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Gray had told her he’d been in New York all day Thursday. He’d arrived at her place late because of a work emergency he’d had to straighten out. He couldn’t have been in Atlantic City with Nadia or anyone else.
What about the picture? Could they be old ones? Maybe they were pictures taken the previous fall? Could they be Photoshopped? People could do anything with pictures and a computer.
She swallowed as her mind raced. The media had no reason to say he attended the grand opening of The Illusion. Not only that, but it had no reason to state he’d spent the night alongside Nadia Danilova.
“Kiera look at me.” Gray’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Try to take some deep breaths.”
Kiera moved off his lap and took in one deep breath after another. A hand stroked her back as she tried to get enough air into her body.
“That’s better, love. Calm down.”
Rather than calm her, Gray’s voice sent rage through her. “Don’t touch me.” She pulled away and stood, almost tripping over the coffee table.
“Please, sit down. It’s not what you think.” He walked toward her.
Kiera took several steps backward. “So they made up that story? You weren’t in Atlantic City when you said you were in New York? Did they Photoshop those pictures?” Her body vibrated as wave after wave of anger washed over her. “You told me you were working. That some project had hit a snag and you needed to take care of it before we left.”
“I was working on a project. Once I got it done, I came straight to you.”
“And just what were you working on? The best way to sleep with Nadia and not have me find out?”
“There’s nothing between us. We’re business associates, that’s all.”
She walked to the other side of the couch. “Business isn’t my thing, but I know that people don’t finalize international projects at a party like that, Gray.”
Gray raked a hand through his hair, drawing Kiera’s attention to his expensive watch. Right away, the picture of Nadia getting out of a limo in California came to mind. In it, a well-dressed man wearing an expensive-looking watch had been helping her.
“You were with her in California, too, at the fundraiser.”
“We did talk that night, but that was work too.”
“Why? If you wanted to see her you could have ended our relationship. I wouldn’t have hated you.”
She would have been crushed, but not pissed like she was now.
“My project involved her father, Kiera. Nothing has happened between us.”
“And you couldn’t work on it in your office?”
“It’s complicated.”
“That’s all you can say? You’ve been lying to me and all you can say is, ‘It’s complicated?’” Kiera shouted the last few words. “What else have you lied about?”
“I love you, Kiera. For now, I need you to trust me when I say nothing is going on. When I can explain everything, I will. I promise.”
Fury built inside her. “Trust you? Do you even know what the word means?”
Kiera pulled the engagement ring off her finger. Her first instinct was to throw it at him, but she didn’t want to be childish so she dropped it on the coffee table.
“Save that for the next woman you manage to fool.” So far, she kept back any tears. She hoped her anger held them back a little longer. When she fell apart, she wanted to do it alone behind a closed door.
“I’ll go as soon as I pack my stuff.” She started walking away, but didn’t get far as Gray leaped over the couch and landed in front of her.
“Don’t do this. Please, Kiera. I know you love me.” He grabbed her upper arms, his fingers biting into her skin.
“I did love you, but I guess that wasn’t enough for you. I should’ve known better. I don’t ever want to see you again.”
Gray’s eyes darkened with pain. “You don’t mean that. You’re upset. I understand that, but we can work this out.”
