‘One that pays actual wages or another job at one of your do-good charities?’
Cathy was right, Lia realised. David did condescend. He was doing it right now.
Her fingers itched to wipe the mocking smile off his lips.
When had she developed these violent tendencies?
She had never struck anyone in her life until she’d lashed out at Gregorio in that restaurant. Now she wanted nothing more than to slap David too.
Was it because she knew, deep down, that Cathy’s comments about him had been correct? That Gregorio’s suspicions about David’s involvement in her father’s downfall might also prove to be correct...?
‘I’m a hotel receptionist.’
The words instantly made her think of the morning she had just spent, working in Gregorio’s penthouse suite.
The suite was furnished differently from the others Lia had been shown around on her first morning—it was part of her job as a receptionist to know exactly what each of the rooms had to offer people wanting to stay at the hotel. And the office was definitely personal to Gregorio, indicating that he really did live there all the time.
It made a certain sense. Gregorio had all the conveniences of the hotel—like room and laundry service, restaurants, a spa, et cetera—and none of the inconvenience that came along with owning his own house or apartment.
Even if it had seemed a little strange to know that his bedroom was just down the hallway from where the two o
f them were working...
‘How the mighty have fallen,’ David sneered.
The gloves really had come off today, hadn’t they?
It made Lia feel slightly foolish for not having seen David’s true nature before now. No doubt he had hidden the worst parts of himself from her while they were dating and then engaged, but even so Lia had always believed herself a good judge of character. Obviously she had been wrong.
Had she been wrong about Gregorio being the bad guy?
She’d already acknowledged that might be the case.
Now she was convinced of it.
Quite what she was going to do about it, she had no idea. Gregorio was...overwhelming. Forceful. And he made no secret of his desire for her.
At least he hadn’t...
But the way they had parted last night, and the stiltedness between them this morning, seemed to indicate he might have put that feeling behind him and moved on.
Could she blame him?
He had been very polite and friendly with Cathy and Rick last night—she was the one who had been rude and dismissive towards him. In front of the other couple. No wonder Gregorio had been so angry.
She owed him an apology, Lia realised.
‘Lia...?’
She narrowed her gaze on the man sitting opposite her. ‘Did you ever love me or were you just using me from the start?’
David looked taken aback by her direct attack. ‘The niceties are over, I take it?’
‘Very much so.’ She nodded abruptly. ‘So answer the question. Were you using me, and my father’s name and wealth, right from the start of our relationship?’
His scowled. ‘I only agreed to meet with you today because you said you had some papers you needed to discuss with me.’ His eyes narrowed. ‘There are no papers, are there?’
‘No.’