Chapter 40 - Two Could Play That Game... (2/2)

Jackson looked at the woman in surprise. Why did she sound like she was interrogating him? And how did she know so much about him? This didn't feel right.

”I never told you I was an arms dealer,” Jackson said in a slightly suspicious tone as he glared at the woman opposite.

Halia held her breath; she had said too much. Luckily, she was quick on her feet. As she awkwardly poured herself some tea, she replied casually, ”I heard people talking about it in the club.”

Jackson looked at the woman with suspicion. Sure, he was often seen in the club with criminals and gangsters, but the true nature of his business was tightly kept a secret. Did she really hear it from someone in the club?

”Don't go off track, answer my questions,” Halia frowned.

Jackson looked at the woman as she walked over and sat next to him, ”Some drunk guys were having a fight in the men's toilet and I was accidentally cut just before I saw you. I ended up leaving through an emergency exit at the back of the club. I was late because I was hesitating; I was deciding whether to still meet you. I didn't want you to see me like that. But, in the end, I didn't want to leave you on your own.”

Halia listened to the man's story. Was that really what happened?

”If that's true, then why did you refuse to go to the hospital?”

Jackson stared into Halia's curious eyes. She was smarter than the average woman; it was going to be hard to lie to her.

All of a sudden, he thought of an idea. With a smirk, he replied, ”Hey, I had a hot nurse who was super concerned about me. I thought I could bring you to my place, impress you a little and get you into bed.”

Halia looked at the man with suspicion. He was a bit odd today.

Jackson then hooked his right arm around Halia's waist and drew her towards him. ”Have you forgotten about our kiss?” he asked. ”If the police didn't arrive that day, we would have had some fun already.”

Halia looked into the man's eyes. She was smart. She knew he was lying. Why was he acting this way?

She clearly remembered that she kissed him the day she was spiked and he tried to push her off. She also remembered the way he buttoned her shirt at the warehouse without trying to take advantage of her. Lastly, she remembered how she had 'fallen asleep' on his sofa the previous night and how he tucked her in with a blanket and pillow. He had plenty of chances to take advantage of her, but he didn't.

Was he trying to scare her away for some reason?

Well...sorry, but her mission was to get close to him.

With this thought, Halia did something that Jackson never expected: she leaned in towards him, her nose brushing against his. Halia saw the surprise in his eyes and she smiled. Her lips almost touched his, but he sat frozen in place.

She had caught his bluff.

Why was he sitting still if he just wanted to get her into bed?

If he wanted to put on an act, two could play that game...