Page 51 of Audra: The Prequel

All the execs were in a bad mood as they worked on a multi-million dollar deal. Negotiations with their partner in Argentina were tense, and an agreement seemed on the verge of falling apart. Audra didn’t know much about the details because she wasn’t privy to them, but she’d overheard Benicio and Thiago talking about the issues, and they both planned to fly down to South America to smooth the negotiations if they couldn’t come to an agreement within a few days.

She and Kyrie walked a couple of blocks to a small tapas place nearby. When they entered the restaurant, the hostess seated them right away, and they ordered drinks.

Kyrie sighed as he sipped his frozen margarita. “Damn, I needed this,” he said.

Audra indulged in a huge sip of her chocolate martini and sighed too. “So good,” she whispered.

As she replaced the drink on the table, her eyes landed on a sight she never expected: Damon, walking toward them.

Her breath caught, and her heart knocked against her chest as she drank him in, eyes absorbing every inch of his tall, athletic frame in a long-sleeved white shirt and charcoal pants.

He stopped beside their table and locked eyes with her. “Hi,” he said.

“Hi.” She swallowed and shot a look across the table at Kyrie, who appeared confused.

“We need to talk,” Damon said.

“Right now isn’t a good?—”

Slamming a hand on the table, Damon leaned toward her, giving his back to her co-worker. “Don’t play games with me, Audra. You haven’t responded to my last two texts, and I know you got them.”

“Now is not a good time, Damon.”

“Well, since I can’t reach you to set up another time, right now will have to do.”

“Hey, what’s your problem?” Kyrie asked.

Hand still resting on the table, Damon shot a glare at him over his shoulder. “I don’t have a problem. Do you?”

Kyrie’s frown deepened. “Do I know you?”

“No, you don’t.” Damon returned his attention to Audra. “Can we go somewhere and talk?”

“I already ordered?—”

He leaned closer. “Or do I have to haul you out of here?”

By the look in his eyes, she didn’t doubt he meant the threat, and the last thing she wanted was to make a spectacle of herself. Several customers nearby were already turning around and whispering, having recognized him.

“Fine, I’ll come with you.” She tossed an apologetic look across the table to Kyrie. “I’m sorry, I need to go. When my food comes…”

She rummaged in her bag for her purse, but before she could pull out any cash, Damon dropped two bills on the table. “That should cover whatever she ordered and your food too.”

Then he took her arm and pulled her none too gently from the chair.

“Excuse you,” Audra muttered out the side of her mouth as they walked briskly toward the front door, her shorter legs barely keeping up with his.

He didn’t say a word. He kept walking and didn’t release her until he’d exited the building and marched her in front of the window of a closed store next door that sold trinkets and home furnishings.

Audra rubbed her arm. “You didn’t have to grip my arm so hard.”

“You’re fine,” Damon said dismissively, which infuriated her.

“You behaved like a caveman. I’m not fine.”

He flicked his gaze over her appearance. She was wearing her hair straight and sleek today, one side tucked behind her leftear. She had kept her makeup to a minimum but added a hint of color to her lips. Her outfit was simple but molded to her figure—plaid pants and a bright-colored top.

“You look beautiful. You’re fine,” he remarked.

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