Knight's Game (2 page)

S
he finally decided – most likely not. And after having seen how Sander Global operated, if CX Capital was using similar crap security, they needed her.

Tossing back the covers, she climbed out of bed where she’d been ensconced since her return from Hong Kong. Wallowing in melancholy. Even though she knew it was incredibly stupid to cry over someone like Dominic Knight who could have any woman he wanted and probably had. Maybe this call was gypsy fate telling her it was time to forget about a shameless, heartless,
unfortunately jaw-droppingly beautiful and sexually talented
prick. File him away under superhot, but unavailable. He went through women at warp speed.

And that’s the way he liked it.

Straightening her Roadrunner sleep shirt that was a mess of wrinkles after days in bed, she made her way through the pile of luggage and fast food containers cluttering her apartment, stopped at one of the windows, pulled back the drapes and blinked like she’d just walked out of a cave. Brilliant sunshine, the outside world still intact. An empty street this time of day, melting snow piled up on the curb, grimy and grey; city snow. Not like the snow at the lake.

She
could
go home. Nana was waiting.

But she’d be better off
doing
something rather than going home and being depressed in different surroundings. She had been thinking about checking to see if some of her job offers were still open;
thinking about it
being the operative phrase. Instead, she’d been lying in bed, wrapped in joyless gloom, watching doleful movies, hammering nail after nail into the coffin of her hopelessness and despair. Waiting to reach the point where she could bury her vast sorrow and get on with her life.

Nibbling on her bottom lip, she reviewed her conversation with William McCormick again, parsed and dissected each of his replies. Simple, uncomplicated answers, no hesitation when it came to Dominic’s name. If she had to bet, she’d say he really didn’t know the selfish billionaire fucker.

But personal resentments aside, the idea of working for herself
was
appealing.

She liked her independence – issues pertaining to Dominic Knight an exception of course … but that had had to do with
incredible
sex. In the real world, she disliked authority, preferred working alone, was totally self-motivated.

So really, she was being offered the consummate work experience.

But even the niggling doubt in the back of her mind that Dominic wasn’t entirely absent from the equation couldn’t dampen her excitement. This was a glorious prospect and what seemed like a fabulous job. Furthermore, with Dominic’s fee and the one from McCormick, she’d be financially secure for at least three years – maybe more.

She suddenly smiled, feeling a little bit cheerful, even faintly inspired, for the first time since she’d come home. She adored matching wits with possible hackers, peeling back the layers of potential fraud, entering the murky waters where the dark market operated.

So why not? There really wasn’t a downside.

And it was a game she loved to play.

Oops, wrong words – the thought of playing games generated a hot rush of lustful memories. Seriously, that was another reason she had to re-enter the workforce. She needed mega-tons of distraction. Masturbation was all fine and good but it wasn’t nearly enough.

Turning from the window, she went to call her grandmother.

‘Guess what, Nana?’

‘It must be good. You sound cheerful.’

‘It is. I was just offered a really neat assignment. Lots of
money, nice hotel, first-class airfare, even my food – that all comes with the deal.’

The fact that Katie wasn’t on the verge of tears was the best news of all. ‘Give me the who, what, when, where, why, sweetie.’

‘CX Capital, a bank that was recently shut down by hackers. As soon as I want. Singapore. And they need me—’

‘As their fix-it-up chappie,’ Nana finished.

Kate laughed. ‘You betcha. Doctor Seuss and me to the rescue.’ She’d loved those books so much as a child, she’d memorized them all before she was four. ‘I’ll stop in and see you before I go.’

‘Lovely. Although I warn you, you might have to endure a coffee party with my bridge club. I’ve been telling them how you’ve become a world traveller.’

‘An opportunity to jerk Jan Vogel’s chain is not to be missed, I see.’

Nana chuckled. ‘That goes without saying. When it comes to bragging rights, no one outdoes Jan anyway. I’m years behind her since I’m polite, so I expect you to tell a good story.’

Kate had a story to tell that would curl Jan Vogel’s ears, but it wasn’t for public consumption. ‘I did see how the rich and famous live. I could describe Dominic Knight’s house in Hong Kong. And his private plane. And the fleet of Mercedes at his beck and call.’

That Katie was able to talk about Dominic Knight without choking back tears was good. A real step forward in fact.
‘Sounds exciting,’ Nana said. ‘But really, I just like to show you off. You know that. So talk about whatever you want.’

