Salvation (37 page)

I knew the answer, and knew that meant trouble.

The doors slid open on the Eighth Floor. Nate
’
s hand went to my lower back and he followed me out.
“
I
’
ll escort you to your desk.
”

The overwhelming sadness in his eyes mirrored my own. But, if I let this happen, it would officially confirm we were a couple
…

Fuck it.
I smiled and pushed open the glass doors.

MAI PEERED UP from the photocopier as we neared, shocked and pleased in equal measure.
“
Morning guys,
”
she said, far too chirpily for this depressing Monday morning.

“
Morning,
”
we replied together, causing further glee. Her animal print flared mini-skirt, scarlet vest and black ankle boots lifted my spirits. I loved when she wore this, because it made Michael flip, and not in a good way. He disapproved, so of course, that encouraged her to wear it more often.

I rounded my desk and tucked my handbag away. Nate set our overnight bags by the door and prowled around the office space, hands tucked into his pockets.

“
I didn’t appreciate you had your own office,
”
he murmured suggestively, a devilish smile tugging his mouth.

“
Don
’
t get any ideas.
”
My lips pursed as I returned to his side.
“
There
’
ll be no shenanigans going on in here.
”

Nate stopped in front of me.
“
Shenanigans?
”

“
You know
—
entirely inappropriate behaviour for the work environment.
”

He cocked his head.
“
Spoilsport.
”
Nate touched the bridge of my nose when I laughed softly.
“
I have to go, baby.
”
His voice was low and tormented.

“
I know.
”
I gulped my sorrow away, smoothing the lapels of his jacket.

He held me at the nape and pressed his cheek to mine. His chest expanded on a deep breath.
“
I
’
ll call when I arrive,
”
he said, his lips to my temple.

“
Take care.
”
I touched my throat, easing the lump rendering me unable to say more.

Nate nodded briefly and moved to the door. I watched him, eyed his taut arse when he bent down for his bag, his strong shoulders and back when he straightened.
“
Nate?
”
I called, stopping him in the doorway.
“
Being hard all week sounds painful. You might want to do something about it in the interim. Still thinking of me, of course.
”

His eyes took on that addictive sparkle, his lips curving in that sexy, lazy way that made my heart thump.
“
Oh, I will,
”
he replied smoothly.
“
You can count on it. I expect you to have the same dirty thoughts about me, too.
”

And with that, he was gone.

I leant back on the desk, mortified and aroused as hell. What on earth possessed me to suggest that to him? It felt good saying it, and I was certain he enjoyed hearing it, but still
…

Nate stopped and spoke to Mai. She nodded, said something back, then came into my office.
“
That man is too handsome for his own good.
”

“
Hmm,
”
I acknowledged vaguely.

“
So it
’
s all official now?
”

I straightened, dragging my thoughts back to the present.
“
I wasn’t left with a choice after his performance on Friday, was I?
”
I moved my overnighter away from the door, then flopped into my chair, heaving a huge sigh.

“
Well, I
’
m glad.
”

“
I could tell you were impressed.
”

“
You need it, Kara.
”
Mai shut the door, meaning she wanted a long chat.
“
Someone to take control. Leave it up to you, no one would ever know.
”
She was so insistent, so sure of what she said, because she knew
I knew
she was right.
“
That
’
s why I told him to do it.
”

“
What?
”
I spluttered, rocking back in my chair.

“
At the party. You think you
’
re not good enough, but he
’
s crazy about you.
”

I knew she
’
d been meddling, but had no idea she was giving Nate a sisterly talking to. After retrieving my phone from my bag I set it back under the desk.
“
What
’
s that?
”
I asked, pointing to the manila folder clasped in her hand.

Mai eagerly sprung to attention.
“
Before I show you,
”
she said, wandering over,
“
did you know your boyfriend has four private homes, owns numerous investment properties, the three companies under NTB Group, plus dabbles in a squillion other business ventures? Not to mention the dollars he
’
s made playing the stock market and
—”

“
Stop!
”
I held my hand up to cut her off.
“
Is that what it is? His business portfolio?
”
My head spun. Obviously I knew about NTB, but the rest? That was irrelevant. It wasn’t my concern.

“
Oh no,
”
she smirked,
“
this is
way
more interesting.
”

Dread filled my stomach.
“
What have you done?
”

“
It
’
s nothing bad,
”
Mai insisted, flipping open the folder.
“
See this woman?
”
She jabbed a finger to a photo of a woman, likely of Middle Eastern descent and probably a few years older than me. Brunette, petite, all curvy and so pretty it was unreal.
“
Yasmina Sadek,
”
she went on, spreading the remaining papers across my desk. There were many pictures, but she wasn’t alone in the rest. Nate was with her.

