Page 112 of Contention

Just…to watch Nick squirm? Horror drifts over Kara as she realizes she’s played right into his hand. He didn’t want her for merit or for anything special he’s seen in her. No. Dietrich Bittinger wants her just to piss off his frenemy, Nicholas Havenwood-Calais.

“You…are a horrid brat,” Kara utters the words furiously, feeling heat rise to her dark eyes. The realization stings.

Smirking tightly, Dietrich cracks his neck, the act starting to reveal itself as a habit for hiding immense pleasure over something. “Don’t take it personally. I’m going to help you, in more ways than one. If you do well as an associate to Gale on my account and prove yourself trustworthy, I’ll give you more. You’ll never find a more lucrative account than mine in your life. It’s win win for you, chickadee.” Grinning like a jack o’ lantern on Halloween, Dietrich says, “Well played!”

Despair falls over her. She’s going to eventually have to stop working a Derrick’s firm because of this. Instead of working for a reputable man, she’s traded herself over to a scheming monster that sees everyone as toys.

“Oh, come on, Kara. Smile. I’m making you a very lucky girl,” Dietrich says, his voice echoing strangely into her ears.

It sounds like the ocean is crashing over her.

And, just like that, Kara gets the distinct impression that she’s made a deal with the devil. Even if he saves her from her father, he’ll end up putting her in a different prison with bars made from the bones of his dead morality.

“Oh. One last thing.” There’s something wicked in his eyes and it makes Kara feel cornered. “I want you to go to an event with me. I need a date that’s not going to be trying to find my wallet in my crotch the entire evening. I know you think I’m a pig, so you’re the perfect choice.”

Kara feels her heart drop. “The party at Calais, Vickers, and Yates? Gale told me about it.”

He smirks. “Nicholas didn’t tell you about it, did he?”

I don’t like that smirk. What is he smirking like that for?

“No. He didn’t.”

Those pale eyes pierce through her heart. “I hate to be the one to break it to you- no, that’s a lie. I’m thrilled. He probably didn’t tell you about it, because he’s bringing someone else.”

Kara’s stomach turns and she feels bile rush up her throat. Her world tilts sickly. “Excuse me? What is this? Are you trying to start trouble?”

“No, I’m trying to smack you in the face with the obvious. He’s bringing his fiancée and I want to bring you as my date just to cheese him the fuck off.” He smiles widely, that big white smile that makes panties wet. “He’s going to beso mad.”

Her mind goes blank. Then red. “Hiswhat?!”

Chapter 27

You’re a filthy liar,she texts to Nick one night. Her insides feel like a burned-out building, full of ash and melted bones.

She wants to tear him open and destroy him the way he’s destroying her.

He calls after that text, his name dancing across her screen, making her head hurt and a sob crawl up her throat. It feels like her heart is being stomped on. Repeatedly.

Kara doesn’t answer the phone.

***

Next Thursday arrives with a herald of doom hanging over Kara’s head. It’s the party at Calais, Vickers, and Yates tonight and she’s been dreading it for days.

There’s no place in the world she’d rather not go to more at this point.

Dietrich had no reason to lie about the fiancée thing. Well, maybe he could have a reason, something hidden from sight, but Kara doubts it. He seemed positively gleeful to see some sort of horror show unfold at the party.

Kara can trust that; he seems to enjoy chaos.

She fusses over her outfit, trying to think of what will be considered appropriate. She’s torn; she feels empty enough that she almost doesn’t care, but at the same time she wants to look like the finest bitch to walk through the doors, just to spite Nick.

She doesn’t want to see another woman standing next to him. Kara’s stomach clenches and her heart hurts. It’s just not fair. His refusal to believe in commitment…a lie.

As she’s pulling on a burgundy merlot dress, her doorbell rings. Kara frowns, huffing in irritation. She peers through the eyehole and curses at what she sees. Opening the door, Kara says, “Look, I told you I’d come down when I’m good and ready-”

Dietrich walks right into her apartment, ignoring her. Immediately, she regrets telling him where she lives, a thing she never even told Nicholas.

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