The Devil Will Meet You Again

Oh, he remembered how she caused a ruckus through the halls. Security attempted to refrain her, but she'd made it to his door anyway. Of course she didn't enter because they dragged her off, but Alaric heard her pride and decided to command the bodyguards to release her and let her enter for a private audience with him.

Everyone seemed baffled. Mr. Draconis never let anyone speak face to face with him, not even big time companies, let alone some unsatisfied customer. Everything was normally done through emails.

There he waited, lightning flashing behind him, reflecting off the windows and encasing his figure in shadows, only his gray eyes beaming in the fleeting darkness when the electricity boomed off.

Ari pulled the back ends of her skirt together to hide the flash of her bright yellow polka dotted underwear. The deep rumble of his voice blended with the thunder outside, muted only by the thick tempered glass that kept them from the elements.

Outside the world continued on without the slightest clue as to what began to unfold above them. Goosebumps rose along her arms and she almost thought of forgetting her ruined skirt just to hold herself and stave away the chills. The atmosphere seemed to shift with the turbulent mood that felt like static.

She nearly jumped at the sound of the foot slamming shut behind her. What the hell kind of company was this? "This is no way to treat a lady."

His gaze was met with a stubborn stare of her own. The darkness in the room hid the rich color of her eyes until they were wide empty pools.

"Ignorance is believing that you can hold me here without consequences. This is unlawful and I demand that you open the doors. Now."

The company and their president were getting increasingly more creepy by the minute. She should have known that it would be considering their products were all centered around sex and people's constant need for pleasure. She took a few cautious steps backwards, slowly weighing her options. Even if she could muscle her way past the door guard, then what? But she certainly wouldn't know if she didn't try.

Ari used a single hand to dig into her bra, retrieving her cellphone. "I will not grovel like some sinner in church. Are you secretly some kinky priest?" She waved the device at the door guard. The threat was mostly empty. She couldn't really afford to be involved with the authorities and explain why she'd stormed into the building to begin with. The silence grew as she waited with baited breath. Please let this work. Please let this work. She prayed in her mind.

"I don't think you understand, Ms. Ari. A man such as myself doesn't aim for success with the idea of only pleasing some of his genuine audience he appeals to. The goal is perfection, and I've had that for ten years until today. I couldn't care less if you were God,"

He spoke lowly, then said. "If I can't handle a woman with a mouth I shouldn't run a company."

Alaric chuckled lowly beneath his breath and rested a fisted hand against his mouth where he bit on each knuckle slowly. This woman surely had an interesting thought process, especially the vocabulary of words she used in a sentence when speaking about him.

"A priest?" His naturally almond shaped eyes seemed to almost narrow more than they had, smooth wrinkles scattering at the corner of each eyelid. Another glint of red light flashed onto the surface of those Grey hues from the various city lights flashing through the large floor to ceiling windows.

Dark clouds loomed behind him, and when he stepped forward and crossed the room, he'd seemed like he flew down from them; some fallen angel who'd descended from grace. The speed was quick. In one blink he stood in front of her, his hand coiling around her wrist tightly.

"I've been many things in my life, but priest isn't one. I've been an angel, helping those in the community stand on their feet. I've been patient, and I've been the devil to those whom I dislike. Being on my bad side isn't where someone would like to stay if they had any sense. Apparently you don't have that. Let me tell you exactly what would've happened had you called the police. They would've come right in here and ignored everything they saw. Why? Because money and fear keeps people's mouths closed."

Yanking her lifted arm downward, he forced her onto her knees before him, his gaze glinting in the darkness. "And only an idiot would forget to apologize when they attempted to swindle someone out of their league. If you want a new product, fine. But you won't be getting your money back. Remove your rude comment off my site and all will be forgotten."

Alaric gave her wrist a twist before he released her and went back to his leather chair. He lowered into it silently, then watched her, amusement in his eyes, a surge of energy pooling into his stomach. He liked seeing her on her knees, and if it weren't for the fact she angered him so much, he would've been hard in his pants. But disobedience ruined that and his good day. Alaric leaned back, lifting her cellphone into the air as though he was like, what now, bitch.

In the brief moment that he caught her wrist she'd felt something undeniable. A spark that set her nerves alight; not quite painful but not exactly pleasant either. Something about the look in his eyes doused the anger that had her yelling threats and making demands just moments before.

Her arm rose to hide the frustrated blush coloring her cheeks up to the tips of her ears. How had she gotten herself into such a mess? It wasn't the first time her desperation and temper had gotten her into trouble.

Her slender fingers curled into fists against the cool material of her skirt. Though her head dipped from the weight of his scorn, Ari still held his gaze; her lids lowered and she peered up at Yvonne from beneath dark lashes. If even the police wouldn't help her, she had little choice. Being forced onto her knees made her feel like someone lesser, like he was trying to remind her of her place beneath him and once he'd released her she stayed that way. He was lucky she couldn't stand without risking her backside being exposed.

"Look, Mr. Draconis'," Ari was struggling to swallow her pride. "I'm sorry you feel like I'm trying to swindle you. I just..I really need this. A new product can't help me." Well it might have helped her forget about her sinking business for a few blissful hours but that was all. "I need the money. Can't you make an exception this time since I've come so far? It won't happen again and I'll even take down the review." Even though she muttered something about her only access being the phone he'd so rudely snatched away from her.

