She suppressed a sigh of relief as he moved away, heading toward the built-in bar. He returned a moment later with a tall-stemmed glass of red wine for her and what smelled like rye whiskey for himself.
She avoided touching him when she took the glass, knowing she couldn’t withstand physical contact and retain her composure.
She sipped her wine, watching him over the glass. “Why do you want to invest in my company?”
Her fingers tightened around the glass. He had wanted to control her, but he had failed. Did he now seek to reestablish that control by taking hold of her company?
Damn, she was small time compared to the big corporation he owned. Would he build some clause in the contract that would allow him to take controlling interest? Would he find a way to steal her company from her? This could be his revenge for her denying him what he’d wanted from her.
He swirled the amber liquor around the glass, his gaze intent on the rippling motion. “If it helps, I have no intention of getting involved in the day-to-day operation of a small consulting firm. You’ll still retain control.”
He had to be kidding. She never retained control when Matt was involved.
Damn it, even if he didn’t have controlling interest, all he had to do was threaten to pull out his money and she’d be stuck. And he would know everything about her business because he’d have access to all her files. He’d be her partner for heaven’s sake.
He sipped his drink, his dark eyes watching her over the rim of his glass.
Her breath locked in her lungs. Oh, God, she felt so trapped.
He simply stared, his face an emotionless mask.
But would he really steal away her company? The Matt she’d thought she’d known would never have done a thing like that. That Matt had been a kind, decent, caring man. A man who had once loved her. But then she had learned what he really was.
A man as powerful as Matt Pearce will never let you just walk away. So I suggest you run. Far. And fast.
That’s what his friend Ileana had told her after that night. She had opened Kate’s eyes to what he was. Her stomach clenched at the memory.
Now Matt would have the ability to control her company, and thereby control her.
She walked to the couch and sank onto it. The fire still crackled and blazed cheerily, but the warmth no longer touched her. A chill had started around her heart and now crept outward to encompass her whole being.
“Why are you doing this?”
His lips compressed. “Why do you think I’m doing it?” He sounded more quizzical than demanding and that confused her.
She shook her head. “I don’t know. After what happened…”
Damn, she didn’t want to get into it. Didn’t want to hear him tell her why he’d been willing to subject her to that kind of pain.
His eyes narrowed. “What exactly happened, Kate? Between us?”
She stared at him in raging disbelief, then slammed her glass down on the coffee table and shot to her feet. “How dare you ask me that? After what you put me through…” The raging emotions flooding through her locked the breath in her lungs and words failed her. She paced across the floor.
“After what I put you through?” He placed his glass on the mantel and paced toward her. “We really do have some talking to do.”
“No.” She slashed her hand through the air. “I don’t want to talk to you about this. I don’t want to hear your explanations.”
His hard gaze sharpened. He stepped forward, his presence like a storm cloud descending on her, a turmoil of mixed emotions swirling in his eyes. He raised a hand and stroked her cheek with one outstretched finger. She forced herself not to flinch.
“Kate, was it my fault that you left? Did I … go too far with you?” The words came out soft and … uncertain.
She felt her composure crack as old feelings flared inside her. Heat suffused her cheeks and a longing she’d buried in the depths of her soul stirred. No, don’t let me feel this. I don’t want to feel this.
Oh, God, she knew she still loved him—because, quite simply, she’d never stopped—but she couldn’t give in to the destructive emotion.
She stepped out of reach and turned away. Striding around the armchair to the fireplace, drawn to the flames and the warmth she wished would penetrate the numbness gripping her, she concentrated on collecting her composure.
She felt the fine hairs on the back of her neck stand up and realized Matt stood behind her.