Chapter 10

Lauren's pov,

“At the part where you know— that I am married and you leave me the fuck alone.” I whispered, the words slipped before I even had the time to steady my breath.

Ezekiel's mouth curved with a slow taunting smirk as he leaned back in his chair like he had all the time in the world. His eyes dragged over me like he was about to pull me out of my skin just from his gaze.

“I thought you said you weren't married,” he murmured. “And that's from what I recall…” he said, letting the sentence dangle as he smirked like the memory alone was enough to rile me.

My pulse quickened as I swore underneath my voice— I shouldn't have allowed Vivian to leave because right now, Ezekiel was already turning the air into a choke hold.

I almost snapped, almost slamming my hands onto the table as I leaned in, letting every ounce of anger in me fly at him— but then I forced my voice to stay at a quiet level. 

“What the hell do you want?”

He didn't flinch– his smirk flashed across his lips as he muttered.

“I want you.” He said, like a casual spirit without blinking. Like it wasn’t a problem—like it wasn’t some kind of bullet sent to derail my thought.

“But I'm your brother's wife,” I shot back. “Doesn't that mean something to you?”

“Oh really–” He whispered, chuckling underneath his breath as he leaned forward with his elbows fixed on the table.

“That didn't stop you before,” he teased. “So why would it stop you now?” 

“That was different, you were a stranger–” I said, my stomach twisted, like his nerve and audacity really did send me off the edge. 

His eyes ran over me again, as it took in every shift and every breath like he was reading a language he had memorised long ago.

“You know–” He said quietly, “ I know you slept alone last night.” He added.

And that one sentence froze me.

He watched me exactly the way he did back at the restaurant where he had asked me if I was married— he watched the way my fingers tightened around the glass as he watched the way my eyes flickered before I could stop myself.

“Are you crazy, Ezekiel– are you spying on me now?” I muttered.

“No, I won't do such creepy shit— I just know things.” 

“Anyways— I would call you the crazy one here,” he added, “For leaving your father's company in the hands of a man like Ezra while you stay home playing little house wives.”

I took in a deep breath trying to digest what he had just said before blurting out my own opinion.

“Ezra is–” 

“A liar,” he said, immediately cutting me off. “And a cheater, and you know it.”

My jaw tightened as I stared back at him. “How dare you say such things about your own brother–And how would you know anything about my marriage?”

He scoffed– “Yes he is my brother– but I do not condone disrespect and—”

“Is this what you are doing now, trying to taint my husband all black so I can fall back into your arms?” I blurted.

“I never said such– But if that's the case, A man never snitches. But I guess you do see the signs– so why fight it?”

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my expression still. “Do you really think everything revolves around your ego?”

He laughed, staring deep into my eyes as his voice dropped lower.

“No,” he said. “ I just think your eyes betray you, and your body. And somewhere in that stubborn little mind of yours, you know I'm not lying.”

I scoffed, looking anywhere but at him. “You’re unbelievable.” I whispered, immediately waving my hand to the waiter for a refill.

“And you're shaking,” he whispered. “Funny, isn't it— I'll actually have one too, “he said, turning towards the waiter who rushes to go get a glass.

My fist curled up in my laps as the tension dizzied, it was loud as it crawled underneath my skin, making my shoulders stand stiff.

His laugh proceeded to break the silence, but it was low and quiet.

But before he could speak again, his phone rang. Loud and sharp— I was finally able to let out a sigh of relief, at least something else was about to take his attention off me.

But without even looking down at the screen, he silenced it instantly, with his gaze still locked onto mine.

“I think you need to pick that," I protested, partly for relief and partly because I couldn't take the intensity of his stare anymore.

He slowly shook his head and said. “My attention is only on you right now. Nothing is going to interrupt it.”

Just then the ring came in again, and he ignored it on the second count.

Just then the door of the restaurant opened up and a man rushed in with a geek glass over his cheeks, he looked breathless and anxious all at once. Almost at the same time, the waiter approached our table with his glass as he poured his wine and he said softly, “Sir, your order is ready.”

Just then the assistant bent down and whispered something into Ezekiel's ear– it felt really serious that even I could feel the shift – but then Ezekiel lifted a finger and nudged them both away with a single flick, like they were interruptions and he barely cared.

“I guess work is calling,” I said with a small smile which I didn't feel alongside a raised brow.

He smiled as he stood up slowly, tall and composed, he adjusted his suit with a lazy drag of his hand. “ I still haven't forgiven you,” he whispered. 

“But I promise, Lauren, I'll make you beg for it.”

My throat tightened, Damn, this man spoke like sin had taught him its rules personally.

As he faced me fully. I felt myself hold the table edge without meaning to, as I tried steadying myself, because his presence alone could knock a person off balance.

He noticed and slowly leaned down, his breath warm near my ear– just like the early hours of the morning.

“I bet you are all wet and mushy down there, Sinclair.”

I felt the wave of heat slam into my face, immediately as it stroked down into my chest.

He gave a graceful smirk and a wink before turning and walking out through the restaurant doors like he hadn't just set my entire nervous system on fire.

The moment he stepped out of the restaurant, my lungs dragged in the air like I'd been drowning.

Vivian immediately rushed back to the table, with her eyes widened.

“Lauren– are you okay? You look like you just saw a ghost–”

“No,” I said quickly, pushing my chair back. “please. Excuse me.”

I practically stumbled through the restaurant as I weaved through the tables, ignoring everything, from the voices to the lights and the smell of food– until I got to the bathroom.

My hand shook as I pushed open the door, I needed a wall. A sink. Maybe water. Anything.

Because Ezekiel Lennox had just walked back into my life like a storm and every part of me was trembling from the impact.