Afterlife (Afterlife Saga) (59 page)

I knew I wasn't really working today as the only reason I was needed was for Draven to give me an ear bashing which evidently couldn't wait till Monday's shift. So with this in mind I pulled on some jeans, a grey T-shirt, some grey gloves and a
zip up red sweater. Once I dried my hair and put it up in its usual style, I grabbed my bag making my way out of the door.

I was ready for my nightmare date with Draven.

Chapter 32 – Showdown

When I got there I sat in my c
ar for a while trying to decide
whether or not to go through with it. I could just walk in there now and say to Jerry “I quit” and then I would never have to see Draven again, but that thought hurt me more than I wanted to admit. Then there was the other part of me that wanted to stick up for myself. I mean, who was Draven to tell me what I was and wasn't allowed to do on my night off!!! He said last night...his very words being “She's just a waitress” so why the hell go to all this trouble for one. This was the reason I wanted to go in there. I wanted answers!

So I took a deep breath and got out of my car making my way inside Afterlife. It was quiet and I had deja vu from the last time I had to see Draven and I remembered how that had ended. Well this time I had nothing to lose. I mean what could he possibly say to me that would hurt more than last time?

I walked up the stairs and as soon as I entered the room eyes stared at me as though I was a dead man walking.  I tried to ignore it but it was hard when some even rose from their seats to get a better look. This however did help as it made my blood pump round my veins faster as my anger was mounting again like the last time I had been up here. I tried to hold on to it but as soon as I saw Sophia's sad face it melted away. She was stood near the bar waiting for me and as soon as I approached she looked away as if ashamed.

“Sophia are you ok?” I asked but she just nodded and replied,

“This way.”

I was stunned that she was being so cold to me, was that it from now on...was I to be hated by every Draven? We walked up to the huge double doors and my heart quickened. I thought semi neutral ground was going to be the balcony again but it looked as if I was mistaken as I entered through what looked like castle doors. The massive wooden doors creaked angrily as they went back and I followed Sophia in silence. The wide luxurious hallway looked as though it would go on forever and I was getting ready for a long walk when Sophia stopped at the first door not far from the entrance.

I stood opposite her sad face and asked again,

“What is it?”

“Why did you do it?” She asked frowning at me. “Why put yourself in danger like that?” Her face looked like a small child and I felt guilty but didn't know why. But before I could answer there was a booming voice from behind the carved door that was unmistakably Draven's. She opened the door and we both walked in.

The room was a massive office surrounded by an open plan balcony that was like a veranda. Two sides of the walls that faced outside were massive stone arches that went up to the ceiling. They were open and the cold air filled the room. That
wasn't the only thing giving off a chill as Draven's icy stare was enough to make me want to run home.

“Leave us!” Draven commanded his sister who gave me one sympathetic look before closing the door behind me, sealing my fate. Draven sat at a big oak desk that was the size of a bed. He sat in a large heavy looking chair to match and I stood frozen at the sight. He turned to look at me but still neither of us had spoken so I decided I was going to be the first to speak. I wanted to get this over with sooner rather than later.

“You wanted to see me?” I asked, already knowing the horrible answer to that question.

“I wanted to hear you explain yourself!” He snapped staring at me as though I had committed treason. I didn't know what to say but I couldn't keep the frown from my face. So as if wanting to make it worse he snapped again,

“Well, let’s hear it!”

“Hear what?” I said and now his anger grew.

“Do not toy with me Keira, I am on the edge, so I suggest the best course of action is not to push me too far! I want to know why you disobeyed me?” He asked clearly trying to keep calm, which didn't look as if it would last much longer.

“I'm sorry but no-one informed me that I had to take orders while I wasn't even at work!” I said not keeping the sarcasm from my words and deliberately ignoring his warnings.

“What a shame that is, because maybe then you would stay out of trouble for longer than a day!” His body was almost shaking as his temper flared up at me. His body looked terrifyingly strong under the dark T-shirt he wore which got tighter at the arms as he flexed his muscles under the material. I was almost expecting it to rip open under the strain. He wore faded jeans and this was the most casual I had ever seen him. But still it made it harder as all I wanted to do was get close enough to touch him. I tried so hard to hate him, I needed to right now or I would lose yet another battle. I swallowed hard trying to bury my sexual feelings for him but with him looking the way he did was I ever going to accomplish this? 

“Well maybe if you hadn't had my date chucked out, then this could have been avoided, did you ever think about that?” I shouted back, holding my fists into tight balls to control my shakes.

“That BOY had no business being in my club!” He said emphasising the word boy.

“What rubbish! What was the real reason you had him kicked out?”

“I do not want this conversation to be about that boy you call a date!” He let out an angry half laugh when he said the word
boy
and it was starting to grate on my very last nerve.

“Stop calling him that! And the whole reason I came up to confront you about it, is because of what you did!” I said holding my hands up at him. I mean what did he want from me?

“That PERSON is of no concern of mine!”

