Page 20 of King of Deception

“Why a snake?”

Tittering, she looked around at the people that were starting to fill the space. “Are you allowed to linger like this?”

“Oh, you mean ‘cause I work here?”

“Don’t you?”

“No, it’s just the opening gig. They have their own team.”

“And that means you get to slack off.”

“I’m not slacking off! Look.” I turned around and, in one spin, emptied out my tray to the laughing people around us. Returning to face her, I grinned. “Impressive, huh?”

“It’s like they all know you.”

“Well, you are literally late to this party.”

Her apprehensive smile turned into a grin as her fingers touched her neck. “Y’know? This actually isn’t so bad. It just burns a little.”

“Earns its name?”

Scrunching her nose, she tilted her head and swayed slightly. “Uh—I dunno. I wouldn’t call it ‘explicit’ if it were my call.”

“No?” I watched her irises twinkle by the effect of the colored lights and wished I could kiss her right then and there.

“Fire, maybe?”

“A little cliché, don’t you think?”

“Right,” she mockingly nodded, “excuse me for not being fluent in liquor.”

“What do you do for a living, anyway?” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a group of friends at the end of the room. Subtly, I began to shift so they wouldn’t see my face.

“I’m an accountant.”

“Oh, so… boring.”

Outraged, yet holding back a laugh, she let her jaw drop as her lips made a big ‘O’. “Okay, that’s it for you, buddy. Move along.”

“Abel.”

“Able to what?”

I chuckled, shaking my head, “My name’s not buddy. It’s Abel.”

“Unusual.”

“This is the part where you tell me yours.”

“Ella.”

“Is that French?”

Dipping her head, she scoffed. “Okay, I gotta go.”

“Find your friends?”

“If I may?”

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