Blackmailed by Her Bully

“Logan is his own boss. He’s only doing what is right for you.”

She snorted. “Of course. Logan knows so much already. I guess he knows what I’m thinking and feeling. No, I don’t want him here. I’m sorry, I don’t.”

“You don’t have a choice,” Grant said, taking a seat on the floor. “I’m now your guardian.”

Hunter’s cell phone rang. “And duty calls.”

He left, and she was alone with Grant. She didn’t want him in her apartment or near her. He’d been working for Logan the whole time.

“You’re looking good,” Grant said.

“Spare me the caring speech,” she said. “I don’t want to hear it.”

“You’ve gotten an attitude since we last spoke. I like it.”

She looked down at the newspaper.

“How have you been?” he asked. “I heard about the tapes.”

This got her attention. “Oh, so you know our time together in the hotel room was uploaded onto the internet for all to see?”

“They’ve been removed.”

“I bet there’s a trace of them somewhere and it doesn’t matter anyway, the damage has already been done.”

“I can’t find any.”

She wanted to be a bitch, but it was too much. Seeing Hunter and now Grant, she couldn’t help but face the truth. She missed Logan, and knowing he wouldn’t come and see her himself, it hurt and she was taking it out on anyone who dared to step in her way. It wasn’t healthy, nor was it good.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“You don’t have to apologize to me. I’ve done my fair share of crap to you. I lied to you. Hurt you.”

“It was fine.”

“It wasn’t. I only followed his orders. I did feel something for you.”

“You don’t have to lie to me, Grant.”

“But I did feel something. I was attracted to you. It’s why I wouldn’t always meet up with you at the hotel. It was bugged, and there were always cameras. I’m not a saint. I’m not even claiming to be one, okay? I’m not going to pretend there. I did feel something.”

She nodded.

“Do you feel anything for me?” Grant asked.

“No, I don’t. Did Logan put you up to it?”

“Logan didn’t talk to me. He requested my presence, but my instructions came from Hunter. It was a new experience. Usually Logan’s all over everything.”

She stood up, putting the paper to one side, and walked into the kitchen.

Grabbing a cup, she placed a teabag inside, no sugar and no milk. She drank mostly fruit-flavored teas. She filled up the kettle, the sight before her going blurry as she did.

“You miss him, don’t you?” Grant said.

She put the kettle onto the stove, igniting the flame. She wiped away the tears threatening to fall, before finally looking at him.

“What do you want from me, Grant?” she said.

“Do you love him?”

“No. I don’t … no.”

“You don’t sound so sure.”

“I can’t love a man who’d do … that to me. It’s complicated. It’s emotions. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Do you want him to notice you?”

“I’m the mother of his unborn child, so of course I want him to notice me. Why? What is with all the questions?”

“It’s Friday night.”

“You’re getting points here for stating the obvious, but again, I don’t know where you’re going with all of this.”

“He’s at his nightclub. Logan’s. It’s where he goes every single Friday night. He keeps an eye on the main club, and of course any possible deals he wants to do.”

“Why are you telling me this?” she asked, suspicion rising up within her.

“He’s my boss and well, I did you a wrong, and I’ve got a feeling, you both have some unfinished business with each other. The only way to resolve it is to push you both together to face it.”

“You do realize this man could kill you?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“You don’t owe me your life, Grant. You were on those tapes as well.”

“I know, but I feel like I’ve got to do the right thing here. You and Logan, you’ll find out one way or the other, right?” Grant asked.

She folded her arms, staring at the man who she had once thought she cared about. “I don’t trust you.”

“That’s fair.”

“No. I couldn’t do it. No. I’m not the kind of girl to go begging for attention. Logan doesn’t want me, and I’m not going to force the issue. What is done. Is done.” She stepped around him, going to her bedroom.

She closed the door and slid down, collapsing on the floor. There’s no way she could love a man who so easily passed her up, could she? How could she count on Grant after what they’d been through in the past? It was all nonsense to her. She couldn’t trust anyone.

Even still, on the floor, touching her stomach, she did miss Logan. It wasn’t love, but it was something.

****

Grant stepped out of the apartment room.

“No,” he said.

“You’re serious, she said no.”

“She won’t go for it. Maybe in a short time.”