She doesn’t need a real stone; she just doesn’t want to be lied to. This lunch will be her tipping point. If he doesn’t give her satisfactory answers, she’s out. She will break up with him.
After listening to Gideon, she’s doubly worried. She doesn’t want to go down with a psychopathic con artist. If that’s what Theo really is. Yet a deeper, needier part of Roshaan is still hoping it’s all been a grave misunderstanding and he’ll somehow explain it all away and make things right again.
He greets her with a kiss and pulls out a chair. He looks amazing—of course he does—and there’s a bottle of fancy wine on the table, plus bread and dolmades, which she loves.
Tension straps tighter and she takes a seat. She fiddles with her ring as he pours her a glass of wine. She shouldn’t drink, because she does have to work later, but she makes an exception.
“Cheers.” He raises his glass.
Roshaan hesitates, then lifts her glass and touches it to his. “What are we celebrating?”
“Celebrating?”
“The chichi wine, this place—it’s fancy.”
Darkness flashes through his eyes, followed by a tight smile.
“Why are you asking me this, Rosh? Why shouldn’t I spring for a nice meal for us? Do you think I don’t have the money?”
She swallows. “I’m sorry. I—I guess I’m just worried about things. About what you plan to do with the information from the spy cams. About ... everything.”
He holds her gaze, assessing her. The intensity in his eyes is disquieting. Theo really does appear to have an uncanny ability to read people, to see their thoughts, and Roshaan fears he sees her doubts laid bare.
“What’sreallygoing on, Rosh? Is it still this Maxine thing? Do you not trust me?”
She sucks in a shaky breath. “Hendrick Lodewijk, one of my elites—”
“What did that flake say about your ring?”
Her throat tightens. “He says the stone is beautiful but ... he doesn’t believe it’s real.”
Theo doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t blink. Just stares.
“Theo?”
“What in the hell does this man think he knows about stones? Why should you take his word?”
“He used to be a gem dealer. I—I asked him to look at it.”
“Youwhat?”
Her face goes hot.
“Let me get this straight, you asked some stranger if the ringIgave you was a fake?”
Her hands begin to tremble and her eyes burn. “Theo—I didn’t mean it like that. I—it just happened.”
“Do you really not trust me, Roshaan? What are you in this relationship for, then? Emeralds? Jewels? What do you want from me exactly?”
“Please, Theo, it’s not like that.”
He curses in Greek, looks out over the sea. When he faces her again, his eyes are liquid with emotion.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
He reaches across the checkered tablecloth and takes both her hands in his. He moves his thumb slowly, seductively across her palm.
“I know, Rosh—I ...” He sucks in a shaky breath. “The truth is, I was hoping I wouldn’t have to tell you. After this trip it would all have been sorted. I’d have gotten the original back.”
