"Ah," I hold her gaze, "so you found the phone?"
"Why didn’t you tell me that you had one? Why did you tell me that there was no way of calling the others?"
"Because I wanted to spend time with you. Alone."
"So, you lied to me?"
"No…" I shake my head. "It’s you who lied to me. Who is he, Aurora? Who is the man who shot me?"
"I… I can’t tell you." She glances away.
"A former lover, maybe? Someone you care for?"
"No," she shakes her head, "far from it. I don’t really know him at all."
"Another lie?" I growl.
"I’m not lying." She tugs on her hand, and this time, I loosen my grip. She places her hands in her lap. "I really don’t know him, Christian. Every time I’ve met him, he’s worn a mask that covers the lower half of his face."
"So, you’ve met him more than once?"
"I’m not getting into this with you." She jumps up and begins to pace. "You’re feeling better; you’re going to be okay. My work here is done." She wheels around and heads for the exit.
"Where do you think you’re going?"
"Out of here, away from you; you’re fine now. And clearly, after what happened, you don’t want anything to do with me, so…"
"You’re not going anywhere."
"Says who?" She scowls at me over her shoulder.
I glare back at her, and she throws up her hands.
"Look, it’s my fault you got shot, okay? I am truly sorry, but after what happened, I think it’s best we stop pretending about whatever there is between us."
"Are you pretending, Flower, because I am not."
She pauses, then shakes her head. "We can’t go on like this, Christian, we can’t. I don’t know what you want from me."
"What I want from you is to stick to the terms of our agreement."
She blinks. "You mean, after everything that happened, you still want to go ahead with the fake marriage."
"Especially because of what happened. And considering I got shot in the process, the least you can do is see through your part of the bargain, then set me free, so I can live life the way I want."
"Which is footloose and fancy-free and bedding as many women as you want?" She sets her jaw.
"If that’s what I want. Although, as long as we are fake married, I’ll be more discreet about who else I’m sleeping with."
"So, during the time we are fake married, you still get to sleep with others, as long as you are not caught, but I don’t get to see anyone else?"
"Exactly."
Her face reddens, and this time, it’s not with embarrassment. Oh, she’s pissed all right, and fuck, if that doesn’t turn me on.
"You know what, you can stuff your goddamn arrangement up your arse."
"Don’t forget, it’s not just you but your family’s lives which are at risk."