Mantis

24. Berlin

Until the end of the journey, as part of my ostentatious rebellion, I didn't say a word to Victor, and he didn't stop even once, only glancing at me from time to time. When we passed the sign announcing that we were entering Berlin, his chocolate eyes lingered on me for a while longer, but I still pretended not to notice.

– How long are you going to sulk at me? – he asked, smiling as if nothing had happened.

I tore my gaze away from the window through which I was watching the streets of Berlin and graciously looked into his chocolate eyes.

The little being living inside me narrowed its eyes to slits, which in its case meant that at least it would never forgive him, and since it wouldn't, neither would I.

– Screw off – I retorted, giving him an icy look and then looking away again.

– Don't do this to me, Snowflake – Victor said in a low voice, and I turned around again just in time to see the devilish mischief in his eyes. – When you're mad, I want you even more, and when I remember that I can't do anything about it, my heart hurts terribly.

Victor put on a pathetic show of an expression and placed his hand over his heart as if he actually felt some kind of chest pain, and I gave him a disgusted look from head to toe.

– Do you think I'll feel sorry for your dick? – I snorted. – And don't call me „Snowflake".

– Alright, Snowflake – Victor agreed with devilish glee, then grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it.

I looked at him like he was crazy and yanked my hand, but he didn't let go. Still holding my wrist, he pulled my hand towards himself. He placed it on the hard bulge in his pants and began rubbing it over the fabric, breathing heavily, and when I stopped resisting, he let go.

– See? It's already hard – he whispered, smiling with a predatory glint in his eye. – As always, thanks to you. You could feel a little sorry for it, though. It's very tight in there now...

He fixed me with a hungry gaze, and I smiled sweetly at him, hiding the fangs that were growing at lightning speed down to the ground under that sugary coating.

– Then take some pill to calm it down – I snapped in an icy tone, without a hint of a smile. – Or use your hand.

A shadow of disappointment crossed Victor's face, which I observed with wild delight, but before I could revel in my little triumph, the beast smiled again, this time cunningly.

– Would you like to see it? – he perked up.

I looked down with theatrical disdain at his penis hidden in his pants and grimaced ostentatiously.

– I don't want to have any contact with it. Not even visual – I declared in a tone full of contempt, moving away as much as the limited space in the car allowed, and turned ostentatiously towards the window.

Victor said nothing more, just shook his head, smiling slightly. After about forty-five minutes, he parked the car in the driveway in front of the hotel entrance, and before he could even get out, a familiar face of the bearded Marcel approached him.

Victor jumped out of the car before I even had a chance to unbuckle my seatbelt, not even closing the door behind him.

– Do you have it? – he threw at Marcel instead of a greeting.

– A present for your blonde? – Marcel clearly didn't look like a man pleased with the situation he found himself in. – Yes, it's in your room on the bed, but if you think you'll turn me into a wardrobe assistant for your girlfriend now, then... – He broke off and fixed his gaze on my face, the corners of his already displeased mouth turning down slightly.

– You brought her here? – There was clear reproach in Marcel's voice. – Why?

– I need her – Victor replied.

– What?! – Marcel snorted, not hiding his surprise.

– That's what you heard. We need her. – Victor spoke in a calm but authoritative tone. – I'm not going to explain this to you now. We're in a hurry – he growled and walked around the car to open my door.

– You're certainly in a hurry if you want to have a quickie before the meeting – Marcel retorted, and the darkest of shadows crossed Victor's face.

He clenched his jaws, yanked the door open, signaling for me to get out, then took a very deep breath and turned to the bearded man.

– Without her, I won't accomplish anything – he ground out with effort, as if barely holding back from yelling at Marcel. – Paulina, let's go – he commanded and walked ahead, tossing the car keys to the hotel employee, and it didn't even occur to me to protest.

On the way to the hotel room, Victor didn't say a word, and his expression revealed significant irritation. Only after crossing the threshold of room two hundred and seventeen did his expression soften.

– This is my room – he explained, a bit calmer now, letting me through the door. – Yours is next door. And here are some clothes for you to change into – he said, pointing to the jumpsuit lying on the bed. – Black. I hope you like it. I had something elegant and simple picked out. And shoes. Apparently, heels are perfect. Is something wrong? – he asked, glancing towards the door where I still stood, watching him with a crooked smile on my lips and my arms crossed over my chest.

– The Ritz-Carlton? – I asked, looking at him very pointedly. – And supposedly you have financial problems.

In response, Victor gave me a mischievous smile, which finally convinced me that his bad mood was directly related to Marcel, and I was allowed a lot more.

– It's not so bad that I can't afford to live anymore – he stated, as if it were nothing. – Besides, I have to maintain some standards, right?

I didn't say anything more, because nothing clever came to mind. I stacked all the things that were waiting for me on the bed and headed towards the door.

– What are you doing? – Victor asked, watching me closely.

– I'm going to change in my room – I replied. – I suppose I can, since you already booked it?

– Does that mean you'll go to the meeting with me? – Hope sparkled in Victor's eyes.

– Do I have a choice? – I replied with a question, because I didn't have many options to choose from. – Since you dragged me here and spent so much on me...

Victor's face lit up immediately, and he smiled broadly.

– Paulina... – He spread his arms in a silent gesture of gratitude and rushed towards me with outstretched arms.

However, before he could grab me, I took a safe step back, maintaining a stony seriousness.

– Calm down, knight – I cooled his enthusiasm. – The fact that I'll go with you instead of just kicking you in the balls has its price. But we'll talk about that later. And it absolutely changes nothing between us. There will be no hugging, no petting, and certainly no friendly goodnight quickie. And I want to get my promised shoes – I added with a mischievous smile as I crossed the threshold of the door.