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we're on a holiday this week, right? To not worry ourselves while we wait for the results?"
    Sam nodded and composed herself. "You're right. Let's have dinner."
    Adam stroked her back soothingly as they returned to the dining room. It calmed her, but it stirred her, too. Oh, she'd been so good at hiding her feelings for him in the past—even to herself. But now she knew it would be damned difficult from here on in. Was he ready for a new girlfriend so soon after breaking up with Sandy?

CHAPTER FIVE

    Adam was just about ready to leave for his meeting with Kane when his phone rang. His brows creased when he saw who the caller was—Sandy's brother.
    "Hi Eric."
    "Hey, Adam! How's it going?" Eric boomed cheerily.
    "Good, thanks. You?"
    "Not bad, bro, not bad. Listen, I was wondering when we can start discussing your landscaping needs for your new property? I just want to make sure I have your job all scheduled so there are no delays later on."
    Adam's frown deepened. Three months ago, he'd agreed to consider Eric's new company to do some landscaping for him after the new house was built. He didn't remember actually giving him the job.
    "Um, Eric. I said you were one of my choices for a landscape designer. Unfortunately, I've gone for another company. Sorry about that."
    "Hey, come on, Adam. I thought I was getting the job!"
    "I don't remember promising you anything, Eric," he answered patiently.
    "But you implied! And Sandy had said the job was mine. Are you turning your back on me because you've split up with her? I don't have anything to do with you and my sister breaking up. Why penalise me for that?"
    Adam rolled his eyes. Of course Sandy had said 'yes' to her brother on Adam's behalf.
    "Don't do this to me," Eric continued agitatedly. "I've already turned down a couple of lucrative jobs because I thought you'd already hired me."
    Adam shook his head in annoyance. Eric was going for the guilt trip. He very much doubted that Eric had received other 'lucrative' job offers. He'd only just started his landscaping business and he hadn't done much in the way of promotion. Eric wanted him to be his prized client to use for his future marketing.
    "Look, Eric. I'm really sorry. But we haven't signed any contract and I've never said you got the job."
    "Geez, Adam. You've put me in a bad position here. I really need that contract. You know that. Can you reconsider?" Eric pleaded.
    "I'm sorry."
    "Damn. I'm gonna have a talk with Sandy. I know she can be childish and all. She should treat you much better."
    "Sandy and I are done , Eric."
    "Don't close your doors on me yet, Adam, please. Think about it. While you do, I'll put together a formal proposal for you. I'll be super competitive, you'll see. I've got to go now, but I'll talk to you in a few days."
    Eric hung up and Adam let out a huge, frustrated sigh. Would Eric be like another dog with a bone, just like his sister?
    No matter how much pleading Eric did, there was no way he was going to hire him. Having Eric work on his new property would just put more crazy ideas in Sandy's head that they weren't truly over.
    Before they broke up, Sandy was already acting like his new house was going to be hers too. One of her favourite topics was how she would decorate the place when it was finished. He slowly but surely got bored with her constant yapping about paint colours and furnishings and indoor plants and this and that.
    That kind of talk was what finally made him realise that Sandy wasn't the one for him. He simply couldn't picture her living in his new home. She didn't seem to fit in there. It all became clear that they didn't belong together.

    *******

    "Hey," Adam greeted Sam with a kiss on the cheek as she arrived at the foyer of Kane's office building. "Did you play tourist with your parents today?"
    "Yeah," Sam said. "We just came back from Manly Beach. We took the ferry from Circular Quay. They loved it."
    As they waited for the lifts to take them up to Kane's floor, Adam