Page 115 of Contention

Those words land darkly, sitting between them like a murder scene. Nick’s face goes red, a snarl touching his upper lip in slow motion. Jealousy glitters in his pale gaze. If looks could kill. “Are you-”

Before his can finish his sentence, because she’s sure he’s about to accuse her of fucking Dietrich, Kara interrupts him. “What does it matter? You and I are nothing anyway, apparently.”

“Is that why you’re walking around with him? To try and hurt me?” His eyes widen, realization blazing into life. “He’s the one who told you. That’s what your text was about…”

Smiling bitterly, Kara says, “Congrats, you win! Yes. He told me. It was humiliating. On top of every other problem we have with each other, you thought I could be some sort of sick mistress. You utter bastard.”

Nick rolls his eyes, pacing. “It’s not a big deal, even my father had a mistress-”

“Oh, swell. That makes all of this okay. Pull the other, Nick. Jesus!” Kara stares at him incredulously. “If you think I’m going to stick around and play that type of game, you are out of your Trust Fund Baby mind.”

Lips flattening, eyes going narrow and deadly, Nick hisses, “If you think I’m just going to sit quietly while Dieter flaunts what’sminelike a trophy, you’re sadly mistaken, sweetpea.”

Oh, she can’t listen to this! She’s never even been his. “Don’t call me that! Youcan’tcall me that anymore!”

The door leading to the party area opens, causing them both to jump out of their skin guiltily.

Nick’s fiancée joins them, looking flawless and collected. She takes in the tension between her husband-to-be and Kara in a single glance. Then, she smiles politely, holding her hand out to Kara.

There’s a gigantic ring on it and Kara nearly dies right then and there.

“I’m Claire,” the lovely woman says. “You are…?”

“Kara,” she croaks back in response, clasping her hand delicately, mentally wanting to crush it.

She really hopes that she doesn’t have a crazy look in her eye.

Claire is gazing between the two of them like she’s trying to solve a puzzle. “So, how do you two know each other? Do you work here as well? I had thought I’d met most of Nicky’s co-workers.”

Nicky. Ugh.

Kara’s mouth slowly opens as she considers what to say, but Nick cuts her off quickly. “We’re friends. Acquaintances, really.”

Oh, that hurts even worse. Kara wants to claw his eyes out and stomp on them. Kara needs to get away from him and fast before she blurts something regrettable out loud.

“Look…Claire? It’s lovely to meet you. Nick has told meall about you.” Kara says, barely noting the way Nick tenses up at her hidden accusation. “I need to join my date before he sends a search team after me. He’s extremely needy.”Ha, oh Dieter would love that.

Nick’s face hardens, anger flashing in his pale blue gaze, like lightening striking.

Claire seems to take interest Kara’s words, not seeing Nick’s expression. “That’s right! I thought I saw you walk in with Dieter Bittinger.” She frowns, looking Kara up and down. “Don’t take this too harshly, but you aren’t the usual type he brings on his arm.”

“Oh, I can guess,” Kara says drily, gesturing with her hand and looking upward. “Tall. Really tall women. Gorgeous, but no brains to speak of.”

The other woman gives her a small smile, like she’s afraid she’ll get wrinkles if she smiles too nicely. “That certainly rings a bell. Well. Nice to meet you; I’m sure we’ll see each other again.”

Kara feels like melting into the ground, the air becoming so thin. “Yeah,” she exhales tightly. “I’m sure we will.” She gives Nick one last glance, hoping her can read the vast disappointment in her eyes.

Nick looks like he wants to stop her from walking out the door and drag her back in by her hair, but Kara darts out before another word can be said.

She finds herself looking around for Dietrich, wondering when he’s going to appear from wherever he is. How long can it possibly take to get his business done? As she’s slipping around to where she last left him, Gale catches her, pulling Kara to the side. “Hey. We didn’t get a chance toreallytalk. You’re not looking too well.”

“I don’t feel well,” Kara replies morosely. It’s a small thing to say instead of saying she feels like she’s a dead shell that just keeps walking, too stupid to know she’s already dead.

Gale touches Kara’s forehead, as if its sickness of the body and not the mind. “I wanted you to know…I’m leaving town for a while. Dieter will be in your care, as a result. You’ll likely need to adjust your schedule for that.”

It’s like a bomb has dropped in Kara’s head, staring at her. Is Gale insane? Kara has no time to become Dietrich’s handler!

This is just not flying. Not tonight.

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