Burned by Passion(21)

“I wish I could,” Terry said bitterly, fist clenched on top of the steering wheel. “I mean I’m not sure how much more I can stand with the insults. I know that snooty boss of yours doesn’t like me for whatever reason. If I didn’t trust you completely, I’d say there was something fishy going on with you and him.”

“What do you mean?” Kira asked angrily while inside she quaked. Could he possibly suspect?

“I’m just saying be careful. I don’t like the way you’re getting involved with the Carters. For one thing I don’t trust that boss of yours. I mean who invites his secretary to a family event anyway? You’ve only been with his company a year and now he treats you like one of them? Yeah right. That’s why I insisted on escorting you to that party. Not like it did much good; you went ahead and did what you wanted to do anyway. I was so mad when you ran off.”

“I said I was sorry,” Kira said with an impatient sigh. “Now can you please drive me home or do I have to get the bus? I’m really tired and I want to get some rest.”

Terry suddenly groaned. “Damn! I was going to take you out tonight!”

Kira almost smiled at his change of mood and how he didn’t think he should have asked first before thinking she’d go out with him tonight. That was the way it was about their relationship; they took so many things for granted and now there were so many blurred lines – one of which Kira had already crossed when she’d had sex with Blake.

Now Kira wondered what Terry would say if she actually told him what had really happened. She could only guess his reaction and it wouldn’t be pretty. She figured that Terry was one of those type of guys that could be really cool on the surface but when they snapped...shit hit the fan really quickly. She shuddered inwardly and called herself all sorts of a coward from keeping the truth from Terry just to save her own skin. What kind of person was she turning into? Terry was right. She didn’t like the Kira she’d become either.





***

When Blake told his father about his decision not to return to England but to settle temporarily in New York, Blake had been surprised at the old man’s incredulity. What was so hard for his father to believe about Blake choosing to stay back in the U.S.? Yes it was a big change for him after staying so long in London but it wasn’t that much of a culture shock considering he’d been born here. In any case none of that even mattered. He knew the main reason why he wanted to stay.

“But what about your girlfriend, Eve?” his father had asked. “What did she feel about this sudden decision?”

His father’s curious inquiry made Blake recall the phone conversation he’d had with Eve several days ago. He’d hated to do it, finally breaking up with her over the phone and with so many thousand miles between them. She didn’t deserve that but he had to come straight with her. They’d been drawing apart since Blake’s mother died. At first Blake had believed it had to do with the grief of losing his mother after so many months as he’d helped her try to fight her illness. But now Blake knew that the simple fact was he hadn’t loved Eve and never could; not in the way a woman deserved to be loved by her man.

“She didn’t take it very well,” Blake said wryly, remembering the screaming match. Eve had started off pleading and saying she wouldn’t mind moving to America just to be with him; that they had a future together. But when Blake had stood his ground, she’d accused him of finding someone else to take her place and he was just using this as an excuse. Blake had repeatedly apologized and said he’d never wished to hurt her. The call had ended with the sound of her bursting into tears and Blake had felt like shit hanging up on her in that condition.


“But I think in the end she realized the fact that there’s nothing she could do about it and knowing her, it wouldn’t take her that long to move on,” Blake added. He felt sure he was right. Eve was beautiful and strong enough to find someone else to replace him and he was certain her pride had been hurt more than anything else.

Bretton Carter looked skeptical, but didn’t say much more than that he hoped Blake would like it here now that he’d decided to stay.

“I’ll be staying Dad, but not here,” Blake said slowly, and saw his father frown. “I’ve found a house and I’ll be moving out as soon as the sale’s concluded. I’m planning on moving out before the end of the month if that’s okay.”

This time his father’s expression was unreadable even as he said lightly, “That’s fine. I’m glad you’re settling in so quickly. I guess that means you’ve probably already found some way to start work.”

“Well, I’ve been considering my options and I could easily start up my own consulting firm,” Blake said, thinking about how much he already had saved up which meant he didn’t need to worry about being unemployed for now.

“My offer for you to come and work for me still stands,” his father piped in. “Even as an independent contract if you’d rather do it that way.”

Blake hesitated; he’d been about to blatantly refuse and then he thought about it. If he worked for his father, inside his company, he was sure to get closer to Kira. He’d see her every day. If he was lucky, he might get past that wall that had effectively shut him out after two weeks of trying to reach out to her.