Page 19 of Damaged Beast
Prime fights a smile. “I suspect I could handle it.”
“Then great. I’ll put in a good word.”
Madison kills it. Despite how hard Prime’s clearly trying to torch her. No matter how many curveballs he tosses, Madison easily knocks them out of the park. She’s charming, funny, and beautiful. She makes Prime laugh twice despite himself.
I hate every minute.
The interview with Brittany was easier. She clearly didn’t have what it took. Too shallow, too boring, not his type at all. There was no chemistry.
Madison’s different. She’s hilarious and doesn’t back down when he gets pushy and acts like a jerk. She clearly wants something and doesn’t care what she has to do to get it, which I deeply admire.
Something in me cracks. It’s like there’s a wall around my stomach holding back these odd, twisting feelings. I only realize I’m feeling jealous when Madison leans forward, giving Prime a good view of her fantastic chest down the top button of her gorgeous designer top.
But why the hell would I feeljealousof all things!?
I already knew Prime slept with these women. Maybe I don’t remember them in particular, but I’ve seen the constant revolving door of beautiful ladies moving through his life, and it never once registered.
This is different and I hate it.
I’m relieved when Prime dismisses her. She stands primly and looks down at him. “I look forward to a blossoming partnership.” Then marches out without so much as a glance in my direction.
Fuck, she’s good. I turn as Prime draws a big, black X down her dossier page.
“What’s that for?” I ask in disbelief.
“Send in the next one.”
“Wait, are you rejecting Madison? She’sperfect. Attractive, funny, smart, aware of what this situation means and still willing to go through with it?—“
Prime’s expression is hard. “I said, send in the next one.”
Anger flares, burning away the jealousy. “Listen to me, asshole. There is nobody else after this last one, okay? I get it, Brittany wasn’t right, but Madison?—“
“Do I have to get up from this chair and fuckingpunishyou, Deanna? Do you need me to punish that pretty mouth of yours? I said,send in the last one.”
I step back in shock. My jaw drops open. The air seems to sizzle around him. It’s like a darkness oozes from his pores, a deep, horrific hate seeping from his skin. I’ve never seen it before and it frankly scares the shit out of me. But as quickly as it appears, he seems to gather himself together with some effort, slamming the door closed on a part of him I’d only ever glimpsed in the past.
“I apologize. That was too harsh. Madison is fine, but I want to meet the third woman.”
“Yeah, of course, I’ll go get her.”
I’m shaken as I fetch Valentina. She’s waiting patiently alone on a couch at the front of the office. I feel like I’m floating as I bring her back to his office, mind warped and confused from that sudden outburst?—
And how now all I can think about is him face-fucking me with his big-enough-for-porn dick.
“Hey, uhm, do I look okay?” Valentina touches my arm before we reach Prime’s door.
I focus on her. She’s a thirty-eight-year-old radiologist. Very attractive, though not like the other two. Dark hair, full figure, brown eyes. She comes off as much more serious, because she is. Brittany’s a party girl and Madison’s a social climber. ButValentina’s an actual, honest-to-God adult, a successful woman with a good career and her life in order. Of the three, she makes no god damn sense.
“You look great,” I say, trying to reassure her despite wanting to tell her to run the hell out of here before Prime can do something stupid.
“Thanks, I know it’s silly, I mean this is like a business arrangement, right? I’m just weirdly nervous.”
“Don’t be. You’re amazing. Honestly, you’ll do great.”
Valentina’s smile is warm and inviting and shockingly normal. “Yeah, alright, let’s go do this.”
Prime acts like nothing happened, like he didn’t lash out. Instead, he reads her biography: grew up in Philly, undergrad at Villanova, med school at Temple, now full time at Jefferson Hospital. He places the clipboard down. “Can I be frank with you, Valentina?”
