The Temporary Boyfriend

Chapter 102: Julian and Mark face off... again

Julian didn’t pick it up, but his thumb brushed the screen to silence it.

"So, are you married?" Lady Glowen asked.

Julian shook his head slightly and chuckled.

"No, Lady Glowen. I am not."

Julian’s phone vibrated again.

​"If you’ll excuse me for a moment," he said, standing up. "I really should take this call."

As soon as he stepped out, lady Glowen turned to Lyvana.

"He is such an amazing young man." freeweɓnøvel.com

Damon nodded, smoothing her napkin. "He is very protective of your vision for Aurora. It’s rare to find an investor who actually cares about the brand’s soul, and not just about making more money."

Lyvana was about to answer when Mark walked in.

​"Mark!" Lady Glowen said, looking surprised. "We weren’t expecting you. But it’s good you are here. We were having dinner with Lyvana’s business partner. You should have a seat and join us."

Mark didn’t sit down. He gripped the back of an empty chair.

​"Business partner?" Mark laughed, but it was a mean, bitter sound. "That man is here in this house again?"

Damon cleared his throat. "Yes, Mark. And he is quite brilliant. He has a mind for strategy. You’d enjoy his company."

Mark’s face turned bright red. To him, "brilliant" was a word that only belonged to him. Just then, Julian walked back into the room.

​"Speak of the devil," Mark hissed.

"Mark please," Lyvana quickly said.

"Am I missing something here?" Lady Glowen said looking confused.

"Nothing grandmother," Lyvana said quickly.

Damon intervened, "Ah, perhaps we should continue with the dinner."

Julian took his seat with a smile.

Mark snorted and sat down as well.

Lady Glowen looked from Mark to Julian, her confusion growing. But she said nothing.

The silence at the table was heavy. Only the sound of silver forks hitting the porcelain plates filled the room. Julian picked up his wine glass, while Mark sat stiffly across from him.

"What are you really doing her Blackwood?" Mark asked.

"I was invited here," he said taking a sip of his wine."

Mark scoffed.

"Ok! Someone want to tell me what’s going on?"

No one spoke again.

After dinner, Julian approached lady Glowen.

"I had an amazing time, the meal was exquisite."

"The pleasure was ours, Julian," Lady Glowen replied, her expression softening. "It is refreshing to have you at this table. I hope this is just the first of many visits," she patted Julian’s arm.

"You will soon tire of me," Julian said with a grin.

​"Never!" she laughed.

​Damon shook Julian’s hand. "I’ll set up an appointment soon. We have much to discuss."

​Julian nodded, his gaze flicking to Lyvana. "Success is easy when you work with someone as talented as your daughter."

​Then, he leaned in and pressed a quick, light kiss to Lyvana’s cheek. "I’ll see you tomorrow, Liv," he said softly.

​It was a small gesture, but it was the final straw for Mark. Seeing Julian’s face so close to hers made his blood boil.

Before anyone could say anything, Mark lunged forward and grabbed Julian by the collar and threw a punch directly at his face.

Lady Glowen gasped and pulled her hand to her chest.

​Julian didn’t blink. As Mark’s fist flew toward him, Julian moved his head just an inch. The punch only grazed his skin instead of hitting him hard.

​With a quick, smooth move, Julian grabbed Mark’s wrist. He didn’t punch back. Instead, he twisted Mark’s arm and pushed him away with steady force. Mark stumbled and crashed into a side table, knocking a glass vase to the floor.

​"Mark! Have you lost your mind?" Damon shouted. He stepped between them, his face looking confused.

​Mark scrambled up, breathing hard. His hair was messy and his eyes looked wild. "He’s tricking all of you! He’s hanging around Lyvana like a dog, and you’re letting him sit at our table?"

​"That is enough Mark Vaughn!" Lady Glowen’s voice was sharp. She turned to Julian looking pale. ​"Julian, I am so sorry for such poor behavior in my home. I assure you, this would not happen again."

"No apologies necessary, Lady Glowen," Julian said, his voice calm and steady. "It is not your fault. I will leave now. Thank you once again for inviting me."

As soon as he left Mark realized exactly what he had done.

What the fuck is wrong with me? he thought, his heart hammering against his ribs.

​He wasn’t this type of rowdy man. He was a businessman who prided himself on logic, cold calculations, and maintaining a perfect image. He had spent years building a reputation for being calm and in control. But in just five seconds, he had thrown all of that away. Why does the sight of that man irritate him so?

​He looked up and saw the faces of the people in the room. Lady Glowen was looking at him shocked. Damon was standing with his arms crossed, his face hard and disappointed.

​"Mark," Lady Glowen said, her voice trembling. "I think it’s best if you go home now. We will talk when you are calm."

​"I... I am sorry. There is no excuse."

"No, there isn’t." Lady Glowen said walking past him.

"Mark this is unlike you. Is there something going on between you and Mr Blackwood?"

Mark’s jaw tightened. "I was just trying to look out for Lyvana. I don’t trust his intentions with Aurora."

"As a man, I think you are simply feeling jealous. Go home, Mark. Sleep it off. We’ll talk in the morning. I will talk to lady Glowen. You know she won’t be angry with you for long."

Without another word, Mark turned and walked out. The cool night air hit his face, but it didn’t calm him down.

As he drove out of the estate, he couldn’t stop replaying the scene in his head. He was usually very much in control.

​Suddenly, a pair of high beams blinded him.

​A massive pickup truck swerved directly into his lane.