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Chapter 8
Drake
“You wanted to see me, brother?” I asked as I stepped into Antoine's office, having a feeling I knew what this meeting was about. Marcus was nothing more than Antoine's lapdog most days. Of course, he'd run to him the moment that delicious maid escaped my room.
Antoine sat behind his desk, his eyes down on the papers in front of him. He always had endless paperwork as the head of the house. I never knew what he actually had to do it all for. Antoine never offered up any information, so I never asked. Paperwork wasn't exactly my idea of a good time.
“Marcus has informed me of an incident with Miss Billings.” The sharp tone to his voice told me it was a statement, not a question.
I dropped into the chair in front of his desk and threw my feet up on the edge of it. “I was just playing with her.”
Antoine glanced up from the desk, his eyes going to my feet. Immediately, I dropped them to the floor with a thud.
“Regardless, didn't we make the agreement to leave this one alone? How is playing with her following that agreement?”
I scowled. “I didn't agree to anything. You told us to leave her alone. Besides, it's not like I used my powers on her or anything. I used my natural-born looks.”
“Of that, I have no doubt.” Antoine sat his pen down and steepled his fingers together. “I don't believe I made myself clear when I said no interference whatsoever. I meant to say that there will be no magical or physical shenanigans. We don't need another lovesick maid sneaking into the basement while looking for a bit of attention.”
I grimaced. The last maid we had fell head over heels for Allister. She'd broken down the basement door and climbed into Allister's bed while we were sleeping. We didn't know she was there until dark had come.
My brother had a voice that could compel even the straightest man into dropping to his knees for him if Allister so much as whispered in his direction. Sometimes, I envy his abilities. They were much more effective than mine.
Vampires naturally had a charm to them, a compulsion if you will, that drew humans to us like moths to flames. My charm happened to be stronger than others, and I couldn't exactly turn it off. So, in close quarters like I'd been with Piper, it was easy to manipulate her into giving into me. However, since using our abilities on her was a big no-no, I'd had to rely on my other 'gifts.'
“Fine,” I huffed. “I'll keep my gifts and every other extremity to myself.”
“That's all I ask of you.”
“Can I go now?” I stood even as I asked it.
Antoine waved me away, turning back to his papers. If there was a hell, then I knew I'd be filling out papers for eternity when my time came. Bless the poor bastard.
Before I made my escape, Antoine called out, “How did she take it?”
I hummed, turning back around. “Take what?”
“Your charm?”
I scrubbed a hand over my jaw and smirked. “Well, before your dog came barreling in, I almost had her.”
Antoine quirked a brow. “And after?”
“She called me an asshole and stormed out.” I chuckled and shook my head. That maid sure had a mouth on her. I didn't think much was going to spook her.
“Hmm.”
“That's it?” I asked, my brow furrowed. “That's all you can say?”
Brushing his long braid over his shoulder, Antoine picked up his pen once more. “The donors will be here a bit later tonight than usual, so try not to make a spectacle of yourselves while waiting.”
I puffed out a breath of air. “Fine, whatever.”
Without permission, I threw open his office door and headed back to my room. Half way there, I detoured into my twin's room instead. I opened the door without knocking and found Allister reading a book. He was so engrossed by it, he hardly noticed me enter.
Coming up behind him, I snatched the book out of his hands and turned it over to read the cover. “The Art of Body Language? Really, Al?”
Scowling at me, Allister grabbed the book from my hand and scrambled for his page. “It's not easy seducing someone when your best feature is also the only way you know how to communicate.”
