Torn [A Robert Downey Jr. Fan-Fic]

Chapter 22

I walked along the hallway.

Thirty days. Thirty days left for her.

I ran my fingers through my hair. He was going to kill her. He was going to kill his wife, going to take away her daughter's mother. And he was going to kill the woman I loved.

Please, Kate! You have to wake up now! I can't linger this moment any longer...

"Dr. Stark?"

"What?!", I yelled and turned around.

Erica, my secretary stared at me. She was afraid, obviously.

"I'm sorry", I apologized immediately and closed my eyes.

Breathe! Just breathe!

"There's a woman in your office, waiting for you", she explained quietly.

"Okay", I mumbled, "I'll be there in a minute."

She nodded slightly and left again as I made my way along the corridor to my office.

Calm down, Nathan! You've just shouted at your secretary...

I opened the door and walked over to my desk, sitting down on my chair.

"I'm sorry for the delay", I apologized without even looking up.

"Don't you think it's a little childish, Nathan? Can't you even look at me any more?", a well known voice asked.

I would have recognized this arrogant but at the same time flirty voice within millions of women.

"Karen", I realized and stared at her dark green eyes that were examining me closely.

"You look good, Karen. Did you loose some weight?", she tried to impersonate me and crossed her legs, "Thanks for recognizing, Nathan. You look good, too!"

I sighed.

"Listen, Karen. I really don't have any time for this. Just tell me what's up and...", I countered angrily.

"Same as before", she interrupted me, "You didn't change at all..."

I stared at her intensely.

"Karen, you're wasting my time!", I mumbled, rolling my eyes, and stood up again, "Here's the door. Please, leave me alone!"

I opened the door for her.

"Nathan, I-", she stuttered, "Markus and I broke up."

"I don't mind, Karen. Leave me alone!"

"I don't know what to do now. He said he didn't love me any longer. The wedding is cancelled...", she said anyway.

"Did he cheat on you like you did on me?", I asked sarcastically, "Do you really expect me to feel sorry for you? I mean, what do you want me to do, Karen?"

She drove me insane. Not like Kate. Gosh, no! No, Kate drove me insane in a positive way. I just had to look at her and everything in my head was upside down. It was surprising I didn't even forget to breathe when she was around. But Karen... She drove me crazy. She was simply annoying me. And I was mad at her. I'd probably never be able to forgive her.

"Can't you talk to him? Ask him...", she suggested but I raised my hands to stop her.

"Okay, I'll just pretend I didn't hear your last words", I countered in surprise, "And I'll say this only one last time. I don't want you in my life anymore, Karen. We married young and it was a mistake. You cheated on me and I will never forgive you. But most important, I don't love you anymore. You mean nothing to me! So please! Please, please, please! Leave me alone!"

She stared at me in panic as her eyes seemed to fill with tears.

"There's another women, right?", she whispered then, carefully stroking my shoulder.

We remained in silence. I didn't want to answer her. This was non of her business.

"I really hope you'll win her one day", she mumbled and came a little closer. Then, she softly caressed my cheeks before she leaned in for a kiss.

But I gently pushed her away.

Lately, it seemed as if everyone wanted to kiss me.

Strange world!

"You're a good man, Nate", she whispered and nervously ran her fingers through her golden curls, "Goodbye Nathan."

Finally, she left my office again.

I sighed and sat down as soon as I closed the door.

This day was getting stranger and stranger.