Mara pov
Lorenzo leaned closer. The dark lenses of his mask felt like they were burning into me. "You want to see Lina tomorrow? You want her to keep getting those fancy chocolates and the best doctors?"
I felt the air leave my lungs. He always knew exactly where to hit.
"Fine," I spat. My fingers were shaking hard. Then a sudden reality hit me. "How did he know my size?
"Wipe off the blood stain." We don't want unnecessary attention. He handed over a small plastic bag of wipe, he brought perfume and sprayed it over me.
"This is feminine, it smells like pineapple." I asked, arranging my hair. "Uhmm." He nodded, still focused on spraying it gently on my neck. "I bought it for you, because I knew we would need it.
"So you had planned everything." I raised my brow, "he is a calculative idiot", I whispered to myself. He handed over a mini bag of make up and I touched my face with it. When I was done, I felt like a stranger. I didn't look like Mara the journalist. I looked like one of the rich women who lived in the penthouses.
"Better," he said, finally looking at me. "Now, listen. We are meeting a man named Arthur. He was Ryan Smart's lawyer back in 2018. He knows where the real files are."
"And what am I supposed to do?" I asked, wiping a smudge of fake blood off my neck with a tissue.
"You are my fiancee," he said. "Your name is Isabella. You are rich, and you are very sad because your father just died. Arthur has a soft spot for grieving girls. Use those tears you're so fond of. Get him to relax. I'll do the rest."
"So you want me to lie," I said.
"I want you to be a journalist," he countered. "Isn't that what you people do? Lie to get the truth?"
I didn't answer. I just stared at the back of the driver's head who walked in after Lorenzo signaled him, I was done. Before we stepped outside his hand reached for the back of his own head. I heard the sound of leather stretching and the click of a buckle. He pulled the mask off.
My breath hitched. I had seen him before but this was the first time I had a close view of his face, the light from the sun reflected on his face enhancing all his features. He is so cute with his brown cute eyes. A sharp jawline, straight nose, and a dark hair that fell to the side of his face.He looked human, and for some reason, that was more terrifying than the mask.
"You're staring," he said, his voice clearer now that the mask wasn't muffling it.
"I thought you'd be uglier," I whispered, my cheeks heating up. He didn't smile. He just leaned in, his fingers pressing lightly on my chin. He guided it up. My heart race.
"Arthur doesn't talk to ghosts," Lorenzo said, his face inches from mine. "He talks to men with deep pockets. Tonight, I am Lorenzo, the businessman. You are Isabella, my grieving fiancée. If you look at me like I'm a monster in front of him, he'll get spooked. Fix your face, Mara."
"Mmm." I nodded then gave my gown a final stretch.
The restaurant was called The Velvet Room. Lorenzo got out and held the door for me. He took my hand and tucked it under his arm.
His suit looked expensive. His grip was firm. I wanted to pull away, but he gripped my hand tight against his side.
"Smile, Isabella," he whispered in my ear. "You're supposed to love me."
"I'd rather eat glass," I whispered back.