Empire of Sin(Empire #2)(18)

Slowly, too slowly, she rotates the chair so that she’s facing me. Her throat bobs up and down with a thick swallow and I can’t stop watching those fine purple veins moving beneath the transparent skin of her neck.

The neck I held in a chokehold not so long ago, which I itch to repeat. Or maybe that’s not the part I’m most thrilled about. Maybe the part that’s stuck in my head is how I had her completely at my mercy, where her only way out was me.

“You.” It’s either a whisper or a pant, I’m not sure which. What I am sure about, however, is that she didn’t expect me.

Good.

I like taking people by surprise, both inside and outside the courtroom.

My lips curve in a sardonic smirk. “Me.”

“What are you doing here?” She searches around the IT department as if it’s her fortress and I broke entry into it. Or maybe she’s looking for an ally. Unfortunately for her, there is none.

The best way to crush someone? Leave them with no way out.

“Did you really think you could run away and I’d just forget about it?”

“Well, you should.”

“Just because I should, doesn’t mean I would.”

Her lips twist, and I assume it’s because she detected the sarcasm in my tone. “We have…nothing to do with each other.”

“I fucked your virgin cunt and made you scream until your voice turned hoarse, not to mention, the marks I left all over your pale skin. I’d say we have something to do with each other.”

She squirms visibly, and it takes her a few gulps to speak. “Even if that were the case—”

“Even if? Why are you acting as if it wasn’t real?”

“It’s in the past. It means nothing.” Furious determination laces her sweet, soft voice, and I don’t know which pisses me off more: the fact that she’s determined it means nothing or that what happened holds no significance to her in the first place.

“I haven’t agreed to that.”

“I don’t think your agreement is of importance.”

“I would argue otherwise. After all, I’m the only one at Weaver & Shaw who knows your real name, Anastasia.”

She releases a long puff of air. “It’s not—”

“Don’t utter that lie or you won’t get away with it this time.”

She blinks slowly, letting the sandwich fall to her lap. “What do you want from me?”

“The truth. All of it. And that includes your real name, true appearance, and your purpose for being here.”

“Jane is the only name I have. This is my actual appearance, the other one was fake. As for my purpose, I’m really just trying to work to keep food on the table.”

She’s still lying. I can tell when someone is, even if they’re perfect at it like she is. Usually, people give themselves away with tics or out-of-character body language, but she was completely still and calm when she uttered those lies.

Either she’s practiced them for a long time or she’s so used to lying that it doesn’t faze her anymore.

“That doesn’t look like working to me.” I motion at the screen behind her, where she has a Google page open with my name at the top.

She throws the sandwich aside and clicks something on the screen that makes it go black.

My smirk widens. “You’re not so subtle for a stalker.”

“I’m not a stalker.”

“Then what was that I just saw? If you want to know more about me, all you have to do is ask.”

“I’m only doing my research on all of the firm’s employees.”

“You should study law. Your impeccable lying skills would come in handy.”

“No, thanks. The profession suits shady people like you.”

“Hmm. Shady. That’s interesting.”

She purses her lips and I can tell she’s trying to fight with what she should say and shouldn’t. Then she levels me with a stare. “Well, aren’t you? I’m just trying to work and you’re making it impossible.”

“That’s because you’re shady yourself, Jane. Sorry, I mean, Anastasia. Did you really think I’d believe that your only purpose is to work here?”

“It is.”

“I’ll tell Nate about the Anastasia I fucked in Jersey and show him how she transformed into Jane. Then you can take up your case with him. I’m curious to see if he’ll believe you’re not here for ulterior motives.”

She curls her hand into a fist, then lays it on her chest before she whispers, “Don’t.”

“Why? Because it’s true?”

“No… It’s… I need this job. Please.”

“Fuck that. Try again.”

“I really do. I’m…I can’t tell you anything, but I want no trouble and I won’t put the firm in jeopardy, I promise.”

“I don’t believe that. In fact, I’m sure trouble is all you know.”

“Please.”

“Begging doesn’t work with me. At least, not under these circumstances.”

She pauses and a curious spark ignites in her eyes and her face turns a deep shade of red.

Due to her skin tone, each and every one of her emotions shows on her face. But at this point, I’m not sure if it’s bashfulness or anger.