Don't Tempt The Boss

CHAPTER NINE

LENA.

I woke up in a strange bed.

In a room darker than night. I had to glance at the blinking clock on the table to realize that it was ten a.m. The entire house looked as dark as it had last night.

I pushed to my feet, and the first thing I felt was nausea. So I rushed to the bathroom and retched out what I could. When I was done, I felt shaky and wrung out.

I wiped my mouth and padded barefoot to the living room. Sébastien was at the bar, his hands clenched in front of him.

There was a glass in front of him, in it was a thick dark liquid I couldn’t recognize at this distance. He was staring off into the distance, but the moment I stepped closer, his entire body stiffened.

He slammed back the rest of his liquid before he turned around to face me. “You’re up.”

His voice was stiff; something was wrong. He even looked paler than usual, his hair was a bird’s nest of curls, and there were dark circles under his eyes. “I wanted to wake you an hour earlier, but you looked like you needed the rest.”

This was the worst I’d ever seen him. “Are you okay? You look like you hardly slept.”

“I’m fine.” He grumbled, rubbing his nose. “It’s hunger pangs, I’ll be fine once I…rest…”

“You could come with me, there’s a diner not far from here, we’ll get breakfast.” It wasn’t the most professional request, but I was still vulnerable after yesterday’s events.

One moment I was f*****g my boss, and the next I was watching a man take his life. It was such a swing of emotions, I didn’t want to think too much about it, or I’d get so dizzy I’d vomit again.

Sébastien sighed, as if the idea itself was torture. “You need to go back home, Lena.”

“But you said you were hungry…”

“I’m a grown man,” he mumbled, “I can handle my own feeding. Go home, and don’t clock in to work tonight, I’m giving you an off day.”

I flinched like he’d hit me. “I don’t need an off day. I’m clocking in tonight.”

“It wasn’t a suggestion, it was an instruction,” he growled, “From your direct superior. I’m your boss in case you’ve forgotten. You have to do as I say.”

“You’re not making any sense,” I hissed back, “I don’t need you treating me like I’m some porcelain doll. I’m not going to break.”

“I’m not arguing this with you,” he stalked closer, his eyes flashing with every step. “It’s been a long night, I’m stressed, low on sleep, and hungry. Do. Not. Provoke. Me.”

“This is not the last of this.” I glared.

Sébastien rolled his eyes before brushing past me. “Go home, Lena.”

A door slammed as he left, and I was standing there by myself.

I left the building fuming, so angry I didn’t even notice the glares Celine sent my way. Because I didn’t bring my car, I had to stand in the cold and call for a cab.

The wind shifted, bringing with it the scent of ash and sulfur. Footsteps sounded next to me, and when I turned, a man was there. More of a young boy, he didn’t look like he was much older than Abel and me, but something about him made the hairs on my arm stand upright.

“Morning,” he greeted with a grin, a canine glinting under the umbrella he stood under.

“Hello.” I nodded in response.

The man smiled then, and it looked out of place on him for some reason. “You are a very beautiful woman.” he said on an accent that I couldn’t place. “You remind me of my dear sister. I think I have a picture right here…”

Before I could respond, he pulled out a small picture and handed it to me. Our hands brushed, and his fingers were ice cold, like I was touching a stone statue.

He kept his gaze on me as I peeled open the picture, noting my every reaction as I stared at the girl in the picture. It was as if I were looking into a mirror. True enough, the girl…Elara, was a stark replica of me.

“Like looking in the mirror, isn’t it?” The man drawled, humor in his tone. “Funny how time works, don’t you think?”

I nodded, slightly creeped out by the entire interaction. “Yeah, I think.” I glanced down at the woman who wore my face. “What was her name?”

The man grinned again, and it seemed like his canines had gotten longer. “Her name was Elara. Fitting, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” I swallowed, “I guess it is.”

Something about that name bugged me, like I’d heard it somewhere before but couldn’t remember. It was a memory that was right there, but fleeting.

“And what is your name?” He asked, still smiling that smile. Something glinted on his neck, a silver chain with a dragon pendant.

“Lena…” I said without thinking, almost as if my mouth had no choice. I took a step away from the man, suddenly uncomfortable with this entire interaction. For some reason, though, I found myself asking, “And what’s yours?”

He bowed his head once. “You may call me Alois.” He grinned, “But only if you mean it.”

“Right.” The wind picked up, blowing my hair across my face. I dragged the strands away so I could see, but the man was gone.

I was left standing by myself. The only proof I hadn’t imagined the entire thing was the picture in my hands. I glanced down at it, mouthing the name I’d been given…

Elara.