Bedding The Billionaire(61)

CHAPTER 13

"We want a twenty percent discount."

"Twenty percent?" Nick shook his head. Abbey was really pushing it. Regretting how he treated her a month ago was one thing, but this was business. Twenty percent was way too much.

"It's reasonable considering we're the first client for this product. We are the first client aren't we?" Abbey's bright blue eyes flashed at him, her jaw firm and uncompromising. There was no hint of last night's tears. She was good at this. Damn good. If he didn't love her he'd employ her.

"How did you know?"

She shrugged. "I did some checking. And Donaldson tells me it's standard practice to give the guinea pigs a discount. We'll act as a reference site of course."

He sighed and nodded. "Of course." He leaned forward and extended his hand. "You have a deal."

She took it and Nick could feel the buzz of energy that comes with closing a successful deal coursing through her skin. He held her hand for much longer than was respectable but he didn't care. Let Willis and Donaldson know he had feelings for her. Let Abbey know.

But she removed her hand and let it fall limply to her side.

"Have the contract drawn up and send it down to us."

"You're leaving?"

She nodded and checked her watch. "We have a six o'clock flight."

That was only two hours away. Think Delaware, think. "If you wait I'll have the contract drawn up tonight. You can take it with you first thing in the morning."

She hesitated and he took the opportunity to dismiss Donaldson and Willis. When they left, he caught her hand. "Please, Abbey. I need to talk to you. Stay one more night." He took her face in his hands but she stepped away, avoiding his gaze.

Eventually she nodded and Nick felt like a weight had lifted from his shoulders. He tried to smile, but Abbey's stoic expression wasn't giving him any reason to be happy.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Fine. We'll talk. That's all."

He nodded.

The door opened and Beverly popped her head round. "Damien Vane returning your call, sir."

Nick glanced at Abbey. Her mouth dropped open and her cheeks flushed pink as she stared up at him.

"I'll be right there," he muttered to Beverly as she shut the door behind her. "Abbey, I have to ask him something-"

"I hope you get the answer you want to hear." Her voice sounded hard, cold. She picked up her laptop case and stormed out the door. Nick followed and indicated to Beverly he'd take the call in his office.




 

 

That morning when he'd arrived at the office, he'd called Vane's home number. A woman who didn't sound like Vane's wife said he'd already left for the office, so Nick had tried him there, only to be told he was in a meeting. He knew he ran the risk of Vane calling back and Beverly retrieving him from the meeting with Abbey, but it was a risk he had to take. So what if Abbey knew he was calling Vane? At least she'd know he was trying to clear everything up so that they could be together without any issues hanging over their heads.

"So what does my ex boss want?" asked Vane casually.

"There's something I need to know about the night you spent in Melbourne a month ago."

"Ah, you want to know about that hot little woman in the blue dress." There was a sneer to his tone that Nick didn't like.

He clenched his teeth together and held back a retort. "Yes. I want to know if you slept with her."

Vane chuckled. "Got you by the balls has she, Delaware? Doesn't surprise me. She looks like the type that would cling. Me, I like the ones who just want a night of pure ecstasy. It makes life easier when they don't want commitment."

"Just answer my question."

"Seeing as I'm such a nice guy and I think you two will make a cute couple, I'll tell you the truth, even though it'll damage my reputation. No, I didn't sleep with her. She left as soon as she got in my room. Seems she was just trying to make you jealous. Sounds like it worked if you're still thinking about her after all this time."

Nick hung up on a laughing Vane. He leaned back in his chair and pressed a hand to his heart. She'd been telling the truth all along. And he'd practically called her a liar, and a whore. He leaned forward and placed his elbows on his desk, then ran both hands through his hair. He sat like that, with his head down, for a very long time, thinking about what a fool he was. What a damned, stupid, stubborn idiot.

How the hell was he going to make this up to her? How could he explain he was just too scared to accept the truth without proof?

At least now he could go to her, tell her he knew she was telling the truth all along and hope that they could pick up where they left off. At least he knew for sure that Abbey really did love him and not his money. She had all along.