Page 25 of Dissension

The thoughts plague her even as she gets herself ready for the evening; Dieter requires her legal assistance while he meets with a business associate at a charity gala. She hates these events, loaded with stuffy people and their bootlicking attitudes, their constant scheming and networking, looking for more power.

Charity.Hah.That’s just a mask for what these galas truly are; hotbeds for the rich and powerful to continue to be so, while funneling money to make themselves look good.

There are three missed calls and a text from Nick glaring out from Kara’s phone as she slides into Dieter’s Mercedes, driven once again by a privately contracted driver. She shifts her floor length midnight gown as she scoots in next to him and double checks her tote to make sure the documents for tonight’s meeting are in place.

Another beep from her phone, from the nameless number that Kara stupidly knows by heart:We need to talk, Kara.

Nick is nothing if not persistent these days, trying to finagle Kara back into his life. Unfortunately, the biggest question remains for Kara; if Claire were no longer in the picture,shouldKara go back to what she had with Nick? Was what they had even sane? Did it only work because they’re both broken people? And maybe Nick hides his brokenness better than Kara?

She’s so distracted, flustered by all that has been transpiring that Kara barely sees the crisp perfection that is Dietrich Bittinger sitting beside her. He notices this, naturally. He notices when he’s not the center of attention. “Everything in order, chickadee?”

“Yes. I double checked that I have everything. We’re good.” Kara tries smoothing back a few stray strands of hair behind her ears. She’s been through a few of these contract meetings with him before; she’s getting good at negotiating.

A single eyebrow quirks. “Hm.Well, then what’s wrong with your face?” Dieter asks sweetly, peridot eyes dancing despite the subtle irritation hovering in his tone. He doesn’t like her inattentiveness.

A frown pulls at her mouth. All she does is dwell on Dieter and his issues every damn day; can’t she have a moment of being human to herself?

She works her jaw, considering what to tell him. “If you must know, I had an unfortunate meeting with Nick’s fiancée today.”

A sly smile shapes his lips, intrigued by the tease of good gossip. He shifts closer in the seat, now understanding the sour expression on her face. The smell of his bright cologne washes over her, faint and enticing. Up close, she can see how perfect his shave is and the sparkle in his pale green eyes. “What did Claire want? Did she finally figure out your deviant escapades with herdearlyintended? Did she swipe you with her overdone claws? Any blood?”

Embarrassment suffuses Kara as her eyes dart to the silent driver up front. Thankfully, the man appears unmoved by their conversation, but she feels judged regardless. “For the last time, you know I had no idea he was engaged. Nick neglected tomention a future wife when we were…doing…what we were doing…” Kara hisses through gritted teeth, as if to assuage her own guilt.

Dieter makes a bored gesture, waving away her words of defense. The man has spent his time inside of more married women than Kara can count, if the number of wronged men at the polo club is anything to go by. “Get to the interesting part. I don’t need you to regale me with your shaky morals any more than you want to listen to my lack thereof.”

Typical. He’s terrible, absolutely terrible, and yet she can’t seem to mind being with him.

He’s not your client. He’s your boyfriend, Bianca teased her during yet another of their dinner outings, pointing her fork accusingly at Kara.You just don’t know it yet.

Pushing the uncomfortable thought away, Kara uncrosses and crosses her legs again, trying to get comfortable as the Mercedes turns another corner. Traffic is unbearable, per the usual, with people flooding the crosswalks. “She wants me to go back to him.”

Dieter’s brow shifts, the shape of his mouth looking decidedly less amused. “Not surprising,” Dieter deadpans, almost seeming annoyed by this answer.

Kara hits his thigh in a scolding fashion. “Not surprising?!Are you kidding me? Who does that?”

Leaning his head back against the seat, exposing the line of his throat as he tries to adjust his tie, Dieter sighs with jaded humor. “Old money trapped in arranged marriages. She doesn’t want to be involved with hisfreaky, she wantsyouto do it for her.”

“That’s outrageous,” Kara snaps, feeling her face burn. “I’m not some call-girl she can just summon to give him an outlet.”

He shrugs, eyebrows raised. “She’s permitted you to be with him again. Your strange little mind is the only thing holding youback. If you still want what he’s about, just get it out of your system.”

She should have never brought this up to him. Dieter doesn’t hold court with morals and ethics,of coursehe would tell her to just sleep with an engaged man.Of coursehe would tell her to go kill her scruples, all while being the same man that has been drawing her closer and closer these past few months.

Is that all meaningless, how he’s casually been pulling her in? Just a game to him, to see if he can make his little lawyer fall over her heels for him, too? Anger and humiliation boils under her skin at the thought.

“How can you say that?” Kara blurts, staring at his stupidly perfect face. “Don’t you care? It’s like you want me to be with Nick.” She nearly winces the moment those words leave her mouth. Of course, he doesn’t care; she’s nothing to him.

“Why would I care?” He asks it so bluntly that Kara feels the twinge of unwanted hurt. But that all changes when he finishes with, “He’ll never be me.”

Speechless, Kara stares at him, feeling out of her depth. The air changes, becoming electric. The moment has changed in the split of a second, spinning out of control.God, what does he mean?

It feels like she can’t get enough air when he leans closer to her, taking over her space effortlessly.

Dieter’s hand cups her cheek, soft and gentle. Too gentle, and his eyes are crawling down into her damaged insides, brushing against her tattered psyche. Maybe he can see the bruised, battered girl deep inside and finds himself amused.

Gale warned you about him, don’t get close, don’t get close…

“Don’t.” It comes out pleading, her eyes probably oozing nervous desperation. Kara doesn’t want to feel anything for this ever-scheming, self-serving man. She doesn’t want to tangleherself in his web any further than she already has. Her tattered emotions can’t take it.

---