I Told You To Run But You Didn't (Georgia) novel Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Georgia’s POV

83%

Finished

I arrived at the upscale restaurant he’d chosen-a public place, perfect for keeping things civil. Lucas was already there, sitting at a corner table. He saw me and raised his hand with a small, friendly wave that made my skin crawl.

I walked to the table, my expression a mask of cold impatience, and sat across from him.

“Let’s not waste time, Lucas,” I said, my voice low. “You know we’re divorced. What do

you want?”

He smiled, a slow, smug smile shepherding his next words. “Oh, let me correct you,” he said smoothly. “I believe it is you who wants something from me.”

He reached into his suit jacket and slowly pulled out the ruby necklace, letting it dangle from his fingers. The familiar deep red gems caught the light, and my breath caught in my throat. It was my mother’s.

Without thinking, my hand shot across the table to grab it.

He was faster. He snatched it back and tucked it safely away in his pocket, his smile widening.

“All in good time,” he said, gesturing to the menu. “How about we have dinner first, hmm?”

My eyes looked away from Lucas’s smug face, scanning the restaurant, and that’s when I saw him. Harvey, sitting alone at a small table near the entrance, observing us with a calm, professional detachment.

Lucas followed my gaze, and his smug expression immediately curdled into a possessive sneer.

“What is this?” he hissed, his voice low and angry. “You brought a babysitter? Does your new boss not trust you to be alone for an hour?”

“It’s part of the job.”

“What job, Gia?” he demanded, leaning forward. “What is really going on between you and Salvatore? C day you’re my wife, the next you’re his personal bodyguard, living in his mansion? That doesn’t look li ‘boss-employee’ relationship to me. It looks like you’re his new pet.”

“You lost the right to ask me any of those questions a long time ago, Lucas,” I shot back. “My relationship with my employer is none of your concern.”

“So that’s what he is? Your ’employer’?” he scoffed. “Do you have any idea who you’ve gotten involved with? A man like that will chew you up and spit you out. Is that what you want?”

“Is that concern I hear?” I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Or just jealousy that I’m no longer under your thumb? This dinner is a transaction, Lucas. I am here for my mother’s necklace. Nothing more.”

A cheerful waitress suddenly appeared at our table, oblivious to the war zone she’d just walked into. “Good evening! Have you decided what you’d like to order?”

I didn’t even look at the menu. I just wanted something simple, something to get this over with. “Just the carbonara for me, please.”

Lucas, however, made a show of scanning the menu before closing it. He looked at me, his expression shifting to one of sad, pathetic nostalgia.

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1/3

Sal,

Chapter 42

83%

Finished

“I’ll have the osso buco,” he said to the waitress, but his eyes were locked on me. “My ex-wife… she used to make it for me. It was my favorite.”

I felt a wave of pure, hot annoyance. You manipulative bastard, I thought, my knuckles turning white as I gripped my water glass. I turned my head and stared pointedly out the window, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

Our food arrived, but I barely touched it, just pushing the pasta around my plate to create the illusion of eating. I was a coiled spring of tension, waiting for this force to be over.

Lucas hadn’t touched his osso buco. He was staring at it, his knuckles white as he gripped a fork.

“He’s not signing,” he said, his voice a low, seething growl.

I didn’t look up. “What are you talking about?”

“Salvatore. The deal is off,” he hissed. “That whole one-year contract was a lie. It was a Trojan horse to get his technical team into our labs. They spent the day doing ‘due diligence. Two hours ago, I got an email. An email, Gia! ‘Due to unforeseen circumstances, we will not be proceeding.’ He used you! He used your word to get what he wanted, and now he’s gone!”

His voice rose with every word until he finally snapped. He slammed his fist down on the table with a deafening BAM!

Dishes rattled. The entire restaurant went quiet as heads turned to stare. I flinched, looking up at him in shock, my own anger flaring to life.

“HE USED YOU TO DESTROY ME!” he roared.

“Lower your voice,” I said, my tone like ice. “You’re making a scene.”

“I’m making a scene?!” he shot back, his voice a furious whisper now. “My company is finished, and you’re worried about appearances? This is your fault!”

“My fault?” I asked, my voice dangerously quiet. “You were the one so desperate to make a deal you would have sold your own soul.”

“You’re the one he’s obsessed with!” he accused, his eyes wild with paranoia. “You probably told him how to ruin me!”

I had heard enough. I stood up. “You are pathetic. Give me my mother’s necklace. Now.”

He angrily ripped the necklace from his pocket and threw it on the table. I snatched it, turned, and walked

away

without another word.

I was on the sidewalk, my hand shaking as I clutched the precious heirloom, when he ran out after me. “Gia, wait! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that, I’m just…”

“Stay away from me, Lucas,” I warned, turning to face him.

“Please, just listen-”

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