Mara's POV

“Please excuse me,” I said softly as I stood, slipping out quickly before anyone could question me. The door closed behind me and my phone vibrated again. My heart jumped. I answered.

“Finally,” David’s voice slid through the speaker, low and irritated. “You took time to answer me.”

My throat tightened. “I…I was in a meeting—”

“Oh!" he hummed. “So you weren’t ignoring me on purpose? You know I don’t like that, Mara. I care about you—too much—and you keep forgetting what we once shared.”

He exhaled slowly, the sound brushing over my ear.

“I didn’t mean the text I sent,” he continued. “You got me worried, and...