If I could live your life Chapter 3
By Star

Raven nervously tapped her fingers against her office desk. 
Peter Criss was coming to her office for an official 
business meeting concerning her designing his web site. And 
she was nervous. As hell. She never felt like this and 
despised herself for it. 

Here she was someone who was in complete control of her 
life, and she was getting weak at the knees over a man. She 
admitted to herself that he wasn't just any man but Peter 
Criss. She'd been completely captivated by him since the 
first time she had heard KISS, and even after he had left 
the band she had followed his career. She'd be delighted 
when he'd joined the band again, and it looked like they 
would be making more albums. As much as she had liked KISS' 
eighties music she had preferred the band as they were in 
the seventies when they were at their strongest. But 
something hadn't changed and it wasn't long before Peter 
had parted ways with the band again.

She tore her gaze away from the window when her intercom 
buzzed and her assistant's voice carried through "Your 1.00 
pm appointment is here Rav do you want me to send him in."

Raven smiled softly "Yes. That would be fine Marc." She 
said, ending the call and quickly taking a look in the 
mirror before admonishing herself for it, and telling 
herself that she was the one who would be in the driver's 
seat.

She tapped a long finger onto her computer's keyboard to 
kill the screensaver. It wouldn't do her good for him to 
see that she was a KISS fan. This was a Business meeting 
not one where she could stroke his ego. She didn't want him 
thinking that he could take advantage of her, and take 
control of the situation. She quickly opened notepad so she 
would be able to type in a series of notes throughout the 
meeting.

She looked up when Peter Criss entered the room 
confidently. She waited until he reached her desk before 
standing slowly and offering her hand to him.

Peter Criss took the hand offered out to him, surprised at 
the strength of the handshake. "I'm…" He began and she 
smiled slightly "Peter Criss. I know and I'm Raven. Won't 
you take a seat?" Peter nodded, watching her sit in her 
chair before he followed suit. 

"Would you like anything to drink before we start? Water, 
Coffee?" Raven asked, annoyed that she was beginning to 
feel slightly tongue-tied.

Peter shook his head "No thank you I'm fine with 
everything."

Raven nodded "Then I suggest we get down to business. What 
exactly do you want me to do for you?"

Peter grinned, "You don't waste time do you?" 

Raven looked at him "I'm a busy woman and don't have time 
to waste."

Peter nodded, taking a deep breath "I want to make an 
official web site. One that will give details about myself, 
what I am currently doing, but most importantly explaining 
why I left KISS. I don't think people know the complete 
details and it's something I want them to know."

Raven nodded, typing quickly notes into her computer. "And 
what else? I can't just design it on that. I need to know 
whether you want links, if you want photos, the color 
scheme. You of course will have to provide your own 
pictures, and I would prefer them scanned and put in JPG 
form. I don't do things like that. It's not part of the 
deal. You provide all the information that I need, the 
pictures, and I will do the rest."

Peter nodded "I understand. I'd like to maybe learn html 
myself so I could continue designing the web site myself. 
Do you think you could help me learn html?"

Raven cocked her head to one side "Mr Criss..." She began 
and Peter interrupted her "Please call me Peter."

"As I was saying Mr Criss before you interrupted me. I will 
think about designing your page. But don't think I am here 
to baby-sit you or teach you html. If you want to do that 
then go to a class or read a book. There are plenty of 
courses where you can learn html and plenty of books to 
read. I am sure you have the time and the money.

I can promise you that if you do decide to work with me 
then you will not regret it. I am a professional and my 
reputation comes from satisfying the customer."

Peter listened to what Raven had to say his head cocked to 
the side. This was one ballsy woman he thought with a grin. 
Not only had she told him to shut up and listen but she had 
also told him what she would and wouldn't do. He liked a 
woman that wasn't afraid of telling him what she thought, 
and with a wince he realised this was one woman that would 
do that without a single thought to his feelings. 
Instinctively he knew that this was woman was the one he 
wanted to design his web site. He had good vibes about her, 
and knew that he had never gone wrong with his gut before. 
If he had he probably wouldn't be sitting here now.

"Are you listening to me?" Raven asked exasperated and 
Peter nodded his head immediately "Of course. You won't 
baby sit me and are a professional." He said with a slight 
smirk.

