She knew.

He paced across the room, trying to think of the best way to say what he had to as his heart battled

against his mind. He knew this was wrong of him, and that there was a chance Kim wouldn't see his

actions in the same light that he did, but he had to do it. She'd said it herself.

"I want Kim off the case." His heart ached in his chest and he took a deep breath, forcing himself to continue reciting the words he'd practiced so well since yesterday.

"Why? She hasn't done anything to upset you, has she?" Laura moved towards him.

He sidestepped her, not wanting her close to him. He didn't want to be here at all. But he did want Kim to feel as though she could be with him without losing her job.

"No, on the contrary. She's been wonderful. I just don't think she's right for this case."

Laura gave him a knowing look and nodded. "I see. This is because she asked those questions on

Friday. What did she say to you in the lift?"

He rubbed the bridge of his nose to ease his building headache and said nothing. Kim had done nothing wrong in the lift. If anything, he was the guilty party. He was the one doing things wrong. He didn't mind that Kim asked questions about the contract, that was just her job, and he'd gladly explain things to her if he could find a way of doing it that she'd understand. He had to tell her. Since leaving her yesterday, he'd spent the whole time thinking about her and what was going to happen when she found out about him, and had decided that he had to tell her as soon as possible. Maybe then she would be more understanding about it.

Maybe then she wouldn't leave him.

He growled under his breath, quiet enough that Laura wouldn't hear him.

"You seem very agitated," she said and moved to block his path as he paced back across the room.

He looked at her. "I have a headache. I want this contract signed as quickly as possible, and I want Kim

off the case. Can you do that?"

She took another step towards him, her lips curving slowly into a smile. Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"I can do anything you want me to," she whispered.

He grabbed her waist as she threw her arms about him, her lips pressing hard against his. Pushing her

backwards, he restrained himself from using his full strength and tried to get her off him.

The door opened and he shoved her away.

He turned to see Simon smiling at him from the doorway.

"I'm terribly sorry," Simon said in a snide tone. "I didn't mean to interrupt."

With that he was gone and Erik knew exactly where to.

Kim put her bag down on her desk and jumped when Simon appeared next to her. She pressed her hand to her heart and scowled at him for interrupting her thoughts about Erik.

"Morning," she said and went to open her bag but Simon stopped her when he spoke.

"You wouldn't believe what I just walked in on in Laura's office." He was smirking, the kind of smile that

made her stomach turn.

"What?"

"Erik Blackwell kissing Laura."

Her heart sank on hearing those four words, and her stomach went with it, shortly followed by the world dropping away.

She stared into Simon's eyes, desperate to see if he was telling the truth. Tears rose into hers when she saw the smile in his, the twisted pleasure he was taking from telling her something he knew would hurt her. She couldn't believe it.

Grabbing her bag, she mumbled something about not feeling well, and walked out of the office. When she reached the main entrance hall, she broke into a run, clutching her bag to her chest as she fought her desire to break down and cry.

This couldn't be true.

She felt so stupid for ever believing that a man like him could like her. He'd said she was beautiful. Was

that a lie too? Was this all some scheme to get her into bed with him?

But the way he'd looked at her, the way he'd touched her. It couldn't be a lie.

Her heart reproached her. If it wasn't a lie, then why was he kissing Laura?

The journey home passed in a blur of unshed tears and the moment she reached her apartment, and the

door was safely locked behind her, she broke down. She sobbed into her hands, feeling wretched and hollow as she tried to make sense of it. Simon hadn't been lying. Erik had been kissing Laura.

She was so stupid. She should have listened to Simon.

Erik was clearly as much of a player as his brother.

She was a fool for thinking he actually wanted to be with her.

Running into her bedroom, she grabbed everything that smelt like him, everything she'd cherished yesterday and last night. She crumpled the towel in the bathroom and the bed sheets up in her arms, and ran with them into the kitchen. Tears streaked her face as she shoved them into the washing machine and turned it on. She stepped back as it began the cycle, staring at it and still trying to come to terms with what was happening.

Falling to her knees, her mind emptied and she watched the sheets going around in the machine.

So much for things looking up.

So much for being beautiful, and feeling loved.

She pressed her hand to the side of her head when she felt a little dizzy. She went to stand but the world

spun around her and she swore she'd seen a flash of the building. It was followed by a flash of the hallway, and then her door.

There was a knock.

Her head shot around to face the kitchen door and the corridor beyond.

Her heart thundered.

Getting to her feet, she moved cautiously to the door. Her hands were shaking as she stood staring at it, instinctively knowing who was on the other side. She was too confused to even attempt to make sense of what had just happened, not when she couldn't even understand everything before it.

"Who is it?" she said, her voice trembling.

"You know who it is," his voice came through loud and clear.

He was right. She had known it was him before she'd even asked. She couldn't deny it. She'd felt him.

Shaking herself out of it, she told herself that it didn't matter what she'd felt.

She looked through the peephole at Erik. "Go away."

He looked flustered, anger shining in his eyes but mixed with disappointment and anxiety.

What was he doing here? Did he know that she'd heard about him and Laura?

He knocked again, making her heart jump with each harsh thump of his fist against the wood. Instinct

told her to open it, but she firmly shut it out, keeping control and telling herself that she wasn't going to

give into him. It didn't matter that he looked so hot when angry. He'd kissed Laura.

"I know what he told you, Kim, but that isn't what happened." He sounded as though he was ready to break down the door if she didn't open it soon.

She didn't budge. Instead, she slid the safety bolts into place. They probably wouldn't stop the door from giving if he put his full strength behind it. It was more for her sake than his. She had to stop herself from letting him in like she wanted to.

"You mean you weren't kissing Laura?" she said, not holding back her anger and hoping he heard it in her voice. He deserved to hear the pain he'd caused her.

"Laura was kissing me!"

She stepped back from the door when it rattled with the force of his blow. A thrill ran through her over how he was acting. She shook it off. Now wasn't the time for fantasies about Erik. She hated him. He'd played her for a fool and she hated him.

"I don't believe you," she said, her voice lacking the conviction she'd hoped for. A part of her did believe him.

And it was a big part.

"You've got to believe me. I have no interest in Laura. I was only in her office this morning to get you off the case."

Her whole body slumped and her heart sunk on hearing those words. Annoyance quickly replaced any

hurt she was feeling. He'd wanted her off the case? Wasn't she good enough to work for him?

"I know what you're thinking," he said through the door. She said nothing. "Don't hate me. I wanted you to feel like you could be with me ... if I'm not your client-"