Chapter 36
Logan
“Jenn, I’m trying to be patient. I swear to you I am, but I cannot understand your logic,” I try to stay as calm as possible, but this girl is begging to be fired with her constant mistakes.
“Mr. Draper, I thought you wanted the beach house ready for the weekend, that’s why I had them set it up today,” she justifies, her face flush as her hands tremble by her sides.
“Jennifer,” I close my eyes, using her whole name out of frustration.
“Mr. Draper, you said that Ava wanted to go swimming.” She raises her hand as if that’s a good defense.
“In the pool, Jennifer!”
The guilt is immediate as her eyes glass over, her chest trembling too, and I know I’ve fucked up. It’s not her I’m really frustrated with, but because I can’t direct it at the right person, I’m taking it out on her.
“I’m sorry,” she mutters.
“No, no, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled. Just… just get your things,” I begin and she blanches.
Realizing her thoughts, I quickly explain my words. “No, you’re not fired, Jenn. I fucked up. I shouldn’t have yelled at you, and I’m just frustrated. I was just going to tell you to take the day to yourself. So, you can get your things and have some time to yourself. You know what? Take the beach house! Go up there, it’s all set up. Take a friend, but don’t have a party. It’s my apology.” I hold up my hands, watching her brighten before my eyes.
“Thank you, Mr. Draper. I’ll forward the calls to my cell and patch them through like I’m here.”
“No, don’t worry about it. Just have the day off. I don’t want any calls,” I decide and she nods seriously before walking out of my office.
Taking a deep breath, I lean back on my sofa, trying to calm myself as my mind runs wild with frustration and annoyance. I can’t decide who to trust these days.
“Mr. Draper, I’m sorry to interrupt,” Jenn peeks her head in the door.
“What is it?”
“A call,” she whispers, knowing I just asked her not to give me any calls.
I sigh deeply.
“It’s Ava, sir. And she seems pretty upset,” she says and I spring to my feet rushing to the phone before signaling for Jenn to leave.
“Ava?” I pick up the phone.
“Where were you?” She cries softly as my cell phone illuminates on my desk with five missed calls. Fuck, I think to myself.
“I’m sorry, I had my phone on silent. Are you okay?”
“Yes… no…”
“Ava baby,” I whisper. She’s so innocent in a city of devils. Everyone is out to get each other in this draining town, but Ava is pure and real like no one I’ve ever met before.
“I’m okay, really I am. Just hearing your voice calms me. I’m sorry I freaked out,” she says with a sigh. Her voice is steadier, but I still need to get to her. Knowing she’s out in the city crying somewhere all because of her stupid ass roommate pisses me off.
“Tell me where you are,” I coach her as calmly as I can manage, my heart ready to jump out of my chest.
“No, Logan, you have work. I just needed to hear your voice. I promise I’m okay.”
I know she’s lying. “Ava, please.”
“El Caminos.”
“I’ll be there in five minutes.” I say briskly, ready to end the call before her soft voice interrupts me.
“I love you,” she cries, her voice weak again, and my stomach tenses, desperate to get close to her.
“Just wait there, okay?” I ask her softly and she agrees before hanging up.
Charging through the door, I’m shocked to see Jenn sitting at her desk. Her face is clear, tears dried and she looks as professional as ever.
“Call the car for me,” I call to her as I jog to the elevator.
“It’s already downstairs, sir,” she answers.
“Give yourself a 5K bonus, and go to the beach house now,” I yell over my shoulder before jumping in my private elevator. I hear her gasp just as the elevator doors open.
The Bentley pulls to the curb of the restaurant four minutes later, and Ava rushes out of the door, barely making it into my arms before tears pour down her face.
With my arms draped around her in the backseat, I rub her back as she cries so hard she shakes. With a nod and a wave of my finger, I silently instruct my driver to just drive in circles while I figure out what’s wrong with the woman I love.
Eventually, Ava’s breathing slows as she inhales deeply before sitting up so that I can see her red and puffy eyes.
“What happened?” I ask.
“I just love you so much, Logan. I really do. I don’t know how all of this has gotten so complicated with Petra, but I don’t care. She was mean and nasty, but I only care about you,” she rushes through the words so quickly they barely make any sense.
“Okay… did you grow up with Petra?” I ask, deciding it might be a good time to ask a few questions for myself.
“No, I just met her in college. We took a few classes together. She’s been like a sister, and I never thought she could talk to me like that.” She wipes her eyes with the back of her hands as the tears begin to fall again.
“Has Petra ever told you anything about me?”
Her bottom lip curls adorably as her chin wrinkles and tears fall from her eyes. I don’t think I could love this girl any more than I do right now.
“She told me you’re a user and that you’re only doing to me what you do to every other girl,” she says quietly, looking down as she talks. I stay silent, not wanting to interrupt or deter her.
“She said you’re a playboy and have girls all around the city, that I’m just one of them and that you’ll be over me soon. She called me a… prostitute and said you bought my time and she made me feel bad about canceling all my clients, but she was the one who convinced me to! Then, she said you were from a nasty family and all you care about is money. She even guessed that you didn’t use a condom with me, because she said you only care about yourself,” she looks up when she says the last accusation and my stomach drops from the hurt in her eyes.
“Ava, I can’t deny all of that. I haven’t been an angel, but I guarantee you what we have is nothing I’ve ever felt for anyone else. This is real,” I lift her chin up with my index finger, as her lips curls so sweetly I have to bite my lip to stop my grin from spreading.
“What I can tell you is, I’ve never taken a woman on a trip with me, never tried to do anything romantic like I have with you, and never, ever, ever have I had unprotected sex. I didn’t even want to with you, I just couldn’t control myself, and after I felt you, there was no way I was putting anything between us.” I tell her the truth, watching her eyes clear, if only slightly, before I request the truth from her.
“Now, I need to know, Ava. Is there anything you need to tell me about Petra?”
Her eyes instantly flood over as tears stream down her face so quickly she can’t stop them fast enough.
“When I went to see you at your office and we had, uh,” she glances at the driver and I squeeze her hand at her modesty after just revealing we don’t use condoms.
“Sex,” I finish her sentence for her.
“Yeah. I went home and packed for Australia, but I couldn’t find one of my dresses. When I went in Petra’s room to look for it, I found this beautiful piece of jewelry, but it didn’t look like anything she could afford and it wasn’t even her style. I was so excited to go, I just pushed it to the back of my mind. But then I saw the way you looked at that brooch in Sydney, and I knew that she had stolen from you and that it happened the same night that we were at your home. I was all fucked up about it, but I thought I could just return it when I got back. I wanted to tell you the truth because I’ve never wanted any secrets between us,” she pauses and looks at me.
I clench my jaws to fight the urge to assure her it doesn’t matter and comfort her, but I put emotions aside and do what needs to be done.
“But when I got home, the brooch was gone, so I didn’t know what to do,” she whispers.
“So, you cut me off,” I remember, making sense of her sudden absence.
“Yeah,” she whispers, shame in her tone.
“Ava baby,” I call her by her nickname and her cloudy hazel eyes slowly focus on me.
“Yes?”
“Tell me the truth. I swear I won’t be mad. Did you know about Petra’s plans when you came to my house?”
“Logan, I swear to God, I didn’t even know who you were. We were supposed to be going to a club and she just found your party by chance,” she cries, her tiny frame heaving as she cries so hard my chest begins shaking from the rumbles.
While I’ve gotten some of the answers I need, I know I’m far from the whole truth. Some things still don’t make sense, and I’m going to play my position until I get to the bottom of it.