Page 9

I recognized his car—that sleek black Lamborghini that stood out from the streak of vehicles all waiting for the lights to turn green. It was him; it was Raziel. I was certain.

The tantalizing aroma of my freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, blending with the smell of hot asphalt and the distant tang of street food.

Scarlett and I had stopped by a café to unwind a little, and now we stood outside the building, chattering and laughing. At first, I was super engrossed in the conversation, contributing and sharing my own experience in every topic we talked about.

However, my attention wandered off about five minutes ago, leaving me distracted and completely lost in thought. I felt guilty for not reciprocating Scarlett’s energy and enthusiasm. Honestly, it was like the more I tried to focus, the more this man stole my attention.

I couldn’t explain how I was able to sense his presence, but for some reason, I felt someone’s gaze lingering over me. I wasn’t sure who it was at first until I looked around, discreetly peering at my surroundings.

The moment I spotted the car, halted in traffic, I was plagued with the same feeling I’d experienced the first time Raziel Tarasov walked into my office. That distinct darkness, that stench of evil peculiar to only him, somehow pulled me in.

Raziel’s aura was scary, and even from across the street, his presence affected me more than I cared to admit. It was strange and intriguing at the same time how someone I’d only had an encounter with just once could crawl under my skin the way that he did.

How did I easily detect his gaze without looking in his direction? How come I was able to feel his presence, to sense his vile energy?

Now that I knew he was watching me, my heart wouldn’t stop racing in my chest. A sense of fear overwhelmed me, but that wasn’t the only feeling his presence stirred up in me. There was also anxiety and a glint of excitement. I didn’t yet understand the excitement because, at the time, the feeling was weird—out of place, maybe.

Did he know that I was on to him?

My eyes darted across the street, stealing glances in the direction of his car while my friend’s voice droned on. Poor Scarlett was unaware of my distraction and wouldn’t stop talking about her latest shopping spree.

With my gaze on her, I would sip my coffee, smile, and nod along even though I wasn’t mentally present. I tried to pay more attention to her words, but Raziel’s dark aura had me hooked.

Why was I drawn to a man as unstable as him? Why did my eyes keep darting toward his vehicle? He was a bad man, a very dangerous man whom I was tasked with helping. He shouldn’t have this much effect on me.

Focus, Clary. Focus , I thought to myself, momentarily shutting my eyes in an attempt to push the thoughts of Raziel Tarasov to the back of my mind.

“I’m telling you, Clary, this new designer boutique on Rodeo Drive is to die for!” Scarlett exclaimed, her voice dripping with enthusiasm.

“Uh-huh,” I said, nodding absentmindedly as I sipped from my thermos and shot another quick look in Raziel’s direction.

“I actually got myself the most adorable pair of Louboutins! You just have to see them.” She cackled.

“Mmm-hmm,” I murmured, lowering my head, trying to mask my distraction.

Scarlett’s voice slowly trailed off, and I could feel her gaze lingering on me. Shit. She must have finally sensed the change in my energy—that couldn’t be good.

“Mmm-hmm?” she repeated, her tone laced with suspicion.

I raised my head and met her gaze, which was locked on me, her arms folded across her chest. “What?” I mumbled, feigning ignorance. My free hand instinctively scratched the back of my head.

“Funny, I was about to ask you the same thing,” she said, her gaze never leaving my face.

I broke eye contact, sipping my coffee and looking away as if nothing had happened.

“Okay, spill,” she said, her voice firm but playful.

“Spill what?” I asked, my lips curling into a faint grin as I looked back in her direction but avoided her eyes.

“I don’t know,” she said, furrowing her brows as if studying me. “You seem a little…distant—distracted.”

I scoffed, letting out a derisive snort. “What? No!” I waved my hand in dismissal. “I’m not.”

She arched her brows, and her eyes widened ever so slightly. “Oh, yeah? What was the last thing I said?”

I paused, thinking for a fleeting moment. “When?”

“Just a second ago,” she replied keenly, her eyes fixed on my face.

My lips curved into a self-satisfied smirk as I answered. “You said ‘when’.”

She laughed dryly. “Ha, ha. Real classy, Clary.”

I chuckled, shrugging my shoulders as I drew away from her, ignorant of the embarrassment that I was walking into. Unbeknownst to me, I inadvertently stepped too close to a group of rambunctious children playing tag nearby.

