บท 21: Best defense

"I hope this isn't too forward, but can I ask if you are seeing anyone, Diana?"

There was a thin edge between seeming too interested and not interested enough, one that I never knew how to ride. I knew that if I wanted the best price, I needed to placate Croc as much as I could. Yet, I didn't want him to get too disappointed when I sent him on my way afterwards.

I let out an internal cry of frustration. Then, a determination born from frustration filled me. I knew of one way to deal with this situation…

I smiled. "My work is my only passion," I said and leaned forward a little. "How about you, Gennadiy? Have you been working on your current employer for long?"

Croc's eyes sparkled with satisfaction. As always, best defence was offense. Besides the fact that people liked to talk about themselves, my questions gave off an impression that I was interested in him.

Which I was, though not in the way Croc hoped for. I was genuinely curious about what sort of thing might make a human work for a vampire. Was he brainwashed? Or paid really well? Maybe he was just too much into undead ladies?

Not that I could throw stones, but my situation was different. I didn't work for a vampire—a vampire worked for me!

"For almost ten years now," Croc said, answering my question. "It's a great arrangement for me. The job leaves me enough time on my own pursuits and pays very handsomely."

"Not bad. How about your boss? Is he good to work under?"

A thin smile played on Croc's lips. "He is strict and unforgiving, but fair. He doesn't care for our personal lives as long as we do our jobs well and don't break any rules."

I hummed in pretend approval. I had a feeling that 'strict and unforgiving' when applied to a vampire meant 'uses mutilation and murder as punishment'. Call me prejudiced.

"And he is always interested in acquiring new talents. People like you, Diana. Wouldn't it have been nice for us to work together?" Croc smiled, as if he meant it as a joke, but his eyes were serious.

I looked at him with suspicion. Recruiting me, really? Still, I kept smiling. Smile and nod, smile and nod… "Oh, I wasn't joking when I said that I'm passionate about my work. Wouldn't do me any good to leave it."

Croc frowned. In retrospect, that sounded like I slept with my inexistent vampire boss. Oh well. I hurried to change the topic to something less suggestive. "Say, Gennadiy, you said that you worked in your current position for ten years, but you don't look older than thirty…"

Alright, that was blatant flattery from me. Croc looked around thirty-five, if my shitty estimates meant anything. My measurement error for estimating age was about five years. Still, it worked.

Say what you might, but men like to be complimented about their looks as much as women. As long as it's not by other men.

"I am actually thirty-six." God, I was almost right! "What about you, Diana?"

I batted my eyelashes. "It's impolite to ask a lady, don't you know?"

Croc chuckled, and I let out a sigh of relief. The less he knew, the better it was.

I continued to evade and deflect his questions in a similar manner until our food arrived. By that time I knew Croc had no immediate family, served in the army for three years and had a degree in literature that he never used. He, in return, knew that my father recently died and that I had a degree in history (though I didn't mention that it wasn't finished).

But with the food on the table I could concentrate purely on eating and complimenting the dishes. The steak truly was amazing, and so were the side-dishes.

"Now that we aren't negotiating on an empty stomach, let's move to the business, Gennadiy," I said to Croc when waiter took away the empty plates. My face was devoid of polite smiles now, my hands lying on the table in front of me.

Croc nodded. He also had a business face on, now. With a corner of my eye, I saw JJ coming to stand over my shoulder.

"As you imagine, Gennadiy, I didn't bring the merchandise with me, but if your boss wants to confirm its authenticity personally, we can arrange it—"

"Forgive me, Diana, but I must interrupt you," Croc said. "My boss isn't interested in the broken seal."

I frowned. "What?"

Croc leaned forward. "He isn't interested in the broken seal, but he is very, very interested in acquiring an intact and unused one. And he is ready to pay for it, Diana."

"Then this meeting was just a waste of time. I don't have access to what he wants," I said as my trepidation grew.

"You seem very sure about it." Croc frowned. "In which case, you won't be against meeting with my boss to tell it to him in person?"

I stood up from my chair with a loud screech of wood on the floor tiles. "I will be very against it. As I said, I don't have what you are looking for."

Croc stood up too to tower over me with his wide shoulders, strong arms, and a bad attitude. "This would've been a great disappointment for my boss, and I don't want to bring him bad news."

I took a deep breath. Was he planning to bring me to his vampire master by force? He certainly looked like the type. In fact, he probably even had experience. Yes, we were in a public restaurant… But in a private booth.

Without trying to hide anymore, I turned towards JJ. "Are you going to just keep standing here?"

He smirked at me with a good amount of amusement at my expense. "No need for panic, ma chèrie. This man won't be a problem."

With no other words said, JJ moved to stand in front of Croc, who didn't notice him to the very last moment… when JJ stared into his eyes. I stepped back from them, calming down my beating heart and expecting to see JJ biting Croc at any moment.

It was a relief when instead he left him only after a short hypnosis session.

"He will think that he let you go, ma chèrie," JJ said, sauntering past me to the exit from the room.

I was quick to follow. "I thought you will bite him," I said when we walked on the street.

JJ clicked his tongue. "Ah, but then his master would instantly know that another vampire was at the meeting. As it is now, you do not need to worry about him finding you, Diana. I made sure Gennadiy won't remember your face as it is."

I sighed. "Great. Now if only I actually sold that coffin!.."