Jason exchanged numbers with Aurora, said his goodbyes, and begrudgingly left the apartment. Mariano gave her a full minute before speaking again.
"Mr. Mariano?" he reiterated with an arched brow.
Aurora stepped further away from the door, determined to cloak herself in disdain. "Isn't that what everyone calls you?"
"By everyone, I'm sure you mean employees and colleagues. Not friends, and certainly not family."
She scoffed at that. "Family? I'm no longer your stepmom, dear."
Mariano snorted. "Thankfully."
"Boy, are you glad he's dead." she deadpanned.
He tilted his head to one side. "You're not? I mean, you're the one with the many scars and untold stories of the horror you suffered by his side."
"That's different. He's YOUR father."
"So? You want me to pretend I'm devastated by it. We both know the truth."
She sighed. "I'm not going into this with you. Let's talk about what you're doing here, instead. Shouldn't you be at the cemetery, laying your dad to rest?"
"My plans changed," he said, his voice clipped as he glanced around the apartment. "But I have relatives taking care of that. It should be over now. Listen, since we're working towards the same goal here, we should probably try to get along."
Aurora crossed her arms over her chest. "Really? What do you propose then?"
"Friendship." he shrugged.
"That's laughable. I'm not friends with crooks or kidnappers."
His eyes flashed, his lean jaw hardening. "I've never been friends with a gold-digger myself, but I'm willing to make an exception so this can be much bearable. I'll tell you for free though, that I'm neither a crook nor a kidnapper. So if you're trying to accuse me of something, come correct."
"Me?" Aurora started primly. "Oh no, who am I to accuse the great Mariano Barrera of such horrible things." He took a step toward her. She thrust her chin out, uncowed as she continued. "Although it seems a bit unconventional, the relationship you have with your sister's supposed kidnappers. You both looked like jolly old buddies last night."
"I see." he stopped before her, hands buried in his pockets as he looked down his refined nose at her. "I knew I sensed a peeping tom last night. So what did you gather from eavesdropping? It must've been vague since you felt the need to raid my room."
She swallowed. "I didn't... I already told you why I was there. I had to take a shower."
"Ah, no my dear." he waved off her words. "Don't bother with lies. You messed up the place during your investigative search. Plus, there's nothing wrong with your bathroom."
Aurora frowned. "No. That can't be right, I'm sure I left everything in their place."
Mariano rose a brow. "Was that a confession?"
"No." She said it firmly, coldly.
One corner of his mouth lifted in a grin, and his gaze fastened on her. He was standing so close and it became increasingly difficult for her to keep eye contact with him. This gorgeous man who she hadn't seen over the years, other than in photos in the papers or video clips on television, was even finer in person. He was so very, very beautiful but she wasn't getting into that now.
"Speaking of friends," she swallowed, moving away from him and his scent. "Look what yours did to the apartment."
Mariano snorted and took a look around. "Facin is no friend of mine."
"He takes your sister today and you dine with him tomorrow. What do you call that?"
"He's not a friend." His nostrils flared as he glanced around the apartment. "I'll speak to him about this behavior. Is anything missing?"
"How would I know? I can hardly remember the last time I was here. It doesn't change the fact that it's my property though. I'm not okay with your goons thrashing up the place."
"It won't happen again. I'll make sure of it."
"Great." she grabbed her bag and headed for the door. "I have to go now."
"Who's he?" He asked.
She stopped and turned, with a question on her face. "Who's who?"
"That guy. What did you call him? Jason? Who's he?"
Aurora speared him with a long look. "I missed the part where that's any of your business."
"Oh, but you see it is." Again, he closed the distance between them. This time he did it so slowly that she felt like she was being hunted. "You are still in mourning, Aurora," he growled. "And until you're not, you will act with the decorum your position deserves."
Aurora's stomach twisted in anger. She clenched her fists at her sides, willing herself not to explode. What good would it do?
Without another word she matched to the door, and on her way out, she flicked a master switch that turned off every light in the apartment, leaving Mariano in the dark.
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