Even across the restaurant, crowded as it was, I spotted her right away. Table thirty, at the edge.
No matter where she was, I would always find her.
My eyes, it seemed, were made for her.
But then, my muscles tensed, and a heat ran through my veins because she wasn’t alone.
Across from her sat a man in a navy-blue shirt, with black hair, laughing with her over lunch.
I swallowed hard and loosened my tie.
A bitter heat surged through my throat, thick and suffocating, until I could barely breathe. I tried to manage itand contain it, but it only grew stronger, threatening to consume me whole.
Or perhaps it already had.
Tshabina on adate?At lunch? During work hours? Howpathetic.
The air grew thick, and everything roared louder than I could—fuck!
“Bloody hell…” I growled under my breath. A waitress passed with a tray of drinks, and I snatched the darkest red one without thinking, ignoring the waitress’s startled expression. My feet carried me forward, closer,closer,until I was at their table.Just smashed it on his head, let it out, it’d be better if it came out—
I poured the drink over him.
The man leapt up with a curse, chair screeching back. In seconds, his pale skin and navy shirt were stained a deep, wet red.
Like blood.
I froze. My breath came heavy. I swallowed hard, forcing down the heat and nausea twisting inside me until my eyes met his furious glare.
Guess what, arsehole? I had survived worse than any furious glare you could radiate.
“What the—” he snapped, glaring at me. “What are you doing—”
“My apologies.” My voice was calm. Far fucking calmer than I felt. I stared him down. “My hand slipped.”
My gaze flicked past him to Tshabina. She stared at me, her face paling and eyes widening in shock. I spoke again, but I only looked at her. “I’ve been using my hands a lot lately.” My tone was low. “Drawing, shading. erasing.” I rolled my wrist, locked Tshabina’s eyes with mine, until she swallowed, “and something else.”
Turning back to the man, he looked at Tshabina and at me, lost. “I’m sorry. No intention behind it at all,” I added,and the man looked at me with his piercing eyes, his fists clenched.
Knowing I shouldn’t act this way only fueled the fire, leaving me scorched from the inside out.Hold it. Push it down. Breathe,damn you. Not here. Not in front of Tshabina’s already trembling eyes.
“You don’t—” he started.
“Tshabina. Get up.” My voice cut through, sharp.
She blinked, stunned into stillness, as if trying to process what had just happened. Around us, murmurs rose, and people stared with confusion and distaste, which thickened the air.
The man barked again. “Miss Tshabina, do you know this man?”
Slowly and stiffly, she turned towards him. “I—”
But I didn’t let her speak to him. I grabbed her hand, pulling her away before I truly lost my grip on myself. The bastard lunged, gripping her free arm. “What are you doing! She’s here with me—”
“Well. Sorry to mess up your lunch, sir,” I spat. “But she has something that belongs to me, so I’m afraid I’ll be taking her.”Let go of her, you arsehole.
I shoved his hand off her with one sharp movement. “Her time is mine. We have work to do. Not like you,” I glanced at him from head to toe. “Wasting it on a midday date. Are you on the dole?” My sneer dripped contempt.
Tshabina’s lips parted, her mouth opened and closed, but before she could say anything, I shot her a warning glance. I pulled cash from my pocket, slapping several crisp red notes onto the table. “On me. You’re welcome.”
