440: BALANCING ACT

LUKE'S POV With this lady approaching, I couldn't help but stare at her, trying to place where I had seen her before. She wore a lemon-green mini dress that accentuated her curves, and slung her purse over her shoulder. Makeup adorned her face, giving her a glamorous yet somewhat artificial appearance. The realization struck me abruptly. Daria was the same woman who had tried to seduce me and sabotage my relationship with Ariel. My jaw clenched involuntarily as memories of our last encounter flooded back; the betrayal and manipulation were still fresh in my mind. She greeted me with a smile, but I couldn't bring myself to return the expression. "Daria," I acknowledged coolly, my tone devoid of warmth. "What are you doing here?" Her smile faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered, her gaze locking with mine. "Luke, don't tell me you've forgotten about the chemistry we shared," she purred, her voice dripping with seduction. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes; my patience was t