❦ Jason ❦

"Where are you going?" Nicki asked as I hopped out of bed and grabbed my jeans off the floor. She was still flushed from the orgasms she had just had and there was a sated look on her face.

"I have some work to do." I replied pulling on the jeans.

"Will you come back to bed after that?" She asked, sitting up in bed. The sheets fell around her waist revealing her naked body. Her black hair flowed around her shoulders and she looked like every man's wet dream.

But I felt nothing when I looked at her. What the hell was wrong with me?

"I have a meeting in the morning and really need to get prepared. Why don't you get some rest?"

She nodded but I could see the disappointment in her eyes. We both knew that I wasn't coming back to bed.

I headed to my bedroom to take a shower and sort out the turmoil in my head. I didn't want to admit it but sex with Nicki had done nothing to diminish the ache I felt for Kate. When I came, it was Kate's face that flashed in my mind. I imagined I was fucking her and that had taken me over the edge. Even now the thought of her was getting me hard and I cursed violently. I was furious with myself for letting her get under my skin like that.

After my shower, I was in the kitchen making an espresso when my phone started ringing. As soon as I saw the name flashing on the screen I knew something was wrong. It was the only explanation for why the manager of my Chicago Casino would be calling in the middle of the night.

"Mr. Perez, I'm afraid I've got bad news." He said when I answered.

"What is it, Mr. Cooper?

"We just received a bomb threat." He sounded panicked and the words made my blood run cold. "The call came to the reception a few minutes ago. I've already called the police and the bomb squad is on its way."

My fist landed on the kitchen counter in a hard blow and I tried to control the dark fury that flashed through me. I had to be calm. "Were there any demands?"

"No sir."

"Okay. I want you to clear the Casino right away. Follow the usual procedure for evacuation." I ordered my mind working at a fast pace. "And call me when it's done."

After ending the call I immediately called Nikolas Valiente and told him what was going on. The security of all of my hotels, resorts and casinos were outsourced to his company, Valiente Securities.

After that I made another call to my chief pilot. "I need to be in Chicago right now. How fast can you get the plane ready?" I asked when he answered.

"We can be ready for take-off in 45 minutes, Sir." He sounded groggy and I knew I had woken him up from sleep.

Downing my espresso in one gulp, I called my housekeeper, Annie, and let her know that I had a guest over so that she could be there when Nicki woke up.

Thirty minutes later I was on my way to the airport with Ben. After informing Andrea to cancel all my appointments for the next couple of days, I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes. The possibility of the bomb going off in my casino before the bomb squad could find it made me sick to my stomach. I was used to being in control but at that moment I felt helpless and it made me furious.

A security team from Nik's Chicago based security firm were already on their way to the casino and between them and the police I knew they would find the bomb in no time. But that didn't help to erase the tension I felt.

Nik was waiting at the airport when I arrived. He was on the phone and firing instructions to the person on the other end. "My team is already on the scene." He said when he finished the call. "I'm ready to bet that this bomb threat is from the same asshole that is after you."

A bunch of eloquent curses left my mouth when it hit me. Kate was there. I had totally forgotten about that.

"I've already talked to Alex and asked him to be alert." Nik said reading my mind. "Nothing's going to happen to her as long as he is there." He assured me.

❦❦❦

❦ Kate ❦

Standing in front of the dresser, I gave myself a once over from the small mirror hanging on the wall. My face was too pale and there were hideous dark circles under my eyes. I looked like a wreck and I pinched my cheeks in an effort to bring color to my dull face.

After a night of tossing and turning in bed I decided it was time to talk to Peter and tell him what I wanted. I still had three days left from the week he had given me to think but I felt it was cruel of me to make him wait when I was sure of my feelings. So, I had called him and asked him to meet me for lunch. He informed me that he had a business lunch with a client and would come by after that.

The engagement ring that Peter had given me was in its box on the dresser. I dreaded the hurt I would be causing him when I told him that I wanted to break it off. But I didn't have a choice. I couldn't go on pretending to love him when my head was consumed with the thoughts of another man.

I had hurt Peter enough and it was time I put an end to it. He deserved better than me. He deserved someone who would love him and cherish him. Not someone like me.

"Honey? Can I come in?" Mom knocked on my door, startling me out of my thoughts. I shoved the ring box in the pocket of my sweats.

Praying that my face didn't betray how I was feeling, I opened the door. Mum had a worried expression on her face and I grew concerned. "What's wrong, mom?"

"Did you see the news today?"

"No, why?"

"There was a bomb explosion at the Perez Casino here in Chicago last night. I just saw it on the news."

I froze at her words. "On my god, were there any fatalities?"

She shook her head. "Only a few injuries but nothing life threatening. They showed a video clip of Jason arriving at the casino early this morning."

I was still reeling from shock and it took a minute for me to understand what she said. "He is here in Chicago?"

"Yeah. And the news presenter said he is expected to make a public statement at the press conference scheduled for later today."

There was the sound of a car pulling in the driveway and mom glanced at her watch. "That must be Susan. Do you want me to get you anything from the store?"

Mum and her friend Susan were going shopping to buy things for the backyard barbecue they were throwing the next day. They did the barbecue once every month and this time Mum was hosting it.

I shook my head with a distracted smile.

"Alright. See you later, honey." She blew me a kiss and closed the bedroom door after her.

After she left, I went on Google and read the latest news on the explosion. It was reported that the bomb went off in the top floor of the casino and caused quite a lot of damage to the whole floor. Three men from the bomb squad were injured but there were no serious casualties.

I clicked on the video clip of Jason getting out of the car and entering the building. He was surrounded by his security detail and even through the screen of my laptop I could feel the tension emanating from him.

