Mantis

40. Paulina leaves

Victor stood staring at me and clapping.

– You dance beautifully – he said, walking lazily towards the platform.

I lifted my heavy gaze to him.

– Will you ever stop following me? – I snapped, standing firmly on both feet to feel more confident.

In what little I was wearing, I felt terribly naked and defenseless before him, and this situation didn't help at all.

– Why did you go for a walk instead of staying in the apartment? – he asked, eyeing me intently.

– I wanted to think. Alone – I emphasized, giving him a meaningful look and stressing the word – alone.

Vic fixed me with a piercing gaze, a glimmer of something I couldn't name in his eyes, and tilted his head slightly to the side.

– About what? Whether you'll meet the Pilot tomorrow?

I looked at him as if he had told me we had never slept together.

– What? – I asked, not hiding my surprise.

In response, Victor raised his hand, holding something. I squinted to see better in the dim light of the room. That something turned out to be my phone, which I had left on the bar counter with the rest of my things. A message from Alex flashed on the screen.

– Or maybe you're thinking about how to get out of it because you feel drawn to me just as I'm drawn to you? – he murmured in a slightly hoarse voice, holding the phone as if it burned him.

The small creature living inside me gritted its teeth and clenched its tiny fists. This was simply the height of everything. What was this snooping in my private correspondence that didn't concern him at all?

– What?! – I shouted, feeling my cheeks burn with indignation. – Give me my phone! – I demanded and charged at him. – What right do you have to read my messages?!

I jumped off the platform and snatched the smartphone from his hand. Indeed, Alex was asking if we would meet tomorrow evening. Good thing that idiot hadn't replied yet.

– It popped up – Victor said calmly, as if snooping in someone else's phone was the most normal thing in the world. – I just read it. Are you going to meet him?

– And why do you care?

– I'd prefer if you didn't go.

– Do you think I care what you'd prefer? – I snorted, looking at him with disdain.

– So you intend to go?

– Even if I do, I don't have to tell you – I muttered.

Victor clenched his teeth and quickly swallowed. He looked like he very much wanted to yell at me or even hit me but restrained himself at the last moment.

– Are you going to ignore what's happening between us? – he asked, looking at me very menacingly.

I raised my eyebrows slightly. Happening? Not in his wildest dreams. I took a deep breath and with enormous effort of will calmed the raging elements within me. I lifted my chin higher and gave Victor a cold, emotionless look.

– Nothing is happening – I muttered in a flat tone. – You imagined it, and now you're trying to convince me of it.

Victor was silent for a few seconds, fixing me with a darkened gaze, and when he spoke, his voice was firm and decisive.

– Your body said otherwise when we kissed. You wanted more. I saw it in your eyes.

I narrowed my eyes to slits like the little creature inside me, who had been huffing with irritation for some time. So he saw that.