Chapter 15

I made such a horrible mistake.

But it can be fixed.

There’s no way I’m leaving for the City without Logan knowing exactly how I feel about him. He’ll have to understand that I wasn’t really trying to tell him I’m not interested in keeping this going, I just wanted to know how he felt. I should have come right out and told him what I was thinking, and what I was afraid of, instead of dancing around the issue.

At least there’s still time to make things right.

I make my way through the halls of the mansion for what could be one of the final times, trying desperately to pay attention to where I’m going. It would be just like me to ruin my chance of making things right with Logan because I got lost trying to find him.

The huge, oak doors to the study assure me that I’m on the right path. I continue marching straight past them while trying not to think about the things that happened in that beautiful place. Not that what we did was bad, but I also don’t want to be reminded of the fact that Logan has been with other women in there as well.

As Gervas promised, the gym is impossible to miss when I come to it. A widened section of the hallway descends a few steps before arriving at two glass doors. The doors are large enough that most of the gym is on display to anyone walking by. I push my way inside and the first thing I notice is the right-most wall is made of a single, huge window with an incredible view of the coastline. 

A view like that is definitely one way of making a long workout more exciting…

On the left side of the room there are entrances into His and Hers locker rooms, just as Gervas had described. Apparently there is a sauna that conjoins the locker rooms from the inside, and that’s where Logan supposedly hides out when he needs to decompress.

Having Logan in a sauna all to myself sounds like the perfect way to relax.

I make my way through the women’s locker room and am surprised to find multiple lockers lining two of the walls. Just like with the banquet hall, I wonder how many people this house can entertain at once if it were really pressed. There are shower stalls off to the right and to the left is a small hallway that must lead to the sauna.

I’m about to round the corner into the hallway when I notice a blouse discarded near the wall. I recognize it instantly. It’s the blouse Mara was wearing earlier. The sound of faint laughter comes from farther inside, drawing my attention. Someone is definitely in there…

I inch down the hallway, careful not to make any noise. The walls of the hallway are wood-paneled and heat washes over me as I make my way forward. It feels like I’m walking into an oven. A trail of clothing leads the way, ending in front of a glass door on the right. The glass is steamed over but there’s the unmistakable sound of two people coming from inside. And judging by all the clothes in the hallway, those two people are very naked.

My heart sinks. Is she in there with Logan? Maybe they really are closer than it seemed? Was I really being played for a fool this whole time?

I hear the murmured voices again, followed by another loud laugh. This time I’m close enough to recognize them…

Mara and… Lucas.

Confusion overcomes my anxiety. I creep right up to the door, careful not to stand in front of it in case they’re paying attention. The glass is thin enough that it’s easy to hear them clearly.

“We’re almost there,” Lucas says, sounding more excited than ever. “Then we can stop sneaking around and you can put an end to your charade.”

My breath catches in my chest.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. We’re not out of this yet.”

“Is the girl giving you any problems?”

“A doe-eyed thing like her? Please… She’ll be out of the way soon.”

“She was more charming than I expected.”

“Of course she is. She wouldn’t be here otherwise. You’re not falling for her helpless-girl act, too, are you?”

“Would that bother you?”

“It would,” Mara says. “Because that would mean I need to find another partner to work with—one that’s less gullible than you and Logan.”

Lucas lets out a laugh.

“There’s no reason to get worried. I’m only saying that she surprised me. You know, I think she might really have feelings for your fiancée.”

Lucas puts an emphasis on the word that makes it obvious he knows the engagement is fake. Hearing them talk this casually is… surprising. Is Mara the other woman that Lucas had mentioned earlier?

“Did I tell you that Logan actually convinced her he’s going bankrupt? He must really like this one… Such a pity for them both.”

Convinced me he’s going bankrupt? Had he been lying about that whole thing?

“Why would he tell her something like that? There’s no truth to it is there?”

“Of course there isn’t. He’s always felt insecure about how much money he has, as if it’s somehow more noble to have people like you when you’re poor.”

Was Logan just testing me? Why would he tell me that whole elaborate story if it wasn’t true?

“It sounds like you have everything handled. I’m impressed.”

“I told you there was nothing to worry about. I’ve been planning this for a long time. Soon Logan and his money will be out of the way and we won’t ever have to worry about him again.”

Lucas lets out a growl and Mara laughs.

“You know exactly how to turn me on!” 

Mara’s laughter quickly turns to moans of pleasure. I slump against the wall as the thoughts in my head drown both of them out.

It turns out Logan hasn’t been the one playing anybody. He’s the one getting played. I knew Mara couldn’t be trusted, and now I have proof. Whatever she and Lucas are planning isn’t going to end well for Logan.

Unless…

I know what I’ve got to do.

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