The past week had been difficult. The team had given her some leeway due to the mugging, but she noticed a few slip-ups that concerned them. She couldn't let them down-they'd worked late hours and weekends for months. Today was payday.
Selina raised her chin high in the air and walked out. Her heels clicked on polished marble as she made her way to the dining room. Fresh cut flowers spilled from ceramic vases and mixed with the scents of exotic perfume. She spotted trays filled with steaming fish, creamy risotto, vividly green vegetables, and colorful exotic drinks.
William Forrester was already holding court with a martini at his side. A bulky man, he exuded a rough chauvinism that screamed he was important. From his expensive cut suits, Italian leather shoes, and his favorite gold Phillipe Patek watch, he made sure everyone knew he was a player. His dark hair was cut ruthlessly short, and jowls hung at his cheeks. Selina bet he hated that weakness and wondered if he'd ever considered Botox. He seemed too vain to accept any sloppiness. She may not like it, but learned he liked to chat with the boys, and then occasionally direct a comment or two over her way. Even though he knew she was team leader, he didn't relish working with women. Selina wondered about his wife, and then slowly clicked off that thought. None of her business what type of arrangement the couple shared.
She got through dinner with success, but he managed to surprise her with his final comment. "Well, boys, I appreciate the meal and the offer. I'd like a few words with Selina in private before I make my decision."
Tom, Gary and Ed shared a look, but got up from the table and said their good-byes. Adrenalin pumped through her as she scented the end of the deal and circled for the kill.
"William, I think your decision is simple. Inferno has the best property of choice, with the best deal. Do you really want to build your empire on second-class property in Manhattan? Pick quality now, and you'll always be known as the high bidder on the street."
He tossed her a shark-like grin and drained his drink. Then popped a vodka soaked olive in his mouth. "Darlin, I already know what I want. Inferno has it, but I need the deal sweetened."
She gave a cool nod. "Why don't you tell me what you're looking for and I'll see what we can do."
Forrester pushed back in his chair and studied her. She sat still and refused to fidget over his obvious leer, focusing on her hot spots. Lips. Breasts. Downward. Selina shuddered inwardly in revulsion. "You're an attractive woman," he said casually. "No ring though. Not married?"
"No."
"Career woman? I respect that. More than you know." His beady eyes glittered and her stomach sunk slowly to her toes. With slow, deliberate motions, he removed his suit jacket and unbuttoned his cuffs. "I think this deal can put you in the big leagues. With the men. Why don't we discuss the matter further? In private. Come by my condo and we'll close this deal."
And then Selina realized what close the deal meant.
Dread slithered like a cobra down her spine. He wanted to sleep with her. Dear God, in this day and age, with sexual harassment as the poster child of the politically incorrect - this man believed she'd sleep with him to close a deal.
Selina hated her naiveté in the business world. But she needed to deal with it, and fast. Coldness seeped into her voice as she stared at him with hard eyes and never blinked.
"I don't think so, Mr. Forrester. Thanks for the invitation though, I did so want to meet your wife. But I have other plans. Why don't you tell me what else you're looking for from Inferno? I'm sure we can work it out. I brought the contracts over."
His eyes narrowed. His face flushed red. Her rejection was pointed, yet polite enough to continue business. Selina prayed he'd take her lead so they could leave the whole episode behind them.
"One of those?" He laughed without humor. "My wife is in Vegas at my other property tonight. Pity. I'm sure Inferno will be disappointed they headed you on this project."
Point taken. He wasn't going to play nice. Selina saw the whole deal heading hard south and there was nothing she could do to save it. Damned if she was going down with her pride, too. She smiled back sweetly. "Nope, my team thinks I'm the best. If you don't really want the property, I'll say good-bye and tip my hat to Smithstone. I guess you'd rather sign with them."
She opened her briefcase and neatly set the papers inside.
"I like you, darlin. But don't bluff unless you play high stakes."
