A Fiend as a Friend

Chapter 25

I pulled him inside his room and closed the door behind us.

"Look, elf, I'm busy. We can always do this later, maybe in the midnight."

I laughed. I mean, wasn't that funny? "Okay, I think it's high time I met Collins. He needs to specify my working hours."

"What's the big deal here? Just relax all day and at night, we can work. I mean, it's easy peasy. Maybe I need to start calling you Izzy so you can understand me."

I laughed again. "Remember what you told me sometime ago?"

"What?" He sounded pissed off and I loved that.

"The stuff about me being a comedian to help hypertensive patients. I mean, you fit into that description, perfectly."

"Whatever, elf. Now, I need to leave."

I folded my arms across my chest and nodded. "Yeah, to do what?"

His face turned pale. "Are you seriously asking me that question?"

"Yeah. I can't stand someone telling me to wait for a stupid reason."

"I need to work."

"Oh! I get it Mike. You need to work with a lady that has no shame whatsoever?"

"Elf, shut that hole you call a mouth up."

"You know, this morning, when you said that thing." I paused, trying to let that sink into his head. I saw something flicker in his eyes for a second when I mentioned that.

"Yes, what about it?"

"I thought you had become a better person, but now that I think of it, I was being fooled."

"Why bring that into this discussion? Look, if you brought me here to fight, trust me, we can have that later. For now, I really think you should excuse me."

"And if I don't?" Okay, I was dating him now.

"You'll hate me, elf." Just that, but the way his eyes glared at me, I knew better than to stand in his way. I just nodded and walked away from the door.

He smiled at me and walked hastily to the door. Just about the time he turned the handle, I said, "You know what?"

"What now?" he yelled.

"If you take one more step, I'll never go jogging with you again." I said that because I didn't want him to leave and the reason for that is simple. I hated working at night. I wasn't a nocturnal person. Also, I wanted the woman downstairs to know that I, get it, I could make him stay.

Well, my condition was stupid. Knowing Mike, I was sure he didn't give a damn whether I went jogging with him or not, but still, it was worth a try.

"What?"

"You heard me."

To my shock, no, bewilderment, he stepped back, his face wearing a weird look. Did he just retreat? Did he really care so much about jogging with me?

Electricity coursed through my veins. This was stupefying. I knew I was blushing already, just by that.

"Let's work then." He glowered at me before walking to his seat, stamping his foot heavily on the ground. He sat on the chair and began to snort. Oh God, could I really sit with him when he was like that?

"So, why did you stay?" I asked, a sardonic smile on my face.

"Dammit, elf. Let's work. I'm not talking stupid talk here. Let's just get this done with already."