A Pound of Flesh (A Pound of Flesh #1)(156)

“Good evening, Miss Lane,” he chimed. “How are you?”

“I’d be better if you’d call me Kat,” she admonished with a playful flash of her eyes.

“Apologies. Kat.”

“My friend Mr. Carter will be here later. Will you send him straight up?”

Fred picked up a pen and made a note. “Is he the tall gentleman with the … tattoos?”

Kat smirked. “Yes, that would be him, but he’s really not as scary as he looks.”

Fred raised his eyebrows. “I’ll take your word for it.”

Kat laughed. “Good evening, Fred.”

“Good evening, Kat,” Fred replied with a tip of his hat.

She turned back from the desk, heading to the elevators. As her hand lifted to press the elevator call button, a figure moved behind her, catching her attention. As realization struck, Kat spun around with a surge of anger.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she spat.

Beth’s face showed no sign of surprise at Kat’s reaction. “I came to talk to you.”

Kat let out a bark of sarcastic laughter. “I have nothing to say to you.”

She turned back to the elevator and pressed the already lit button, praying for it to hurry up.

“You look well,” Beth murmured. “You look really well.”

“Why do you care?” Kat remarked with no inflection to her voice. She turned, crossing her arms defensively. “Look, you’d better hurry back. I’m sure Adam and Austin are eager for you to get back to them to tell them all of my dirty secrets.”

“They don’t know I’m here,” Beth replied, anxiety prevalent in her wide eyes. “I told Adam I was going to get some ice cream.”

Kat’s anger turned to confusion.

“I’m so sorry, Kat. Truly.”

Kat remained apathetic. “And?” she asked with a lackadaisical shrug of her shoulders. She was intrigued as to what had caused Beth’s sudden attack of conscience, although, if it was a trap, then God help her.

“And I wanted you to know that.”

“Fine,” Kat countered, pressing the elevator button again. “You’ve said you’re sorry. Now your conscience is clear, and you can leave.”

[page]Ordinarily, Kat’s brusque attitude would have made Kat feel bad, but a quick apology wouldn’t erase the secrets hanging in the air around them like a noxious gas.

“You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”

Kat froze, unblinking, praying her poker face was enough.

“I know you,” Beth said quietly. “I can see it.” She stepped closer. “Is he good to you? Does he treat you right?”

Kat bit the inside of her mouth. She stayed silent, fighting the urge to run far away. She knew trusting Beth was a mistake.

“You look happy,” Beth continued in a voice Kat remembered fondly. “Love suits you. I know he must be a good man to make you glow the way you are.” Her eyes flitted over Kat’s face. “I know it’s too little too late, but I can admit when I’m wrong.” She sighed despondently. “Adam explained a few things. He told me about Carter and Austin. The way Austin was when they were all growing up.”

“Yeah,” Kat countered sharply. “Carter told me about it, too.”

Remorse whispered across Beth, weighing down her shoulders, making her smaller. “I know Carter isn’t bad, and I know that with him you’re safe. I should’ve trusted your judgment, and I didn’t. For that I apologize.”