Mr. Big Shot: An Enemies To Lovers Romance (Kinda Cocky Book 1), стр. 46
He sighed. “Fine. Okay. But, if you need me, you know where to find me.”
I nodded. “I do. Thanks.”
I watched Brenden backtrack out of my office, then I walked over to the sprawling windows. I locked my hands behind my back and gazed out over the fruit trees and rose bushes in my backyard. My eyes fell over the gazebo in the distance. I cracked the window open and heard the babbling brook trickling beyond the expanse of the line of trees that started the wooded portion of my property. And as I stood there, everything rushed through my mind.
Lindsay.
Karina.
How I felt about both of them.
The night the accident happened.
How I felt the moment I read Karina’s email.
Grow a pair.
“Brenden’s right,” I murmured.
The thought of not having Karina around was worse than the fear of losing her. The idea that she’d leave and never come back made my palms sweat. It made my heart sink into my stomach. It made me nauseous, simply thinking about it. But, I had fucked up. I mean, I had really made a mess of the situation. How the hell was I going to make up for that?
Do what you do best.
And as I slowly turned back toward my computer, a lightbulb went off in my head.
A lightbulb of an idea that just might work.
25
Karina
The tape ripping across the cardboard boxes settled against my ears. That same sound clocked the hours as they ticked by. Time, after time, after time. Kelly and Roxy kept trying to distract me. They kept trying to get me out of the house. Out for dinner, or out for lunch, or out for a night on the town. Anything to keep me from continuing to pack. They thought they were clever, but I knew what they were doing. And while I told them I was leaving that day, I didn’t have plans to pack up a moving van for another week.
All I wanted was some peace and quiet.
I wiped away at the tears as they freely fell. Since I was alone, I didn’t feel the need to cover things up. The truth of the matter was, Zane had hurt me. I let him wiggle his way into my heart before shattering it into a million pieces. Whether it was payback for leaving him at my place alone or something else altogether, I didn’t know. Some might say I had it coming to me for being so vulnerable. Others would say my anger was justified.
I didn’t really care to take a side.
All I wanted to do was get home.
I’d had all the adventure I needed for a lifetime. And I had enough of it under my belt to know the next place I’d target. Hawaii. Maybe they had a job out there I could take. Whether it was a secretarial position or another manufacturing plant, the possibilities were endless. The only thing that made me smile was thinking about the beauty of that place. The sound of that ocean. The smell of those flowers.
I need to get back to Hawaii.
My doorbell ringing ripped me from my trance, and I growled softly to myself.
“Kelly! Roxy! I’m serious! Leave me alone!”
The doorbell rang again before I heard footsteps scurrying off.
“Damn it, girls. I need some peace and quiet!”
I heard a car peeling away, and I rushed for the door. I ripped it open, and the smell of burnt rubber wafted as I squinted my eyes. I didn't recognize the car they were getting away in, but, for all I knew, it was another rental. Every time I saw those two, it was as if they were in a different vehicle. One, after another, with Daddy Dearest renting them whatever they wanted.
My thoughts quickly faded away when I took a step out onto the porch, though.
I felt something crunch beneath my feet.
“What the--?”
I looked down and saw something white poking out from beyond my tennis shoe. Bending down, I picked it up quickly realizing that it was some kind of a note. I shoved it into my pocket and stepped back inside. I couldn't be bothered with a note right then. I had to call my landlord and work something out. I had to contact Stonewater’s H.R. department and make sure they registered my resignation.
Then, I had to continue working.
Maybe just one peek, though.
My curiosity got the best of me, and I pulled the note back out. But, the writing on the note wasn’t Roxy’s… or Kelly’s. In fact, it almost looked like…
“Zane?”
Put this on and meet me at the Venetian.
Yep. Definitely Zane. And who was he to be making demands at that point?
“Asshole,” I murmured.
Wait. What is ‘this’ thing he’s talking about?
I pulled my front door back open and saw a bag sitting on my porch. How I missed it, I’d never know. But, I quickly picked it up and took it inside. I rushed to my kitchen table, eager to open it. When I ripped all of the tissue paper out, I reached in to see what was hidden from sight.
“Oh. My. God,” I gasped.
I removed the beautiful black dress from its confines and gawked at it. The damn thing was the most incredible dress I’d ever seen. Off-the-shoulder, with a tight bodice and a glittering belt that wrapped around the waist. The fabric was the softest material I’d ever felt. It was like velvet mixed with silk. I held it to my cheek and softly rubbed it against my face. I held it up to my body, and it looked like the perfect size. He was so good at nailing my size.
After pulling out beautiful black heels with those iconic red bottoms, I knew I’d never be able to resist an outfit like this.
“Damn it,” I groaned.
I looked back at the note and noticed it didn’t specify a time. So, I gathered everything up and rushed upstairs. After a quick shower and some dry shampoo, I piled my hair on top of my head. I slipped into the