Page 106 of Malicious Claim

She arrived, pausing in the doorway, eyes guarded, and watchful.

"We're going out," I said to her.

Her lips parted in shock. "Where?"

I smiled. "On a date."

She didn't answer right away. Then, slowly, she lifted her chin. "How romantic of you."

I chuckled. "Get dressed. Dress however you like."

"Ohhhh, someone's being generous," she said.

"I'm happy you caught on that I'm giving you the privilege of making choices."

Fifteen minutes went by before she emerged, dressed in a tight black jumpsuit that clung to her curves, her hair falling in loose waves. She was stunning.

We went to a high-end restaurant, a dimly lit room full of the city's elite. The moment we entered, eyes followed us.

I led her to a private table, ordering us drinks while we waited for food.

Leila sat across from me, her fingers tracing the rim of her wine glass. She wasn't tense, but she wasn't really relaxed either. I could tell that she was soaking it all in—reading the room.

Then a waiter showed up.

"Sir, that man over there would like to have a word with you," he said suavely. "Would you mind stepping aside for a moment?"

I looked at the sole gray-haired man in a wheelchair sitting a few distances from us and smiled back as he signaled for me to come. He was a friend of my dad.

"I will not take long," I told Leila.

She wasn't concerned. "Take your time."

As I turned and left, I looked around the room reflexively, committing each detail of it to memory—the men at the bar, the couple in the corner, the three businessmen hammering at each other about something in hushed tones. I'd lived too long on my wits to ignore where I was.

Leila and I were fine.

At least, for now.

Where I was standing, I could clearly see her. She was adjusting herself in her chair, and then she turned ever so slightly, indicating for a refill to the barman.

And that was when the two men at the bar saw her.

One of them moved closer to the other, his tone hushed. A smile tugged at the face of the second man before he nodded. Then the two of them got up and went over to her table.

I didn't move. Not yet.

Leila barely acknowledged them when they arrived at her side.

"Hey there, sweetheart," I heard him say. "Sitting all alone?"

Leila didn't even look up. "Not interested."

The second man laughed. "That's a shame. We're only being friendly."

Leila sighed, setting down her glass. "I'm sure you are. But I'm still not interested."

However, they lingered.

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