"I ask why you always put yourself in these situations," Maxwell repeated.
Though Reyona knew what he meant, she folded her arms around herself and asked, "And what situation would that be?"
She suddenly felt nervous as he took a step towards her in a predatory manner but then she didn't back down.
Lucky for her, he stopped when they were just arm's length and said, "You know what I meant. Do you know what it might have looked like if the paparazzi caught wind of what happened out there? How would you explain being in a place like this? With a man like that. And dressed like that?"
Reyona ignored the hint of exasperation in his tone as she responded, "I am not with the man, in case you miss that. Nobody would have recognised me and..."
"I did," he said quietly.
"What?" Reyona asked, annoyed that he interrupted her.
"I recognised you. That ridiculous glasses is not enough to hide a face like yours."
Oh. That definitely got to Reyona.
Though she had no business feeling anything about the way he said that, as if he really meant it, she felt it anyway.
Especially the way his eyes traced her face as he was talking. Almost as if…
"It is dark in here. Isn't there a brighter light?" She asked suddenly.
"There is. I prefer this lighting. It makes you shine brighter," he responded.
Okay, what on earth is all this bullshit, and why is it having any effects on her? Reyona thought in annoyance.
"Is that so? You can enjoy your lighting then. I am leaving." Reyona turned immediately but his voice stopped her.
"Wait," he said, then, still standing where he was, he used a voice command to turn the light brighter.
The tone of the light increased gradually until Maxwell commanded it to stop.
Then he looked at her and asked, "Is it okay now?"
Reyona nodded as she turned back to him.
Her words had clogged in her throat because she had automatically seen the kingsize bed in the other room through the opened door that led to what seemed like a bedroom.
The room they were in looked like a gentleman's parlour with its display of saloon couches, a well-stocked bar, and a workstation sectioned off to one side.
It was more than what Reyona would have expected to find at a place like that.
The dark tone of all the furniture didn't escape Reyona's notice.
Of course, he seemed like the type who would like dark things.
Reyona had no idea why that thought made a shiver streak through her.
"So? What is the verdict?"
Reyona finally looked at him as she heard the amusement in his tone.
That was when she really looked at him.
Though he had his roguish smile in place and he was looking... well, she would have to be dead not to notice. He was looking damn fine, and Reyona could see something else too.
"You are tired," she blurted out just as she noticed it.
His smile only widened as he teased, "How did you figure that out, Reyona?"
There it was again.
The silly sensation!
Why would a mere mention of her name on those sensuous lips make her feel this way?
Sensuous?!
Okay, something was definitely wrong with her!
Reyona chalked it up to the drink she had had.
As the lingering taste of the firebrand she had swallowed seemed to testify to that thought, Reyona nodded to herself.
Yes, it was the drink.
Why else would she feel so comfortable in his presence and wish she could just put up her feet on one of those weirdly-shaped couches?
It was all about the alcohol.
"I can see it," he said suddenly.
"See what?" Reyona asked.
"I can see that brilliant brain of yours whirring already. Should you leave? Or should you stay?" he said as he went towards the bar to pour himself a drink.
He looked back at her and asked, "Interested?"
"No, I am leaving," Reyona said immediately.
"Ah," he said as he turned back to replace the bottle "So, the scared Reyona won."
Reyona rolled her eyes "Don't flatter yourself, please. Scared of what? Of you?"
"You tell me," he said as he went to one of the couches and sat. "You can have your seat and let us have a discussion, Reyona. Or you can go out there and ruin your sister's fun."
Reyona's response was a swift "Bye."
"Please, stay with me," he said suddenly.
Reyona detected the tiredness in his voice again.
"Why?" she asked.
"We started on the wrong foot. Having a conversation is a good place to start mending the fences. After all, we are going to be business partners soon."
"I have still not given my consent," Reyona said in an unconvincing tone.
Maxwell smiled and said, "But you will, wouldn't you? It is not too hard to ask for a conversation with my business partner."
Reyona looked at him and wondered why she was being difficult anyway.
She was going to have to be in the same room with him soon anyway.
Admittedly not a room where she could see a bed on the other side but that shouldn't be a problem, right?
"Okay," she said as she moved away from the door and took the farthest couch from him.
"On one condition, though."
"What condition?" Maxwell asked with his tired smile still in place.
"You would stop calling me Reyona. Business partners don't call themselves by their first names."
"Unless they are close," he countered.
"We are not close," Reyona answered immediately.
"Yes, we are not," he answered after tilting his head aside as if he were thinking of the definition of close. "Now that that is out of the way, would you tell me?"
"Tell you what?" she asked in confusion.
"This is not your usual jaunt, Reyona. You looked like a fish out of water out there. Why are you here tonight?"