‘I was wondering when you were going to arrive home.’
Lia stiffened as she stepped out of the lift and saw David standing in the hallway, directly outside her apartment. ‘How did you get in here?’
There was no reception at this small apartment complex, but it did have a key-coded panel outside the front door, and a security number that had to be logged in before the door could be opened.
She had also left Raphael, her protector for the day, sitting outside in his SUV on the other side of that locked door.
David gave an unconcerned shrug. ‘I told one of the other tenants I was a new neighbour and I’d forgotten the door code. She was only too happy to let me inside.’
Lia was pretty sure there had been a lot of David’s false charm involved in that conversation. Although she really would have to introduce herself properly to the other tenants, so that they knew exactly who their new neighbour was in future. They also needed to be more cautious about letting unknown people into the building.
In the meantime, she had to deal with David’s unwanted presence. ‘How did you find out where I’m living now?’ she demanded as she walked down the hallway.
He shrugged. ‘It wasn’t that difficult. A friend of a friend who works for the telephone company.’
Lia eyed him warily. ‘Why are you here?’ He was dressed casually, in an open-necked pale blue polo shirt and designer label jeans, so he had obviously been home and changed after work before coming here.
He gave her one of his most charming smiles. ‘I felt we parted badly yesterday, and I wanted to put things right between us.’
‘Really?’ She quirked a sceptical brow.
‘Yes, really.’
The smile stayed firmly in place, but Lia knew David well enough to realise it hadn’t reached his eyes.
‘You said some unsettling things to me yesterday, and I wanted to set the record straight.’
Lia thought saying really again might be a little too much. ‘That’s no longer necessary,’ she said.
He tensed. ‘Oh?’
‘I think we both know the truth, David. Which means we have nothing more to say to each other.’
‘You aren’t being very friendly.’
She snorted. ‘Do I have reason to be?’
‘We were engaged...’
‘Were engaged being the appropriate phrase.’
‘Look, I know I let you down when you needed me to be strong for you. I made a mistake, okay?’ His smile became ingratiating. ‘I obviously don’t handle sudden death well—’
‘I will not discuss my father with you,’ Lia snapped. ‘Ever,’ she added vehemently. ‘Now, I would like you to leave.’
‘I just want to talk to you, Lia,’ he cajoled. ‘I’ve missed you.’
‘Oh, please!’ She glared her disgust. ‘I realise now how completely naïve I was until a few months ago. Maybe I was just too busy being “the privileged daughter of the wealthy and powerful Jacob Fairbanks”,’ she said, repea
ting his insult of yesterday. ‘If I hadn’t been then perhaps I would have seen through you much sooner.’
‘This isn’t like you, Lia...’
David had returned to the condescending voice that was really starting to grate on Lia.
‘You don’t talk like this. I can only conclude that it’s the influence of de la Cruz.’ He gave a shake of his head. ‘What on earth are you doing with a man like that anyway? He’s a womaniser—and a corporate shark of the worst kind.’
‘He’s a more honourable man than you’ll ever be!’