Vincent's eyes searched her face, unable to decipher what was on her mind. She ate more and drank less, something he respected. He smiled.
She caught his smile, it was distracting. She coughed trying to suppress the question on her mind. She blurted out. "Did you cheat on her?" Instant regret what was she thinking, his life was none of her business. But his eyes lit up like he had been waiting for that one question.
He adjusted himself cleared his throat and said softly "What do you think happened?" She paused, wondering if it were a trick question. "Seeing that you're with another woman a day after you signed the papers says it loud". She dared to say.
Vincent laughed. Her sense of humor was refreshing and he liked it. Jennifer though found his reaction off. What did he find funny?.
She placed her cutlery down and dabbed her mouth with a wipe. The staff cleared the table and he poured her a glass of champagne.
"You said I looked like someone you'd lost. Who was that?" She watched how he softly drummed his wine cup with his fingers.
Vincent smiled,leaned into the table and said softly. "I'd tell you when we do this again". Her eyes darted away to the pool, fearing she'd see something within his eyes that'd make her say yes to another time.
"So". He cleared his throat opting for a more serious tone "I meant what I said, about this work not fitting you".
"If there's something that eats me away is men who throw pity at me. Pity doesn't get me to sober up to a stranger." She swore under her breath. He recoiled, moved to speak when a call interrupted them.
Her phone buzzed then. She didn't answer. It rang again, and on the third time Vincent assured her it was okay to pick, but she had been dreading the caller.
"So Maybach boy again." Grim Voss's voice growled from the other end of the line. It was menacing. Jennifer trembled. She looked around her frantically, her eyes searching for his tall figure. Vincent became alert. He turned calmly, following her gaze.
"Sweetheart you're playing a very dangerous game. Don't mix my business hours with pleasure, your money just doubled". The line disconnected.
She inhaled and exhaled within the same second and gripped the table for balance. Alarmed Vincent sprang up to her side. "Are you alright?" His voice couldn't hide the worry in it, something she sensed.
"I'm fine" she wanted to shove his hand away but realized his hands were in both of his pockets and it was her instincts going safe mode. He waited for her to calm her nerves. "Whoever that was, you owe him something" he wasn't asking, it was a statement. She shrugged, afraid of Voss but desperation swallowed fear.
"I work for him. And I owe him…" she broke down, unable to hold back her tears. She hated this side of her. Vulnerable, weak, not how she had wanted to present herself before him. She felt a cold palm clasp her shoulder. She looked up, tears blurring her vision.
"Let me take care of that for you". He held out a wipe. She shoke her head dismissively "Please don't. I cannot drag you into this. This is why I avoid this". She meant the dinner. Vincent hissed, his mind already making an enemy of whoever called and ruined their evening.
"You don't owe me anything neither will you. Don't worry about that, let me handle it." His chest tightened. She nodded softly, trying to hold back her sobs.
He handed her his phone and she typed in her details. He didn't ask the amount her phone chimed barely three seconds later. Her eyes widened at the sum. "You can't…I can't take this. Please". She pushed her phone towards him.
"It's for you Jennifer". His eyes reassured her. When she gaze in them sincerity sparkled. They were clear, not filled with ulterior motives like she had come to know in men like Voss.
She wiped her tears, her body shuddered. "I should go".
She walked with her head down and he wished she'd look up and not fear a thing. His mind went back to that caller, he had heard that rough voice, she was too innocent and beautiful to be owned like a pet, he growled his eyes flashing with rage.
Carlos was waiting with a cab outside. Vincent asked him not to drive her, he didn't want her to get into trouble again.
When he faced her fully for the first time that night, he saw how charming her face looked. "I enjoyed myself tonight". He smiled, hoping she'd relaxed.
She tried to hide her face. "Me too". She mumbled softly. That was all Vincent needed to hear. His eyes caught the faint cut on her lip then. She had tried to hide it under that lipstick but the champagne might have washed part of it. Someone had hit her. Was it the same caller?. Murderous intent filled his veins. "Who did this?" His asked, unable to calm his voice.
She hesitated "I fell". She lied, hoping he'd let it go. "Tell me who did this" he said softly.
"I have to go". She turned to the cab. Carlos held the door open for her.
"I just need a name" he pressed her. She hesitated at the door, a large knot formed in her throat. She turned to him. "Grim Voss". Fear crept into her teary eyes and she climbed into the car. It screeched off.
Vincent stared after the car. His mind juggling a dozen thoughts. He had to protect her, he didn't know why but his body suddenly felt the urge to find the caller and squeeze the living daylight out of them. "Carlos". He called softly.
"Right away ser". Carlos headed for his new assignment. And outside Vincent lingered, hands tucked away in his pockets and his eyes staring down the street after the cab had long gone.