Page 139 of Worth Every Penny

Restless movement ripples through the audience. Murmurs begin, and confused expressions spread like a virus.What the fuck?My stomach plunges through the floor and my legs feel wobbly.Did David just cancel the project? Is this really happening?

I expected him to announce he was stepping down, not that the whole project was off. I anticipated it from Martin… but David? And what about Nico?

He’ll make sure the project is yours.

Another fucking lie.

Betrayal and anger swell within me until it feels like my chest might burst, and tears stab behind my eyes.

I glance at Martin and there’s a sparkle of amusement in his gaze like he’s enjoying this, and I have to swallow around the lump that’s forming in my throat. I scan the crowd for Jack, who lifts a shoulder in a half-shrug and shakes his head, like he doesn’t have a clue what’s happening either. I don’t dare look at Nico, for fear that if I do, the tears that are pricking at my eyes will leak out.

David clears his throat and continues as if the entire room isn’t reeling in shock. “Martin Brooks will be leading us as we search for a new partner. And in order to provide you all with some form of closure, he’s going to speak to you now.”

David slopes down from the podium, sinking into his seat. He looks dejected, defeated; an unfamiliar look for him.

An oily smile ripples across Martin’s mouth as he takes David’s spot at the front. “I’m deeply honoured to take over this project. It was, after all, my idea in the first place.” He shoots a vicious look in my direction as if I’m the one who stole it fromhim.

“I’ve had to make some hard decisions. The first, and most important, is to dissolve the partnership with Hawkston. It is my belief that Hawkston is reaching beyond its area of expertise.There is a huge difference between a boutique spa and a large global corporate hotel chain, and Hawkston is not the right partner for Argentum.” Martin presses a hand to his heart and an expression of sympathy so false that I want to throw up spreads over his face. “We take this moment to thank all of you for your hard work, and wish you the best for the future.”

Martin takes a little bow and nods at the rest of the Argentum board members, including David, who all rise to their feet.

It’s over. The whole fucking thing is over.

There’s a brief moment of stunned silence from the Hawkston employees, but when it’s clear there is no second act, they get up, clutching folders and notepads, whispering and casting uneasy glances at each other on their way to the exit.

I chase after David, grab his elbow, and pull him to face me. “What happened? I thought you wanted us to do this together?”

He meets my eye, compassion in his gaze as he says, “I’m sorry, Kate. There was nothing I could do.” His voice is so raw it scrapes at my insides and I know he genuinely means it. “It was out of my hands.”

“But your position on the board—doesn’t that count for something?”

David shakes his head. “I’m sorry. Some of the members weren’t happy with the Hawkston takeover of Lansen. They thought we’d lose control of the project.”

“Webster.” Martin calls. “Let’s go.”

David winces at the sound, clasping my hand. “I’m sorry, Kate.” He moves off, leaving me alone in the centre of the room.

I drop into one of the empty seats, trying to absorb what’s just happened. Since Martin approached me in the cafe, I knew this was what he intended. But when Jack called and said I needed to do this presentation, I really thought I had a chance. I believed him. I believed him because he said Nico was going to sort it…

Anger rises in my chest, but beneath it my heart breaks afresh because yet again Nico hasn’t protected me. I place a hand over my ribs like I can contain the splintering agony beneath. Behind me, the door clicks open. I know it’s Nico before I see him. I recognise the way he walks, the pattern of his footfall. Or perhaps it’s some sixth sense; some part of his energy reaching out and touching mine before he even comes into view.

“Kate?”

I stand, twisting towards the door. Before I can tell him not to come near me, he’s closing the space between us. I hold up my hands and he halts just out of reach.

“My project…” The words contain so much pain.

“I know,” he says. “I’m so sorry.” He sounds sincere, but it’s not enough.

“Jack said we had a chance to save it. That you had it in hand. He said you’d make sure the project was mine.” I tear both hands through my hair and a noise that sounds disturbingly like a sob escapes my throat. “What the fuck, Nico?”

His handsome face screws up and he reaches for me, but I step back and his hand falls to his side. “I will fix this,” he tells me. “I just haven’t yet.”

“You could have stopped me,” I say, desperate. “Before the presentation. I knew there was something wrong with you. But you didn’t say anything. You knew what this project meant to me and you let me go out there and stand up in front of everyone…”

“And you did a brilliant job.”

His arms are suddenly around me, holding so tight I can barely wriggle. I want to sink into his embrace, to be held, to let him soothe all of this away.

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