Shadow Of The Prey

CH9. Into The Hive.

The kiss rose bizarre, and quite frankly, brand new feelings in me. I couldn't even put a name to what I was feeling, but the presence of them was making it impossible to comprehend my own thoughts. The uncomfortable sensations I felt, made me too weak to even return to the lounge.

Pushing the main lobby button before it reaches the further basement levels, from the press of the button the question dawns on me—was I was in fight or flight mode? Did I choose to flee for the first time?

But why?

The target is no different than the countless others I've defeated, so why do I think I should be afraid of him? Why do I feel like I've lost when I've only begun—when his pursuit is a sign that my mission is successfully proceeding?

Calling for my ride and sending a message to Meredith that I've left for the night, I leave the casino—the subtle remnants of defeat returning to hang over my shoulders just like the other time.

Peculiar thoughts rush through my mind as I lean my hip against my bedroom wall, sipping on a glass of whiskey as I admire the night scene. The lights off throughout the house, the only light illuminating the apartment being the stars and lights from the bustling street.
My hair damp with a plush towel hung around my neck—the soft oversized button-up sways against my body as I turn to focus my gaze on the metal keycard upon my dresser. The events of tonight swim through my thoughts as I think about how to gain the upper hand from now on.

The target was always going to be a difficult beast to tame—I knew he would be, from a mere glance at his files—and my suspicions were proved correct since the first time I sat down with him. Tonight, he only evinced the personality of a man who'll never be tamed.

My first idea was to bump into him by accident and allow him to open the conversation first and recognize I'm the woman he met the weekend prior—but a man like that wouldn't bother conversing with a woman who physically throws herself at his feet.
My second idea was to charismatically brighten the room and catch the eyes of all the guests, prompting him to recognize Elise's shining personality and grace—yet, even if he's a sharp man, there's no way to be certain he'd remember or care about Elise.

Luckily my third plan worked swimmingly—use his friends' intrigue to bring the target in. The target and his friends were invested with watching exciting games, but they practiced restraint and didn't place a single bet yet—as if they were waiting for a worthy opponent to play. With my winning streak drawing such a crowd, it was only a matter of seconds before they'd approach.

A man intrigued and drawn to a difficult 'prey' like Elise, would take any chance he could get to quench his curiosity. If I caught his attention the first night, I knew I could fan the flames to make his intrigue burn stronger—making him approach me in the future when we meet again.

He wonderfully ate out of the palm of my hand for a moment, but I never expected him to wage a bet for a night with Elise.

The only leverage I had to make him approach Elise first, was ruined. By giving me his keycard, he's stating that he won't play into the game of chase—he wants Elise to obediently go to him first. But, other women that have pursued him, have all lost his interest—even if Elise could be the first one he's given a key to, using the keycard is not an option. Elise is not a woman who'll chase—she won't worship another when she deserves to be worshipped and pursued. If I dare approach first, I could ruin the intriguing allure he's captivated by if I risk going to his home.

Even if I went as an agent, I haven't had a chance to scope his house—any hidden cameras and security systems he could have, would notify him if I entered his house. I'd expose myself if I tried to sneak in to search for evidence.