Chapter 10 10
Roman's Pov
Maisie looked like I told her to swallow a frog. Her face was pale and her pink lips were slightly agape. She looked as beautiful as she was terrified. Strikingly beautiful.
She had curly, blonde hair that tumbled around her porcelain face and shoulders, giving her a brazenly sexy look. She had a nicely rounded chin and a beautifully shaped mouth. I'd seen beautiful women in my life and even worked with them but none of them made me stare the way I stared at Maisie.
I reluctantly moved my gaze away from her, not sure my hormones could handle seeing much more so I looked away for a moment. The woman was one alluring package.
“W - what do you want from me?” She stuttered softly.
“Nothing you don't already want.” I grinned.
Maisie arched a confused brow. “What? I don't understand what you're talking about.”
I leaned forward. “Your mate abandoned you on the day he needed him the most. Alpha Xavier was it?”
She swallowed hard. “What are you…”
“Don't play games, Maisie. I know. I was there at the party and I was there at the hospital. Xavier doesn't care about you.” I said.
Her cheeks heated with rage and she glared at me. The gentle Maisie was gone and in her place was the woman I wanted to see.
“Go to hell!” Maisie jolted to her feet.
I grinned. Who knew the calm Maisie was potently sassy? Most women I'd come across were too quick to kiss my ass and usually quick to take my bullshit but she… she didn't hesitate to flip me the middle finger with her eyes.
“I don't know who you think you are or what you think you have,” Then her voice began to crack. “But I… I'm not going to tolerate any nonsense from you.”
Something in my chest tightened and I joined her up. For some reason beyond my understanding, I hated seeing her cry.
“I'm sorry if I —” I had barely gotten out a word before she turned aloof.
“You can't leave.” I began softly. “Xavier won't take you back and I know you aren't on good terms with your family.”
“So what?!” She snapped, whirling around to face me with filled eyes.
“You need a place to stay, to plan…” I let my voice trailed off as I neared her.
“I can't stay here,” she shook her head. “I'm grateful for the help but I have to leave.”
I ignored her chill response and said. “Where would you go?”
Her shoulder shook and she sniffled again.
I let out a low curse and placed a hand on her quaking shoulder. “Stay here.”
She looked at me as if I told her to jump off a bridge. “What?”
“Stay here.” I repeated.
“Why? Why are you so quick to help me? What are you after?” Her tone was slightly challenging.
“I want to help you because we're the same.” I whispered.
“No, we're not.” she shook her head.
“We both hate Xavier and want to see he is punished.” I blurted out in a deep, smooth voice.
Maisie's eyebrows rose in shock. “What?”
I chuckled, leaning in casually. “Did you really think I left my pack to have fun in this one?”
She swallowed hard before replying. “I don't know you that much to give an answer. You prefer to stay off the radar because it's noise that way and then you appear out of nowhere.”
I grinned. This woman was pretty smart.
“But I'm curious,” she stared at me. “What's your game here? You've got power, money… So what is it you want from Xavier?”
I flashed her a razor-thin smile. “Revenge.”
Maisie's eyes didn't widen as I expected. Instead, it darkened with interest. “What did he do?”
“Xavier killed my brother in a hit-and-run 5 years ago. Denied it completely in court and made me look like a fool,” I said with an edge to my voice. “I want my own pound of flesh.”
She sucked in a breath. “And where do I come in?”
“I need…” I took her hand gently. “...you and me to work … together. I'm always open to… partnerships.”
Maisie shook her head but didn't pull her hand away. “No, I can't.”
“Yes, you can.” I coaxed her more. She was the stepping stone to my revenge.
“I said I can't!” Maisie wrenched her fingers free, catching her breath. “I can't work with you.”
My eyes darkened. The scared Maisie was back and I hated it.
“Men like you live for the thrill,” her voice shook. “Watching people fall might be a game to you but it isn't to me. I don't believe you. Xavier might be cruel but he's not a murderer. I know that much.”
“You're making a mistake, Maisie!” I reached for her again but she moved away like I would burn her.
A bitter laugh escaped me. This woman knew nothing about the man she claimed was her mate.
“Is that so?” I scoffed. “You know your mate?”
“Yes!” She snapped. “I do!”
“Did you know about him and Kylie?” The name formed a bitter taste in my throat but I swallowed and went on.
Maisie's fists clenched at her side and she looked away.
I pushed further. “Did you also know Kylie is a gold-digger who'll do whatever it takes to ruin whoever she lays her hands on?”
This time she gasped. “What?” Then she took a step forward. “How do you know all this? How do I know you're not lying?”
“I know because I was almost a victim! Kylie had been my gold-digging girlfriend who had fled Canada when she failed in her attempts to take over my company.” It wasn't something to admit out loud and certainly wasn't something I was proud of but if I needed to convince this woman to see the light, I would by any means necessary.
Maisie let out a short laugh and hugged herself. I noticed she loved doing that when she was either nervous or uncomfortable. “I believe Kylie is a gold-digger. I, for one, never liked her but Xavier killing a person? That's just not him.”
I called after her as she turned to leave. “Maisie!”
She turned sharply and yelled back. “I will not be the means to an end, Roman! You need me for one reason : to accelerate Xavier's downfall and I want no part in it. Goodbye, Roman. I hope we never see each other again.”
I studied her as she walked out of the living room. Then I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Bold move, Maisie, but…” I glanced at my wrist watch. “... you'll come back and tell me I'm right.”