Page 116 of Merciless Obsession

“This is my fiancée, Ziora?” My eyes widened and shot to him. Nothing on his face showed he was joking.

“Fiancée? I wasn’t aware you were engaged. Nice to meet you.” He nodded at me.

“Baby, this is Gerald, he’s a judge.”

I cleared my throat. “Hello,” I muttered once I gathered myself.

Ezra was obviously past delusional and couldn’t be reined back in.

“And where’s that wife of yours?”

Gerald looked around. “Around here somewhere. You know Marianna, always the social butterfly.” The two laughed.

The two got lost in a brief conversation and it wasn’t until Ezra’s arm went around my waist that I tuned back in.

“Still aiming for Supreme Judge next year?” Ezra asked.

“I am, and I hope to have your vote.”

They spoke a little more before Ezra excused us. “Let’s find our table,” he mentioned.

After locating table eight, Ezra pulled my seat out, allowing me to sit down after I placed my purse on the back of the chair, then took a seat next to me.

“You told him I’m your fiancée.”

“I know what I said.” He reached out for the pitcher of water and poured some in the glass in front of him.

“But I’m not your fiancée. You haven’t even asked me to be your girlfriend.”

Ezra moved to grab the glass in front of me and filled it with water.

“Does that matter? I mean can’t we just agree that we’re together.”

I pressed my lips together. “No. I don’t know how your previous relationships went but that’s not how it works.”

Ezra ran his eyes over my face before lowering them down my body. “Is that right?”

“Yes!”

He licked his lips slowly and tucked his bottom lip between his teeth. I shifted in my seat as my pussy thumped at the gesture.

“Okay. We’ll finish this conversation another time. I see someone I need to speak with.” He leaned in and pecked my lips.

My mouth opened to speak but he stood and walked away from the table before I could.

I pushed a deep breath out and lifted my hand to get the attention of one of the waiters walking past. I grabbed a flute and thanked him before bringing it to my mouth. I scanned the room, looking at all the mingling people. A few people I recognized, a mix of everyday people and different city officials. On the stage the band was playing on was a banner that read ‘Mental Health Awareness’ which I assumed the money tonight was being raised for.

I sipped the champagne again and bunched my face. It wasn’t my favorite thing to drink but it’d do.

Spinning around I went into my purse for my phone. I had no desire to mingle with anyone here.

“Maria, this is my fiancée Ziora. Ziora, Maria, she runs theSilver Stone Gazette.”

“Nice to meet you. You must be a special woman to lock down a bachelor like Ezra.” My eyes narrowed. The smile on her face was clearly fake.

“I must be.” I matched her fake smile.

“I told Maria you were interested in spreading the word when it comes to the missing girls going on in The Sticks and she volunteered to talk to you about possibly posting an article in the Gazette,” Ezra mentioned.