There was no mistaking the predatory sensation that made her hyper aware of his eyes that focused so intensely on her. Clearly fame and wealth had spoiled him. He was someone who thought they can do whatever they wanted to whoever they wanted and get away with it. Wait, wasn't that what he was doing now? Ari shook her head and tried to smile, scattering the freckles on her face and deepening those lovely dimples of hers. "I'll even listen to your proposal if you'd so kindly remove your guard there from the door."

From where he sat, he could see the deep, dark blush that feathered over her cheeks. Whether from embarrassment, anger, or being flustered, he didn't know. Nor did he care in the moment. There wasn't a time where things were out of order. People listened, and the ones that didn't weren't customers from his company but others he helped with.

And now, here this woman was. She had barged into his office like she was in the right, like he had done her wrong, though now the truth came spilling past her plump lips as easily as her lies had. Nothing had been wrong with his product, yet she claimed she wasn't satisfied. Now she also claimed it wasn't her intention. At the moment, he couldn't really make out exactly what her intentions were. Having him jump through one hoop into another.

Truly, Alaric enjoyed the sight of a woman on her knees before him. However, even down on the floor, she didn't understand she wasn't in the position to be calling the shots. He ran the palm of his hand over his desk, then touched the index and thumb together. Not a spec of dirt or dust, just the way he liked it.

Then, his gaze snapped back towards hers, hooded, staring beneath his own dark and short lashes. The look he cast in her direction wasn't like before. There was something much more primal behind those cloudy gray eyes that rivaled with the storm beyond the window behind him.

"My guard will stay by the door. That's number one. Number two," He leaned forward once more, his stomach pressing to the edge of the desk. "I thought you weren't the begging type. Thought you would've been the type to leave my office with your pride still shining as bright as the moment you walked into my office." He shrugged. "Guess I was wrong. Move Mr. Jinnings. Allow her to leave."

After his sudden change in plan and mood, Mr. Jennings obeyed, stepping out of the way.

"Go ahead. I'll forget about what you've done. Make sure your comment is deleted. Return when you can actually beg properly. You obviously know where I stay. Is there anything else you need before you are escorted out?"

Ari couldn't believe him. He was calm one moment and then insulting the next. Like hell she would be toyed with by some freaky rich guy who was nothing more than a misogynistic pig. She did not come all the way across the city to be denied, insulted, and made to beg.

Now she was openly frowning in disdain from such callousness. Most people would at least care enough to inquire as to why or cut her some slack. But what did they mean before her dare utter from his sinful lips? Return when you can actually beg properly.

There had been a time in her life when she'd actually looked up to him. His story was nothing short of inspirational and a large reason why she'd decided to try her hand at opening her own store. And where had that gotten her? No. She would not accept that.

Suddenly she stood—heedless of her ruined attire, one of the only nice outfits she owned—and stormed right back over to his desk. She fought to get there and she would not be denied so easily when everything was riding on her ability to scrounge up funds.

Her hand slammed on the desk before she leaned forward until their faces were mere inches apart. "You listen to me you freaky asshole. I was trying to be nice! Do you think you can just bully me into dropping the issue and then insult me after you've very clearly done some sketchy shit?!" She reached out and snatched her phone from his hands.

"You can give me my money back or I'll leave the way I came. Not only have you disregarded my voice as a consumer but you've insulted me, threatened me, and tried to blackmail me." Her golden brown hair was a mess from the frenzied movements; single index finger poking him in the chest. "Quite frankly I don't want your product or to ever have to see your face again. So yes I do need something."

There was a moment of suspense where everything went quiet. Even the churning storm outside seemed to lull as if anticipation for what might happen next. The city painted a beautiful backdrop to the odd scene unfolding.

Ari's hand drew back and she slapped the man so hard her own palm stung. "Get your head out of your ass!" With her phone back in her possession, she turned on heel, stomping off to the door and past his guard. "I expect my refund in full Mr. Draconis or you will be hearing from me again!"

Out of a thousand things she could've said or did, Ari had pushed herself to her feet and stormed across the room in front of him. Gone were the worrying about the tear in her skirt, gone was the fear he'd seen flickering inside those big brown eyes. All those stirring emotions were placed with an anger which rivaled his own when she'd given him lip.

Alaric's gaze flicked down to her pointed finger jabbing at his chest as she drilled into him with her words. Nice, she had said. Nice wasn't making a fuss in his building, cursing out his bodyguards, calling them every name into the sun before barging into his office.

Sure, she was being nice moments ago. But that was after the fact he had slung her on the ground and scared the living shit out of her. Nice wasn't her first option. In fact, it was the last bloody option. Yet he was the bully while she was leant over his desk dubbing him a freaky asshole like she wasn't a bitch at all. He wondered if she'd known who he was, would she be in his face trying to take the upper hand when she was at the bottom of the food chain.

He allowed the phone to be snatched. That smug expression was still strong and unfaltering on his visage. "I'm not giving you anything," He laughed. "You want money? Go find a better job than your shitty shop. Or, you can find the nearest corner to go trick yourself. Maybe then that anger of yours will be in."

His mouth settled into a straight line when she smacked the ever living shit out of him. It was silent enough to hear a pen drop. The games were over now. She had crossed the line. The very last fucking line. He sat there, letting her finish working herself up by thinking she was giving this good ass speech he'd listen to. And then when she was done, it was his turn. Though it wouldn't be at this very moment.

He wiggled his jaw, another dark laugh slipping past his lips. He raised his hand for Jinnings to not grab the little smart mouth bitch by the back of her neck. Instead, he followed up with a, "I'll see you soon miss Ari, very soon."