I look around myself. I’m not in the office today. I couldn’t face it.
“Think about what Caleb has said. For the first time, I agree with my twin,” Gabriel says, followed by anouch.
“We’ll leave you, but remember, we’re only a phone call away.”
“Thank you,” I say as we end the call.
I get up and move to the kitchen. Zach has written me a long letter. I opened it but put it straight in the drawer. I’m not yet ready to forgive or forget, and I’m not sure I ever will be. If it had only been me affected, maybe, but he drew my sister into it. That I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to forgive. Right now, I want to wallow in my anger, in the betrayal. For too many years, I’ve put other people’s feelings first, above my own. Not anymore. He knew about the ruse. He knew I was in love with Pen, yet he kept it to himself.
My doorbell chimes, and I make my way to the door.
“Logan, come in,” I say, stepping back.
“Hey, cousin. It’s good to see you. Caleb and April have a good honeymoon?”
“They did.”
Logan is a Frazer, the eldest son of Dad’s younger brother. He’s a couple of years younger than me, but growing up, we were close, until Darra.
He follows me into the living area.
“Your call was cryptic. To say I’m intrigued is an understatement,” he says, walking deeper into the apartment.
“You kept it to yourself?”
“As requested. What’s with all the cloak and dagger?”
“I want to show you something, and I need you to be honest.”
My hand goes to the back of my neck, rubbing the skin, my stomach churning the same way it would before a swim meet.
“You know me.” He grins. “I’ve made my fortune, being brutally honest.”
I chuckle. It’s the reason I called him. Logan Frazer is renowned for his brutal honesty. His articles in some of the world’s leading magazines and newspapers attest to that. He knows his stuff, and as such is highly respected in his field. It’s why he’s here.
The past week has led to a lot of soul-searching. My brothers are right. Something does need to change. I don’t want my future to look like my past. I don’t want to be a corporate slave, I want to explore other possibilities, and this is the first step.
“Lead the way,” Logan says.
We climb the stairs, butterflies roll in my stomach, and my mouth goes dry as we reach my studio door.
“Discretion.”
He raises an eyebrow as if I need to state the obvious.
“Okay,” I say, closing my eyes and pushing open the door to allow him to enter.
CHAPTER 61
PEN
Iwalk into the apartment to raised voices.
“Lottie, you need to speak to your mother,” Elijah says, his voice getting louder.
It’s been a month, and I know Darra’s been blowing up his phone. Leaving messages everywhere, threatening to go to the press and let them know he’s keeping their daughter hostage. She’s even tried to call me, but I’ve blocked her number for now.
This is an argument that’s been going on for days. Both of them are as stubborn as one another.
