Chapter 33

　　Sensitive and loyal. Who would have guessed it?

　　“You try leaving a famous billionaire when he’s been caught with his finger in someone else’s pie, bambina. She knew he’d cause chaos for her if she tried. It’s one of the reasons I feel like I do about him. He’s a fucking control freak, and all he cares about is his reputation.” The flash of anger surprises me. Jake isn’t one to lose his cool so easily, or publicly. He shifts in his chair, takes a deep breath, and quells his outburst a little; his eyes are still stormy, but his awareness of the surroundings causes it to burn out quickly.

　　“He forced her to stay?” I understand now why he feels that way.

　　“In a way, I feel he did.” He gazes across the restaurant as though trying to find his inner calm in the sea of strange faces around us.

　　“And now?” I urge, coaxing him with no real input to give back.