The Phoenix Conspiracy eBook

Summers watched Calvin unlock the door and race inside. Was he really as eager as all that? He didn’t seem the type to be that desperate, it was unbecoming.

Once inside, she saw him pick something up from the desk and stuff it away in his safe. It looked like pills. She raised a curious eyebrow.

"What was that?"

"Just a prescription," said Calvin with an innocent shrug as he hurried back over to her. The door slid shut, leaving them alone. She made it a point to look around the apartment before he could make his move on her. It was somewhat messy but not overly so, though his bed wasn't even made and he still had a couple of boxes he hadn't unpacked. At least the room didn't smell bad.

To her dismay, nothing incriminating was in sight. Calvin didn't even have a liquor cabinet. And the only drinks, true to his word, were water bottles.

In hardly a moment, he was there again, reaching for her. She stopped him. "Wait a sec," and popped the cork. The bottle smoked a bit, giving the authentic impression it had never been opened—something she’d achieved by injecting her surprise through the cork rather than removing it.

She offered him some. "Go ahead and drink it right out of the bottle," she gave him the sexiest smile she knew how to give. His eyes lit up and he returned the smile, but refused the drink.

"I really hate the stuff, can't stand it. It all tastes like ethanol to me."

She felt her heart race. She'd come way too far for this plan to fail now. "Come on, smell it," she said. He took a whiff and started coughing.

Her mind panicked, seeking a way to salvage the situation if she couldn't get him to take a drink.

"I was hoping we'd drink it together," she said with big eyes and a pouty face. She absolutely hated resorting to that but Calvin was making this hard. And she was so very close.

"Sorry, love," he said.

She paused for a moment, he'd called her love. That bit her, so she blinked it from her mind. Must focus on the mission!

She took a large drink herself, careful not to swallow, and then invited him to take her in his arms. He scooped her up like a feather, the quick motion almost causing her to spit out the wine.