Chapter 6

　　Elena's POV

　　The Mercedes Maybach S-Class was already idling outside when I came downstairs.

　　Charles was in the back seat, phone in hand, not looking up when I slid in beside him.

　　He glanced over as I settled, a brief, intense scan from head to toe, the kind of look that missed nothing.

　　I knew the moment when he noticed what was missing.

　　His eyes stopped.

　　"Where are the earrings?"

　　My stomach dropped. "I sent them in for maintenance," I feigned despair, the lie I'd practiced over and over slipping out. "The clasp on the left one felt loose. I didn't want to risk losing them while at the party last night."

　　Charles' gaze didn't slide off my face for even a second as he put his phone in his jacket pocket.

　　His jaw was set in that particular way that meant he was displeased and had chosen not to make a scene about it.

　　"Those earrings reflect your position." He started quietly. "Wear them to your lessons. To every engagement. That is what they are for."

　　"Of course," I said, relieved he didn't pry further. "Sorry..."

　　"Next time, you inform me before making such decisions."

　　"I will," I replied in a small voice.

　　I waited a bit too long before speaking again. My nerves were on fire, and my stomach was brewing a storm.

　　I turned the question over in my mind, trying to find the right angle, the right words.

　　A direct confession of what actually transpired between me and Lorenzo was impossible. But I needed to know how much danger I was in.

　　After a long internal debate, I decided to test the waters the only way I could.

　　"Charles?" I called softly.

　　"Hmm?" He made a sound.

　　It wasn't blunt, so I went forward with my question.

　　Licking my bottom lip, I tried to phrase the question as naturally as possible.

　　"I recently saw a post online that I found really interesting," I said, keeping my voice light. "The poster discovered that her husband had betrayed her. She claims that he did it only once and that he didn't mean it."

　　"Though her husband claims it happened once, she is devastated." I watched his face. "Do you think she should forgive him since he didn't mean it?"

　　Charles was quiet for a moment; his countenance became measured and subtly disgusted.

　　"People who betray trust, whether intentionally or not," he began in a low voice, "Don't deserve a second chance. They deserve dreadful consequences that will ensure they do not repeat such mistakes." He let his words settle.

　　"The husband in your story should count himself fortunate that his wife is only devastated. There are far worse things than a broken heart, and death isn't one of them."

　　Then he smiled at me, as if he hadn't dropped the most chilling and terrifying words this afternoon.

　　"Why do you ask, darling?"

　　"No reason." I gave a small smile as I fought my breathing to remain steady. "I just felt sorry for her."

　　I guess there goes my chance to confess.

　　Lunch was at a quiet, expensive restaurant.

　　We had barely touched our starters when my phone screen started to flash.

　　I glanced at the screen. It was an unknown number, and a sudden sense of foreboding washed over me.

　　I didn't even have to think to know exactly who it was.

　　I declined the call, but the screen continued to flash as a barrage of messages started popping up.

　　Unknown: Lunching with a man who doesn't deserve you seems like a waste of a perfectly good afternoon.

　　I locked my screen and looked up in a panic.

　　Luckily, Charles was preoccupied with his phone.

　　Unknown: That color looks good on you, by the way. Did he tell you to wear it?

　　My head snapped up. I looked around the restaurant, but there was no sign of him.

　　Unknown: You won't find me, cupcake.

　　I picked up the glass of water and took a large gulp. Under the cover of the table, I quickly blocked the number.

　　"Are you all right?" Charles suddenly asked.

　　"Perfect." I set the glass down. "Just thirsty."

　　My phone screen flashed again, but I ignored it. Charles' eyes were trained on me now.

　　Then it flashed again.

　　By the fifth message, I had a tension headache forming behind my left eye.

　　I graciously excused myself with a smile, walked to the bathroom at a pace that I hoped looked unhurried, locked the door behind me, and called him.

　　Lorenzo picked up immediately. "Miss me?"

　　"Stop. Harassing. Me," I said through my teeth.

　　"I'm just being friendly. Are you having lunch with your dear boyfriend right now?"

　　I closed my eyes, exasperated at his stupid question.

　　"Yeah, I am. So what? You damn…"

　　Then he hung up.

　　The line went dead, and I stood there staring at my phone for a full three seconds before I exhaled. This was all a game to him. How could I forget?

　　Checking my reflection in the mirror, I smoothened my hair and rebuilt my composure piece by piece, the way I always did. Then I made my way back to the table.

　　When I was three steps away from the table, I stopped.

　　Lorenzo was sitting in my seat.

　　He was leaning back like he owned the chair, one arm draped over the back of it, already in conversation with Charles. He looked up when I approached and had the nerve to grin at me.

　　Charles looked up too. "There you are. You remember my brother?" He gestured towards the devil.

　　I remembered entirely too much about his brother.

　　"Of course." I kept my voice perfectly even. "Mr. Astor."

　　"Miss Green." His eyes were dancing.

　　"We met yesterday, actually," he said to Charles without taking his eyes off me, leaning back in his chair. "At your birthday party."

　　At the mention of the birthday party, alarm bells screamed in my head. I had no idea what a madman like Lorenzo would do next, but I forced my expression to remain still.

　　"Forgive my forgetfulness," I said calmly.

　　Lorenzo smirked. I wanted to slap it off him.

　　There was only one remaining seat.

　　Next to Charles. I took it, smoothed my napkin over my lap, and picked up my fork like everything was completely normal.

　　Charles studied my face. "You look pale. Are you feeling alright?"

　　"I'm fine." I managed a small smile. "Just a headache. It's nothing."

　　Lorenzo rested his chin on his hand and looked at me with exaggerated concern. "You do look a little peaky. Are you sure you're happy to have lunch with both of us? Or......"

　　He raised one eyebrow.

　　"Could it be that you're upset just because I crashed your little date?"

　　I glared at Lorenzo. Charles turned to me, his expression a bit pensive.

　　Lorenzo looked back at me, all wide eyes and innocence.

　　"I really am fine," I told Charles in a sweet voice.

　　Lorenzo winked at me, making me shudder.

　　I wanted to flip the table.

　　But instead, I cut my lasagna into very small, precise pieces and smiled through every bite while Lorenzo continued to glance at me with that look that said he was thoroughly enjoying himself.

　　Then he shifted in his seat, my seat, and said, "Actually, I've been taking your spot this whole time. That's terribly rude of me."

　　He stood. "Here, take your seat back."

　　I was caught off guard by his seemingly kind gesture. Despite my lingering suspicion, I sat down in a momentary blur of confusion. However, once I was settled, he showed absolutely no intention of leaving.

　　Instead, he simply shifted over, sitting down right next to me.

　　Charles didn't make any comments, and I was too embarrassed to look in his direction.

　　"Now then," Lorenzo said, producing a small, elegant jewelry box from his jacket pocket and sliding it across the table toward me with a pleasant smile, "I have something I want to show you both."

　　Dread coiled low in my belly as Lorenzo made to open the little box.

　　When the box opened, I caught a familiar emerald color. The gems caught the light and scattered it in every direction.

　　The earrings.