Page 56 of Her Big Fat Hunky Billionaire Boss

She hugged her arms to her. “And you weren’t even going to say goodbye?”

“It’s freezing out here.” Damian took a step toward her, shrugged out of his coat and slipped it around her shoulders.

Dang, why did he have to do something nice? It melted her anger. Now she just felt stupid, running after a man. And they weren’t even a couple.

Damian seemed conflicted. His gaze shifted. “Kat, I’m thankful for your help, but—”

“Stop.” Kat had heard enough. She didn’t need him to spell it out for her. She got it. He didn’t feel anything for her. The flirting. The kisses. They didn’t mean anything. She was a fool to think otherwise. “I get it.”

Damian swallowed hard. “I’m sorry.”

Yeah. Right. She didn’t need his sympathy. She took off his coat and shoved it at him. “Don’t be. I understand. I’m just the secretary.”

He flinched. Good. She wanted to hurt him. She turned from him, but he caught her elbow, forcing her to look at him. “I wish things were different.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “That’s the stupidest thing anyone has ever said to me.” She jerked her arm away from him and stalked back into the building. Her hands trembled as she sat back down and tried to go back to her computer work. She felt the stares of everyone in the office.

“Katherine,” Lydia said, her voice echoing. “I’d like to speak with you.”

Lydia’s cold tone made Kat cringe. Great. She was dead. Kat stood and went to face the music. She walked to the back of the room and entered Lydia’s office.

“Close the door.” Lydia looked up from her desk and gave Kat a death stare.

Kat did as she was told.

“One thing. I asked you to do one thing.” Lydia’s voice was low. At least she wasn’t yelling.

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t—”

“I know.” Lydia gripped the sides of her chair so tight her knuckles went white. “And now things are all messed up.”

“He said he wasn’t going to close the newspaper.” Kat was hoping he kept his word.

“He isn’t. At least not right now. But that’s no longer your concern.”

Kat’s palms grew sweaty. “Why?” she asked, her voice small.

“Because you’re fired. Pack up your things. I want you out.” Lydia made a motion with her hand.

“But—”

“Don’t argue with me. I asked you to do one thing, and you deliberately disobeyed. I can’t work with people I don’t trust. Now leave before I call the police and have you escorted out.”

Kat blinked back her tears. She was not going to cry. She burst out of Lydia’s office and quickly walked to her desk. She didn’t have much, but she gathered it up and grabbed her coat. Sarah sent her a questioning glance.

“I got fired,” Kat said.

“What?” Sarah’s eyes widened. “Why?”

“I doubt I’m at liberty to say. Maybe you should ask Lydia.” She choked on the last few words, then hurried from the building before her tears could start in earnest. She sat in her car, the heater on high, and let her emotions surge.

Fired. How humiliating. And right before Christmas. What was she going to do? She needed the income. She couldn’t lose her childhood home, and all the memories it held. It was the last connection she felt she had with her momma. Tears fell onto her coat as she gripped the steering wheel, still sitting in the parking lot.

She wiped her eyes. Better get to looking for a new job. Maybe Pizza Hut was hiring. She put her car into gear and steeled herself for a day of rejection. She didn’t have time to wallow in her self-pity.

Chapter 20

Damian sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers. Negotiations had gone well. They had IMB in the bag. He should feel elated, but for some reason the victory was flat. Thoughts of Kat kept flashing into his head and he couldn’t stop them. It had been three days since he’d left Pleasant Hollow, and all he could think about was Kat.

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