Page 66 of Adam’s Obsession

“We agreed we wouldn’t tell anyone about us. We agreed itwould be a disaster.”

No, Adam thought, propping up on his elbow to watchher skitter around the room. It would avert disaster. For one thing, it wouldkeep him from killing Jack. A frown formed on his brow. “It won’t be adisaster.” It would be frickin’ great.

She paused halfway into her blouse. “Adam. You don’tunderstand what it’s like for a woman when something like this gets out. It’sawful. The whispers. The rumors. The way people stare at you. The way theytreat you. I hated it, Adam, and I don’t want that to happen here. I loveTrillo–Maris.”

He leapt from the bed and hovered at her side. “Trillo–Marisloves you.” It was as close as he could come to saying those words butshe waved the heartfelt comment away.

“What am I going to do if this costs me my job?” She buriedher face in her hands. “Two times in a row? I’ll be un-hirable.”

“You’re not losing your job.” His frustration rose as hewatched her dress, knowing he was losing her, at least for the night.She was slipping through his fingers like a handful of sand and all he wantedto do was grasp tighter. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Home.”

“Home? I thought we were going to the banquet tonight.”

She fixed him with an incredulous glare. “Together?”

Perhaps his intention to do just that shone in his eyesbecause she growled and continued hunting for her shoes. “Men,” she mutteredunder her breath.

“Kat.” He followed her around the room as she hunted. “Wait.We need to talk about this.”

“Why? So you can get what you want and I can get screwed? Inmore ways than one?”

“It’s not like that, damn it.”

“Really?” She glared up at him. “What exactly is it like?”

“I just want them to know you’re mine.”

Katherine stilled as her hovering heart completed its fall.

Adam knew how strongly she felt. He knew what it would meanto her, the humiliation she would suffer if everyone in the office found outabout their affair. Yet still, he was pressing to tell them. To tell them all.To have his own way. She glanced down at the hands gripping her shoes. Herknuckles were white.

She forced a stoic expression though panic roiled beneath.She didn’t want it to end. She wasn’t ready for it to end. But that’s what Adamwas doing. Ending it.

“I see.” She swallowed against the thick knot in her throat.“We agreed not to tell anyone,” she said softly. “We agreed our affair wouldlast as long as no one in the office knew about it. I explained why it wasimportant to me and you agreed. Now you’ve changed your mind.”

“I haven’t changed my mind. I never wanted to keep this asecret. I thought it was a stupid idea then and it’s a stupid idea now.”

The blood drained from her face. “What?”

Realizing his gaffe, Adam quickly backpedaled. “I didn’tmean it that way. It’s just that, well, people need to know.”

“People do not need to know. This is a private matter.Between the two of us.”

Adam’s brow darkened. “Things have changed. You don’tunderstand.”

“Oh, I understand.” She did and it broke her heart. Adamknew the quickest way to end their relationship was to broadcast it throughoutthe office. She’d made herself more than clear. She had no intention of losingher job this way. Not again.

But he was insisting on doing just that, which meant heeither didn’t value her concerns or he didn’t value their relationship. Neitherwas acceptable to her. She grabbed her bag. “I think we’re through here.”

His nostrils flared. “What do you mean?”

She met his eyes with a hint of a tear in her own. “I thinkyou know what I mean.”

Adam frowned. “We’re not through.”

“Yes. We are. I have to go.” She scrabbled for the onlyexcuse she could think of—one that had always done the trick in the past. “Ihave work to do.”