Chapter 0124


    The next morning, I reach over and grab my cell phone off of the nightstand the moment I wake up,


    dying to see if Ivan texted me back. It’s not my burner phone, or my old cell phone which Kent took, but


    instead my Kent-approved cellphone, which I’m sure he monitors. But whatever – let him look. This is


    all part of his big n, anyway.


    I bite my lip, trying not to smile when I see that I have a message waiting. Eagerly, I click on it.


    Ivan: So, has he finally let you out of your cage, Fay? Of course I want to see you. Pick you up at 8.


    My smile drops a little as I read this and I sit back on my pillows, wondering why I feel…well, a little


    disappointed. I stare at Ivan’s text, reading it two and then three more times, sorting through my


    emotions.


    And I realize that I’m disappointed because there’s a third person in this text, quite present if unnamed.


    Kent. It’s not just me and Ivan’s secret liaison anymore.


    I drop my phone into myp as I lean against my pillows to think. I mean, it’s never really been just me


    and Ivan, not ever – Kent and my dad were always involved, and Daniel too. But that afternoon at the


    bar, during that gap in space and time with only the two of us in it, it was…well, it was really nice.


    And, quite frankly, I don’t like the idea that this is suddenly a triangle. Kent and Ivan, with me in the


    middle.


    I sigh as I realize, quite suddenly, that I’m being kind of a brat. I’m trying to have my cake and eat it too


    – to have both Ivan and Kent in my life, but to keep them inpletely separate spaces when the


    reality is that I’m the pawn in their games, not the other way around.


    Well.


    At least for now.


    I smirk to myself just a little and remind myself that I have Janeen in my back pocket, and that she’s


    had loads of experience ying men against each other to get what she wants. And she told me


    precisely how to handle something like this. If Ivan’s going to bring Kent into it, then I’m going to double


    down.


    Eagerly, I pick up my phone again and send off a quick reply.


    Fay: No worries, I’lle meet you wherever we’re going. Can you send the address to Kent so he can


    arrange the car?


    ____________________________________


    When Ie back from the stables that afternoon, the house is rtively quiet. I frown as I walk down


    the hall and up the stairs, wondering where everyone is. But I shrug it off as I reach thending,


    focusing on my evening and everything that I have to do to prep for it. Shower, then drying my hair,


    then…


    As I turn to my door, though, I stop in my tracks. A little white box is sitting on the ground, propped


    against it, a ck bow wrapped around it this time. My stomach drops when I see it. I nce furtively


    around, wondering who else has seen it – god, did Daniel see it? Embarrassed, I rush forward,


    grabbing the box as I press through my door, shutting it briskly behind me.


    Then, I turn to the bed and carry my gift to it, cing it gently down on the duvet gently, as if there


    Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    might be a bomb inside, ready to explode.


    As I open the box, I see that there’s no bomb in it but…my breath ratchets up anyway as Iy my eyes


    on something equally dangerous.


    There are two garments inside the box, and one note. I reach for the note slowly unfolding it.


    For your date, and then for after.


    Be home by midnight. I’lle and find you.


    I exhale sharply through my nose and get back to business. Because it was business, after all – I did


    sign a contract.