Rebound (30 page)

“Oh, we know gorgeous, but we just thought you might need some shoulders. And, if you need me to go over there and beat the ever livin’ shit out of that prick, I will,” Tristan said aggressively.

Katrine sniffed and chuckled a little, “Damn Tris, you almost sounded butch just then!” They laughed.

“What happened? What did he do?” Jane asked concerned.

“I’ll tell you what happened. He freaked out because he fell for Katrine and he did something stupid to fuck it all up.” Izzie said.

“That about sums it up, Iz. Your experience with assholes is finally paying off.” Katrine weakly grinned.

“That bastard. I will go over there right now and pull his dick off with a pair of pliers,” Charlie growled.

“Charlie, violence won’t help Katrine feel better,” Paige reprimanded.

“Maybe not, but it would make
me
feel a whole lot better,” Charlie said.

“Weeeelllll that isn’t really necessary Charlie... I maaaayy have toe punched him in the balls.” Katrine said with that teeth baring grin that says, “oops.”

“You did what!!?!?!!” They said almost all at once.

“I know, I know, not one of my finest moments. So much for grace under pressure.”

“I beg to differ. Way to go, friend!!” Charlie said, looking more impressed then she had ever seen her.

“I can’t believe you did that, sis. You always say ‘I’ll kick him in the balls’ and things like that, but I never thought you would actually do it!”

“Again, not very mature, I know.” Katrine said, embarrassed.

“Who the hell cares, that was brilliant! I have never been more proud!” Maddie said, beaming at her.

“Can I make you a cup of tea? I brought over the mint kind you love.” 

“Thanks Jane, that sounds wonderful.”

“So what exactly did happen, Trine? It must have been pretty bad to incite your feet of fury.” Maddie asked with a very concerned look on her face.

“Well let’s see. After one of the most amazing months of my life and I know his, not to mention the best sex of my life, he got scared and decided to ruin it all. By sleeping with someone else.” Katrine said flatly. 

A collective gasp and a few expletives spilled from her support group’s mouths.

“Oh sis, I am so sorry. I thought he just broke it off. I had no idea it was that bad.” Maddie sighed.

“You all thought it would end badly and it has. I knew it probably would too. But towards the end it looked like we might be heading for something more serious,  I guess he had a different notion. Am I wearing a t-shirt that says please cheat on me? What is the deal? I mean really!” Katrine’s chest ached, but she felt better talking about it.

“Oh Jane, this tea is divine. You sell the yummiest things.” Katrine said with a small grin.

“The saddest part was I think he was falling for me. I mean really falling for me. I could tell. He couldn’t have faked that. Could he? All the things he said, that wasn’t bull shit. Was it?”

“No Katrine, if he had any sense at all, he fell head over heels in love with you. You my dear girl, are fabulous.” Tristan soothed.

My girl, huh
. 

He would call her that sometimes. That made her cry again. This time just slow silent drops fell onto her cheeks. Charlie handed her a tissue and gave her a kiss on the head.

She continued to fill them in on all that happened. Her friends all sat and listened, no advice, no “I told you so’s. They just let her talk it out. That was exactly what she needed. And when she was finished she let out a deep sigh and wiped away what she hoped would be the last tears for awhile.

“We’re here for you, friend,” Charlie said.

“Yes, remember, ugly cry and all.” Paige reminded her.

“Thanks guys. I am so lucky to have you. But you missed the ugly cry, that was earlier. I just wished he hadn’t slept with her!” She blew her nose gently. “I could have let him go, if that was what he wanted. It would have hurt, but I would have been ok. The cheating part, that’s what hurts so bad. Why? Why couldn’t we have just gone our separate ways and gone on with our lives? Then it would have all been a wonderful memory. Now it will just be another painful reminder. Why?”

 “Because he has a penis and therefore driven by genetics to be a complete piece of shit! No offense, Tristan,” Paige said, uttering a very rare curse. Reserved only for her angriest moments.

“None taken. My penis makes me do horrible things all the time,” he teased.

“I guess he wanted to make sure there would be no going back. He knew that was the one thing I could not forgive. Relationship sabotage, plain and simple,” Katrine said.

