I thought going to charity galas was a cliché people used in movies and books. I always figured they were just easy plot devices to get rich and powerful people together in one room and make them talk to each other.

But apparently, rich people really do throw these charity events. I’m wearing a dress that’s more expensive than a year’s worth of rent, jewelry that could have paid my college tuition, and shoes that would be a solid down payment on a small house. I feel absolutely beautiful and totally out of place all at once as I walk next to Logan, my hand through his arm.

Rich people mill all around us, everyone dressed in their fanciest clothing. I can see why they throw these things. It looks more like an excuse to drink and wear fancy clothing than an actual charity event. Men and women are standing in groups, chatting with each other, and I wish I could listen to every one of their conversations. I’m sure they’re hashing out deals worth millions of dollars and that will affect thousands of people right here and right now, just because they’re all together in this room.

It’s unbelievable. The rich really do get together just to throw some money at charity to pretend like they’re doing good, while actually they’re networking for their own causes.

“Did you spot them yet?” Logan asks me.

“Not yet. I’m on the lookout, though.” I hesitate before squeezing his arm. “Is that the guy that owns Amazon?” I ask.

Logan glances in the direction of my stare. “Oh, yeah,” he says. “That guy gives tons of money away. Big philanthropist, apparently.”

“What about you?” I ask him.

“Me? I donate plenty.”

“But you’re not a big philanthropist.”

He grins at me. “Not yet, but why do you think we’re going through all this trouble?”

“Good point.”

We head through the entranceway and into the main ballroom. Tables are set up in concentric circles around a central stage. People are milling all over the place, and I’m shocked at how many rich people there actually are in this room. Wait staff wades through the mess, giving out drinks, collecting empties, and handing out little snacks and hors d’oeuvres.

As we move toward the bar, I suddenly feel a creeping sensation roll down my spine.

I can’t shrug the feeling. It’s like a spider is walking across my skin, or maybe I just stepped through a cobweb. Either way, I get a strange chill, and I can’t help but turn around.

Standing over next to a nearby table, completely alone and holding a whisky, is Spencer Winterfield. The creepy feeling intensifies as I realize that he’s staring right at me, and he’s not breaking eye contact.

Most people look away when you catch them staring at you. It’s just a common, normal human reaction to feel a little embarrassed when someone catches you. But Spencer doesn’t turn away. He just keeps on staring, completely unashamed that he’s looking at my body with one of the creepiest and most intense stares I’ve ever seen in my life.

But he doesn’t stop there. Once he realizes that I’m looking back at him, a smile slowly spreads across his face. He’s not ashamed at all that I was staring at him. No, he seems genuinely pleased to have been caught.

I turn away as fast as I can, my heart hammering in my chest. “Spencer Winterfield is staring at me,” I whisper to Logan.

“He’s doing what?” Logan asks.

“Staring right at me. And smiling like a creep.” Logan goes to turn and look, but I stop him by grabbing his arm. “Don’t look!”

“Maybe he just wants to talk.”

“When I caught him, he didn’t move to come over here. He just… smiled. It was creepy.”

“He smiles?” Logan asks, grinning at me.

“Come on, I know it sounds stupid. But seriously Logan, he gives me the creeps. Like, majorly.”

Logan’s grin slowly disappears and he nods. “Okay. I’ll keep an eye on him.”

“Thank you.”

We get to the bar and order drinks. Once I’m given my glass of wine, I risk a look back over at the table where Spencer was standing, but I’m relieved to find that he’s gone.

I let out a breath and turn back to Logan. But as I go to sip my drink and step away from the bar, I nearly freaking scream.

Spencer is standing right there, grinning enormously and staring at me again. He’s closer now, and he still doesn’t seem ashamed to be looking right at me and smiling like a maniac.

Before I can say anything, though, Chester and Muffie appear beside him. I realize that they were with him the whole time, and I just didn’t notice them.

“Logan, Everly, so good of you two to make it,” Chester says. He shakes Logan’s hand and kisses my cheek before I’m forced to go through the greeting ritual with Muffie and Spencer.

When Spencer comes in to kiss my cheek, he lingers for a second too long, his hand on my lower back. “You look lovely tonight,” he whispers.

I pull away from him, a creeping chill running down my spine, but nobody else noticed. Logan and Chester are too busy talking about the charity, and Muffie already wandered off to some other group of people. I’m left alone, standing across from Spencer and his creepy grin.

