The Dealers

Chapter 41 - Lena

After I had refused food from Azrael more times than I could count, I finally gave in by the time lunch rolled around and my stomach began to growl. Being over my stubbornness, Azrael picked up his cell phone and pressed a few buttons before looking back up at me.

"You're exhausting." Azrael laughed. "Do you know that?"

You should fucking talk.

"So I've been told..." I said under my breath.

While I knew that Azrael heard my comment, he didn't say anything. Moments later, a soft knock came at the doorway and a gorgeous blonde walked in pushing a petite golden cart.

The woman's eyes were on me the instant she knocked at the door. Having never met her before, she didn't seem to be a fan of mine as she glared daggers at me and pulled the cart over to where Azrael and I sat on the couch.

"Meredith," Azrael said simply, offering nothing to the woman standing there pining for his attention so obviously.

Meredith was breathtakingly beautiful with definite super model material. Tall and leggy, straight blonde hair framed her slender face and high cheekbones. She was older than me but her skin was much more flawless than mine.

Azrael examined me as I stared at Meredith wonderingly. He scrutinized the look of admiration on my face as I watched the blonde set the tray beside us and stand there waiting for further instructions.

Who was she? The way she scowled at me told me one thing: she didn't like me being so close to Azrael. The way she stood there was almost territorial.

"That will be all." Azrael said to Meredith without taking his eyes off of me.

Meredith froze momentarily and I swear, for a split second, she thought about coming at me. But, she reminded herself of something and turned to leave on heavy heels instead.

Alone again, Azrael laughed as he lifted the lid from the golden cart and I caught a whiff of lunch. Lifting a fine china plate with a single cheeseburger situated in the middle, Azrael handed it to me. Lifting a coffee pot from under the cover of the tray, Azrael made two cups and handed me one. Sitting back beside me, he drank from his cup and examined me hesitating with the plate in hand.

"Eat." He commanded but I only raised my eyebrow at him. "Please," he said, seemingly fixing his tone.

I guess that was a start.

I was so damn confused as I sat there and ate that undeniably perfect cheeseburger in my hand. While I chewed, I examined Azrael with the same intensity that he examined me. What was the point of all of that? Did he bring me there to have lunch with him in his giant, awkward ballroom?

I mean, seriously.

What made me more apprehensive than anything else was the fact that I still didn't know who Azrael really was. I started off with the picture Noah painted for me about an all knowing, all powerful, head asshole in charge. I'd seen his intimidating and terrifying side when I first met him. But then, the night before at the club, he seemed less threatening. Having sat on that couch with him for hours, there seemed yet another facet to Azrael that I found interesting—he was longing for something.

Was it possible that someone could be so multi-faceted? Could someone be all of those things at once?

Highly unlikely.

I thought to the cliche of the person with everything except true happiness. Was that Azrael? As much as I struggled to sit there and be examined, Azrael needed me for something.