It all happened so quickly, but one tiny, energetic body collided with another in a flash. The collision sent a juice box flying out of the child’s hand. Time seemed to slow down as the box soared through the air, its contents escaping in a majestic arc.

With eyes wide open, I gasped, steeling myself in horror as the crimson-red liquid splattered on my crisp white top. I felt a pang of anger and irritation swell up within, and I glanced down at the kid in front of me. He looked terrified, his eyes misting and shining with genuine remorse.

“I’m so sorry, ma’am,” the boy murmured. His breath hitched in his throat, his eyes widening slightly in terror.

The others stopped, watching me, their anticipation for my reaction growing by the second.

I wasn’t even sure what to do or how to respond to such an embarrassing situation, especially with Raziel watching from across the street. I was close to losing my temper and lashing out at the kids, but what kind of a therapist would I be if I did that? Boy, how Raziel would taunt me with that if I gave in to this rage brewing within me.

In my head, I could see that pesky little smirk of his perched on his face. Raziel must be enjoying this, and it infuriated me all the more, but I had to play it cool. I clenched my jaw and glanced down at the affected area.

The red stain spread like a gruesome wound across the fabric of my blouse, making me seem like I’d just emerged from a crime scene.

Goddammit! I cursed in my mind.

Scarlett, who’d had her palm over her mouth, trying to hold her laughter back, couldn’t control it anymore. So, she let it out, her laugh somehow easing the heavy tension that hovered around us.

My face contorted into a mock scowl, although I truly was pissed. However, her cute little laugh and teasing expression softened my temper. “It’s not funny, Scarlett,” I whined, my voice laced with desperation and a hint of embarrassment.

“It kinda is if you believe in instant karma,” she replied, wiggling her brows.

“God! This can’t be happening right now,” I grumbled, waving a dismissive hand at the kids, and they scurried off.

Her eyes dropped into the stained area. “Stop whining. It’s not that bad,” she said, basking in my frustration.

Oh, I could strangle her to death right now.

“Easy for you to say—you’re not the one who’s stained,” I murmured, my face burning with embarrassment as I frantically brushed at the stain, only spreading it further.

“Yeah…you might just be making it worse,” Scarlett said, her gaze pinned on me.

“I can see that,” I retorted through gritted teeth.

My heart pounded in my chest as I heard the sound of an approaching vehicle. My breath lodged in my throat, and my body stiffened, hoping that it wasn’t Raziel’s car behind me.

The vehicle halted by the sidewalk, and judging by the smile on Scarlett’s face, the driver was facing my direction. I didn’t have to trace her gaze to know who was behind me. It was definitely Raziel Tarasov.

“I think he’s looking at you,” Scarlett said, her voice hushed as her eyes locked on mine.

“Nice blouse,” he commented, his cold tone dripping with sarcasm.

I shut my eyes momentarily at the sound of his baritone voice, and a shiver ran down my spine. Scarlett’s eyes shifted across the two of us, but she said nothing, her smile retained.

Reluctantly, I turned around to face him, and that was when my heart sank into my stomach. God! He was handsome. Raziel’s car window was wound down to reveal him perched in the driver’s seat, exuding an air of confidence, power, and control. His hand gripped the steering wheel with a stylish elegance as he looked in my direction.

That sexy smirk lined a corner of his lips, and his piercing light eyes locked to mine with fiery intensity. His dirty-blond hair was perfectly imperfect, with subtle layers that added depth and texture. A few strands fell loosely across his forehead, highlighting his chiseled face and strong jawline.

The intensity of his gaze was unnerving, and I could feel my pulse quickening. I was both annoyed and embarrassed that he saw me in this state.

“Great!” I mumbled, holding his gaze despite the overwhelming emotions. “How typical of you to show up when things go wrong.”

“Oh, trust me, things could have gotten a lot worse.” He snickered, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Well, luckily, they didn’t.” I rolled my eyes, my voice tinged with a glint of mock disdain.

His smirk deepened, and his eyes were on the stain. “You look like you just escaped a knife attack…barely.” He chuckled, his voice laced with mockery.

The tension in the air thickened with each word, and I could tell that he was toying with my emotions.

My brows furrowed, forming faint creases between them. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” I questioned, squinting as a pang of vexation coursing through me.

“What can I say? It’s not every day you see your shrink in the streets of LA with a ruined top,” he said, his teasing words cutting through my heart like a knife.

