Page 115 of Gold Diggers

Karin was not to be deflected. ‘Answer the question, Adam,’ she said calmly. ‘Who is it for?’

‘It’s for Erin,’ he said coolly. ‘It’s her birthday, so I thought I’d get her a little trinket.’

‘Erin’s birthday? Really,’ said Karin sarcastically. ‘You forget she used to be my assistant. Her birthday isn’t in August at all.’

Karin didn’t have a clue when Erin’s birthday was, but she knew she had to bluff him.

They locked stares and she saw him take a small, sharp intake of breath. She knew Adam Gold, the businessman, the ruthless negotiator, had been caught out.

‘Adam, tell me the truth.’

Her voice was high pitched and shrill and she c

ould feel her heart beating faster. She caught herself feeling fearful and insecure and hated herself for it. The last six months with Adam had gnawed away at her confidence so much that she was beginning not to recognize herself. She glared at him, baiting him to lie further.

‘It’s Claudia Falcon, isn’t it?’ she said calmly.

Adam had walked away from her and stood at the window, staring out into the blackness. In the distance they could hear the low hum of laughter from the party.

‘It’s not Claudia,’ he said softly.

‘Then why have you been spending so much time with her?’

‘Business!’ shouted Adam.

‘Yeah, right,’ said Karin sarcastically.

‘Look. We are putting together a financial deal – a takeover bid for the Astley Retail chain. We have to do it by stealth.’

‘Oh yes, stealth being the right word, when you’re fucking the banker.’

‘I’m not fucking Claudia,’ he said, twisting round to face her.

‘Adam, I’m not stupid. I’ve seen the way you are together, I can see—’

‘Claudia is gay,’ he said with finality.

Karin stopped in her tracks, stunned. Gay? That was a turn-up for the books. She felt her anger reboil as she realized he’d distracted her from the big issue. The necklace and who it was for. She knew she had let herself slip, her anger betraying her vulnerability and insecurity. But she’d come too far now to pretend it didn’t matter.

‘Adam,’ she said softly, walking up behind him, ‘the best birthday present you can give me is the truth.’

She could see their faces reflected in the glass, both sad and uncertain.

‘Karin …’ he began, then he stopped and took a deep breath.

‘There is someone,’ he said finally. ‘The necklace was for someone else.’

‘Can I ask who?’ Karin’s voice was little more than a cracked whisper.

He turned to face her and for a moment Karin expected the worst, but he gently picked up her hand and placed it in his. She wanted to snap it away but she felt drained of strength.

‘The necklace was for someone who doesn’t matter half as much as you matter to me,’ he said, stroking her fingers with the curve of his thumb. ‘Someone who doesn’t even come close.’

She snatched her hand away from his and stepped back. ‘How dare you?’ she spat. ‘How dare you treat me with so little respect. You’re lucky to have me. You know that, don’t you?’ she said defiantly.

Adam reached forward and touched her arm. ‘Kay. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. It was a mistake. I was weak. I was foolish. Give me the chance to make it up to you.’

She took hold of his arm and threw it away from her. ‘There’s no second chances, Adam. I’m not like all the other women you’ve taken advantage of.’