SIXTY FOUR – PAIN AND VENGEANCE

MIRA

There is anger, and there is just plain jealousy. Right now, Halloway's eyes gleam with both.

She accesses me with a narrowed eyed look. Her eyes widen when it fixates on the diamond choker on my neck. A bitchy part of me is suddenly glad I wore it.

I lift my chin and stare her down. She pointedly ignores me, giving Mason all her attention.

"Hey, Mason. How are you?"

She rises on her tippy toes and places a kiss on both his cheeks. Mason immediately lets go of my arm. Stunned, I watch as he wraps both arms around Halloway's waist, pulling her close.

He places a kiss on her forehead and the cameramen go crazy, snapping and clicking away.

My chest tightens with a feeling I cannot explain. The room suddenly feels too hot. Looking at them, the feeling of inadequacy that swamped me when I stepped in here comes back with a vengeance.

I step back. Mason doesn't even notice, so I turn and walk away, trying not to grab Halloway by her hair and fling her across the room.

Worse still, t