Every second the clock ticked by brought more and more anxiousness to the young woman. She checked the watch on her wrist in two minute intervals until fifteen minutes had passed.
There were no mirrors readily available in the dark marbled lobby room, only the warped reflections offered by the golden gilding running along the pillar next to her.
She leaned in close to inspect herself: a quick smile to ensure her teeth were clean, head tilting this way and that making sure every dark curl upon her head shone with luster, and finally her plain business outfit was clean and pressed. A simple white button up with juxtaposed black slacks.
All of these precautions just for this one moment. Her interview with one of the youngest millionaires in her lifetime. Everyone knew his take as if it were their own just from how the media kept his name in their titles. Anything associated with him, even if just by name, was sure to be profitable.
A boy rising from poverty and building an empire for himself. No formal schooling. Everything this man owned was self made. It was the all American dream. Now she was about to set foot into that world if even for a moment to glimpse upon the genius flaunted everywhere.
"-See you now." Said the receptionist with an edge to her voice.
Ari snapped up, blinking at the lady in confusion. She'd gotten lost in her thoughts. "Excuse me. What was that?"
The woman gave her a once over before openly rolling her eyes at her desk, waving a hand impatiently behind her to the heavy oak wooden doors.
"I said," for the fifth time her look said, "He will see you now. He doesn't have all day so hurry before one of the many other star struck guppies takes your place."
Too nervous to even respond to the woman's callous behavior, Ari was across the room in a few steady strides—the closest she could get to running without looking like a fool—and pushing through the doors.
The office was spacious and open. The floor to ceiling windows allowed the day's light to spill through. Everything made to play off of the natural light from so high up and surely the lights that set the city aglow at night.
Ari cleared her throat, walking right up to his desk and slamming down the box in her hands.
"Listen Mr. Big shot Asshole! The website said I could have a refund if I wasn't satisfied and does this look like the face of satisfaction?"
She sneered. "I want my money back. It was less than 24 hours after the 30 days! I am a busy woman who has to work hard for what I have. Give me my money back, you crook!"
Mr. Jinnings came in a second after. "I'm sorry sir. I tried to tell her not to enter, but she demanded to be seen." He bowed his head, and Mr. Draconis waved him off.
"She's fine."
Mr. Draconis was staring out the large glass windows of his twenty four story building when someone burst into his room and slammed something down on his desk behind him.
Her words brought a crimson glint to shimmer off the reflection of his bottomless blue eyes. She acted like he shouldn't think so highly of his products, but he could say the same about her expectations.
This wasn't the first time he dealt with an unsatisfied customer, but the first time they had the gull to give him lip. Even though he left no room for mistakes in his business, there were always a handful of employees messing up and causing loyal buyers to demand their refunds.
Not today. His parents had taught him to persuade them to exchange product and not money. Using the heel of his leather shoe, he slowly spun around in a rolling chair, a large hand gripping several papers.
All she could see was his dark sleek hair, a midnight blue suit, and black dress pants with a matching tie that dangled in the middle of his chest.
He simply rested the pen back against the desk and scooted the chair with an audible screech.
"You knew exactly what my product entailed when you browsed through my website. Be careful Ms. Ari. I may mistake you for those who want to cheat the company out of money. Don't think a complaining customer that wasn't satisfied would've left cum on one of my plastic eleven inch vibrators I sell. Did you enjoy yourself?"
His head cocked to the side, peering over the black rim of his reading glasses, which complemented the shape of his eyes from how small and almond shaped they were.
"I'm sure you can see why my employees denied your request. They think you're the crook since you waited the last day to return your items. Which meant you must have enjoyed your product but decided you needed the money more." His husky voice filtered past his lips, hands folding on top of the desk while his back remained straight. No strand of hair was out of place, clothes pristine as the room around him.
He leaned forward a little, thumbs circling each other while his hands remained folded. "But… If you can tell me what about it is unsatisfying to you, I might be able to help you get something else." A small smirk played across his lips.
Ari couldn't believe the blatant disregard for her concern. Did he think just because she'd invested in one of his products that gave him room to look down on her?
A company in the business of service products were built on the money and support of its customers. Whether she wanted a refund or not, he should have at least treated her with courtesy.
And she was pretty sure she'd at least cleaned it before trying to give it back. Right? The past month had been a blur. Her store was on the brink of closure.
The savings she'd been depending on were dwindling and all she had to her name was the dollars in her pocket; and the God forsaken toy this man wouldn't take back.
A dark blush came creeping up her neck but still she managed to level a glare at him with her wide hazel eyes. Her nose wrinkled, scattering the brown freckles smattered across her cheeks. She wouldn't back down. So what if he was some big shot?
"It was only hours after the thirty day mark. I *need* this refund. What would satisfy me is if I got my money back!" Full lips pressed together in distaste as she shook her head at him causing her curls to go bouncing.