Raven nodded her head "You can get your assistant to talk 
to my assistant about details." Turning her eyes from him 
she looked at her computer, beginning to type quickly.

Peter stood, not too sure whether he had been dismissed or 
not. Raven noticed his lost expression and looked up from 
the computer "Is there anything else?" she asked with an 
arched eyebrow.

"Well it's just that I thought we might swap numbers in 
case we need to discuss the site." Peter began and Raven 
smiled briefly "You don't trust my assistant Gavin? I can 
assure you he'll give me whatever information your 
assistant sends from you. In 6 weeks time I will arrange 
another meeting as a progress report to show you what I 
have done. If you are happy with it then you will not see 
me again until the site is finished. If not we will redo 
everything the way you like it and set up another progress 
report meeting." She paused briefly and quickly wrote 
something on a piece of paper handing it to Peter "If you 
really need to contact me you can e-mail me at this address 
and I will answer whatever questions you might have."

Peter nodded, taking the information he moved to leave, 
stopping and turning "Would you like to have coffee with me 
sometime? Maybe we can discuss the site over a bite or 
something?"

Raven shook her head "I'm sorry that's impossible. I never 
mix business with pleasure."

Peter smiled teasingly "Maybe you could change it for me?"

Raven locked gazes with him "I never change my mind once I 
have decided on something. Now you will have to excuse me 
but I am an extremely busy woman and have another meeting 
any minute now."

Peter nodded, not liking the instant dismissal but 
accepting it for now. He moved towards the door, slightly 
jumping back when the door burst open and a strawberry 
blonde strode past him without giving him a glance.

He watched Raven smile warmly, her whole face lightning up 
in the process "You're early." She scolded and the redhead 
shrugged "I know. Traffic was a breeze. So are we ready for 
lunch? I'm starved."

Raven nodded, noticing Peter by the door. "Is there 
something else you wanted Mr Criss?" She asked and the 
redhead turned and gave him a flickering glance and then 
dismissing him.

"No I was just leaving." Peter said, walking away from them 
without giving them a backward glance. He had the feeling 
that the strawberry blonde and Raven were both laughing at 
him and he didn't like it one bit.
***

"Well it looks like you certainly put him in his place. 
Remind me to never cross you." Shannon said, as she watched 
Peter walk away "Not that I mind him walking away. Would 
you look at that ass."

Raven frowned "Since when did you take notice of Peter's 
ass?" she asked testily and Shannon grinned "Since I knew 
it would annoy you. Come on lets go. I need food."

Raven sighed, switching her computer off, and letting her 
assistant know that she was going out, and to switch all 
calls to her cell. She automatically grabbed her laptop on 
her way out, and Shannon shook her head "You're amazing. 
Don't you ever let loose."

Raven smiled "Of course I do. Just not in the same way you 
do. Besides who knows when I might need to use my lap. I'm 
also expecting Mac to ring, and need to key the details in. 
I don't trust using paper for my notes. This way I know 
they won't get mislaid."

Shannon nodded "So you want to drive or shall I?" 

"I will." Raven said, wincing in remembrance of the last 
time she got in a car with Shannon. It didn't surprise her 
that Shannon occasionally car raced. Anyone who had seen 
her drive would know why. Shannon always was looking for 
action, which was one of the reasons Stephanie had 
recruited her.

Personally Raven thought Stephanie and Shannon had clicked 
because they were kindred souls. But then she realised that 
this was the way it was with all of them. Something linked 
all of them together, even Holly who wasn't a part of their 
set. Although she had the feeling that it wouldn't be long 
until that changed. No one stayed friends with any of them 
without eventually becoming part of the action. It wasn't 
their way. The friends either got into it or got out of 
their lives.

And then there were boyfriends. They came and went. Raven 
knew from experience that there would never be a permanent 
man in her life, or in fact any of the girls lives. The 
problem was simple. Once a guy found out about the girls he 
either shot out of there like a bat out of hell or opened 
his mouth. She had simply learnt to deal with it. All of 
them dealt with it differently. Some of the girls went out 
found a man, used him sexually and then never bothered 
calling back; others worked themselves until they dropped. 
She wrote. It was her secret vice that she kept to herself.

"So are you going to sit there and stare in to space or 
what?" Shannon asked, interrupting Raven's thoughts, who 
nodded, and pushing her thoughts aside started up the car.