I know her
Rowan leaned back, completely unfazed. “I had it reversed the minute I figured out where it went.”
“Then why are we here?” I pressed, feeling a flicker of annoyance rise. “If you’ve already fixed it, what’s this all about?”
Rowan’s smile faded into a more serious expression. “Curiosity, at first.”
“Curiosity?” I echoed, still lost.
He nodded. “When I got the message, I didn’t expect... this.” He gestured vaguely at Larry, who was now sipping his juice like he hadn’t just hacked into a multi-billion-dollar corporation.
“And?” I pressed.
“And then,” Rowan continued, his tone blunt, “I saw it was you. Thought we should have lunch. That’s all.”
“You wanted to have lunch with me,” I repeated flatly, not believing it for a second.
“Is that so hard to believe?” Rowan asked, his voice calm, his eyes sharp.
“Yes,” I said, without hesitation.
I stared at Rowan, completely thrown off by his casual attitude. “Yes,” I repeated. “It is hard to believe.”
He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Why? I can’t invite someone to lunch?”
“Not someone you barely know,” I said quickly, my frustration rising. “I was your surgeon. That’s it.”
Rowan shrugged, still wearing that infuriatingly calm expression. “Doesn’t mean we can’t have lunch. You saved my life. This is... gratitude since I didn't get to pay you.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Gratitude? Rowan, you already thanked me in the hospital. Several times, actually.”
“That was for the surgery,” he corrected, leaning forward slightly. “This is different.”
“How exactly is it different?” I asked, not hiding the irritation in my voice.
Rowan glanced at Larry, who was still sipping his drink, clearly enjoying the show. “Because I didn’t know you had such talented kids,” Rowan said, his voice dry. “I thought maybe I should get to know the woman behind the surgeon.”
“You’re joking,” I muttered, shaking my head.
“Not really,” Rowan said, unfazed. “It’s not every day you meet someone whose seven-year-old can outsmart your company’s security system.”
Larry grinned, clearly proud of himself. I, on the other hand, was ready to strangle Rowan. “This isn’t funny,” I snapped. “You can’t just pretend like this is a casual lunch.”
“I’m not pretending,” Rowan said calmly, picking up his fork and taking a bite of his food as if nothing about this conversation was strange. “I just wanted to see what made you tick.”
“What made me tick?” I repeated, incredulous. “Rowan, you don’t even remember me. What could possibly make you curious?”
He looked at me for a long moment, then put his fork down. “You’re right. I don’t remember much from before the accident,” he admitted. “But when I got that message, and I realized it was you... I couldn’t just leave it alone.”
I crossed my arms, my frustration boiling over. “So this is some... investigation?”
Rowan tilted his head slightly. “You could say that.”
I leaned forward, my voice low. “Rowan, I am not some mystery you need to solve. I was your surgeon. Our relationship ended the moment you left that hospital.”
His eyes flicked toward Larry again. “Clearly, it didn’t.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but Larry chimed in, completely oblivious to the tension. “You’re right, Mr. Vaughn. You shouldn’t underestimate us.”
Rowan’s lips curled into a small smile, but he didn’t take his eyes off me. “See? Your son gets it.”
I shot Larry a look, but he just grinned up at Rowan like this was all one big adventure. “Larry, stop.”
Rowan leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed, but his eyes sharp. “Remi, I’m not underestimating anyone. But you have to admit, this is interesting.”
“Interesting?” I repeated, exasperated. “Rowan, you’re talking like this is some kind of... game.”
“Isn’t it?” he asked, his tone light but pointed.
“No,” I said firmly. “It’s not.”
Rowan’s smile faded slightly, and he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Look, I’m just trying to figure out how someone like you ended up being... someone like you.”
I blinked, thrown by the comment. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means,” Rowan said, his voice calm but direct, “you’re clearly not just a surgeon. You’ve got this whole... thing going on with your kids, and there’s more to it than you’re telling me.”
I stared at him, completely stunned by how casually he was digging into my life. “Rowan, I don’t owe you an explanation.”
“Maybe not,” he said with a shrug. “But you owe it to yourself to be honest.”
“Honest?” I asked, nearly laughing in disbelief. “About what?”
“About who you are,” Rowan said simply. “And why you’re hiding.”
I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. “I’m not hiding anything,” I said, but my voice wavered slightly.
Rowan didn’t miss it. “Aren’t you?”
I clenched my jaw, feeling my temper flare. “This isn’t your business, Rowan. You’ve got your money back, and that should be the end of it.”
Rowan raised an eyebrow. “If it was that simple, you wouldn’t be this upset.”
“I’m not upset,” I lied, my voice tight.
Rowan’s smile returned, this time colder, more calculated. “You’re a terrible liar, Remi.”
I stood up abruptly, my chair scraping against the floor. “I don’t quite like this,” I said, my voice firm. “I was your surgeon. That’s where this ends.”
Larry looked up at me, confused. “But Mummy, I thought—”
“We’re leaving,” I interrupted, grabbing his hand.
“Remi—” Rowan started, standing as well.
But I didn’t wait. I walked away, pulling Larry along with me, my steps quick and determined. I could hear Rowan calling after me, but I didn’t stop. I didn’t look back. I couldn’t.
“Mummy,” Larry whispered as we walked out of the restaurant, “are you okay?”
I glanced down at him, forcing a smile. “I’m fine, sweetheart. Let’s just... get back to the hotel.”
As we stepped outside, I felt the cold air hit my face, and I walked faster, putting as much distance between us and Rowan as I could.
***
“Sir” Callum called. “The wordings you said were quite specific.”
“I know her.” Rowan looked up, “I know who Remi is.”
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