She was as uncomfortable with his presence as he could have expected, keen on dispelling his playful accusations. Stiff at the shoulders when he touched her. He thought even her soft hair became stale under his fingers. None of that stopped what he wanted to do, and he was soon placed right where James had been, drink served up. He got himself comfortable and looked at the woman who was doing a decent imitation of someone who wasn't presented by her current worst person.<br/><br/>James didn't know why he felt a bit awkward now, and thought he saw something in her, too. He'd known his own intentions were slightly compromised, even if he'd decided not to act on it, and the same parts of him were raising a subtle alarm now. He felt a bit of shame, to think that he'd been so invested in her that Culler threatened him. This should all be fine. In fact, wasn't it better that their artist had come? This way there was an excuse for Talia to leave if she wanted, since James would now have company, and someone to act as a kind of social equilibrium between them.<br/><br/>Culler had no intention of somehow helping their interaction in such a benign way. He was, however, going to stay and oversee it. He had some of the drink and nodded with compliments to the bartender. Talia had been flustered about his lewd question, and that's exactly what he wanted. He'd have to savor how she did today, pinched between a benevolent boss and a very malicious one. While well-meaning in his own way, James was not some saint either. His little infatuation was honest, Culler could tell, but wasn't the supervisor putting her in a stressful situation, too? Perhaps Talia was better off, unaware.<br/><br/>"Yeah, she's a real go-getter this one." Culler said to help her out. James nodded with some professional satisfaction before catching himself, and then waved his hands at the two.<br/><br/>"That's good, but I suppose we should relax now." he didn't want to seem like a slave-driver, and the whole purpose of this, at least when he pitched it to her, was to get her more comfortable. He raised his glass. "To new friends." he suggested. Culler chuckled and had to move his shoulder rather close to her when his arms crossed her space so his glass could touch James's. They made a small sound, and the men were waiting for her drink to chime in, too. It'd feel a bit like a contract, Culler thought, like the two of them would be entwined into his games in that moment small collisions.<br/><br/>He kept ordering them drinks after that, making jokes and being the charming and light-hearted self that had lured many women, Talia's beloved sister one of them, to trust him and lower their guard. If he was able to trick Talia into drinking more, perhaps she'd forget who he was, and what he could do. It'd be fun to see if she was a similar, gullible drunk as Emily. He pulled James into the mood easily, until the supervisor insisted on paying every other round for the trio. None of the males would allow Talia to touch the bill. It was a very touching scene of friendship and misplaced chivalry.<br/><br/>Eventually, James had to excuse himself again, to visit the bathroom, and that gave Culler the opportunity to scoot closer to his favorite victim. "So." he said. "You're making friendly with your new boss. That's kind of a whore move, isn't it?" he asked with vodka on his breath. Despite the harsh words, his tone was tender and sweet, low, and his hand petted her back. "It kind of upsets me." At which he pulled up his phone, and showed her a soundless clip of her being fucked in the ass while on her back. The camera panned a little lower, which cut her eyes out of the picture. "Now, how about I show this to James, eh? Or would you like to show me some incentive to not do that?"