Page 7 of Reverence

He pulled the chair closer and I nearly choked on my saliva. The man was too close for comfort.

“Sometimes I wish I could strangle you.”

“Yeah?” I laughed, feeling somewhat accomplished. “You’re not my type, Ares. Please keep your sexual fantasies to yourself.” I placed my hand on his chest, shoving him away forcefully.

He looked down at where my hand was situated just a few seconds ago and then back up at me. “Obviously I’m not,”

He straightened his back, returning to his desk. “If I had to guess I’d say your type are men who lack a backbone, the ones who allow you to walk all over them. It’s pathetic really.”

“Is that supposed to hurt my feelings?” I blinked slowly. “You’re not wrong, I love men that I can walk like a dog.”

The look on his face nearly made me cackle. A mixture of pure disgust and disappointment.

“Aw.” He muttered sarcastically. “Is that why you dislike me? I obviously don’t fit into that category and you must be a spoiled brat. Accustomed to getting whatever it is your little black heart desires.”

I tossed my head back, clapping my hands while laughing. “I think you might be confused with your career path. You’re a special agent, not a therapist. So your poor attempt at psychoanalysis unfortunately missed the mark.”

With a grimace, I spoke again before he could respond. “I will give you my observation though. You’re a misogynistic bastard who belittles women to make himself feel better about the fact that the very women he constantly criticises, are the ones who could easily run circles around his ass.”

His jaw clenched and his grip tightened around the armrest of his chair.

“You see, Ares, I don’t know who you think you’re dealing with here but you’re never going to get under my skin. You also know absolutely nothing about me. So if you’re trying to insult me, at least do some research.”

The silence that followed swallowed us whole and if a pin dropped, it would’ve sounded like a nuclear bomb. “This is lovely and I hope it stays this way. I dislike you a little less when you’re quiet.”

He glared at me for what felt like a split second before returning to whatever he worked on before the conversation.

“How’s work been?” Kayden asked, trying to hide the amusement that covered his face.

“It’s been great.” I faked a smile. “My partner is simply the best. A real pleasure to work with.” He laughed, leaning back in his seat.

“With that attitude, I’m certain the two of you will get along just fine. Maybe now you can get to know each other.”

My eye twitched, the involuntary bodily response proof of how much I despised that bastard.

“I’d rather die a slow, agonising, painful death.” Kayden’s eyes widened as he stared at me.

“That’s dark.” He frowned. “Okay, tell me why you don’t like him.”

“Didn’t you end up in a boxing match with him? Surely you should know why.”

I held my hands up to gesture that the reason behind my dislike should’ve been obvious.

“We sparred amicably and resolved our differences.”

“Amicably?” I huffed in amusement. “That explains the blow you took to the jaw and the cut he got on his lip, right?”

“We don’t speak of the past, Amala.” He wiggled his finger back and forth. “You and Ares are cute though, if I didn’t know you personally I’d think you’re a couple.”

I sighed. “I’ve had the worst day and you’re only adding to that feeling of negativity.”

“Alright, alright. I’ll stop, something tells me that you’re going to complain to Kehlani and then I’ll be in the dog box for the rest of the week.” I smirked and nodded. “Come on, let’s get lunch. On me.”

“I like the sound of that.” I smiled mischievously.

“Of course you do. My wife wouldn’t be happy if she heard that I upset her best friend.” Vaanya and Trevor, the other analysts who worked with Kayden, followed suit.

“You off to lunch?” Trevor asked and I looked back, nodding.