He felt her tense beneath his palm and he stroked at her. ‘But as you can see, Mr Eddison, I already have the best there is.’
He smiled down at her, his words sinking deep into his soul. He really did, and he wanted this fool of a man to know it, to recognise his mistake and rub salt in the wound. She met his eye, her gaze clouding over with some unguarded emotion, and it held him captive as he tried to read it—to read her.
Charles coughed uncomfortably, pulling his attention annoyingly away and, smile still in place, Daniel gave him a cold look. ‘Thanks to the talents of Anders Estates, I’m about to make two significant purchases.’
‘Two?’ Charles practically squeaked, his brow raised.
‘Yes, two, and rest assured the whole industry will learn just how good this firm is.’ Daniel’s smile grew. ‘So enjoy the evening and the awards, Mr Eddison. Something tells me next year will be a whole other ballgame.’
He didn’t wait for the man to recover, not this time. ‘Shall we?’ he said, gesturing to Zara to move off to the bar. ‘I think we have some champagne with your name on it.’
‘Of course,’ she said. ‘You go ahead. I just need to have a private word.’
He hesitated, his eyes flitting between her and a squirming Charles.
Hell, she has him by the balls. She doesn’t need you.
He headed to the bar, not looking back until he’d placed their order. Then he turned to find Zara walking elegantly towards him, the dress casting a mystical light around her and drawing the eye of many males and females alike. Kristus, she was stunning. The scene topped off only by the sight of Charles gawping after her. Whatever she’d said, he looked like a man about to be strung up.
Go, baby.
Pride flooded his chest, and a new, more powerful emotion took hold, warming his grin as she approached.
And then his eyes met hers, and he chilled. She didn’t look like the cat that had got the cream; she looked as if she was ready to commit murder and it was directed at him.
‘What is it?’ He took up the glasses that had just arrived and offered one out to her.
She took it but didn’t smile, didn’t thank him. Anxiety fizzled in his blood, his frown heavy as he contemplated her over his glass.
She took a sip, her gaze leaving him to scan their nearby neighbours before speaking in a tone low enough for only him to hear. ‘I don’t need you to fight my battles for me.’
‘What?’ He couldn’t keep the surprise out of his tone. She had to be kidding. ‘The man was being a smarmy twat. I gave him what he deserved.’
‘You gave him the impression I only got the job for what I do for you in the bedroom.’ She sent him a look and then her eyes were back on the room, their solemn depths haunting him. ‘And he would be right.’
Daniel had to strain to hear but there was no mistaking it. And now he’d given Charles the ammunition to believe it too—fuck.
‘It’s not true.’
‘No.’ She sent him a bitter look, her eyes glittering. ‘Didn’t you pretty much tell me the same today when you asked to extend my services? Or have you conveniently forgotten that?’
‘I know what I said, and I shouldn’t have.’ He shook his head. Now wasn’t the time or the place for this discussion.
‘No, you shouldn’t have,’ she agreed icily. ‘But then, I shouldn’t have been stupid enough to invite you. I only have myself to blame.’
Her words were crushing him. ‘Don’t say that.’
‘Why? It’s the truth.’
‘It’s not.’ He reached for her and shrank back as she sidestepped his move, her eyes staring daggers at his outstretched hand.
‘Please, Zara, it will all be forgotten about soon enough, yesterday’s news.’
‘For you, maybe.’ Her words trembled, the sound making his throat ache. ‘But I wanted to do this on my own, I wanted to show that bastard that I didn’t need a man, that I didn’t need anyone to make the business a success. Instead I’ve shown him the exact opposite.’
‘No, you haven’t.’
‘Haven’t I?’ She looked at him then, the self-hatred in her gaze tearing right through him. ‘I might as well have prostituted myself to save my company for all I’ve done with you.’