“And I am?” I shouted back but he lowered his face not wanting to answer that one. He remained quiet for a while and all that was heard was the sound of my
panting for air. But then his voice cut through it making me shiver in fear.

“Tell me why Keira?”  It was an icy tone, full of reprimand and disapproval.

“Why WHAT
!
?”

“Why you got into that car with Malphas?” He said through clenched teeth and his hands gripped the side of the wooden desk, which looked as if it wasn't up to the task.

“Because I wanted to!” But this was most definitely not the right answer as he erupted out of the chair kicking it back behind him with so much force it hit the stone pillar and crumbled into splinters. My body pushed back against the door in horror as I couldn't hide my fright. He stood facing me and my fear was now so clear in my eyes that it seemed to bring him down to a calmer level. My palms were flat on the wood behind and I wanted to turn and run. It was only his face that was softer that made me stay. I don't know how, but I knew he would never hurt me, still that wasn't enough to make my shaky hands stop vibrating against the wood.

“I didn't mean to frighten you Keira, forgive me but I would just like an honest answer...please.” He said with genuine need in his eyes. 

“I got in the car because I wanted to piss you off as revenge!” I said being honest.

“And that is the reason you put yourself in harm’s way, to get to me? This isn't a game Keira.”  He raised his head up and held the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. He looked in pain but the guilt got too much so I shouted out,

“Then maybe you should stop playing it like one! What the Hell do you care any way what happens to me! You made your feelings perfectly clear and just as you said yourself, I am just a waitress!” My voice was getting louder as the hurt in my eyes filled with liquid emotion. The pain returned back in his eyes also.

“I said that to Malphas so that he wouldn't take notice of you, but I didn't really have much of a chance of that, now did I....YOU made sure of it!” He snapped back and his black eyes invaded my senses.

“And what do you mean by that?”

“Well let’s look back, not only did you have the guts to come up to my table in the first place, but then you had to push it by challenging me in front of him...and well, I don't even need to mention how you looked.” He finished this and I was gob smacked!  How dare he!

“So what is this, the result of a bruised ego? And you have no right to comment on how I looked...I mean this is a man surrounded by tarts and I get persecuted for dressing up the once on Halloween.”

“That's not how I meant it!” He sighed and started again using more delicate words.

“I meant that for a girl who normally dresses not to be noticed, you picked a hell of a night to look...”

“What?” I snapped.

“Irresistible!” He said without a note of mockery behind his words and this shocked me into silence. He had stepped closer to me and I could feel the heat from his body once more, bringing back all my dreams at the same time, overpowering my mind.

“I don't understand you Draven, one minute you’re treating me like I don't exist and then the next minute you’re going out of your way to protect me.” I said in a quiet voice that seemed to make his frown turn to putty.

“I wish there was an easier way but....”

“But what?” I pushed for more. I needed to know more desperately than breathing.

“But there isn't and I'm afraid that if you're not prepared to stay out of harm's way, then you will just have to listen to me and obey.” And with that my calm went crashing out the window.

“And why should I when you give me no answers, no explanations, not one single clue why this type of thing keeps happening to me?” I turned my head from him, as I couldn't look any longer. He would never tell me the truth that much was clear.

“You’re not ready for the truth Keira and I'm not the only one keeping secrets now am I?” He said looking down at my arms and a flush of blood ran to my cheeks at the mention of them. I put my arms around my back and spat out the words with hurt.

“You don't know anything about me!”

“Likewise...presumption is after all, the mother from where all mistakes are born!” He said adding more cryptic messages my way. 

“Well until I get the truth why should I listen to you...Oh no, I don't think so.... I will remain with my own choices thank you,” I said making my full feelings known.

“That's not an option
anymore
,” he said moving away as if this was the end but to hell it was!

“Draven, I think you’re forgetting that you’re not my father, my brother, most certainly not a lover and well not even a friend,
so
I think
it’s
best if you get a clearer definition of the word BOSS!” I shouted as I was about to leave but before I had chance to open the door he was behind me holding it closed with his hand in front of me. This again brought back memories of that night adding to my anger.

“You don't intimidate me!” I said holding my voice steady which only worked because I didn't look at him. He leaned closer to the back of my ear and blew his scent around me like a cloud of doubt in my words.

“I think we both know I’m more than any of those things,” he whispered and my senses agreed with every word. But I shook it off and said looking back,

“I don't think your wife-to-be would be very happy about that!” And he hit the door with his fist before moving away. I felt the wood shudder next to me. 

“Celina has nothing to do with this.”

“What just like Jack's girlfriend had nothing to do with
it!
” I said regretting it as soon as it was out. He turned around to look at me with the anger back, burning me with his glare.

“Oh, what has your charming little knight been saying this time?”

“He told me how you stole his girlfriend from him,” I said and he let out a callous laugh. 

“And you believed him of course! So what, he is scared it will happen again I suppose... by
me taking you away from him? P
arásitos!” He shouted getting more
irate.