CHAPTER TWENTY
“Karina...” Zack put up a hand to stop her.
“No! I don’t believe you. I know you miss me. You haven’t dated anyone else since we broke up! You’ve not been seen or photographed with any other woman. I check the tabloids and magazines every day, Zack. Every day! You want me back, right?” Karina said desperately, grabbing his collar. “You love me, don’t you? You’re just too proud to say it. So here I am. I’m here, Zack. I’ll take you back. I will, my darling. We’ll get married...”
She tried to kiss him, but Zack pulled away.
“Karina, stop it,” he said, holding her firmly by the shoulders.
When she started to cry, he gentled his tone and sighed. “Come on, I’ll drive you home, okay?”
Karina had an inflated but fragile ego. She was rich, pampered but lonely. They’d had fun, but Zack knew that she wasn’t the woman for him. He had never promised her anything. He made sure that all the women knew what they were getting into. It was just fun and games. And who didn’t like sex? Both parties would have gotten what they wanted out of each other. The brief relationship, if it could even be called a relationship, was purely physical. There were never any feelings involved.
Zack didn’t want to hurt or humiliate Karina. She was just a spoiled little rich girl. Immature, insincere but harmless. She didn’t strike him as the clingy sort.
Zack sighed. ‘I’m sorry, Karina.” It wasn’t his intention to hurt her at all.
“You didn’t date anyone else after me,” Karina cried, letting her tears stream down her face. “That shows that you love me, Zack! You never got over me. You do love me!”
Zack disentangled himself and stepped back. “No, Karina. I don’t love you.” He couldn’t allow her to continue imagining and hoping. It was better for her to accept the truth. “I wish you all the best, Karina.”
Zack heard Renee put down the phone softly. She had picked up the phone but she didn’t speak into it. His discreet, tactful PA had been listening in on their conversation. After hearing the truth, Renee decided that calling security would simply make matters worse.
Zack half turned towards the door. Renee was a smart, intuitive, sensitive woman. Zack knew that his capable PA frequently acted as a buffer between him and his staff and business associates. When he was in a foul mood or stressed, he could be rather blunt and brusque. But Renee knew just what to say and do to smooth over bruised egos and hurt feelings.
Renee stood at the door with his car keys. Zack had made it a habit to toss his car keys onto her desk the moment he arrived at the office. He always told Renee that she was free to use his car to run any errands, but she stubbornly stuck to public transport.
“Your keys,” she said softly, holding them out.
Karina jerked her head up and glared at Renee through her tears. Her eyes widened slowly as she stared at Renee. “It’s her, isn’t it?” she said at last.
Zack didn’t reply. He didn’t need to explain himself to Karina.
“It’s her!” Karina snarled. She blinked away her tears and her gaze hardened with hate and resentment. “You choose her, over me?” Karina let out a derisive, incredulous laugh. “You’re fucking the hired help? Is this your new fetish? Chubby women?”
Karina pressed a manicured hand over her chest, struggling to remain calm. “Zack, you can’t be serious about her,” Karina said at last. “You’ll make yourself a laughing stock if your frumpy, fat PA appears on your arm at corporate events and society parties...”
When Zack snarled, Renee moved swiftly to his side and put her hand on his arm to restrain him. She was the only one who could read his moods and expressions with uncanny accuracy, and she saw how furious he was
“Leave, Karina,” Zack said, his voice low and dangerous. He no longer pitied her. He despised her.
Karina jerked back when Zack moved towards her. She saw that he was about to grab her and throw her out.
“I don’t have time for this,” Karina said quickly. “Anyway, my chauffeur is waiting for me.” She scurried to the door and glared at Renee as she passed her.
“You haven’t won, bitch. Zack will tire of you soon enough,” Karina hissed to Renee. “He’s not yours. He’s mine.”