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“Do I look okay?” she whispers.
I look down and I smile. “You look perfect. You look gorgeous, Aura. Thank you for coming with me.”
She gives me a white-toothed smile. Her straight white teeth against her lips make men go weak in the knees. I give her my arm and she slides hers through and we walk inside the restaurant.
Once we make it to the table with both men seated, they stand when they see me approach with Aura.
“Hello, gentlemen. Aura, these are my business associates. I have an upcoming project with them. They are building a tall skyscraper here in New York that I am funding. This is Mike Ryder and Frank Ipstein.”
“Hello,” she says in a soft voice.
Mike looks at her a little too hard for my taste, but I let it slide. This time. I give him a hard stare when I catch his gaze. He lifts his finger and wipes his brow nervously. Frank smiles at us both but looks away and takes his seat.
I assist Aura to her chair beside me. When Mike takes his seat, he glances at Aura once again when she is looking at the menu. I decide to talk about our business to avoid reaching over and strangling Mike for his wandering eyes. I don’t know why, but anyone that looks at her like they are fucking her with their eyes, I want to commit murder.
After we agree on the date when construction will commence, Mike clears his throat. “So, Aura. How is it that you know Kalum?”
She lowers the menu. “Oh, we are old friends.”
Mike’s eyes light up at her answer. He licks his lips like she’s a steak and I clench my teeth so hard I think they are about to snap off. I can’t get mad at her answer. We are old friends, so why am I mad about her reference to us?Because it means she is available. She isn’t your girl. Her husband is dead and she can talk to or date whoever she wants. Eventually.
She looks at the menu for a while longer and sets it down and gives me a wry smile. She bites her lip, and Mike’s eyes follow the movement, his eyes lower, lingering on her chest and when he looks up at her, she looks away, trying to avoid his gaze. Fucking hell. Then I ask myself. How much do I care about this deal? I wipe my mouth with my hand like I have something on my face watching Mike.
Frank looks nervously at Mike and then back at me. He must read my expression because he motions for the waiter.
The waiter quickly approaches. “How can I help you? Are you ready to place an order?” the waiter asks when he reaches our table.
“I will have the Chilean sea bass,” Mike says.
“I’ll have the filet with scallops,” Frank says next when the waiter looks at him.
The waiter looks at Aura next and she says, “I’ll have a house salad with water, please.”
I frown and notice it is the cheapest item on the menu. Her hands are clasped on her lap and she is looking around the table at other people as they walk by when Mike gives her a predatory smile.
He leans closer, and my fists clench. “You know, you can order whatever you like. I will be more than happy to pay the bill. Maybe we could go somewhere after dinner?” he asks, giving her a wink.
Fuck it. I dismiss the waiter and I look Mike dead in the eyes. He leans back in his chair with a nervous expression.
“Look at her one more time, and I swear I will take this fork and stab your eyes out. If you ever so much as look at her or talk to her, I will end you.” I reach over the table like a madman in a movie and grip him by the throat and squeeze his pathetic excuse of a neck. The utensils and empty glasses rattle on the table, and people seated at the other tables begin to gasp next to us, but I don’t care. I’m seeing red. He makes a noise trying to get air inside his lungs.
“Please, Kalum. Let him go,” Frank pleads.
I release him, and Mike’s hands grip his neck as he tries to take deep breaths in a coughing fit.
“Are you insane?” he chokes out, gasping for breath like a fish out of water.
“For the record, she’s mine. Whatever deal we had is off.” I point at Mike with a fork in my hand. My voice lowers and my lip snarls. “Look at her again, and I’ll fork your fucking eyes out. Do you understand me?” I seethe.
“Yes. I’m sorry,” he croaks.
“Fuck you. The deal is off,” I repeat, making sure he is aware that I will never do business with him.
“Please, Kalum. He’s sorry,” Frank pleads.
“No,” I snap.
I look at Aura, and she is looking down, wringing her hands. “Let’s go, sweetheart. I don’t want you in this filthy creep’s presence a second longer.”