I suddenly had the urge to call him and hear his voice. Dialing his number, I waited but there was no answer. So instead I sent a text telling him how sorry I was to hear about the incident and that I hoped he was okay.

I found myself spending the next hour reading different online magazine articles about Jason. He was listed in Time Magazine's 'most influential people of the world' and he had won several awards since he took over his family business three years ago.

I read several articles about his noted philanthropy and humanitarianism work. Over the past few years The Perez Foundation had donated millions of dollars to developing and distributing vaccines to children in developing countries. His other works included donations to different charitable organizations and he also gave financial aid to new entrepreneurs who didn't have enough capital to start their own business. He was also the founder and chairman of Perez Scholarship Foundation, which offered scholarships to students from low-income families.

I had always known that Jason was generous but wasn't aware of the extent his generosity went and the respect I had for him increased 100-fold.

The doorbell rang and I put my laptop away and went downstairs wondering who it was. My curiosity turned to surprise when I found Peter on the doorstep, clutching a bouquet of white roses. I hadn't been expecting him for another hour.

"I wrapped up my lunch early." He said seeing my surprised face. He thrust the bouquet at me. Even after two years of dating, he couldn't seem to remember that my least favorite flowers were roses. Especially the white ones.

"Thanks." I managed a smile as I took it from him. Holding the door wide open I invited him in. I didn't remember being nervous around him ever before. "I'll put this in water." I needed a moment.

Without waiting for an answer, I escaped into the kitchen. Taking a deep breath to calm the frogs leaping in my stomach, I grabbed a glass vase and filled it with water.

As I was arranging the white blooms in the vase, I heard soft footsteps behind me. Before I could turn around, Peter wrapped an arm around me from behind and pulled me against his chest.

"I'm glad you called. I can't tell you how much I've missed you." He murmured into my hair and tightened his hold on me. My body went stiff the moment he touched me but he didn't seem to have noticed it as he continued raining kisses on the curve of my neck.

I tried to move out of his embrace. "Peter. We need to talk." He turned me around to face him.

"Later, honey. Let me kiss you first." His hold on me didn't loosen as he bent down and kissed me, cutting away my protest. My body went into full panic and I squirmed against him trying to pull away and he finally realized that I wasn't kissing him back but protesting. He broke the kiss to look at me and I grabbed the chance and took several steps away from him.

There was hurt in his brown eyes and an embarrassed flush stained his face. "I'm sorry. I thought you..." He trailed off, the flush deepening.

My face paled as realization struck me. He thought I had called him over to make up with him. Oh god. My heart ached for him and at that moment I hated myself more than anything for what I was about to do.

I swallowed the sudden lump in my throat and repeated. "We need to talk."

"Okay." He nodded and pulled up a chair and sat down at the small dining table. It was harder than I thought. I didn't know how to start the conversation. I brushed away the lock of hair fallen out of my ponytail and took the seat across from him.

Peter was looking at me with a wary expression on his face. I had a feeling he knew what I was going to say. I could see the pain in his eyes he was trying unsuccessfully to hide.

My hands were fisted on my lap and I could feel my fingernails biting into my palm. I had to do this. Now. "I.." My voice broke. "I can't marry you, Peter. I'm sorry." I blurted out in a rush.

He just looked at me. The silence hung heavy in the air.

"Say something." I said desperately.

He shook his head as if he couldn't quite believe what was going on. "Is there anything left to say?" He finally said looking away. His face was pale and his hands were fisted on the table.

"I didn't mean to hurt you." My voice was hoarse and I swallowed the lump in my throat. "You're a great man, Peter. You deserve so much better than me." He was silent again. Taking the ring box that was in my pocket, I placed it on the table.

He stared at the box for a few moments before he finally looked at me and my heart ached at the pain I saw on his face. "Are you fucking him?"

"What?" It was the last thing I had expected him to ask and I was taken aback. "No, I'm not."

"But he is the reason why you're jilting me." It wasn't a question.

"I'm sorry." I didn't know what else to say.

He stood up abruptly, startling me. "Stop saying that. You're not sorry at all or you wouldn't be doing this to me." His face was red as if he was hanging on to his control by a thread. With quick strides, he walked to me and pulled me up by the arms to face him. "I gave you everything. How could you do this to me?"

His grip on me was so tight it was painful. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I'm s.."

He shoved me away and I staggered back in shock. His face was a mask of anger and disgust. "Just shut up. I've had enough of your sorry." He bit out furiously. "You've just ruined my life. I hope you're happy, Kate." With that he snatched the ring box and strode out of the room. The sound of the front door slamming reverberated through the room.

My legs weak, I sank back into my chair and buried my face in my hands. I didn't know how long I sat there but I was broken out of my thoughts when I heard the front door opening.

Mum came into the kitchen with several bags of grocery and she stopped in her tracks seeing me. I must have looked pitiful, with my tear stained cheeks and pale face.

She put the shopping bags on the counter and hurried to me. She touched my face gently. "What's wrong, honey?"

The words spilled out of me and I told her everything. Starting from my drunk kiss with Jason to everything that happened after that. The entire time I talked I didn't look her in the eye. I didn't want to see the disappointment in them.

"Oh honey." She murmured when I finished and enveloped me in a hug, surprising me. I wasn't expecting that.

"Are you upset?" I finally asked when she drew me away. I was afraid of her answer. She gave me a confused look. "I'm just like dad." I added as an explanation.

She shook her head. "Your father slept with anyone who crossed his path and lied to me for years. You did a mistake and you came clean to Peter. That takes real courage. You're nothing like him, honey."

She didn't know it but her words meant a lot to me. I gave her a watery smile. "I'm so glad I came home to you, mum."

She smiled back tenderly. "Me too, honey, me too."