She had always liked the couple she had believed would one day be her in-laws, and knew that Daphne and Alec Richardson would be devastated to learn the truth about their only child.
‘Are you threatening me?’
Lia felt a shiver down the length of her spine at the underlying malice in David’s tone. It reminded her of something her father had once told her: a cornered animal almost always attacked. The look of rage on David’s face said he was getting ready to do just that.
‘Not at all,’ she assured him smoothly. ‘I was merely thinking how disappointed they would be if they knew the sort of man you really are.’
‘Stay away from my parents!’ David grated.
‘I intend to. Oh, I almost forgot.’ Lia turned to search through her handbag. ‘You might want to give this to the next unsuspecting idiot.’ She placed a ring box down on the table in front of him. The engagement ring inside had belonged to his grandmother. ‘Or perhaps you could just sell it to pay off more of your gambling debts? But then, you don’t need to, do you?’ she continued in a hard voice. ‘Not when you have the money you stole from my father’s company stashed away in an offshore account.’
‘You don’t... I didn’t... You can’t possibly know...’ David’s face was now an ashen grey rather than just white.
‘I do know. And, yes, you did do exactly what I’ve just accused you of doing. I don’t have all the proof as yet, but I will. Believe me, I will,’ she assured him vehemently.
She would never wish to harm Daphne and Alec deliberately by revealing the truth about their son, but neither could she allow David to get away with having destroyed her father.
‘I don’t think so,’ David sneered as he recovered quickly. ‘You’re no longer the privileged daughter of the wealthy and powerful Jacob Fairbanks. Now you’re just Lia Fairbanks, who has to work for a living. You have all the power and influence of a toothless dog.’
‘You—’
‘Sorry I’m a little late, Lia.’
Lia had recognised Gregorio’s voice the instant he spoke, but that didn’t stop her from staring at him as he slid into the seat beside her. Or drawing in a shocked breath as he kissed her lightly on the lips before turning his narrowed gaze on the man seated on the opposite side of the table.
‘Richardson.’ He nodded tersely.
If Lia was surprised at Gregorio’s being there then David had obviously gone into complete shock. So much so he couldn’t even answer the other man.
Gregorio turned to Lia, one dark brow raised in innocent query. ‘Have you said something to upset your ex-fiancé? What’s this?’ He picked up the dark blue velvet ring box and flicked the lid open to reveal the two-carat solitaire diamond ring David had given her on their engagement. ‘No wonder you gave it back—it isn’t right for you at all.’ Gregorio snapped the lid closed and put the box back where he had found it. ‘I much prefer the natural yellow diamond ring I have picked for you.’
The ring Gregorio had picked for her?
A natural yellow diamond?
Lia had only read about natural yellow diamonds, and seen photographs of them. They were so unique, so rare, that most reputable jewellers claimed they never expected to see one in their lifetime, let alone have the privilege of selling one.
Gregorio reached over and linked his fingers with those of her left hand before lifting it up and kissing her ring finger. ‘It’s going to look perfect on you.’
‘What...? I... You... Are the two of you...?’ David at least made an attempt at speech, even if not very successfully.
Talking was still beyond Lia. It was surprise enough that Gregorio had come to the bistro at all, but that he should now be giving David the impression that the two of them were... That they were...
‘Yes, we are,’ Gregorio stated challengingly. ‘Have the two of you ordered yet?’ he continued, as if he hadn’t just rendered the two people seated at the table with him dumb. ‘I worked up quite an appetite this morning.’
The look he gave Lia could only be called intimate.
Except...
When Lia looked into his eyes she could see the dangerous glitter so at odds with his pleasant tone and demeanour. Gregorio was angry. Coldly, furiously angry.
With her? Because she had met up with David?
Lia was pretty sure that was the reason.
Earlier she had refused to tell Gregorio who she was meeting for lunch, but she’d never had any intention of keeping the identity of that person a secret: how could she when she knew one of Gregorio’s men would have followed her when she’d left the hotel earlier? Lia had known that the other man would report back to Gregorio as to who she was meeting. She just hadn’t expected it to be so soon—or that, knowing she was meeting David, Gregorio would decide to join them.
Or that he would intentionally give David the impression that the two of them were together.
What on earth was all that about?
Did Gregorio think David would physically hurt her?
Why else would he have assigned one of his own bodyguards to protect me?
Before today Lia would have dismissed the idea of David ever hurting her as ridiculous. But the dangerous glitter in his eyes a few minutes ago, when he had taken her comment about his parents as a threat, said she would have been wrong.
David was more than capable of hurting her.
And Gregorio was obviously taking no chances.
His protectiveness really was quite... Well, not sweet, because Gregorio was the least sweet man Lia knew. But his concern for her definitely gave her a warm and fuzzy feeling inside.
‘No, we haven’t ordered yet.’ She gave him a warm smile. ‘I’m not sure David is staying.’
Her ex-fiancé was still staring at Gregorio, and at their linked hands, as if he had seen a ghost. Or his own demise? David must surely realise that with Gregorio beside her—literally—she wasn’t the defenceless little nobody he had implied she was earlier.
He gave himself a visible shake before answering her. ‘You’re right. I have to get back to the office.’ He slid to the end of the bench seat.
‘Don’t forget to take this with you.’ Gregorio picked up the ring box, but retained his hold on it as David would have taken it from him. ‘Stay away from Lia in future, Richardson.’ Gregorio spoke softly, but he was no less threatening because of it. ‘If I see you near her again I might not be quite so understanding.’
David’s face flushed with annoyance. ‘She was the one who asked for this meeting.’
‘Lia always tries to see the good in everyone.’ Gregorio nodded. ‘I don’t suffer with the same affliction.’
The other man’s chin rose defensively at the challenge in Gregorio’s tone. ‘You don’t frighten me.’
‘I have no intention of frightening you,’ Gregorio said pleasantly as he finally released the ring box. ‘But they can—and will if I think it necessary.’ He gave a nod in the direction of the two men standing outside the restaurant.
Lia had to choke back a laugh as she saw the look of horror on David’s face as he looked at the two burly bodyguards. One of them had obviously accompanied her, and Gregorio had brought the second man with him. Both men were at least five inches over six feet in height, with shoulders that looked to be almost as broad.
David didn’t say another word, pushing