I know this is part of the job. I have to put up with Spencer for the sake of the project. I can’t be a jerk to him and blow him off, or else I’ll risk alienating Chester, which will ruin everything. But he’s just so damn creepy, and every time he looks at me, I just get an awful feeling.

I don’t really understand it. But just being near Spencer makes my skin crawl. He looks at me like I’m a piece of meat, like he literally wants to devour me. It’s unsettling to say the least, and everything about him screams bad news.

I stand there awkwardly listening to Logan and Chester make small talk. Meanwhile, Spencer is just grinning at me like a crazy person, his eyes wide and manic-looking.

I can’t take it anymore. I reach up and squeeze Logan’s arm. “Excuse me,” I say to Chester. “I’m not feeling well. I think I’ll grab a little fresh air.”

Chester cocks his head at me. “Of course, dear. Please, by all means.”

“Sorry,” I say, giving the men a quick smile, before hurrying away.

I know that probably seemed a little rude and abrupt, but it won’t mess anything up. Besides, I can still feel Spencer’s eyes on me as I walk away.

I need to get out of there. I suddenly feel stifled and exposed all at once, and the memory of that email comes charging back into my mind. Someone violated my personal life once, who says it won’t happen again?

I hurry back out of the banquet hall and practically stumble onto a set of stairs. I start climbing them, not really thinking about anything. I walk as fast as I can until I finally reach the top. I push through the door and step out onto the roof of the building.

It’s a cool night as I walk over toward the ledge. I stop, not wanting to get too close, taking deep breaths to calm myself. I know I’m overreacting, but I’m already on edge as it is. Spencer being a huge creep just set me off. I know I just need a second to reset before I go back down there and make nice with Chester. I’ll be extra charming, just to make up for this, and come up with some stupid excuse for why I had to abruptly walk away. Preferably an excuse that doesn’t include how horribly weird Chester’s son is.

I look out across the city. It’s a relatively tall building, so the view is actually pretty good. I don’t want to go back down to the party, but I know Logan needs me. I can handle one creepy asshole if I have to. I’m just being a little paranoid right now, is all.

But before I can turn to leave, I hear the door open. My heart nearly skips a beat as I watch a man step out through the door.

At first, I think it’s Spencer. I’m ready to scream for help when he steps out closer to me, and I realize that it’s Logan.

I let out a breath. “Logan,” I say. “You scared me.”

“Scared you?” He walks over to me, concern clear on his face. “What’s wrong?”

I shake my head, looking away. I suddenly feel so silly and foolish. “It’s nothing, really. I just needed to get some air.”

He steps up next to me and sighs. “I know this is hard,” he says softly.

“Really, I’m okay.”

He reaches out and takes my hand softly in his. “You’re doing great, you know that? Seriously, Everly. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

The way he’s looking at me makes me completely forget all about Spencer Winterfield.

“You don’t have to say that,” I answer, though my heart starts beating faster. The way he kissed me comes flooding back through my body, and I realize that we’re very alone up here, and it’s very, very beautiful outside.

“What you’re doing…” he turns toward me and reaches up, tipping my chin up toward him. “It takes a lot of strength. Even if you’re doing it for money.”

“I’m just doing what anybody would,” I whisper, heart beating fast. He’s so close and so damn handsome. I don’t know what to do. I’ve been trying to keep him at a distance all this time, even though we’re getting closer and closer. It’s impossible not to feel like I know him when we live together and I’m helping to take care of his baby daughter.

“Nobody wants to live a lie, Everly, and yet you’re doing. That takes strength, and grace, and intelligence.” He hesitates for a second before stepping closer to me. His arms wraps around my hips and pulls my body against his. I gasp slightly, my hands on his chest.

“Thinking about what I’m putting you through… it drives me insane. You think I want some creep grinning at you all night? Or your personal photographs used against you?” He shakes his head softly.

“It’s not your fault,” I say, looking up into his deep eyes.

“Maybe not. But I feel responsible. When this is over, I’m going to make it up to you.”

“How?” I ask him, before biting my lower lip.

“I’ll give you whatever you want. But for right now… I think I know how to make you feel better.”

“Logan,” I whisper, but I know it’s useless.

He kisses me deeply, and I know I’m lost. I can’t fight this even if I wanted to. I’m dripping wet and I need him more than I ever thought I would. I feel safe in his arms, like all of the problems that are crashing down around us are suddenly gone. When he kisses me, the only thing I can think about is how much more I need.

He says he’ll give me whatever I want. But right now, I know I’ll give him whatever he wants, and I know exactly what he wants from me.