SEVEN DAYS

¦BOOK II¦- 15~ Battle Of Wits

Raven gasped

"But I won't. Not yet" he strove to assure, when he saw the shocking dismay on her features, that she couldn't quite hide

"You're... Intriguing Raven. I can certainly see why a billionaire would want you. But we're not done with our seven deadly sins, are we? We've covered what my Achilles heel is, but we've not come close to finding yours. So how about we continue, shall we? I want to watch the look on your face, when the sin you can't seem to do without, is blurted out in the open" he smiled again

Raven bit her lip, blushing, as she ducked her head and surreptitiously tucked her hair behind her ears.

An uncheckered picture of Mikhail and her, hot and frantic in bed, had drifted into her mind, invading her thoughts. Oh she most certainly knew what deadly sin she was most guilty of. And ironic wasn't it? That that was what had been saved for last. But not yet. There was still one more sin to go. And she surprised the infuriating man by saying it, even though it was supposed to be his turn to speak, not her.

"Envy, Raphael. I get the feeling that you're guilty of that as well. An insane jealousy towards another person's happiness. And according to Helen Rowland, jealousy is the tie that binds, and binds, and binds. And it doesn't stop binding."

"Ha! Miss Edens. You're good. You're certainly good. Envy is it? I guess that's two Achilles heel for me? But then, why not give me the pleasure of saying the last one? The one we've been waiting for all along, since we started this conversation? The one that belongs to you?"

"Lust" he surmised, plain and simple, with that almost breathless way he seemed to say every other Sin. He also remarkably chose that instant, to get up from his chair, and walk towards hers. Now she felt like the disadvantaged one still sitting. Her breath caught in her throat, and she furiously forced herself to resume breathing normally. Heck, she's dated his type for over a year now, and still counting. Kudos to her. She could pride on that. She well knew his type. He thrived on control. He thrived on exerting thrills, terrors, mad quakes and threatening heartaches in the heart of men and women alike. Without it, he was virtually powerless. He didn't think his riches brought him power, nor did he want it to. He exulted on powers that came from the tremble of people who directly feared him. Who feared him not because he was wealthy, but because of the way he had the ability to make them feel. An addict. That was what he was. He constantly needed a fix, born out of the rages, uncertainties, fears of whoever crossed his path. Whoever he came in contact with. He met the wrong woman today, and he was just about to find that out

"Mr Constantine, my life, or my deadly sin, as you have chosen to tag it this morning, is none of your damn business. You're still in my office, for one reason and one reason only. It certainly isn't your fine looks, nor your eloquence of speech, and as good as this last one may be, not even for your ability to study a Bible and read a dictionary... of quotes; and the legends who wrote them. You're here, for your money. Plain and simple. Your money brought you through the front door, not your arrogant fucking attitude. The same one you're oh-so-blatantly exhibiting right now, in front of me, carelessly, and without an once of decorum or chargin. Now, we can't separate the money from the man who made them... sadly, but the money is way more important than the man will ever be, nonetheless." she paused, letting that sink in, before continuing. "Now, I'm sorry, but I really don't even care how this makes you feel to begin with. I'm a banker, Mr Constantine. It comes with the job. Money is always my foremost concern, hardly ever the man who brings them. And just like the neglected, little child that you are, you're trying to switch places with your money, just to get me to finally direct my attention towards you as a man...As a dead, weak man..." she trailed off, counting out every single word, letting them hang in the air before they effectively surged and cut straight through to his bones, as was their intent. Not once did she bat an eyelash. She held that stare with everything she got. It didn't matter that she had to stare way up, just to look straight into his eyes, because she was still sitting. All that mattered was she getting her points clear, and across to him.

"You're trying to rattle me. It won't work. Stronger men have done worse, and yet I bounce back strong. You've psyched me in that sexy, little head of yours. You falsely think you now know the kind of man I am, and can predict what I'll do and won't do. Lesser men have done that, and yes, they loose every single goddamn time, because I'm unpredictable." he snaked him arms out and grasped Raven's two shoulders, jerking her upright, to his level

"Mr. Constantine, you will let go of me this instant! How dare you!?" Raven was livid, almost doing a full on conversion to an angry tiger in his arms, screaming, scratching and clawing

✯A/N:
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