Annihilate Me (Vol. 1) (The Annihilate Me Series) by Christina Ross Page B

Business sounds like Ambien to me.”
    “It
sounds like what?” I asked.
    “Like
Ambien.”
    “I
don’t know what that is.”
    “It
assists with sleep.”
    “Oh,
a sleeping pill.   Like the ones
Michael Jackson took?”
    “I’m
sorry?”
    “He
died from some sleep-inducing methods.   I assume Ambien was involved.”
    “This
has nothing to do with that.   Or
with him.”
    “I
hope not.”
    “Ambien
is very well known.”
    “I
haven’t heard of it, but I sleep well at night.   My conscience is clear.   I just drift away in seconds, unless
Alex has other ideas.   Anyway, to us,
business is exhilarating.   It’s what
gets us up in the morning.   And it’s
probably one of the reasons we fell in love.   We have something in common that we
adore.   Actually, many things.   I think we complement each other well.”
    “I’m
sure you do.”
    “Good
night, Immaculata,” I said.   “It was
swell meeting you.”
    “Swell?”
    Before
I could respond, Alex said good evening to her, and we moved forward.
    “What
was that?” he asked quietly.
    “The
end of Immaculata.   Isn’t that what
you wanted?”
    I
could sense him trying to suppress a laugh.   “Yes.   I just didn’t know you had that in
you.   Who are you, Jennifer Kent?”
    Apparently,
I continued to surprise.

 
 
 
 
    CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

 
    We
entered the Pool Room, which was more impressive than the photographs I’d seen
of it.   The pool was in the center
of the room.   It was square and
glowed with bubbling light, and lovely, fully grown trees were along its
periphery.    
    I
spotted Darius Stavros almost at once.
    I
leaned toward Alex’s ear.   “Stavros
is with a group of people at two o’clock.   Cyrus is behind them looking bored.”
    A
photograph was taken of us before I could pull away.
    “We’ll
be seeing that somewhere tomorrow,” he said.   “Shall we go over and say hello?”
    “Why
not?”
    “I’m
going with your plan.”
    “I
hope it works.”
    “I
think it will.”
    “Look
at him.   As good looking as he is,
Cyrus is a shadow in his father’s limelight.   He needs that plan.”
    “That’s
twice you’ve said that he’s good looking.”
    “He
is.   He’s got that Greek thing going
on.   It works for him.”  
    And why do you care if I find him
good looking?   You’ve been kind,
Alex, but I’m your employee.   I’m
just here to keep the wolves at bay.  
    “But
back on topic,” I said.   “He has to
give his father something substantial soon, or even more disappointment will
settle in.   I have to say that as
wealthy and as irresponsible as he is, I kind of feel for him.   He’s the heir to everything his father
built, yet he might not want to be part of it.   From what I understand, Darius has no
other sons.   Because of that, he
might be forcing his business on Cyrus.   So, let’s help him out.   Let’s give him something to hand to his father.   Something sweet.   Something he can feel good about.”
    He
looked as if he was about to say something, but checked himself.   He seemed conflicted to me.   Was it something I said?   I wasn’t sure.   It occurred to me that he might need to
believe in the illusion we had created, and I may have broke it when I
commented on Cyrus’ looks.   He had,
after all, just called me out on it.   I wouldn’t do it again.
    “You’ve
noticed that—with the exception of Immaculata, whom you shut down—I
haven’t been bothered tonight, haven’t you?”
    “I’ve
noticed.   I’ve also noticed a few
angry women along the sidelines.   Daggers have been fired at me.   Knives and cannon balls.”
    “Which
means this is working.   Thank you
for that.”
    “My
pleasure.   And thank you for the
job.”
    “I
hope it doesn’t feel like a job to you.”
    There
was a new note to his voice that I couldn’t define.   Why do I feel as if
this is sliding in the wrong direction?   Keep it light.   “Look
at me.   I’m