“
Who is she?
”
I choked, coughing to remove the jealousy trapped in my throat.

“
Ex-girlfriend maybe? These photos were from social events, parties and so on. The most recent was last month.
”
Mai sifted through them and pulled out an article dated June.
“
I
’
ve tried, but I can
’
t find any pictures of them doing normal shit together in private.
”

I contemplated the evidence in front of me. It was bad enough I
’
d recently parted with Nate whilst he flew off to New York to get up to God knows what, with God knows who. Now, I was being confronted with images I honestly wished I hadn’t seen.
“
Thanks Mai,
”
I moaned, shoving them away.
“
Now I feel more inadequate than ever.
”

“
Why show me these?
”
I asked accusingly, miffed that my so-called friend would do such a thing. She knew I was paranoid about my body, mindful of my trust issues.

“
Hey,
”
she said, a protective arm coming around my shoulder.
“
I didn’t mean to upset you. You asked me about his other women, but I knew you wouldn’t do anything about getting any answers.
”

“
So you did?
”

She nodded and squeezed harder.
“
I was hoping for a fugly chick, but it
’
s no surprise she isn
’
t. One look at you says Blake only pulls the gorgeous women.
”

“
Not helping,
”
I grumbled.

She hastily bundled the stash away.
“
You
’
re missing the point. There
’
s no evidence of him falling out of nightclubs with hundreds of different women. I
’
ve gone back two years
—
there
’
s nothing. Even with this one,
”
she said, waving the folder in the air,
“
it
’
s all business. He isn’t the playboy you think he is.
”
Mai walked purposefully to the shredder in the corner.
“
Either that or he
’
s hidden it well. But, you
’
ve been together, what, two weeks? There
’
s already pictures popping up everywhere on the internet.
”

I watched her send all evidence of Nate
’
s past into tiny pieces of paper confetti.

“
I
’
ll get you a cappuccino,
”
she said, edging to the door with her head down,
“
then we
’
ll plan tomorrow night.
”

Deep down, her intentions had come from the heart. But all she
’
d managed to achieve was make me curious as to whom this mysterious Yasmina was, and how significant she
’
d been to Nate.

JUST before eleven I received a text:
ABOUT TO TAKE OFF. WISH U WERE COMING WITH ME X

Now, more than before, I wished I was, too. Because my doubts over trust, combined with the uncertainty of not knowing what he was doing, all blurred with the images I
’
d seen of him posing with this attractive brunette on his arm, as a catalogue of the last two years of his life flashed before me. And to think it only ended last month
…
Was I his rebound?

Because I was distracted, it took about five minutes before noticing an unknown number had come up and not Nate
’
s name. Curious, I replied:
HAVE U GOT A NEW PHONE?

A few moments later, I got the answer I secretly hoped for:
YES X

“
THESE smell divine, Kara.
”
Mai was busy arranging twelve roses in a vase she
’
d found in the kitchen cupboards. I
’
d received twenty-four exquisite English roses in milky creams and blush pinks from Nate with a handwritten note that still had me smiling:

The dirtier the better
…
Nx

I was under strict instruction from Mai to keep half here, and take the other half home to remind me of Nate wherever I was. Not that I needed it. Thoughts of him hadn’t left me since he had this morning. I leant forward for a sniff and discovered she was right.

“
How was lunch with your parents yesterday?
”
I asked her, stroking a flower head fondly.

“
Oh, you know.
”
Distractedly, she pushed the final stem into the water.
“
Ate far too much, as usual.
”

I
’
d experienced a few Harvey family dinners and could sympathise. Her mother was a chef, so the food was always fantastic. That
’
s where Mai had honed her skills.
“
Talking of family,
”
I said, placing the lid back on the box of remaining roses I was taking home.
“
Nate
’
s invited me to his parents
’
anniversary dinner in a few weeks.
”

“
You
’
re kidding?
”
Mai immediately stopped tidying up and gaped at me. I shook my head, smiling proudly.
“
And you still think he
’
s not serious about you?
”

“
I
’
m beginning to accept he might be.
”
You
’
re my girlfriend
…
those words had floated around my head since Nate said them. I collected the box and nodded to her to carry the vase.
“
Before then, I
’
m going to lunch on Sunday to meet them.
”

“
Holy crap!
”
We
’
d only taken a few steps when she stopped.
“
Meeting the parents. Twice! I haven’t met Mitch
’
s more than that in two years.
”

I laughed.
“
Maybe because they live in Florida?
”

“
Geography is no excuse.
”
She dismissed my observation with a wave of her hand.
“
So, you and Nate
—
it
’
s going well?
”