mostly he'd just gone with the flow when one gorgeous girl or another fell into his lap.
This was something else entirely.
He'd walk through fire to get this girl in the sack.
"So how'd I do then?"
Nick smiled at her, expecting a witty reprimand. He liked the way she made him feel like a naughty school boy. He was even starting to enjoy her scolding. But he wasn't prepared for the look in her eyes.
She looked devastated.
Christ.
She covered it well, glancing at her phone. It was buzzing and flashing. He felt guilty suddenly. As if he'd done something wrong.
Conan chose that moment to walk by. When he saw Sabrina he raised his eyebrows appreciatively.
Crap. He hadn't just made a joke at her expense. He'd made her sound like his groupie hadn't he? Or his girlfriend. No, that would have been better.
He'd made her sound like a whore.
"Let me take you out for a drink. Make it up to you?"
"I don't drink. I'm sorry I- I have to take this call. You did well tonight Nick."
He had to hand it to her. She was professional even after what he'd just done to her.
Too professional.
He'd have preferred it if she yelled at him. Told him to go to hell. Really taken him to task. If he was honest with himself, that's why he'd done it to begin with. Just to see her reaction.
Nick watched her proudly walk away from him. Her little shoulders seemed so stiff, like she was holding back tears.
Christ, he'd made her cry again hadn't he?
He had to think of a way to make it up to her.
Marley came running up with a cold beer. He knew Nick was going to need a celebratory drink after that.
"She didn't look happy. You probably shouldn't have said that Nick."
"I bloody well know that!"
"I thought you liked her anyway?"
"Yeah I do."
"You didn't bag her though did you?"
"No, Marley. Not yet. Christ, what a bloody mess."
"She's not going to forgive you for that. You blew it mate."
Nick grew thoughtful for a moment. Then a sly smile spread across his face. He wanted her. There was no use pretending otherwise anymore. She was angry. He didn't bloody care. He would make her want him back, whether she liked it or not.
"What if she doesn't have a choice in the matter?"
"What's that?"
He slapped Marley's shoulder hard.
"Get me Jerry on the phone will you? I have an idea mate."
Five
Sabrina walked out of the building, avoiding the stares of the staff. It felt like hours had passed by the time she was outside in the dim light of the parking lot. Her cheeks were burning red with embarrassment.
She was humiliated, yes, but the phone call concerned her more. Her aunt was calling again. That meant her father was not doing well. They had been doing this for so long that they rarely spoke about anything else.
She fished out her car keys and calmly unlocked her car door. She wasn't going to cry. Not this time. This time she felt like screaming. She pulled out her phone and called Aunt Petra.
"Hello?"
"Sabrina. Your father was calling for you earlier. But he's