Edward Black was sitting at his desk trying hard to look interested in the report being read to him by his head lawyer. Vain and incredibly wealthy, 'Eddie' had been showing less and less interest in his business interests over the last few months spending most of his time as a virtual recluse at his private mansion with occasional forays into the city to review important matters and conducting most of his business from home.
A dissolute self-indulgent billionaire he had sampled most of the vices known to man and as he desperately attempted to ignore his approach to forty. Over the years his interests had become almost entirely fixated on snakes, well, snakes and women. He often joked that he would do anything for the first and anything to the second.
Right now he was trying to keep his attention on the boring monologue of sue and countersue that his straight-laced lawyer seemed to think so important.
"Look just how much is he suing for," He asked, his last shred of patience finally exhausted.
"Twenty-five million Mr Black," His lawyer replied, he did his best to look the calm professional but after several hours of testing his employer's famously short temper he was beginning to sweat. "However, we are confident that the judge will see things in our favour sir."
"Settle" Eddie snapped watching the legal vultures face blanch in distress.
"But sir-"
"Pay the man and then have him blacklisted," Eddie interrupted, "Put the word out that we no longer do business with anyone who does business with him and stop bothering me with such pointless garbage I'm fed up of hearing about this bloody case."
With a wave of his hand Eddie dismissed his flustered and still protesting lawyer, it was only money and he had enough to pay petty fools like that off on the daily interest of his personal fortune alone. He was about to leave when his intercom lit up, his secretaries honeyed tones interrupting his train of thought.
"Mr Black, there's a Miss Chase to see you, she is most insistent"
"Never heard of her," Eddie snapped, "tell her to make a damn appointment like anyone else."
"She's most insistent she speaks to you about something called project Lillith sir," his secretary replied waiting expectantly for her employer's decision.
Eddie paused to compose himself before quietly replying, "Send her in, oh and Natalie this meeting didn't happen understood."
"Yes sir," his secretary replied quietly the light on the intercom going dark.
Eddie was worried, no one knew about Lillith, he'd broken more laws in her creation than the simple ones of biology. He'd ensured only her creators knew of her and those were well paid to keep their mouths shut permanently not to mention the fact they would likely spend a lifetime in jail if the law discovered exactly what Eddie had living in his home. Sliding open a drawer he pulled a plain but lethally efficient pistol from its hiding place and hid his hand under the desk. A moment later as the door opened he relaxed, recognising the strikingly beautiful woman in the doorway. The gun, however, stayed levelled in her direction.
"Evelyn? I didn't know your name was Chase"
"I changed it as per our agreement remember and the names Eve," she replied quietly her tone just barely civil.
One of the most beautiful women Eddie had ever had the displeasure of turning him down, Evelyn was tall and slender her designer suit complimented the shapely curves of her ass and accentuated her bust. Her long blonde hair was tied back in her habitual ponytail and the pair of stylish glasses she wore did not detract from her perfect face with its familiar severe expression.
"Long time no see Eddie we must talk," she said walking towards him her manner all business. Eddie paused to think, as beautiful as she was from honeyed voice to those oh so kissable lips Evelyn was far smarter than he was and she had signed an agreement never see Eddie again if she wanted to keep on breathing.
Why then was she standing in his office?
"What could we have to talk about Evelyn?" he asked his voice carefully light hearted.
"It's Eve, Eddie, and we have to talk about Lillith," she replied taking the seat opposite him without waiting for an invitation.
"Lillith? Should I know the name?" he countered stalling for time.
"No? Oh well I guess I'm mistaken must have been someone else I designed the ultimate sex toy for," she snapped glaring at him over the dark frames of her glasses.
"Evelyn my dear you signed the non-disclosure agreement, you accepted the generous settlement for your services and you made more than plain you never wished to speak to me again, I have no intention of speaking to you about your work for us." he replied his hand carefully aiming the gun under the table.
"Fine then I'll stick by the agreement but Lillith will be dead within the week. goodbye Eddie," she replied rising quickly and heading for the door.
Eddie only had a moment to think. She couldn't be serious, could she? Eve had been the head of project Lillith. She had spent years on the project. It was her brainchild really, he had just had the first idea. She had promised so much more if anyone could implant some sort of timed death into Lillith's genetics it was her. "Wait!" his voice was barely a whisper but she still paused, she stood there the door half open with her back to him as if asking for a bullet between those arrogant shoulders.
"Okay Eve what do you want," he demanded.
"Simple Eddie, I want to be part of the project again," she replied, shutting the door and turning back to face him her voice brimming with barely suppressed distaste.
"It's too late I've already fed her my two choices I'm sorry Evelyn but the project is over I don't see how there is anything left for you to do" he answered smiling.
"Well then, isn't it lucky I fixed that little problem, Eddie. With the proper next meal to correct the defect Lillith will continue producing for as long as you want her too, far beyond two subjects." Eve paused smiling triumphantly, "however if she doesn't get exactly what she needs she will die within the week and what she needs, dear Eddie, is me."
Eddie reeled at the news. If she was telling the truth she had handed him everything he ever wanted, in time even sell the results to other rich men for a fortune and if she was lying she was on a one-way trip to an acid bath so either way, he couldn't lose.
Eddie took the gun from under the table and put it on the desk in front of him, Eve looked down at the gun and raised an eyebrow, "My, my. Planning on doing your own dirty work Eddie, that's a first for you."
