Dayami took a sip of her wine. Iaan had just finished a ridiculous story about an art collector who accidentally bought a forgery. A genuine smile stretched across her face. Her chest felt lighter than it had in years.
Suddenly, a dark shadow fell over the table. The warm ambient light of the restaurant was blocked out.
Dayami looked up.
Elek stood right next to her chair. He looked down at her. His dark eyes were completely black, devoid of any light. The air around him felt cold and heavy, pressing down on her shoulders.
The smile froze on her face. The wine turned to acid in her stomach.
Iaan noticed the shift in the atmosphere immediately. He put his fork down and stood up.
"Sir, can I help you?" Iaan asked, his tone polite but firm.
Elek did not even glance at Iaan. He kept his dead eyes fixed on Dayami.
"We are leaving."
It was not a question. It was an absolute command.
Dayami's fingers gripped the edge of the table. Her knuckles turned white. She forced herself to breathe.
"Elek, I am having dinner with a friend."
"Friend?" Elek's upper lip curled into a sneer. He finally shifted his gaze to Iaan, looking at him like he was garbage on the street. "Is that what they are calling it these days?"
Iaan frowned. He took a step forward, positioning himself slightly in front of Dayami.
"I think you are making my friend uncomfortable."
Elek's jaw clenched. The muscles in his neck stood out.
"Stay out of what does not concern you. This is between me and my wife."
He hit the word wife hard. It cracked like a whip in the quiet restaurant.
Dayami heard the clinking of silverware stop at the surrounding tables. People were staring. The last thing she wanted was a public spectacle.
She looked at Iaan. "I am sorry, Iaan."
She stood up. She looked at Elek. "Can we not do this here?"
Elek did not answer. His hand shot out and clamped around her wrist. His fingers dug into her fragile bones. Pain shot up her arm.
He pulled her away from the table. He did not let her grab her coat. He dragged her toward the exit.
Iaan moved to follow them, but two large men in dark suits stepped forward from the main entrance where they had been waiting. Elek's bodyguards blocked Iaan's path instantly.
Elek pulled Dayami out the front doors and shoved her into the back of his waiting Bentley. He climbed in after her and slammed the door.
The drive back to the penthouse was completely silent. The air in the car was so thick Dayami could barely pull it into her lungs.
The moment the elevator doors opened into the penthouse, Elek grabbed her wrist again. He yanked her into the massive living room.
Mrs. Higgins and two maids were standing near the hallway. They immediately dropped their heads and scurried away, disappearing like ghosts.
Elek let go of her. Dayami stumbled forward, her bare arms wrapping around her waist. She rubbed her throbbing wrist.
Elek ripped his tie off his neck and threw it on the floor. He unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt. He looked like a wild animal pacing in a cage.
He walked toward her, backing her up until her spine hit the cold wall.
"So this is it." His voice was a harsh whisper. "This is why you want a divorce."
He placed his hands on the wall on either side of her head, trapping her.
"You found a replacement before you even filed the papers."
Dayami stared at him. The accusation was so absurd it knocked the breath out of her.
"You think I want a divorce because of him? You really think it is about another man?"
Elek leaned his face down. She could smell the red wine on his breath.
"Tell me, Dayami. How long has it been going on? Does he make you laugh like that often?"
His chest heaved. He was furious, completely consumed by the idea that someone else was touching his property.
