CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Dean clapped his hands and gave a small bow. “So, how was dinner?”
“Excellent,” Zack and Renee replied together.
When Dean began to clear away the plates, Zack stopped him and pulled a chair over. “Sit,” he told his brother. “You’ve been on your feet the whole day. I’ll take the plates to the kitchen. I’m going to get some coffee anyway.”
Dean protested but Zack stuffed him unceremoniously into the chair. “Sit down.”
Dean rolled his eyes and mock-grumbled to Renee, “He’s been bossing me around since he was in diapers.”
“Younger siblings can be little tyrants,” she agreed with a laugh. “I have a younger sister too. And she gets a kick out of telling me what to do.” Renee thought of Kim and added, “She likes pushing me out of my comfort zone and getting me in trouble.”
Dean laughed. “That’s what they do. Younger siblings are your sidekicks. They kick you in the side!”
Zack came back with three big cups of coffee. “Talking about me behind my back?”
“Of course,” Dean said, sipping his coffee. “I’m just getting started. I’ve got loads of embarrassing anecdotes to share.”
True to his word, Dean regaled Renee with funny stories of Zack growing up. From his stories, a vivid picture of a very bright, mischievous boy who learned things quickly and enjoyed pulling pranks on his brother and friends formed in Renee’s mind.
Renee saw the worry lines and laugh lines radiating from Dean’s eyes. Dean was in his mid-thirties but Renee saw a few strands of silver hair at his temples. The guy had taken on the responsibility of raising his brother when he was still a teenager himself. Renee liked and respected Dean immensely, and she was glad to see that Zack was so close to his brother. Zack had many business associates and acquaintances but as far as she knew, he didn’t have any close friends.
She enjoyed watching the brothers interact. It showed her another side of Zack. Renee caught a glimpse of that fun-loving, cheeky boy that Dean had described.
At the end of the evening, Renee thanked Dean profusely for the wonderful dinner and promised to come again.
At the door, Dean nudged Zack and whispered, “Don’t forget, buddy, I get to be your best man.”
Zack spluttered as Dean shoved him out the door, laughing uproariously.
As they walked towards the car, Renee asked casually, “Um, what did your brother say just now?” What did he mean when he said he was going to be your best man?
“Nothing,” Zack replied quickly without looking at her.
Renee’s heart sank.
She had heard Dean’s words clearly.
Dean was talking about Zack’s wedding. He was going to be Zack’s best man.
Dean knew something she didn’t.
Renee’s gut twisted painfully.
Was Zack planning to marry Karina?
Karina did proclaim that she was his fiancee.
There was no ring on Karina’s finger, but that didn’t mean anything. Plans and proposals could be made without a ring.
But...did that mean that Zack was cheating on Karina with her? Renee shook her head hard. No, Zack and Karina hadn’t seen each other in six months. They weren’t together. But maybe the separation was just temporary. They were going to get back together and...get married.
Renee ignored the sharp pain in her heart and steeled herself.
It didn’t matter. It shouldn’t matter.
Zack could marry any woman he wanted.
As his PA, she would probably have to organize the guest list, book the venue and help with the behind-the-scenes planning of what would definitely be the most lavish and spectacular wedding of the year.
The press would be there, and the tabloids and magazines would be filled with countless photographs of the bride and groom.
Was this why Zack had asked her to dinner? To break the news to her as gently and subtly as possible?
Renee appreciated the gesture. He was letting her down gently and letting her keep her job. He didn’t just fuck her and fire her.
Well, she was a good PA and Zack was paying her really well. If she could wake up from her silly little dream and keep her head firmly on her shoulders, they should get on fine. It would be rash and childish to quit a well-paying job.
“Thank you for the dinner, Zack,” she said softly. “It was an honor meeting your brother.”