Page 173 of Strange Seduction
He leaned forward, elbows on the table now. “She’s not property, you know. You don’t ‘have’ her.”
I smiled again, slow and sharp. “She’s still here. With me.”
Carmen pushed her chair back. “Okay, enough. Both of you. What is the—”
Her phone rang.
When she saw the name of the contact, she stood up, brushing her hands on her dress. “My mother is calling, probably about the funeral. I’ll be right back, but please act like y’all have sense while I handle this.”
Marcus made a move to stand, but I beat him to it.
“No,” I said quietly. “Let her go.”
I watched her disappear around the corner before turning back to Marcus. He met my eyes, and for a second, neither of us said anything.
He wanted her.
That much was obvious. Maybe not openly. Not yet. But I’d seen the way his eyes lingered. The way he talked to her. He was already halfway inside her life, just waiting for the right moment to slip fully in.
Just like Vince.
But I wasn’t giving him that moment. He’d never be close enough. I’d never let any man get that close again.
“She’s not ready to go back,” I said coolly. “And I don’t think she needs your help to figure that out.”
“I’m not the one manipulating her into staying.”
My jaw tightened.
“Carmenwillstay with me in Italy,” I stated. “She needs me right now.”
Marcus lifted his wine to his lips, calm as ever. “Did you discuss that with Carmen?”
“I will. When the time is right. But for now, I want her here.”
He let out a short laugh.
I frowned. “What’s funny?”
“You,” he said simply. “Thinking you can control Carmen. You’re about to learn a hard lesson trying to pull that off withher.But because I see the controlling, insecure man it’s making you, I’m gonna save the ending for myself. Maybe it’ll teach you something. ”
My jaw flexed. “Ain’t shit you can teach me about Carmen. I know everything I need to know—insideand out.”
He scoffed, leaning back in his chair. “Right. Look, man, I’m not interested in playing into whatever twisted fantasy you’ve built in your head. Carmen’s not a trophy. I’m not trying to win her.”
I raised an eyebrow, skeptical.
“I’mnotattracted to her,” he said plainly. “I’m investing in hercareerbecause I believe she’ll make a damn good lawyer. Has our friendship deepened over time? Yeah. But she’s more of a student to me than anything else.”
I didn’t respond. Just kept my gaze locked on his, not believing a damn word.
“You’re only hurting yourself,” he continued, “cooking shit up in your head about us.”
“She’s. Staying. Here,” I repeated. “With me.”
Marcus smirked, like he knew something I didn’t. “Okay. We’ll see how this plays out.”
Carmen returned to the table.