“Has he called?” Jane asked.

“Yes. And after about three calls and ten texts, I finally turned my phone off. I don’t want to hear any excuses or explanations. In my book, there aren’t any that would suffice.”

“So it’s done. Now what?” Maddie asked.

“Now, I cry a little bit, drink a lot of wine and cry some more. Tomorrow I get up and maybe do it again. But after that, who knows? Grad school hopefully. I’ll be ok, no worries.”

They all looked at her a little dubiously, but then they started to smile. Her friends knew she would be ok, after a grieving period.

“So, I totally almost bitch slapped this mom at the splash park yesterday....” Charlie started and went into one of her rants. Katrine relaxed back into her favorite chair, feeling very loved and that sure did help...

Chapter 35

Monday morning, the day to finalize the acquisition. Three days ahead of schedule. 

Katrine thought about not going in. She didn’t want to see Xander. But that thought was fleeting.  She was a professional and she had worked hard to make all of this happen. Of course she was going. She dressed extra sharp. Black suit, starched white shirt beneath. She put on a wide, dark blue paisley tie, masculine with a feminine flare.

“Just like Tristan,” she giggled to herself. 

Hair back, tight twist. She wore her glasses and black pumps. She looked perfect. She entered the office right as the others were scheduled to arrive. Katrine did not want to be stuck with him all day, plus she didn’t have any preparation for today’s meeting, nothing big anyway. All that was needed were some signatures and some hand shakes. The lawyers were already in the conference room. This was their show today. Katrine took a deep breath, pulled her shoulders back and went inside.

“Good morning, gentlemen.” 

Every eye looked up. But Xander’s beautiful greens were the pair that stood out the most. He looked shocked, then nervous. 

You thought I wouldn’t have the balls to show. Well, you underestimated me, yet again
.

Speaking of balls, I hope yours are still swollen.

 John Billings, AG’s main lawyer on this whole deal was the one to speak first. 

“Good morning, Katrine. Good to see you. We are set to go once Hal and his team arrive.”

“Wonderful to hear, John. I’m going to set up the refreshments, so if anyone wants anything, please help yourself.”

They had decided weeks ago to use first names. She like that. It made her feel like part of the team and not just a temp, which was what she kind of was. She smiled a huge smile and left. 

She leaned against the wall for a moment and exhaled. She had seen Xander and survived. But she had yet to speak to him and that would be the kicker. The first time would probably be hardest. She swallowed the lump that was forming in her throat. 

No tears, damn it!

Katrine went back to the break room to get the things she would need. Not much, just water bottles, sodas, and some high-end juices. She had called in for some muffins, fruit and various other breakfast breads. They were already delivered and on her desk.

She got a cart from the break room so she could load most of the drinks in one trip. She was adding the water bottles as Xander came in. 

She knew it was him before she even looked up.

“Save it. I’m here to end my assignment, not to hash it out with you. So, if you wouldn’t mind I need to finish this.” She didn’t say it with anger, more like resignation.

“Katrine, please. I haven’t been able to sleep or eat. I have just been sick about what happened. I never meant to hurt you and I never wanted you to find out that way.” That hadn’t come out like he’d wanted.

“Is that supposed to make me feel better? You know, I bet you’re glad I caught you, that saved you from having to do the dirty work of ending it. Deep down you wanted me to know. Then you could leave and not worry about any entanglements or romantic complications from me. Well, mission accomplished Xander. You did the one thing that was the worst thing in my book. You knew that and you did it anyway.”

“That’s not how it was. It wasn’t premeditated. I dated her on and off back home and she showed up, unexpected. I panicked!”

The memory of him answering the door in his boxers with that woman coming out of his room in his Yale shirt flashed before her eyes. She felt her blood start to boil and her stomach lurched. 

“Xander please, I need to finish and the others will be here any minute.” 

She turned around to leave with her cart filled with drinks. She stopped in her tracks and faced him again.

“Answer one question. When you told me about the ‘guys night’, was that true or were you blowing me off for her?”

“That part was true, she was waiting for me when I got home.” 

