Impulsiveness was not a failing of Lorraine’s. Every move she made was considered, subtle. She spun her web so quietly and so far in advance of any action that her prey never noticed it being woven around them until they were already ensnared. It was rare that a grand master such as her was ever beaten in the game of life.

In the moments that she was, a fiery rage brought a rose-pink blush to her cheeks and drove her into the kind of situations which usually landed her in Tsi’s office. Right now, her face felt like it was on fire.

“Goodbye.” She whispered emphatically to the two surplus, her narrowed turquoise eyes remaining fixed on Croe while they scrambled and backed out of the room. At least they knew what appropriate behaviour in the face of the goddess looked like. Croe needed to go back to Alliance kindergarten and learn what happened to fragile mortals who insulted powerful immortal beings.

Folding her arms across her chest, Lorraine surveyed her inferior with pursed lips. What did Mallos see in her? She wasn’t beautiful. Her figure left something to be desired (mostly in the chest area) and she had on the most dreadful outfit which covered just about everything. Really, in a hot country like this, why would anyone want to wear black from neck to wrist unless they were profoundly ugly underneath? She was begging for a makeover. Perhaps with the right touch-ups, some designer clothes and some serious plastic surgery, she’d be ready to place fiftieth in a beauty contest.

“Relationship seems like a strong word, darling.” Lorraine purred, choosing to ignore the appalling lack of respect. Anyone prepared to open with insolence on such a scale was hardly going to stop just because they were ordered to and, annoyingly, being Mallos’ current favourite plaything leant Croe just enough protection that there was very little Lorraine could do about it. For now. “I imagine putting his cock in you is about the extent of your use… unless I’m mistaken, and the two of you have meaningful conversations.”

It felt like a safe bet to play on. Mallos didn’t have meaningful conversations with anyone other than Aura. A small smile tugged at the corners of Lorraine’s mouth, rejuvenating her otherworldly beauty as she settled into a more comfortable role. This snide subtlety was what this face had been designed for.

“I’m sure by now, you know far more about him than I do.” She moved around the side of the desk, her heels clicking against the wooden floorboards. There was nowhere clean enough to sit in this sorry excuse for an office, so she remained standing, keeping her distance from all of the surfaces. “I’m sure you could tell me,” she added softly, “all the intimate details only someone he really cares about would know. The cause of failure for all his marriages. The name of the little old lady who took care of him when he was young. How he got his big break at his dream job.”

She quirked an eyebrow and leant forward slightly.

“I hope you’ve got some savings aside for when he gets bored of you,” she hissed, “because based on the length of all his other ‘relationships’, I’d say you haven’t got long.”