CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Renee switched off her computer and grabbed her bag. She was going home on time today. She refused to stay and work late. Why should she make herself available? So Zack could have sex with her in his office again? They had fucked on practically every surface of his office. On his desk, on the couch, on the carpet, against the wall…
Angrily, Renee shook away the images of their sweaty, naked bodies.
She wasn’t going to round off her shitty day with some shitty sex.
Zack was such a...a…!
Renee spewed some choice expletives under her breath. This was the worst day of her life, and it was all Zack’s fault! She knew she wasn’t being fair to him, but she’d had it up to here. Meeting Trafford and Karina all in one day was just too much for anyone to handle.
The day couldn’t end fast enough.
After Karina left the office, Renee had tried to concentrate on her work. But her concentration was shot to hell. She made so many mistakes that she had to delete everything and start all over again.
She wished she could do that with her life.
Press the delete key and erase all the ugly bits.
When Zack called her into his office, she refused to look at him and kept her eyes on her notepad. She gave curt, monosyllabic answers and made it clear that she didn’t want to talk about what just happened. It was none of her business. She was just his PA.
But Renee wasn’t sure she could continue working for Zack. It may be better for her to leave.
Renee knew that she had no right to be upset with Zack. He’d never deceived her or lied to her. She knew what she was getting into and she had been willing to take the risk.
She thought she could remain unaffected.
She was simply deluding herself, living in a dream.
Karina Eve did her a favor today. Karina had given her a rude but timely awakening.
Karina’s words were mean and ugly, but they were true. Karina moved in the same social circle as Zack, whereas Renee was just his lowly PA, the hired help. And Zack could never take her as his partner to all those parties for the rich and famous. She didn’t belong there. She didn’t belong with him.
He’s not yours. He’s mine.
Renee swallowed hard, and shouldered her bag roughly. She walked away from her desk and joined the other secretaries who were making their way towards the lobby.
“Woah, Renee, you’re leaving with us? You’re actually knocking off on time today. Not working late?” some of her colleagues asked in disbelief. “But...your boss hasn’t left yet. Mr Howell is still in his office.”
Screw him, Renee thought.
“Yeah, I’m leaving. All work and no play makes Renee a dull girl,” Renee said a tad too forcefully. “I have a life too.”
Her colleague, Sandra, smiled and squeezed her arm. “Wanna grab dinner with us? It’s been such a strange, stressful day today. A few of us are going to check out the new pizza parlor down the road. It’d take your mind off that crazy...” Sandra trailed off as someone elbowed her.
“I...I have a date,” Renee lied.
Renee knew that most of the staff had heard Karina shrieking and ranting in Zack’s office. They would have caught what Karina said about her and Zack. She had screamed that they were sleeping together, and laughed at Zack for fucking his fat, frumpy PA.
Renee didn’t know if her colleagues believed what Karina said, but she wanted to throw them off the scent. She decided to embellish her lie. “I would love to join you gals, but I’ve got to get ready for my date.” She winked and said loudly, “We’re going to watch a movie. I...I’m pretty excited.”
“Ooh, Renee!” Sandra grinned. “Finally! I was beginning to worry for you. I was actually thinking of setting you up with a cousin of mine.”
“Thanks, but I’m good,” Renee said with a wry smile. “Thanks for thinking of me.”