His phone is now on speaker, and I recognize the voice. I can’t be mistaken about who Logan is talking to, but I wonder who the other person is on the line.
I hold my breath, making sure nothing gives away my location.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Logan says, his voice booming with anger.
“I don’t know how your picture got out with Ethan; I swear I’m not responsible for it.”
His voice booms with such intensity that it makes me shiver where I’m hiding.
I almost let out an exclamation, forgetting that I was supposed to be hiding, but I quickly covered my mouth with my hand, holding it tightly to keep silent.
“That picture isn’t me! I’ve never met Ethan in my entire life, so however you did that Photoshop, I don’t care. You better fix this mess because it’s caused a rift between Jack and me. And if you don’t, I’ll expose you to Nadine-you know how obsessed you are with her,” the voice on the other end of the line says, filled with fury.
I’m not mistaken by the voice I hear; it’s Nathalie.
It seems Nathalie is somehow being blackmailed by Logan. The fact that she mentioned Logan is obsessed with me leaves me trying to recall any clues from my time with him that might have hinted at this obsession, but I find it hard to believe.
At the same time, I was stunned because when the picture of Nathalie and Ethan surfaced, I asked Logan if he was responsible for it, and he said yes.
So why is he now claiming that he had no hand in the pictures of Nathalie that were leaked to the public?
I shake my head, realizing that I don’t know the person I’ve signed a contract with.
Logan has been playing a game all along, manipulating not just me, but everyone around him.
If Logan is capable of this level of deceit, what else has he hidden from me?
Finally, Logan speaks, his tone cold.
“You don’t want to cross me, Nathalie. Remember, I have more dirt on you than you’d like to admit. If you want to keep your secrets safe, you’ll do as I say and keep your mouth shut.”
Nathalie isn’t moved by Logan’s threat.
“I think you deserve an accolade for what you did to Jake-making investors doubt his credibility and causing them to sever ties with him,” Nathalie says with a sneer.
So it wasn’t a lie that Logan had made investors pull away from Jake.
My father had warned me that Logan was a dangerous man, and now Nathalie’s confirmation makes me fear for my life.
It suddenly strikes me why Logan was so concerned about me when I left the house two weeks ago. He was scared that I would be taken.
I had been so consumed with my quest for revenge that I didn’t dig deeper to truly understand the person I was getting involved with.
“God damn you, Nathalie! I did it for Nadine,” Logan barks out the words, his voice laced with fury.
“Oh, shut up, Logan. We both know you did it for your gain. Jake has always been a threat to you, and Nadine, being the gullible fool she is, thought you were doing her a favor by having revenge on her behalf. Little did she know, you were only after your selfish interests,” Nathalie retorts, her voice dripping with disdain.
He doesn’t deny it, and that lack of denial is more damning than any words could be. My heart sinks; Logan is every bit the manipulator and schemer Nathalie is accusing him of being.
As I sit there, in hiding, it becomes clear that I’ve been nothing more than a pawn in their game.
Logan’s supposed obsession with me, his rivalry with Jake, and his willingness to destroy anyone in his path-it’s all connected.
And now, I’m caught in the crossfire of their twisted power struggle.
Though it hurts, I can’t deny that she’s right-I’ve been a gullible fool. I thought Logan cared about me, that he wanted to help me get revenge on Jake out of some sense of loyalty.
But I see now that I’ve been nothing more than a pawn in their games.
“Fix your goddamn mistake! I might not be the best sister to Nadine, but I care about her,” Nathalie snaps, her voice trembling with anger.
“And what the fuck am I seeing in the news about you and Samantha getting back together? Logan, I know you’re up to no good, and I swear to God, if anything happens to my sister, I will find you, wherever hole you’re hiding in, and gun you down. I’ll watch you bleed to death, you manipulating, heartless bastard.”
I can feel the intensity of her emotions. She’s not just lashing out-she’s making a promise.
Hearing her speak like this, I realize just how far she’s willing to go to protect me, even if it means confronting Logan head-on.
I have always known Nathalie as the fierce one-no one dares cross her and gets away with it.
Logan has truly met his match. The fact that she’s ready to go to such lengths to protect me, to threaten Logan if he ever tries anything, stirs up mixed emotions within me.
I don’t know if I should laugh, cry, or just roll my eyes. Our relationship has never been the best, even though we’re twins.
Suddenly, I hear the crack of a phone hitting the wall. There’s no doubt Logan is furious, enraged enough to hurl his phone in a fit of anger.
The sound echoes through the room, followed by a loud groan as Logan moves closer to where I’m hiding.
Panic sets in as I instinctively shift further into the shadows, trying to make myself as small as possible, desperate to keep my presence hidden.
My heart pounds in my chest as I pray that he doesn’t find me.
He opens the drawer of the table, searching for who knows what. I hold my breath, knowing that even the sound of my breathing could give me away.
His leg brushes against me lightly, and I’m scared out of my mind, thinking he’s found me.
But I sigh in relief when I realize he’s retreated, cursing under his breath. I can tell he’s frustrated with how everything is falling apart.
Then he steps back again, and I hear him moving toward the door. I exhale quietly, feeling a wave of relief wash over me as I hear the door bang shut behind him.
But I’m not ready to come out of my hiding spot just yet. I listen closely, straining to catch any remaining sounds of his footsteps. They gradually fade away down the hallway.
Finally, I sigh deeply and try to stand up, but my legs are numb from staying hidden for so long.
I struggle to get to my feet, my legs tingling as the blood starts to circulate again. I brace myself against the edge of the desk, trying to steady my shaky limbs.
Slowly, I move toward the door, my heart still pounding in my chest. I press my ear against it, listening intently for any signs of movement outside.
When I’m sure the coast is clear, I cautiously open the door, peering down the hallway. It’s empty.
I slip out of the office, moving as quietly as I can. The walls feel like they’re closing in on me, and every creak of the floorboards under my feet makes me flinch.
With hurried steps, I make my way to my room, my heart pounding in my chest, fury boiling within me as I think about my near encounter of being caught snooping around in Logan’s office.
I rush inside my room, closing the door immediately. I place my hand on my chest, panting heavily.
This is a whole lot to process, and I have been so gullible. Knowing that I am pregnant with his child adds more salt to the wound.
I haven’t even taken notice of my surroundings, but then I see her, Samantha-sitting on my bed. My eyes blaze with anger as I snap, “What the hell are you doing in my room?”