She'd worn her best clothes, even went through the extra effort of applying makeup for this. There was no way she would go home empty handed with nothing to show but time wasted that could have been spent trying to find a way to dig herself out of debt.
Maybe she should try a nicer approach but she couldn't help herself when he had that stupid smug smile on those stupid perfect lips. This was why she was single.
Ari suppressed an eye roll and leaned forward with both hands braced on his desk. "I would have thought the ever popular Mr. Draconis cared more for his consumers."
His brow arched, though his visage remained unusually calm. Lightening shimmered through the skies outside the slightly open window behind him, casting smooth shadows against the sharp angles of his stubbled jaw.
He'd found her points invalid, and he knew exactly what she meant by she thought he'd be more considerate when it came down to his customers. The woman clearly wanted to tell him it was no business of his whether she enjoyed herself or not.
"I don't know whether you're trying to humor me or make yourself look a fool, Ms. Ari, but whenever a company sells a product, it's their job to know whether the customer was content in every aspect, and since it seems someone's pissed in your Cheerios, perhaps you're right. You were unsatisfied by a mere doll."
Her sassy tone had indeed been sharp, but not keen enough to slice through his steel composure.
A smirk tugged at his lips as though he found her words humorous, even the actions of her stepping forward. He glimpsed down at her skirt and thighs then back towards her, legs shifting further apart so he could rest his elbow against one thigh.
"I also think that most customers know not to fuck with me unlike you, Ms. Ari. They'd like to keep food on their table and their families fed. By the way your face seems red, I don't think you have much of a problem with my provocative questions."
Absent-mindedly, he opened and closed his legs, chewing on the back of his pen while one half of his mouth quirked up teasingly. Then, he pushed back against the chair and stood, walking towards the large glass windows over viewing the city houses.
" What about you? Do you value your job and your house?" He knew exactly where she lived. He had looked her up like he did any customer who came in his office, to see whether they were trying to bamboozle him or not. Sadly, she lived out of her shop. No home. No apartment. And if she didn't watch her mouth, he'd take that from her too.
Dark blue eyes peered over his shoulder, pants creasing when he'd halted, lightning flashing and leaving him as a faint silhouette momentarily.
"Let's make a deal and I might just forget your threats, love." His voice had a deep rumble, throaty and soft; the calm before the storm.
Ari watched the light play against his figure and the stark shadows playing across his features making him appear like some creature of the night; stepping straight from some bad rom com movie.
His looks may have impressed thousands of women but she wouldn't be so easily swayed when clearly there was something ugly hiding in the depths of those fathomless blue eyes.
The same eyes she didn't miss giving her a not-so-subtle once over. But she wasn't a plum ready to be snatched from the vine. She had a lot at stake and she wouldn't be swayed by petty insults.
Her mouth opened to spill another round of obscenities to tell him what she really thought about his product and what he thought was his business when he spoke of her home. She was taken aback. "What?"
When Ari was sixteen she'd left her tiny hometown where everyone knew everyone and there were no secrets.
On a good day with decent weather she could have walked from one end to the other. Everyone there was content but she'd always wanted more for herself, setting off for the big city where she could make a name for herself.
Her little pottery shop was her pride and joy. Every piece was handcrafted. But people weren't interested in high quality artisanal products. They wanted fast, easy, durable things. That's why businesses like Mr. Draconis' boomed and strangled the life from the mom and pop shops near and far.
Now he had the nerve to threaten that?
"You are the only one making threats. You're delusional if you think I'd want to make any kind of commitment to you." Her arms crossed one over the other and she turned her back to him. "You should be begging for my forgiveness and pray I don't raise the issue further. You, your company, and your product are all balls!"
Ari began to stomp off in a huff of frustration when her shoe caught on the mat just at the door, sending her toppling to the floor where there was an audible rip. There was a breeze against her backside that she quickly covered with her hands. "Oh, come on! Even your shitty entry mats suck!"
Alaric's hands folded over one another while he shifted his gaze back towards the window, the reflection blurred and contorted by the beads of rain trailing down the glass.
He'd been so silent that one could hear the water rushing over the roof, the wind whistling past the building structure. Mr. Draconis rested his hand against the gray wall, ringed fingers spread apart, and they tapped one by one in an endless beat and tune he could only hear.
"Threatening you?" There was a deep rumble of laughter that followed his question. "That was a promise. You came into my office demanding your money when we both knew you were satisfied. That is swindling at its finest." He snapped his fingers and his secretary Mr. Jinnings closed the door and stepped in front of it before she could even think about leaving.
Alaric turned then, staring down the straight bridge of his nose, gray eyes landed where she stood.
"Get back on your knees and ask for forgiveness and I might just forgive you for your ignorant outbursts this evening." He said this like he wanted her to repent.