Page 83 of The Billionaire's Heart

“What are you talking about? This ring looks pretty real to me.” I wiggle my engagement ring in front of her. I’m about done with this chick.

“I don’t know what you’re after, troll, but it’s not going to work. He’s going to get tired of slumming it with you and finally come back to where he belongs… with me, so why don’t you get your skanky ass out of the way and let a real woman take care of him? Hell, your own mother didn’t even want you. What makes you think you could hang on to a man like Ian Gallo?” She laughs at me, and she’s done exactly what she aimed to do – get to my insecurities.

She’s right, though. Why would Ian want me when he could have so much more? Then my brain finally kicks in and kicks my own ass. “Ian and I love each other and I’m sorry you’re struggling with that truth, but it’s a fact. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back tomyfiancé.”

“I don’t think so, bitch.” Mackenzie snarls.

Before I can react, her hand makes contact with the side of my face and the sting is immediate. My head swings to the side as my hand immediately covers where she slapped me. The sting is familiar from my foster days and triggers and almost automatic response. My reaction is instinctual as I grab her by her hair with one hand and twist her arm up and behind her back with the other, pushing her face into the wall. The entire restaurant has stopped what they were doing and is watching this whole thing unfold. Some have their cell phones out and are filming the entire thing and I don’t care.

“Don’t. You. Ever. Slap. Me. Again.”

Suddenly, I’m being pulled away. “Get your hands off my daughter you piece of trailer trash!” A man I don’t recognize yells at me as he pushes me away from Mackenzie. He turns to Mackenzie, “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

Her fake tears start to form in the corner of her eyes. “Did you see that, Daddy? She assaulted me!”

Mackenzie’s father glances between us. “How dare you?”

Ian grabs my hand and pulls me behind him. “Don’t you ever touch, speak to, or eventhinkabout anyone in my current or future family, I will destroy not only you, but your entire family as well. Do you understand me, Laughlin?”

“You need to get your priorities straight, Ian.She’s not worth it, trust me.” He waves at me.

Ian ignores him. “Do you understand me?” He repeats through gritted teeth.

The glare Mackenzie’s father shoots Ian could make lesser men cry. “You’re going to regret this, Ian Gallo. I promise you that.”

“Doubtful.” Ian turns to me, “Are you okay, baby?”

I nod but am embarrassed that this has happened in front of Ian’s parents. I just want to go home where I’m safe from lunatic ex-girlfriends, ex-boyfriends, and reporters. Someone next to ushands Ian an ice pack with a towel wrapped around it and he places it on my cheek. “Here. Hold this; it will help.”

I take the ice pack as a frantic woman comes running over yelling and screaming at me. “Don’t you ever touch my daughter like that again!” She’s trying to comfort Mackenzie, so I suppose this is her mother. Great. More drama.

“Get out of my club.” Ian says to the three of them.

“You can’t do that. We’ve been members here for years. I’m on the board of directors.”

Ian’s face turns to stone, “Not anymore. Get. Out. Now!” He points to the exit and they make a beeline for the door and everyone in the dining room watches as they leave.

Ian takes my hand and pulls me out of the dining room, through a few hallways, and somehow, we end up in his office. I haven’t been in here since my first week of work.

As he closes the door behind me, he turns and pulls me into his arms. “I’m so sorry, Mia. I just couldn’t get to you fast enough and Ineverthought she would hit you.”

My tears finally fall, and I just cry it out as he holds me. I shouldn’t be embarrassed but I am and now it’s going to be on every television news program, website, and will probably be a meme of some sort by the time we get back out there.

“You have no reason to be sorry,” I hiccup.

He leads me over to the couch and we sit down as he dries my tears with a tissue from the coffee table. “Yes, I do. I should have handled her a long time ago.” He lifts my head, “Here. Let me see.” He looks absolutely devastated. “It doesn’t look like it will bruise. That’s good.”

I give him a small smile and put the ice pack down. “Thank you for what you did back there. I’m sure you think that was completely uncalled for, huh?”

Ian smirks at me, “Actually…” he pauses, “it was kinda hot.”

I laugh at him, “Seriously. Thank you for standing up for me. I’ve not had that in my life before.”

“Always, Mia. I will protect you, always.”

Last night when Ian got home, we had our dessert date on the back patio overlooking the pool. It was too windy to go onto the beach. We’d end up with sand in our food. Instead, we decided to have ice cream cones on the porch where there was some protection from the elements. Ian said it looked like a storm was coming in, but not a hurricane. It’s hurricane season, and if one does comes this way, I’m out of here. I don’t have a death wish.

After our date, he showed me the background check he got on the woman claiming to be my real mother. No matter how hard I tried, even I couldn’t argue that she and I looked exactly alike. Looking at her picture was like looking at my future self.

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