a new dwelling for Master Larkin and myself, but to find a friend.
Who knows, we may make good bedfellows as well.
She seems like she can use a bit of loving to loosen up.