Lorenzo pov
"It's fine, David," Mara interrupted, her eyes locked on Ryan. "Mr. Smart was just about to tell me about his tech model."
"Seems you two are acquainted." Ryan asked as he sipped his glass of wine.
"We have been friends since school days." David replied forcing a smile.
"Hope am not interrupting you two?" Ryan asked.
"Of course not, we both came here for different things.mara smiled at david, "why don't we talk later David." She said.
"Sure, but be careful." He leaned close whispering to her.
"Two idiots." I cursed them beneath my breathe.
"Let go inside miss journalist, if you are done chit chatting with your friend." Ryan spoke.
"Sure." Mara, smiled. They both walked away and Ryan placed her hands under his. I watched them talk. Ryan was playing a game, giving her tiny bits of info just to keep her leaning in. He touched her elbow to lead her toward the balcony.
"He's testing her," I said, my voice low. "He's trying to see if she's really a reporter or if she's looking for something else."
"She's handling him," Cemal noted. "But David looks like he's about to cry."
A few minutes later, David pulled Mara away while Ryan was distracted by a donor.
"Mara, stop," David said, his voice shaking. "I don't like the way he looks at you. And I don't like how you are behaving right now, you're not yourself."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver bracelet. It was thin and cheap-looking. "I bought this for you. It was the first thing I got, when I came back. Just so you remember someone who truly cared for you. Not like these people."
He clipped it onto her wrist. Mara looked at it, then back at him. "David, I can't—"
"Just wear it. Please." David pleaded.
I turned the screen off. I couldn't watch him beg. I couldn't watch her accept a mark from another man. I tapped my earpiece, my voice cold and hard.
"Mara. We're done. Get to the exit. Now."
"Lorenzo, I'm still talking" she whispered into her brooch.
"I said now," I barked. "The car is outside. Don't make me come in there."
I saw her stiffen on the screen before it went black. A few moments later, she appeared at the glass doors of the gala. She looked flustered, her hair slightly messy from the wind. I stepped out of the SUV and held the door open.
"Get in," I said.
She climbed into the backseat without a word. I slid in next to her and slammed the door.
The ride home was heavy with silence. Mara sat by the door, staring out at the streetlights. She was wearing that silver thing on her wrist. It shone in the dark, reminding me of the boy's hands on her face.
Every time I looked at it, I felt a surge of heat in my throat, and I didn't know why. I wanted to rip it off and throw it out the window.
When we reached the house, I didn't wait. I followed her inside, slamming the door behind us.
"Give it to me," I said, my voice a low growl.
Mara turned, looking confused. "What?"
"The bracelet. Take it off."
"No! It was a gift from David. What is your problem?"
I didn't argue. I grabbed her wrist. She tried to pull away, but I was stronger. I found the silver chain and yanked it. It snapped with a tiny pop. I threw the metal across the room, watching it disappear.
"What is wrong with you?!" she screamed, her face turning red with fury.
"This thing is cheap," I said, stepping into her space until she was backed against the wall. "David is a distraction. I'm making sure you stay focused."
"You don't get to decide that! He's a better man than you'll ever be! He actually cares about how I feel!"
"He had his mouth on your face," I hissed. I could feel the heat radiating off her. "I'm not letting his dirt stay on you."