“Whether you planned it or not Xander, you had a choice and you made the wrong one. You are a coward. And what’s worse, you made a complete and utter fool of me. After all we have meant to each other. I deserved better.” she said, shaking her head.

“I didn’t know she was coming! She just showed up that night. What was I supposed to do?”

“You know, for an ivy-league educated guy, you are really stupid.”

She turned and left. She wasn’t about to tell him all the things she had planned for that weekend. She wanted to preserve a little dignity. Katrine was able to cancel the hot air balloon and the dinner reservation. But she had to pay for the string quartet, that was going to leave a mark. She entered the conference room, bright smile on her face. This would be the performance of a lifetime. She had to pretend she didn’t hate the man they all worked for and that her heart was not broken into a million pieces. 

Meryl might not be enough today...

Hal Smith and his team arrived just as she was finishing the refreshment setup.

“Please, gentlemen take your seats. We have a lot of paperwork to sign,” Xander said in a commanding voice. “Katrine, would you please join us? You were a big part of this whole process, not to mention you saved me a few dollars,” he said, smiling.

Save the charm dick head, the jig is up!!!
!

“Yeah and lost me a few.” Hal chuckled loudly in his deep good ol’ boy voice.

“Sorry about that Hal, I am just too smart for my own good.” She flashed him a mega watt smile.

He laughed. “That you are, darlin’.”

“Thank you Mr. Abbot, I would be happy to join you all.” 

Yes, you are back to Mr. Abbot, asshole. Oh, and asshole too.

John turned to her. “What do you have planned after this?” Xander noticeably tensed. “Professionally speaking, of course. Who gets the honor of adding you to their team?”

She grinned and pushed her glasses up. 

“Thank you John, but actually after today, I am unemployed.”

“What? How could that be? A smart little thing like you.” Hal bellowed. 

Somehow it wasn’t offensive coming from him. She knew he didn’t mean it that way.

“Are you offering, Hal?”

“Katrine darlin, anytime you need a job, you come to me. If I don’t have something, I will find someone who does!”

“My goodness, I must have made a good impression.” she smiled at him. “Thank you for that. First, I’m going to apply to graduate school. I intend to get my MBA possibly in Marketing. I like the idea of business and creativity, the best of both worlds. But I will take you up on that Hal, you can bet on it.”

“What graduate school are you applying to, Katrine?” said Brent Strausburg, a very handsome junior partner at the firm. She told him.

“My father plays golf with the Dean of admissions to the Business school. I’ll leave you my card. When you are ready to apply let me know. I will make some introductions.”

“Thank you Brent, I would really appreciate that.” She flashed him an extra bright smile. He grinned back and nodded.

Xander cleared his throat. “Ok, okay. I am sure we could sit here all day long and compliment our Katrine, but we have business to attend to.” He sounded more than a little annoyed.

Our Katrine…please. 

Jealous, Mr. Abbot? Well suck it!!

 She knew he was jealous, big time. She did get a sick satisfaction from his discomfort. She wanted to hurt him. It wasn’t very mature, but all she had at the moment was a little chance for revenge. She would love to kick him in his giblets again, in front of everyone. Katrine pictured it in her head, him writhing on the floor as she taunted him and cussed him out. That brought a smile to her face. 

God, she was glad she decided to show up today!

She had no idea she was thought of so highly, but she didn’t blame them. She thought she was pretty kick-ass too. She knew they liked her and appreciated her, but this outpouring of offers was more than she could have ever hoped for. When Katrine took this job she hoped it would  help her into grad school or gain her some contacts for future employment. She had accomplished both. 

Internal happy dance.

Her triumph had eclipsed the ache in her chest, for now anyway.

The paperwork seemed to take forever, but finally the last page was signed. Hand shakes were exchanged and pats on the back were given. It was a mini-celebration and there was excitement in the air. Everyone in this room had logged countless hours the last two months to make today possible. Katrine was shaking hands and congratulating people along with everyone else.

It was strange to have it all come to an end. After working so hard, and now it was just over. They would move on to the next deal or project, she would go home. But she wasn’t feeling sorry for herself. Katrine was glad to move on. This was a stepping stone to the next thing, and step she would.