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Lauren sighed and launched into another rapid-fire delivery.
By the time Ana ended the phone call she felt as if every single drop of blood had drained from her veins. She clutched the back of an armchair, struggling to breathe as Lauren’s words rang through her brain.
Vaguely she heard the door open and close. Heard footsteps draw closer and Bastien’s harsh curse.
‘Ana! What’s wrong?’
He sounded...concerned. But she knew she couldn’t be hearing right. Knew it was a lie. How skilfully he’d fooled her!
From feeling faint, now she felt almost supernatural strength surge into her veins. She whirled and faced him.
‘You bastard! You vile, despicable bastard.’
CHAPTER NINE
BASTIEN’S FACE HARDENED. ‘I’m sure I can prove you wrong on the bastard issue, just as I’m sure you’re about to enlighten me on these “vile, despicable” things I’m supposed to have done.’
‘You know exactly what you’ve done. More or less—those were your words! God, how could I have been so stupid!’
Ana couldn’t control her shaking or stem the deep well of pain springing up in her heart. She’d trusted him. She’d dropped her guard and given herself to him.
One brow lifted. ‘I’m afraid you’re not making any sense. Try again.’
‘My contract!’ Why couldn’t she hold her voice steady? Why did it have to break now, when she needed to be strong? ‘I trusted you.’ She’d felt safe with him, foolishly let herself believe he wouldn’t hurt her.
He exhaled slowly, a wash of bleakness blanking his features before he blinked it away. ‘What about your contract?’
‘You said it was “more or less” the same as the other one. Except you lied. It’s so much more! Sleeping with me—was that a reward to yourself for successfully tricking me?’
His eyes grew arctic-cold. Stalking to where she stood, he grabbed her arm. ‘You debase yourself with that assumption, Ana, and you debase me,’ he breathed in soft, dangerous tones. ‘I’ve never slept with anyone to secure a business deal.’
‘A way of congratulating yourself for a job well done, then?’
He let go abruptly, as if he couldn’t stand to touch her. ‘I’m assuming this is how you feel about your contract. But I’m still in the dark as to how you think I’ve tricked you,’ he incised.
‘You know what you’ve done. My last contract was supposed to finish next month. Instead you’ve tied me into a contract for another year!’
‘And I’m guessing you have a problem with that?’
‘No. I’m flinging insults at you just for the hell of it. Deep down inside, Bastien, I’m actually dancing a jig.’
‘Facetiousness doesn’t suit you.’
‘No? Perhaps you’d prefer me to come over there and claw your eyes out?’
Her voice broke again. And, damn it, tears welled in her eyes. They grew faster than she could stop them and spilled over before she could blink them away.
She swiped her cheeks with an angry hand. ‘How could you, Bastien?’
‘It’s just business,’ he replied coolly, but something flitted through his eyes, a slight softening as he traced her tearstained cheek.
‘My life isn’t just business. My future isn’t just business!’
His brows clamped together. ‘Je ne comprends pas. You read the contract. Why did you sign it if you didn’t agree with the terms?’
Her tears spilled faster, her shame closing in on her in a thick cloud of despair. She tried to look away, but Bastien’s gaze had locked on hers with unwavering intensity. Her throat clogged with even more tears, her heart sinking as he came closer and grasped her shoulders.
‘Why did you sign the contract, Ana?’ he demanded.
