Maid for the Billionaire(46)

She stopped in the middle of the room and forced her arms to stay at her sides rather than wrap protectively around her waist like they wanted to. This was about reaching out to him, righting a wrong. There was no place for defensiveness in a sincere apology. "I'm sorry," she blurted out and waited.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. "I'm sure you are. At least, sorry that you were caught," he said tiredly.

She took an awkward step toward him. "I'm sorry that I didn't tell you right away when I learned that Scott was reporting back to Jake. I overheard a discussion between the men yesterday at the hotel. I should have told you last night."

Dominic's gray eyes were almost black with emotion when they reopened, dark and unreadable. Abby forced herself to continue. "I'm also sorry that I didn't tell you that Zhang had arranged to meet with me today. She warned me that your deal was in jeopardy and told me that I could help you."

His voice held a harshness Abby was unaccustomed to. "Even if that is true, I warned you that someone might try to use you to influence the negotiations. You played right into her hands."

Abby gulped down her guilt. "I know."

"You had plenty of time to tell me."

Abby studied her bare feet and admitted her weakness. "I was going to, but last night was so beautiful. I was selfish. I knew things would change once you knew. I told myself that there would be time in the morning to admit everything."

If she'd thought that her explanation would sway him, she was quickly disappointed when she raised her eyes hopefully. There wasn't a trace of forgiveness surfacing. "So, manipulating the final deal in a way that forced me to agree to your terms or lose the contract was your solution?"

Put that way, it did sound damning.

She had to make him understand. "Zhang said it was the only way. She said the deal was falling through and if you stepped out for even a moment you'd lose the contract to a competitor. That's what Stephan was there for, wasn't it? He was trying to undercut your deal. Zhang was right."

"What makes you think you were anything more than a pawn to Zhang? Do you really think that someone like you, a teacher for God's sake, can understand the politics of international commerce?" His cutting words hung heavily between them.

Shame descended on Abby like a cold cloak, but her pride kicked in. She met his eyes and parried, "Why don't you tell me how you really feel, Dominic?"

He stood, scattering some papers fall on the floor around him as he did. His face was pinched with anger. "You were supposed to be a distraction. I brought you with me to keep my mind off how shitty this past week has been. But you couldn't stay out of my business. No, you had to get involved."

He'd used her and the confirmation hurt Abby deeply. She had known from the beginning that a woman like her had no place in his life, but she had let herself begin to believe that she was more than a convenient sex partner for him. How could she have been so stupid? Abby put a cold hand to her mouth. "I thought I was helping. I thought you needed me."

His sarcastic tone was a dagger to her heart. "And that was your real mistake."

Abby lashed out, "I understand now why your mother left your father. If he was anything like you, she was right to leave. He probably looked down at her and kept her separate from his business. Not to protect her, but because he thought he was better than her." Abby straightened her shoulders and fought back the tears that were welling in her eyes. "You both treated Nicole the same way, so why should I be surprised that I'm no different? Oh, my God, I thought all your tough talk was sexy, but I see it for what it is now. You're afraid of letting anyone close so you treat everyone equally badly."

She turned away in disgust, but one more thought sprung and had to be expressed. She half turned back and said, "I thought I loved you, but I didn't know you. You might have all the money and power in the world, but you're not good enough for me. The man I give my heart to will see me as his partner; he will let me in. He won't try to keep me in some home he visits between business trips. He'll share his life with me and our children will grow up into healthy adults, not twisted and emotionally barren monsters like you."

In a voice which had become monotone, Dominic said, "Get some sleep. We'll be landing on my private island off the coast of Italy in a few hours."

Abby let the slam of the bedroom door be her answer. She went to the plane's phone and dialed the number on the crushed card in her pocket. "Zhang? If you meant what you said about helping me, we're on our way to Dominic's private island near Italy. I want off that island as soon as you can send a plane."