“But you want people to lie about what they truly want.” I winced, hoping I didn’t send him on a downward spiral.
“Ah, yes that’s for ratings—but in the end people need to be paired up—the lies they tell in the beginning will eventually surface. That’s where I come in—to patch things up after the drama ceases.”
I listened as Steele spoke… His voice soothed me, I felt like melting in his presence. I liked that he was a confident man, and quite haughty too, it was so charming in a controlling way. He was simply irresistible to me.
“Wow, sounds like a game of chess, or something, like that.” I said poignantly.
“Yes, and I am the component they all have to beat.” His eyes pierced me, the color transcended from grey to black. He took his job very seriously.
“So what is it that you think I want…?” I gleamed teasingly, testing him.
“Oh Bleu-Rae, are you really prepared to test me—” I nodded, batting my eyelashes with a shit eating grin smeared over my face—“You want me… you did from the first time you laid eyes on me,” he gloated without any regard. “I could feel the lust flowing through your body.”
“What?” I asked, with a massive degree of shock in my voice.
“Let’s not play games…” He glowered. I felt my mouth gape open.
“Games, isn’t that what you do?” I retorted, piercingly. “Your entire life, and your success are based on games. Your show is a glorified game show… isn’t it?” I asked, challengingly. I regretted pointing this out, when I said it. My filter sure needed some tuning up, or perhaps a big dose of meds to keep me in line, doing me justice.
He furtively beamed at me, his face blazed with heat. Steele shifted his weight in the chair. I definitely got him hot under the collar.
“Bingo… you got me Miss Bleu-Rae—” Ouch. He went back to the formal Miss salutation. Not, a good sign— “My life is private, not all business. It has nothing to do with how I make money. Do you understand this?” His voice was stern, very stern. I recognized he was trying to put me in my place.
“I do,” I jutted. “I model for a part-time living, but it’s not who I am… a coat hanger for people to admire clothes on, seriously are you kidding me… I have bigger plans for my life,” I swaggered with great conviction.
“That’s what I want to hear… well said.” He buzzed. “You’re a smart cookie. What we do for money doesn’t always depict who we are. Glad we are on the same page,” his lip curled in a wryly smile.
How did he turn this around on me? Now he was complementing me. Still, he didn’t give me an answer. He was good at spinning things around.
“I am sorry Mr. Maximillion, my intention wasn’t to put you in a hot seat, it was just, well, you’re so damn confident and when you said that I wanted you from the first time—”
He reached over and placed his hand over mine, a jolt of energy channeled through my veins. I tried to pull back, but would not dare. “Hey slim no need to apologize. Never edit yourself on my account. I admire your tenacity by saying what you feel,” he continued, his voice softened, and turned mesmerizing. “Even though, what I said is based on the truth and facts.”
I cocked my head and placed my fork down. I was no longer in the mood to eat.
“Truth… what truth?” I swallowed hard… feeling more regrets streaming through my body. I wished I never opened my mouth by challenging him.
“The truth about who you are…”—Oh God, he knows I am not Rae—“Of course I know who you are… I wasn’t born yesterday, as a matter of fact, I was born over fifty-thousand years ago.”
“What? You were what?” I felt my face turn pallid.
“Oh my dear sweet doll, you look like you just seen a ghost,” He laughed, from the belly, out loud. “I am joking with you… do I really look fifty-thousand years old?”
“That’s not funny.” A nervous whimper escaped from my lips. I tried to gain my compousure. Think quick before he takes all your power away. “Actually, Steele, I thought you were only… gosh… fifty years old.” I smirked.
“Cute.” He pointed his finger at me, as if to scold a child. “Are you done eating? I don’t want you to get too fat. You know the camera adds a few pounds.” His eyed me up and down.
Holy fuck. God, you are a sensitive baby, aren’t you? How dare you talk about my weight, you fucking grizzly bear. I cursed him inwardly. Is this guy for real? I guessed he didn’t like my age joke. Too bad. He was the one that brought the age factor up. Not me. Nothing is like paybacks. One minute he is saying put on weight, the next I am fat. I couldn’t believe he told me I was fucking fat. What guy says that?
My inner goddess peered over her dark rimmed glasses… she filled her cheeks with hot air, giving me insight to how I might look if I were fat. I glared back at her. It was obvious she was jealous of me.
“So, now you think I am fat?” My vocal cords vibrated, so did my hands. “First you tell me to gain weight, then you say I am fat… what is with that? Is that why you keep giving me apples to eat—did you know apples are full of sugar?” I stammered on and on. “Do you know how confusing you are?”
“No, not exactly, now calm down… I think you’re perfect the way you are… it’s the camera that might not like you?” His voice was poignant. “As for the apples, they are a gift.”
“A gift?” I buzzed.
“Yes, a gift… My apples are special, they offer vitality, long-life and knowledge—insight—when you come face to face, with lives most sticky situations—you will be prepared.”
“What do you mean?” His emphasizes on the word sticky. It was a bit disconcerting. I could have sworn he was trying to send me a message… perhaps, a clue for what’s to come: a sexual innuendo? His baritone voice made me feel kind of heady, and my limbs tingled. On second thought, it was his intense gaze, burning me to the core that afflicted me.
“I suppose you could say they are magical,” His eyes alight brightly then faded.
“Magical?” The word caught in my throat.
“Yes, very much so,” he picked up the apple… and brushed it against my lips. I felt like purring for him, but hesitated to do so. “Take a bite,” he said lowly.
I bit the apple as seductively as one could, keeping my eyes on him the entire time. After swallowing the delicious fruit; waves of heat radiated in my panties.
“Wow if I didn’t know better Mr. Maximillion, I would say you are trying to seduce me…” My breath was wistful and clear.
“Oh I think you know better.” His eyes locked with mine. I felt the blood drain from my face. “I like you Miss Ridame. I like you a lot, so much that I am going to revise our typical contestant’s contract, especially for you.”
I felt major heat rushing to my face. He liked me… Wow of course he did, but how much? Oh, wait, he said a lot. Was this just another setup, like the time in the garage when he asked for my hand in marriage? One of his fifty shades of lies? I was not prepared for him to be so candid. I flashed him a curious eye. Breathe, breathe—breathe—I reminded myself.
“Really…?” I questioned him calmly. Suddenly a ball of fire bloomed below my waistline.
“That’s right.” He raised one brow, narrowing his eyes. Damn, his demeanor fluctuated fifty degrees in so many different directions. I could not keep track of them all.
“Well, I like you too.” I said hoarsely. My words caught in the back of my throat, waiting for the last shoe to fall. I rapidly batted my lashes. Shit, double shit…I more than like you—you big hunk of muscle. If I were not trying to leave a good impression on him, I would have hopped in his lap and fucked his brains out. More than likely he had big brains—I already knew he had a big head, literally that is, and I could not wait to see the rest of him.