Chapter 8
That asshole. She should of known Red wouldn't listen to her. Sometimes she wondered why she even opened her mouth in the first place. Liz sat fuming next to Red at the table as she stared at their dinner companion. What had started out planned as a quiet dinner between the two of them, had turned into the dinner date she had warned Red against. Fifteen minutes after they had both taken their seats, their companion had come up to them and pulled out his chair apologizing for being late. That's when she gave Red the evil eye and plastered a fake smile on her face.
"This steak is delicious. How about yours Charles?" Red asked the blacklister.
"Just right. I'm glad I took up your offer!" Charles said back.
Liz bit her lip to keep from lashing out at Red. Instead she kicked him under the table, causing him to jump. "So glad you could join us." Liz said and then added her fake smile to finish it off.
"My pleasure honey." Charles said with a wink.
Liz inwardly cringed. As soon as she could get Red alone, she was going to seriously let him have it this time. Just earlier in the day, after Charles had spilled the beans on his plan and had given them enough intel to stop the bomb, Liz had agreed to stay one more night at the hotel. Red had promised it would be for the better. He had explained that if they bolted after getting the intel, then Charles would get suspicious and change his plans before the task force could stop it. They needed Charles's cooperation until the bomb was disarmed. Red warned that if they arrested him now, the bomb would still be in play. Charles never worked alone. It was best to sit tight while the task force checked everything out. Then they would leave in the morning and the task force would take Charles in to custody.
"So, how do you like the resort so far? Have you been to the spa?" Charles sat back in his chair looking at Liz. "The massages are great!" He said with a glint in his eye.
Liz shrugged her shoulders. "It's beautiful, but no, I haven't had time to visit the spa yet."
Charles finished the last bite of steak on his place and then wiped his mouth with his napkin. "Nonsense. Let me take you tomorrow. My treat." Again, he winked at Liz and it was getting on her nerves.
It was Red's fault they were having dinner with this despicable man. There was no need for it. Unless... "Excuse me while I go to the bathroom." Getting up, Liz walked away and then turned and motioned for Red to come with her. Excusing himself, Red made his way to the bathrooms. Once they were out of view Liz turned and glared at Red.
"What's the meaning of this? You've got something up your sleeve and I want to know now!" Liz stood in front of Red with her arms crossed staring at him. " I specifically told you I was done with him. You went behind my back and arranged this meeting. Now why?"
Red cocked his head to the side and shrugged his shoulders. "I was being nice. The guy seemed lonely."
"Bullshit!" Liz yelled.
"Quiet down, Lizzie." Red warned.
Liz wasn't in the mood to hear it. "You don't do anything without a motive. What's he have that you want?"
Red shook his head. "Is it such a shock that I want to make someone happy?" He said with a smirk.
Liz stepped closer to Red and pointed at his chest. "He's a creep and I told you I don't like him. Why don't you try to make me happy and tell him to get lost?" With that, Liz turned around and walked into the ladies room.
After going to the restroom, Liz stood at the sink looking at herself in the mirror. If Red wasn't going to send the man away on his own, then she would just have to make him want to, she thought to herself. Charles clearly had the hots for her and judging by Red's reaction to her behavior last night, Red could be made jealous rather easily.
After calming herself down, Liz walked out the door and walked back to the table where both men sat, each engrossed in a heavy conversation. "Sorry to break up the party. Anything I should know about?" Liz asked with a fake smile on her lips. Reaching over, she placed her hand on Red's arm and slowly stroked it up and down. "Any drama?"
Charles eyes beamed at Liz. "Nothing as interesting as you, Liz." He said flirtingly.
Red put his arm around Liz's shoulders and pulled her closer to him. "She is one of a kind, that's or sure."
Liz saw her opportunity. "There's enough of me to go around though. Charles, care for a dance?"
Red's arm tightened around Liz's shoulders but she shrugged it off. Smiling at Charles, she let him take her hand and then stood . "I'll follow you." Liz glared down at Red, daring him to stop her. If he wanted to play nice with the guy then he had to suffer the consequences.
