It never used to, when he'd done this sort of thing in his early twenties.
So why start now and make things so complicated? It wasn't fair. Abbey was totally wrong for him. She lived in a different city for starters, and she wasn't the sort of woman he could take wining and dining to Sydney's most salubrious establishments with business associates.
Hell, the girl had a penchant for skirts that crept above the height of decency.
Nick emitted a low growl and punched the cushion on the couch. He was kidding himself and he knew it. It had nothing to do with the skirts and everything to do with her attitude. She had way too much of it. She argued with him about everything, except sex of course. Then there was the lies. Nice girls don't lie.
Even worse than that, she didn't want him.
Even worse than that—and this was the clincher—she'd only slept with him in the first place for money.
And if she'd slept with him for a few hundred dollars from Lucy's client, imagine what she'd do when she discovered he was worth a fortune. A gold digger was the last thing he needed on his hands.
Okay, so thinking about what she might do gave him a hard on. But thinking about Abbey wanting him just for his money made his blood run cold.
Now, while she thought he was that loser Vane, she didn't want to know him except for the occasional sexual interlude. But if she ever learned the truth, he somehow knew her disagreeable nature would fly out the window and she'd be all sweetness.
The image had a certain appeal… No, actually, it didn't. Abbey minus her smart mouth and her confronting style just wouldn't be as much fun. It just wouldn't be Abbey.
He didn't want her wanting him, and changing who she was, because of his money. He wanted her to want him.
It was best not to tell her who he was then. Once she learned his real name, it wouldn't take long to link him to his fortune. No doubt she'd find out when Lorraine Vane saw the photos and identified him, but hopefully by then he'd be long gone. His flight was early Saturday morning. That left only tomorrow, Friday, for the photos to reach Sydney. Hopefully Lucy wouldn't be that efficient.
Once he was back home in Sydney, he could forget everything that had ever happened here in Melbourne, and he could forget Abbey. Putting distance between them would cool his desire for her and life would return to normal. That's what he wanted. Right?
A knock at his door sent a jolt through him. He stood, paused, and eyed the door. It wouldn't be Abbey. Not after the way they'd parted.
He opened the door, a short speech already prepared just in case. But instead of a sexy, blue-eyed vixen, the person who stood on his doorstep was male, forty-ish with dark hair and a three-day growth.
"Hello, Boss," said the man in an American drawl. "Long time no see."
"Vane! What the hell are you doing here?"
"My job." Damien Vane—the real Damien Vane—pushed past Nick into the room.
"Nice suite. Pity I couldn't use it."
Nick blinked, gathered himself, and rounded on his VP of Marketing.
"You've got some nerve waltzing in here now. Where the hell have you been?"
At least Vane had the decency to look apologetic. He also looked hung over. "Sorry, I lost track of time."
"You lost track of time! What kind of excuse is that! You're fired."
"Aw, now wait a minute, let me explain. I went away for the weekend with this hot little air hostess. An air hostess! I couldn't pass her up. Well, we kind of had a few too many drinks on Sunday night, then the next thing I knew it was Wednesday. I got back to the office as quick as I could and they said you'd come down here instead of me. So I got Beverly to book me a flight and here I am." He threw his arms out wide. "Better late than never. And there's still tomorrow."
Nick sucked in air and let it out slowly. It didn't help him calm down. "You've a nerve coming down here when the seminar's almost over."
He took a step towards Vane and Vane took a step back, swallowing so hard his Adam's apple almost disappeared into his chest. Nick had a mind to punch the arrogant look off Vane's face, but he thought that might not be very dignified.
"I've had enough of your disappearances and your lazy attitude to the job. I've put up with it until now because you were supposed to be the best. But you crossed the line this time, Vane. You're fired. Get out of this room, go back to Sydney and clean out your office. I don't want to see you again."
Vane blinked back at Nick, his mouth open. "You're serious."
"Yes."
"But I haven't got a flight booked."
Nick took another step toward Vane. He was out of patience. Maybe he should just hit him. It might make him feel better. "Then get on the phone and do it."
"But, my job. I'm good..."
"Then you'll get another one. Maybe Microsoft will take you back."
Vane shook his head. "My wife's Australian. She doesn't want to live in the States anymore."
"Somehow I don't think that's going to be a problem," Nick muttered.
"Huh?"
Nick shook his head. He wasn't going to bring Abbey and her investigation into this.
Nick crossed his arms and glared at Vane. If the little jerk didn't move soon, he was going to have to wrestle him out of the room.
That might not be a bad thing. It would save him punching him and would kill two birds with one stone—he'd get rid of Vane and his anger at the same time.
He took another step toward Vane who took one back, but found the couch in the way.
"Don't look at me like that," Vane cried.
"Like what?"
"Like you want to kill me."
"I do want to kill you. I've had a bad week." Actually his week hadn't been all that bad. The parts with Abbey in his bed, on the couch, at the restaurant, the beach, Lucy's desk—those had been rather good. It was the other parts he didn't like so much.
Vane held up his hands in self defense just as Nick uncrossed his arms and reached toward him.
"Okay, okay, I'm leaving." Vane scuttled toward the door. "You know, when I heard you were pretending to be me, I thought we could turn this to our advantage. I could pretend to be you, just flying in to check on the last day of the seminar and attend the cocktail party and charm the pants off everyone. We'd make a good team."
"I don't charm the pants off people, I talk straight and get the job done."
"Yeah, right. Like all the women in the office don't go ga ga over you."
"That's because I treat them with a little respect and don't try to grab their asses as they walk past."