Page 54 of Bite Me
EDDIE
The Fowles & Tito headquarters wasn’t an ideal place for a party because of its narrow hallways and tiny glass cubicles. Our largest conference room barely fit thirty. For occasions like today, Anthony had hired a conference space three floors above. The vast open room was crawling with people—all employees and their plus ones, PR teams from our corporate clients, and a few additional guests I didn’t recognize.
I felt a little guilty as I ducked behind a pillar, avoiding Cat. Her idea of fun was elbowing my side whenever Russel looked vaguely my way. And since her jokes hit too close, I didn’t trust myself not to give anything away.
Russel kept a distance, which was smart. I had no reason to feel disappointed about it. None whatsoever.
After finishing my second glass of wine, I put it on the nearest bar table. I wondered how long I would have to stay when a lady in a strawberry-red suit appeared before me, seemingly out of nowhere. I’d seen her talking to Anthony earlier.
“Who are we hiding from?” she asked, smiling conspiratorially.
I blinked. “I’m not… Uh. Good evening.”
“Are you one of the PR people?”
Everyone in the room was a PR person. Except for her, it seemed.
“I guess.”
I’d never been attracted to women, but I had eyes and could tell that this lady was objectively beautiful. She had the body and skin of a fit thirty-year-old, but her gaze was ageless, the pupils the deepest black that didn’t reflect a thing, and the irises copper. Those were the eyes of anoldvampire. They got half-lidded when she stared at me, and she put a hand on my upper arm as she leaned closer.
“My name is Isabelle. And yours?”
“Eddie.”
“Eddie? How cute. Darling, you look like you know all the juicy gossip. What’s the hottest news in Hollywood now?”
I laughed awkwardly. If I had a dollar for every time people asked me that, I could have paid off my student loans. Where did Anthony know her from? “We’re bound by NDAs.”
“Are you? What a shame. I was hoping you could whisper dirty secrets into my ear.”
Oh Lord. Her lips nearly brushed my earlobe. Panic. Panic! She was hitting on me! “Erm. I…can’t. Sorry. It would get me into trouble. I’m sorry.”
“Goodness, you’re adorable. Are you single, darling?”
Technically, I was, which didn’t feel right at all. But Russel and I hadn’t made any promises… How was it even relevant? I should just lie. While all those thoughts tumbled through my mind, I bobbed my head in a way that could have been a nod or a headshake. Her lips twitched knowingly. I needed to get rid of her, fast. But what if she was a good friend of Anthony’s?
She licked her lips, her copper eyes growing brighter. “How about we have a drink, you and I.”
“I shouldn’t. I already had two and…I don’t tolerate alcohol well.”
She laughed at that. “Unless it’s not obvious, I’m trying to get into your pants, dear. You can have a soda, for all I care.”
Bewildered, I didn’t know what else to do. “I’m gay,” I blurted, and my face burst into flames.
Arching her eyebrows, she appraised me. Her expression turned speculative. “Well, I’m out of luck. You’re very handsome, Eddie.” She took a deep gulp from her glass of red wine. “And you smell delectable.”
When she winked, I must have blushed even harder. “Thank you?”
She hooked her arm through mine and began walking. “You must forgive me for my forward approach. I love young men. I enjoy their blood and their sexual prowess, and I very much like how easily I can seduce them. But I see I won’t succeed with you. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t.” She’d terrified me, in fact.
“I did, and I apologize. But now that I have you in my claws, let’s chat. In this PR business, do you meet many celebrities?”
“I can’t really talk about them. Most of our clients want to remain anonymous.”
“I don’t doubt that. If I hired someone to twist and manipulate my public image, I wouldn’t want people to know they’re being manipulated.”
