Page 6 of Reverence

“No,” I said firmly after I swallowed my food.

“Why are you like this?” His voice was laced with irritation. “Am I supposed to hover across the table? It’s right there.”

“All you have to do is ask nicely.” I taunted. “It’s really not that hard. Could you please pass me the salt, Amala?” I grabbed the shaker, bringing it closer. “I know you can do it.”

He narrowed his eyes, smiling at me in a sadistic manner. “Could you please pass me the salt,” He paused. “Bruja.”

He added softly making me laugh humorlessly, while I handed the shaker to him.

He grabbed it from my grasp, slamming it onto the table after use.

Everyone’s head snapped in his direction and I licked my lips to hide my amusement.

“You good man?” Kayden asked, patting his shoulder.

“Never been better.” He answered sarcastically and I laughed softly, feeling triumphant after witnessing his annoyed state.

Three

Amala

Every woman in this building seemed to be under hypnosis, yet Ares referred to me as the witch.

They were drawn to him like a moth to a flame, inevitably leading themselves to a burning death.

Now that we spent our time in the administration office, every other female agent would surprisingly require administrative support and they’d obviously flock to him.

“Thank you, Valiente.” Mariana grasped his bicep, giggling like a schoolgirl. “Now that you’re here, I’ll finally finish all of my paperwork.”

I could see everything from my peripheral vision and continued typing.

I rolled my eyes at the interaction, wondering why the women were blind to his pathetic antics.

“I’m happy to help.”

Lord have mercy.

When their conversation eventually ended after what felt like an eternity, she reluctantly left the office but said she’d be back later.

The reasoning behind her wanting to return was beyond me because I zoned out.

“Is this what working with you is going to be like?” The sound of my typing on the flat keyboard suddenly turned into background noise when I heard Ares’ voice.

I turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

“I’ve been speaking to you for the past two minutes but you haven’t heard a word I said, have you?” He stepped closer to me, stopping directly in front of me, hovering like an enigma.

I grimaced, pushing my chair back slightly.

“Should I lie to make you feel better or would my honesty suffice?”

In the middle of spinning my chair around so that I could continue with the endless stream of work, Ares placed his hand on the back of it, forcing me to face him once more.

“Funny.” He deadpanned. “Have you completed the time and attendance?”

He still kept the chair in place, his forearm inches away from my head.

“Last time I checked, I report directly to Braun. Has there suddenly been a change in the hierarchy that I’m unaware of?”