‘It was another world, Nana. You wouldn’t believe the luxury, the huge number of servants, the beautiful surroundings, the incredible food and expensive wines. And it’s all just taken for granted.’

‘I’m glad you had a chance to see it,’ Nana gently noted. ‘Most people don’t. At least people we know.’

Kate sighed. ‘You’re right. It was definitely a not-to-be-missed opportunity.’

‘Perhaps Singapore will be equally exciting. You never know.’

‘It might be,’ Kate politely replied, when it couldn’t possibly be without Dominic. ‘I’ll call the banker and tell him I’m taking the job, then I’ll let you know when I’m coming home.’

‘Any time, sweetie. Leon and I will be waiting. Did I tell you he’s gained another twenty pounds? He’s like the pony you always wanted.’

Kate chuckled. ‘The one Gramps didn’t want in his garage.’

‘Occasionally your grandfather didn’t give you everything you wanted,’ Nana said drolly.

‘Only that once, Nana.’ Kate’s voice trembled and tears blurred her vision. Her gramps had been a kind, generous man with rock-solid convictions who was devoted to her. Who challenged her to always try anything. Her Santa Claus and badass drill sergeant rolled into one.

‘I think he was saving himself from mucking out a pony’s stall. You’d do it once or twice at that age and then it would have been his job. Your grandfather was a practical man. Now we better change the subject or we’ll both be crying.’

‘Right,’ Kate said briskly. ‘So let me call this McCormick, then I’ll make my reservations for Minnesota.’

Kate called Mr McCormick, accepted his offer, made her flight reservations and texted Nana with the details. Then she ordered a pizza and watched the end of the tragic samurai movie while she waited for the food to arrive – another reason for returning to work. Her recent eating habits were lamentable. If she continued lying in bed and having food delivered, she’d soon weigh two hundred pounds.

After the movie ended, Kate decided on the spur of the moment to call her roommate Meg who was on a dinosaur dig and tell her she’d stop by Missoula for a day or two on her way to Singapore.

She’d come to the conclusion that it was time to see if some other man could ignite her libido. After three solid days of unremitting misery, she was willing to try anything to cure her lovesickness. And who better than Meg to set her straight – the queen of sex is for fun, check your heart at the door, last names aren’t necessary.

Meg squealed when she heard Kate would be visiting. ‘Really! Really, you’re coming to visit? I can hardly wait!’

‘It sounds like you’re having fun out there,’ Kate said. ‘It’s not really out of my way to stop in Missoula on my flight
to Singapore, and I’m
not
having any fun here so I thought …’

‘Hey, what’s with the someone-died voice? OH, shit, don’t tell me—’

‘No, no, Nana’s fine. But’ – Kate sighed – ‘tell me you can’t die of a broken heart.’

‘Oh my God! You didn’t! Oh, Christ,’ Meg said as though she were telepathic. ‘You really did. You slept with the billionaire.’

‘Kinda, sorta’ – a grumbling sigh this time – ‘yeah. Now all I do is cry.’

‘Listen to me, sweet pea.’ Meg spoke in her it’s-for-your own-good tone of voice. ‘I’m going to be brutally frank. First, you’re not Cinderella. Second, even if you were, Dominic Knight’s definitely not prince material. Third, whatever happened had nothing to do with love – and, fourth – and most important – even if you think your heart is broken, no one
ever, ever
dies of a broken heart. Got it?’

A lengthy pause.

‘Trust me. OK? I know. Remember Johnny Dare? I got over him.’

‘In less than a day,’ Kate pointed out sarcastically.

‘So you’re behind the curve. I’ll get you back up to speed. I gotta tell you the men out here are prime examples of heavy-duty testosterone. They hunt, fish, break horses and – I don’t know – probably chop wood in their spare time.’

That brought a reluctant chuckle from Kate. ‘So if I have a wood stove, you’re saying they can help me out?’

‘They can help you out in even better ways. Guaranteed.’

‘You’re right.’ Kate put a little briskness in her tone, as if she actually believed Meg’s guarantee. ‘Why mope.’

‘Hey, I’m not pretending Dominic Knight isn’t dazzling. I’ve seen him in enough tabloid magazines, always with a Barbie doll on his arm. But you know he’s only shopping, never buying. Hey, speaking of shopping’ – the sudden animation in her voice was familiar to Kate who’d known Meg since they’d been dorm mates in freshman year – ‘you can do a little shopping too. I’ll invite all of Luke’s gorgeous, studly friends to a party; you can look them over and take your pick. When are you coming?’

