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But she didn’t get why he was remained at Velden. Damien departed to make up with Ashley three days later. Ryan may have gone back this time.
The best option seems to be a bracelet with a tiny video camera hidden between the gray beads. She also had a dress that was the same color. But it cost a much.
Lola took the money out of her wallet, and for a brief while, her heart and fingers felt heavy. A emotion that comes up when you spend too much money you worked hard for.
Lola sat across from Zen in a fancy Italian restaurant at night. She was wearing a gray crewneck dress that went to her knees and had a side split. The light from the chandelier above her bracelet made it shine. She put her thin finger on it to move the camera closer to Zen so that it could record everything he said and did exactly.
They had previously written down a bunch of his sweet phrases. He appeared like a charming gentleman next door in his beige sweater and brown coat. And his smile appeared too real. Lola, on the other hand, already knew who the real man was.
Zen exclaimed, “Your beauty is completely out of this world tonight,” as the server cleaned up their table. “I heard they have a great room upstairs that faces east and has great views of the river. Do you want to watch the sunrise together?”
Oh! But she had done what she set out to do. Lola grinned and played with her phone under the table. She was meant to say something to Zen that would make him wait a few more minutes for her to get there. But as a familiar baritone cleared his throat, she looked to the right. And her eyes got bigger, and her grin faded.
Ryan!
Damn. What was he doing here?
He created a face that seemed very artificial when he was surprised.
Ryan pushed back his chair and stood up. “Oh, wow, Lola,” he exclaimed. “Didn’t expect to see you here!” He had on his usual suit coat. He was dressed entirely in black today.
“So didn’t I,” she responded with a phony smile and firmly gritted teeth.
Zen was looking back and forth at them with interest.
Ryan then walked over to Lola’s chair and put a hand on the backrest, exactly near to her shoulder. He looked Zen in the eye. The conduct seemed to be quite territorial.
Ryan inquired, “Is this your friend Lola?”
Damn.
“Well,” Lola swallowed and paused. “Um, well, you see—”
Zen smiled as she started to stutter and grabbed for her hand. “Oh, my Lola is so shy. Yes, Mr. We’re dating.”
Ryan, on the other hand, didn’t appear to want to introduce himself at all. His face got darker. “Since when?” he asked instead.
Zen raised his eyebrows, much like Lola did.
Maybe he was jealous? That thought entered her mind.
But just now, he was undermining her objective.
“Ryan!” She snarled and tried to hide it from Zen.
Ryan didn’t pay attention to that. His steely eyes were on the man in front of him.
“Did you come here to eat by yourself, Ryan? “Lola questioned Ryan instead, seeking to change the subject.
“Yes,” Ryan said, his face still grim. “I don’t date in secret, you see.”
What the heck was wrong with him?
Zen said, “You can join us if you want,” seeming a little uncomfortable.
Ryan pulled a chair back and sat down at their table. It was hard to believe.
Zen seemed quite surprised, and Lola stared.
Still, one wonderful thing she was starting to understand was that Ryan had come as a blessing that would put Zen’s plans on hold until she gave him what he deserved.
Ryan said, “Thanks for your offer. By the way, what’s your name?” “he asked Zen.
Zen was starting to look a little unhappy. The poor guy wanted a night of s*x. He still said, “Zen Terra—”
Ryan didn’t even let him complete his answer, as if he didn’t care for his name. “So, how well do you know Lola?” “
Zen let out a huff of a laugh that was both funny and angry. “Isn’t that a little too personal?” “
“Do you know about the knife that she always has with her?” “Ryan asked instead.
“Knife?” “Zen’s face showed shock.
“She stabs people when—”
“Ryan,” Lola said.
But the guy seemed possessed today. “I hope you have the guts to keep dating her because a mad Lola wouldn’t think twice about stabbing you.”
Zen seemed a little uncomfortable, but he smiled back at Lola and reached for her hand on the table. “Well, I don’t think that would be the case, because I’m looking forward to loving her enough that she won’t want to stab me.”
“Oh…” Lola pretended to swoon and turn to mush at every word he spoke. Thank God the camera was still recording. The live feed has been going to the right place for a while now.
Ryan’s hand suddenly slipped between Zen’s and hers. He grasped her wrist and pulled it in front of his face, breaking it free from Fran’s grip. “Let me see this bracelet?” Ryan furrowed her brows. “It looks like something I’ve seen before.”  Isn’t it from the spying products area of the electronics shop this morning? “
All of a sudden, Zen appeared awake. His back straightened.
Lola got scared.
“Let go, Ryan, you stupid jackass,” Lola said as she pulled her hand away from Ryan’s. “I want to stab you in the face so badly!” “
And it seemed possible that a demon had taken over him, for Ryan’s eyes sparkled. He turned to Zen and said, “See.” You see! “
Ryan was now giving Lola an annoyed look, but she didn’t sure what he wanted Zen to do.
“Terra, you jerk.”
The loud voice had all three people at the table turn their heads toward the restaurant door.
A brunette woman in her mid-twenties was storming down the steps at the restaurant’s entrance. She was stunning, and with her long strides down the stairs and straight posture (chin up, back straight, and fire in her eyes), she looked like a powerful force.
Ryan looked perplexed, Lola looked smug, and Zen’s face was pale—he looked like he was about to die.
The dark-haired woman stormed over to the table and stood directly in front of Zen.
“Y-you! Lizzy—” Zen stuttered. How—You.
Lola and Lizzy, the brunette, stared at one other for a second before Lizzy turned to Zen and slapped him across the cheek with the back of her slim hand. The slap was so hard that Zen’s face swung and he fell back into his chair.
“What the heck!” Zen was well in just two seconds. He was still sitting in the chair when he glanced up at Lizzy and said, “What’s wrong with you?” What is this crazy thing? “
Lizzy crossed her arms over her chest and scowled at him. “So you have the nerve to talk after getting caught—”
“For what? “Zen asked, standing up. “I’m just out here having dinner with my buddies.”
Ryan lifted his eyebrows.
“Friends? “Huh?” Lola teased. “Weren’t you on a date with me?” You were even quite happy for us to witness the morning from an upper room after a great night together, honey.
“What!” “Zen looked like he was in a trance.
Lola thought, “What great acting skills!”
He answered, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Lola. We’re just friends.” And I would never even consider of doing anything so crazy with anybody other than my fiancée, Lizzy.
“Wrong,” Lizzy responded angrily. “From now on, it’s your ex-fiance Lizzy, you jerk.”
“Hey, Lizzy!” Sweetheart! “Zen tried to get closer to her, but Lizzy pushed him back into the chair. “Please don’t destroy our tie and doubt my love because of what other people say. “I can see it clearly now,” he said, glaring at Lola. “She must be trying to break us up.”
Lola quickly reached across the table and grabbed Zen’s hair, shaking his head hard while the guy screamed in amazement. “You say it’s a conspiracy?” Lizzy has watched the whole date on live stream! Surely she can understand that the stories about you cheating on her with all those women were as real as the planet itself.
Zen was able to get away from Lola with a lot of trouble. “Live feed?” “Really?” he exclaimed in disbelief, his eyes wide.
Lola raised her hand and tapped the bracelet on her wrist. “There’s a camera on it,” she said.
Zen remained silent for a time before saying, “You bitch!” “and then he jumped at Lola with a fist in the air.
Lola had already put her hand in the neckline of her dress. She needed her knife.