SIX: Rejection

THERE WAS AN undertone to his words, one that seemed to insinuate he knew her intentions exactly. It was strange the way she was very concerned about that, considering she wasn't sure what her intentions actually were.

"Maybe I'm part of the Formid Root welcome committee?" She suggested, making her tone light.

He shook his head, and before he spoke the waiter came with his coffee. She saw him looking at it, and her inner thoughts were full of victory when he didn't add sugar.

He took only a small sip, there was a certain grace in the way he held the cup, one that she didn't think matched his very casual look. But Cornelia was never one to judge, well, not very much at least.

He put the cup on the table, then pinned her with his eyes, "How old do you think I am?"

She swallowed again, "I'm not sure. I mean looks can be deceiving."

He nodded, "Yes, indeed they can be. Let's take you for example," A lopsided smile appeared on his face, and Cornelia's heart skipped a beat. "You look sweet, innocent, harmless, and perhaps a little bit of an airhead. I will make the wild assumption that people don't really think you're all that smart."

"And what do you think?" She fired the question, only feeling that it was very straightforward after she had said it.

He tilted his head to the side, pretending to give it some thought, "I think you're smart, cunning even, very persistent, and…" he paused for a second, "Young. Ms. Cooper, I'm twenty-Five and whatever you think you're doing, I believe it would be unwise to pursue."

Her heart was drumming in her chest, thudding loudly in her ears. She could feel the heat of her embarrassment rising from her neck and up to her face.

"I'm not sure what you're insinuating, Mr. Amarok." She replied confidently, albeit being very flustered.

He shook his head, and regarded her with a small, and almost tender smile. She never thought he would be capable to look that kind.

"You're the most obvious jailbait, Ms. Cooper. Maybe in a few years, you can come and find me."

He said the words while getting up and leaving money on the table. Enough money for both their drinks and a generous tip as well.

She was staring at the money, then her eyes drifted to the empty seat opposite hers. There was a long minute where she tried to process, actually, fathom what happened.

Once she got over her shock, the first feeling her mind processed was embarrassment. She couldn't believe he was so blunt at rejecting her. Cornelia was no stranger to rejections, she had known them very well, but usually she was the one doing them.

Boys fawned over her, over the beauty she knew she held, over her kindness, and sweet spoken words. Every boy wanted her, however none of them was good enough to her standards. Boys. She thought with distaste. But Lucien Amarok wasn't a boy, he was a man.

She wasn't only embarrassed, it was much deeper than that. Cornelia was hurt. She wasn't sure whether it was her pride or her heart that was hurt, but she knew she was hurting.

Her eyes finally left the seat and she called the waiter for the check. When he came with it, she stared at the money Lucien had left and put the hundred dollar bill.

The waiter came back with the change, "Keep it." She told him and got up, fishing out of the place like the hellhounds were on her feet. She called a cab, and as she was heading home the situation kept playing in her mind on repeat. She couldn't believe that it actually happened.

For the first time in her entire seventeen years, Cornelia's self-confidence wavered. When she arrived home, she didn't find her father around, so she went straight to her room.

She was planning for a long bath. She wanted to soak all her shame and embarrassment in the bathtub and preferably she would get out squeaky clean.

Before she could follow that, she received a text from Abigail. "Why did Jessica just text me to tell me she saw you at the coffee shop in front of her motel?"

Cornelia ignored the text, she would conjure up a lie later, for now she needed to relax. She couldn't help but wonder whether what happened would stop her from thinking about him or it would encourage that small competitive part of her to try and get him.