‘Probably Friday.’

‘Perfect. I’ll have a complete line-up on hand. You choose your favourite one-night stand, have some fun and forget billionaires who have dollar signs where their hearts should be. Seriously, sweetie, one has to be practical about men who own half the world.’

‘I know. Really, I’m trying.’

‘Good,’ Meg said warmly, like a teacher praising a slow student who finally gave the right answer to two and two is four. ‘Now, any preferences for your rebound sex? Tall, muscular, dark, blond, blue eyes – give me a hint.’

‘Blond’s good.’ Someone who wouldn’t remind her of Dominic, someone who wouldn’t trigger even the tiniest memory of a tall, dark, handsome jerk.

‘Blond it is. God, I’m so glad you’re coming out! We’ll have a ball!’

After ten drinks maybe.
‘I’m looking forward to the party,’ Kate fibbed. But she knew once she was in Missoula at least she’d be busy. Meg was a full-steam-ahead, egocentric personality who didn’t sit still. ‘And thanks,’ she added politely. ‘I feel better now.’ When she didn’t know if she’d ever feel better.

‘I’ll have a full roster of studs waiting for you,’ Meg replied gleefully. ‘All blonds. And may I say, it’s about freaking time.’

At the same time Kate was making plans with Meg, Dominic was seated across the dinner table from a beautiful, blonde divorcee whom he’d known for years.

‘I can’t believe my luck, darling.’ Victoria Melbury smiled at Dominic over the rim of her wine glass. ‘What are the odds of bumping into you on the street in Paris?’

Factoring in the population of Paris and his previous plans to fly home from Hong Kong, he smiled and said, ‘Definitely a long shot.’ He’d been getting out of his car in front of his apartment on the Île Saint-Louis earlier in the day when Vicky had called out his name. Dominic had met Vicky at a London party three years ago, had fallen into bed with her soon after and they’d had mutually gratifying sex then and several times since.

‘I hope you don’t mind,’ she said in a seductive purr. ‘But I wasn’t about to be shy in asking you out when you said you weren’t in the city for long.’

Dominic smiled again. ‘Not a problem. I was about to invite you out to dinner anyway,’ he lied, when he’d actually planned on sitting alone in his apartment and drowning his sorrows in whisky.

‘This is such a darling little restaurant.’ She lifted her perfectly manicured hand in a flighty little wave encompassing the room, before reaching out to lightly brush her fingers across Dominic’s hand resting on the table. ‘I’m so glad you brought me here. I gather the chef is a good friend of yours.’ The chef had come out to greet them when he heard Nick was in the house.

‘Guillaume and I met in Nice a few years ago. I was pleased when he moved to Paris.’ The restaurant was on a quiet, tree-lined street in Montmartre on the ground floor of a small house that had been converted into a neo-bistro thanks to an investment from Dominic.

‘He reminds me of that lovely young chef in Monaco. Do you remember that little café by the water?’ She giggled prettily. ‘We were a little risqué that night.’

‘I remember. We were both pretty loaded.’ He picked up the bottle on the table, uninterested in reminiscing about their public sexual escapade. ‘More wine?’

She readily held out her glass and gave him a playful smile. ‘Are you trying to get me drunk, Nicky dear?’

He shook his head. ‘It’s just a good wine.’ He was actually trying to get himself drunk. He didn’t want to be here. He didn’t want to see Vicky across the table from him, full of flattery and artifice, showing off her boobs, taking it for
granted that they were her best calling card. He wanted to leave – twenty minutes ago … alone.

The way Vicky ate the first course of white asparagus with anchovy dressing almost took away Dominic’s appetite. Although, realistically, it wasn’t her fault – it was his. Pre-Katherine, had he been watching Vicky delicately place the tip of the asparagus in her mouth and slowly nibble on it until she’d consumed the entire stalk, he at least would have found it amusing. Now, it was unappealing on so many levels.

Daintily wiping her mouth when she finished, she smiled and pointed at Dominic’s barely touched asparagus. ‘Aren’t you hungry, darling?’

Not anymore.
‘I should have ordered the ravioli,’ he said with a quick glance at his watch. Then he caught the waiter’s eye and nodded at their plates.