CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Renee glanced at the clock at the bottom of her computer screen and saw that it had been more than four hours since Zack left the office with his CFO, Matthew Saks.
After lunch, Renee managed to clear quite a lot of work. She felt a lot calmer now, having pushed the incident with Trafford to the very back of her mind. She was just about to grab a cup of coffee from the pantry when the phone on her desk lit up.
Renee pounced on the phone and picked it up on the second ring. The call came from the reception desk.
“Mr Howell’s office,” she said automatically.
“Renee?” Andrew said, sounding flustered. “There’s a woman here who wants to see Mr Howell.”
“Mr Howell has left the office for a meeting.”
“That’s what I told her,” Andrew said. “But she refuses to leave. She insists that Mr Howell will see her.”
“Mr Howell doesn’t have any meetings scheduled this afternoon,” Renee answered with a frown. “What’s her name?”
“Karina Eve,” Andrew said, lowering his voice.
“Hmmm.” The name sounded familiar. Renee clicked on the list of Zack’s business contacts on her computer and scrolled through the names quickly. Miss Karina Eve wasn’t on the list. “Which company is she from?” Renee asked.
“She, um, she said she’s a personal friend. She’s...Karina Eve.” Andrew emphasized the name.
Renee frowned. Was that name supposed to mean something? Where had she heard it before? The knowledge was there, at the periphery of her mind but it just slipped out of her reach.
“Mr Howell may not be coming back to the office today. It’s a long meeting, so it’d be pointless for her to wait,” Renee said. “Maybe...”
“Right,” Andrew said quickly. “I’ll tell her that.”
A second later, Renee winced as she held the phone away from her ear. She could hear the woman shrieking at their poor receptionist. “You’re lying! Zack told you to say that, didn’t he? Why is he avoiding me? I’m going to see him right now!”
“Miss Eve! You can’t...”
“Andrew,” Renee barked into the phone. But there was no response. It sounded like Andrew had failed to contain that hysterical, screeching woman in the reception area. He was probably chasing her down right now.
Barely a minute later, Renee heard a commotion at the front of the office. Poor Andrew hadn’t managed to stop the woman after all. Somehow she had managed to steamroll her way past the glass doors that separated the posh reception area from the rest of the office.
She seemed to know her way around the office, Renee observed.
Renee walked briskly forward to meet the tall, stunning woman who was striding haughtily towards Zack’s corner office. Some of the staff poked their heads out of their cubicles and there were some raised eyebrows and frantic whispers.
But no one made any effort to stop the woman.
Renee’s eyes widened when she saw the woman’s face.
She hadn’t recognized the name, but she certainly recognized the face.
Karina Eve was the daughter of the Mayor of the city, Georgette Eve. Karina was often photographed partying with the rich and famous.
The papers also reported that Karina was an aspiring actress, but Renee had only seen her on screen once. Karina had spoken only one line before her character was killed off.
Karina Eve was tall and slim, with platinum blond hair. She was dressed stylishly in a designer dress and her face was flawlessly made up. From what she’d read, Renee knew that Karina was in her late twenties. But the way she was pouting and swearing as she stormed towards Zack’s office made her look and sound like a petulant teenager.
“Where is Zack?” Karina demanded loudly. “Zack!”
Renee hurried forward. “Hi, I’m Mr Howell’s PA. My name is Renee. How may I help you, Miss Eve?”
Karina rolled her eyes. “I’m here to see Zack, not his PA.”
“Mr Howell is out of the office today,” Renee said. “Maybe I can book an appointment...”
“I don’t need an appointment! Get out of my way,” Karina snapped, shoving Renee aside. Renee stumbled, but one of the secretaries caught her and saved her from twisting her ankle.
Karina marched straight to Zack’s office and slammed the door open.
“Miss Eve!” Renee ran after her. “You can’t barge in...”
“Oh. He’s really not here,” Karina said, looking around. She looked both relieved and disappointed. “He’s not avoiding me. I knew he wouldn’t ignore me,” she whispered under her breath.
Karina strolled to Zack’s desk and ran her fingers over the polished surface. Ignoring Renee’s protests, Karina sat in Zack’s large chair and swiveled round to face Renee.
“Miss Eve, please,” Renee said politely but firmly. “Mr Howell’s office is out of bounds. You may wait in the reception area.”
“I’ll wait for Zack here.”
“Miss Eve, I have to ask you to leave. I can’t allow you to...”
“I don’t need your permission,” Karina scoffed. “Who the hell are you anyway? Oh right. You’re his PA.”
“Yes I am. Miss Eve, I’m going to...”
“Get out,” Karina said with a shooing motion. “Get lost, will you?”
“What?” Renee could hardly believe the woman’s gall.
“You heard me,” Karina said dismissively. “You can’t be as stupid as you look.” She sighed. “Really, Zack should have picked a more presentable PA. But I guess having a fat, frumpy PA has its advantages. At least Zack won’t be distracted.” She gave Renee a smile that was both pitying and victorious.
“Excuse me?” Renee sputtered, her temper rising.
Karina put her pale, shapely legs up on Zack’s desk. “I’ll wait for Zack here. Close the door behind you,” she ordered Renee.
Renee approached the desk resolutely. She’d had quite enough. She would drag the Mayor’s bratty daughter out by her hair if she had to. “Miss Eve, I’m sorry but I have to insist that you leave...”
“Is this the way you speak to your boss’s fiancee?” Karina slammed her palm down on the desk and screeched.
“What?” Renee gasped. “What did you say?”
“Are you stupid or deaf?”
“F-fiancee?” Renee stuttered.
“Yeah.” Karina folded her arms and smirked. “That’s right. I will soon be Mrs Howell. Your boss’s wife.”