My jaw tightened discreetly, and in my head, I’d already smacked him across the face seven times. He was totally basking in my frustration and wouldn’t even hide it. His smirk was ridiculous, but despite my reservations, I couldn’t deny how attractive it made him look.

“Get in,” he said, his voice calm but laced with a glint of authority.

My brows arched instantly as his words caught me off guard. I didn’t appreciate his tone or the air of finality that left no room for arguments.

My scowl deepened, and I said, looking into his eyes, “As you can see, I’m with a friend.”

And that was when Scarlett sold me out.

“Nope, she’s not,” she said to him. “She’s not with me.”

“What?” I turned in her direction, shocked by her response, and I cast a stern glare at her.

“Don’t look at me like that,” she said through gritted teeth, her voice a low whisper. “I’m doing you a favor.”

“How’s this a favor?” I questioned with the same hushed tone, my blood boiling at her betrayal.

“Quit whining. You’re embarrassing me in front of this gentleman,” she said, stealing a glance at him.

I pushed my head back in surprise, and my eyebrows rose. “ I’m embarrassing you?”

“Okay, you’re embarrassing the both of us,” she rephrased, unaffected by the intensity of my glare or the annoyance etched on my face.

I swear she’s gonna be the death of me.

“Oh, my God, I can’t believe you right now,” I muttered under my breath, pinching the bridge of my nose.

“Has the jury reached its verdict yet?” Raziel’s deep voice broke the moment of silence between us.

Scarlett turned to face him, beaming. “Matter of fact, we have. She’s coming with you.” She glanced back at me. “Aren’t you, Clary?”

There was no way I was going to turn this down now. Scarlett had manipulated and orchestrated the perfect scheme to make me go with Raziel. She’d always been interested in my love life—or rather, the lack of it. This was a rare opportunity to match me with someone, and she wasted no time jumping on it. Classic Scarlett.

I turned to face Raziel and managed to squeeze out a plastic smile.

They say every cloud has a silver lining. I guess the silver lining here was that I’d get to know him better as my client.

I drew a deep breath and whispered to her, “You sold me out. Not cool.” My lips pursed, suppressing a smile.

She leaned forward and said, her breath brushing against my ear, “You’re welcome.”

I shook my head and let out a scoff before heading toward the sleek black Lamborghini. Once again, Scarlett had her way; she’d won.

The front passenger door unlocked, and I grabbed the handle, swinging it open. I took one last look at my persistent friend and flashed the middle finger at her before sliding into the car.

Scarlett just smiled and blew me a kiss, her eyes crinkling at the corners. As annoying as she could be sometimes, she always had my best interest at heart. Scarlett, despite not knowing who Raziel was, had only insisted that I went with him because she read the chemistry between us. She felt the tension and the energy and thought about doing what she did when she had the chance.

Enveloped by the warmth of his car, I closed the door, feeling a sense of comfort washing over me. As Raziel drove off, I had my eyes on Scarlett, watching her through the side mirror. She waved at me, and I responded with a smile, my fingers wiggling playfully.

“She’s a character…your friend.” Raziel’s baritone snapped me out of my thoughts.

“She is, indeed,” I replied, stealing a glance at him.

It was silent between us for the next few seconds, and I couldn’t help but appreciate the rich scent of expensive leather that filled the car’s cabin. The interior was the epitome of elegance and sophistication; everything was spot-on.

“Where do you live?” he asked, breaking the awkward silence.

I was skeptical at first, but then again, how would he know where to drop me off if I withheld my house address?

I told him where I stayed, and that suddenly seemed like a decision I might regret later on.

For the next few minutes, I struggled with the right words to say—to at least have and keep a conversation going. The only thing that popped into my head was to ask about his anger issues and what exactly caused the fight the other night.

“Can you tell me what happened?” I finally summoned the courage to ask, my eyes fixed on him.

“What do you mean?” He shot a quick look in my direction, his focus still on the road.

“The night you battered that man’s face,” I said, watching him closely. “What happened? Why did you react that way?”

“Last time I checked, we don’t have a session today,” he said casually, his tone smooth and dismissive. “Save your questions for later.” His lips curled into a self-satisfied grin.

As annoying and embarrassing as it sounded, he had a point. However, his deflection only meant that I had a lot of work to do on this man, and it wasn’t going to be easy.

I heaved a sigh and looked away from him, my head resting on the glass. A sense of disappointment washed over me. He clearly had no respect for people's feelings, but I wasn't surprised.

God only knew how this would end because I had no idea whatsoever.