Page 92 of A Diamond Deal
He flicked to another page, and another, adding his signature. ‘The divorce papers.’
She couldn’t breathe.
‘You will sign the papers.’ He held out his pen. ‘Now.’
‘No.’
‘You will sign them,’ he repeated. ‘And you will leave.’
‘I’m not going anywhere.’
‘When I found you,’ he said. ‘The contract. The sex. The divorce. When you demanded we find closure…’ He placed the pen on the table. Leant forward, his arms on the edge of the desk. Oh, so nonchalantly. ‘I agreed to it all, and do you know why, Poppy?’
Her heart pounded. ‘Why?’
‘Revenge.’
‘Revenge?’
‘Retribution, for your abandonment. For shattering the image I had worked all my life to project,’ he clarified. ‘I did it so when you needed me,’ his nostrils flared, ‘I’d send you away.’
‘That’s not true.’
‘I have manipulated you from the very beginning. I have tricked you, Poppy.Deceived you.’
‘You’re lying.’
‘Why would I lie now? It’s over. The façade. So why would I keep pretending?’
‘Pretending?’
‘I’ve been toying with you.’
‘The contract. I know…’ she said. ‘We were both fighting for control, but it was always going to end this way. I know that, and so do you. We love each other.’
‘I have never, and will never loveyou.’
Her knees wobbled. She felt weak.Sick.Had it all been a lie?
She’d put her love out there, asked for his in return, and he had made it something ugly.Selfish.
He picked up the pen. Held it out to her. His hand didn’t tremble. His fingers pure stone, he held it there as if nothing was going on beneath his skin. As if he felt nothing.
‘Sign it, Poppy.’
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Konstantinos watched herfight them down. Tears intended to bring him closer. Intended to make him react.
He wouldn’t.
He’d let her in. Beneath his skin. She’d got into his head. He’d been ready to walk away from today, because he’d wanted to protecther.But she was never going to do it, anyway. Renew their vows. She’d plannedthisall along. To subdue him with herhonesty.To leave him up there—alone—at the altar.
He’d given her ammunition. Told her where she could wound him most. He’d told her things he’d told no one. He’d given her the bullets, and she’d brought the gun. Loaded it while he watched. She’d shot him with words oflove.
She’s not trying to kill you.
But she was.He knew.