"I don't bluff either, Mr. Forrester."
She sensed the best thing was to get the hell out of the restaurant and let the whole thing cool down. Selina kept her focus on gathering her materials, snapped up her briefcase and looked up.
The world tilted.
Forrester had pushed starched white sleeves up to his forearm. His watch gleamed with obscene diamonds and gold. But what caught her attention was the elaborate symbol burned on his lower left arm.
Dante's symbol.
She stared at his arm as horror washed over her in waves. The same symbol Dante used to mark her attackers. The one he promised her a man would wear forever if he ever hurt a woman.
Her breath came short and ragged and she gripped the edge of the table to fight the oncoming panic attack. When she managed to speak, her voice sounded high and squeaky. "Where did you get that tattoo?"
"This one?" He pointed to the symbol on his left arm. A glimmer of rage shimmered in those beady eyes, then was quickly masked. "Ah, you know how teens get. Got it on a dare from my buddy one drunken night. Figured I'd keep it as a reminder not to do stupid things."
The mantra played over and over, as she stared at his arm, mesmerized. What was she going to do? Dear God, what would have happened if she went to his condo? But Dante said that after the symbol was marked on them, they couldn't hurt any other woman. Had Forrester ever tried?
"You like it, darlin? Do tattoos turn you on?"
Her stomach clenched. She forced her gaze up to meet those calculating eyes and decided to cut her losses. How could she close the deal with him? How could she work for the next few months closely with a man who attacked women? She needed to get out of here.
"Excuse me, I have to go."
"Not yet." His hand reached out and snagged her wrist. Selina yanked her arm back at the feel of his skin over hers. "Walk away from me now and you'll pay. I'm going over your head. Telling everyone you're a lousy negotiator. Wanna change my mind? Come with me now."
Temper bit back fear. All the frustration and rage from the attack flowed freely and she leaned over in a venomous challenge. "You wanna play games with me? How about you tell me the real way you got that tattoo?"
His eyes widened in shock. Then lowered his voice to a hiss. "I don't know what games you're playing, but I'll tell you this. You're done."
"And so are you. Do you like hurting and threatening women? Or do you just like getting burned?"
He jerked down his shirtsleeves to quickly cover the mark. A sheen of sweat gleamed on his forehead. "Bitch. No one threatens me. You have no proof. But I'll make sure you pay for that remark."
"Go to hell, Forrester. That's where you belong."
Selina rose from the table on shaking legs and hurried out the door.
Tom, Gary, and Ed waited for her when she got back to the office. A bottle of Dom Perignon chilled in a bucket on the conference table with the good crystal flutes taken out for special celebrations.
"Did he sign?" Tom asked.
Her heart pounded as she fought for an answer. How could she tell them what she'd seen? How could she let them know Forrester was a rapist, when she had no proof? Her only proof was a superhero that marked attackers and visited women late at night while wearing a mask?
Dear God, they'd lock her up in the loony bin. After they fired her.
Selina grabbed for control and decided to bluff like she was in the world series of poker. "Not yet, boys. But we're close."
Their groan of disappointment humiliated her. As the silence settled, she watched them exchange glances. She knew her team well. A lecture was on its way and she wasn't going to like it. Selina stiffened her back and mentally prepared.
Tom stepped up. "Umm, Selina, can we have a word with you?"
"Of course. Let's grab some coffee and keep the champagne on ice for later."
They retrieved their mugs and brew, and sat around the small conference table in her office. She kept her face and fingers relaxed as she studied her them. "What's up, guys?"
Tom cleared his throat. "We're worried about you. Ever since the mugging, you've been a bit off, and we completely understand why. But something seems wrong with the Forrester deal. Why did he want to talk to you in private?"
She ached to tell them the truth but needed a bit more time to wrap her head around the episode and decide how to handle it. "He wanted to go over some last minute details. Wanted to haggle on the price. Honestly, Tom, I think the guy wanted to just bust my balls. If I had them."