Chapter 0070
“She did what?” Dylan asked, stunned. Logan had just recounted his encounter with Natalie at the studio over lunch with his friend.
I’ve dated a lot of women, and I have dealt with a lot of terrible things from the worst of them, but I have never met anyone like this, man,” Logan took a sip of water.
“It’s not too late to go through with the divorce you know,” Dylan wiped his mouth with his napkin. Since this had been a very sensitive subject last time they spoke about it, he knew he had to choose his words carefully this time. “You’ve given it your all, no one would fault you for ending it.”
“I just…it barely started, you know?” He shook his head “What would my parents say?”
“If you told them everything she’s done, I bet they would tell you you made the best move. She’s going to drain you of everything you own, man.‘”
“She just seemed so different the night I met her,” Logan looked down, folding and unfolding the corners of the napkin in his lap. “I was hoping that side of her would come back around if I waited long enough.”
“I’m not sure that part really exists,” Dylan said gently. I hate to say it, but from everything you’ve told me about her since then, she sounds like a manipulative, greedy bitch.” Dylan paused. That had come out harsher than he’d intended. “No offense.”
“I mean, you’re not…wrong. Maybe if we went to counseling..” Logan started.
Dylan sighed. “Logan, man, I’ve seen a lot of divorce cases. Once it gets to the point where they contact me, any attempts they make to save things after that usually just prolong the inevitable.”
The two sat in silence for a moment. Then Dylan said, “Can you cancel this party you’re throwing for her?”
Logan shook his head. “Hazel’s already sent out the invitations. I don’t want to embarrass Natalie by calling it off.”
Dylan nodded slowly. “Speaking of Hazel….are you still thinking about replacing her?”
Logan pushed around the last of his steamed vegetables with his fork. “I did tell Natalie that I would fire her after the parly.”
Dylan scoffed and shook his head. “You would ruin Hazel’s life over this? For some woman who, so–far, has done nothing but treat you like garbage?”
“If it meant saving my marriage…”
“God you’re an idiot,” Dylan’s gentle filter vanished. He opened his wallet, pulled out a , and slammed it down on the table. “When you fire her, tell her she can come work for me. I won’t let her go over some woman that’s not even worth it.”
And with that, Dylan stormed out of the restaurant.
Logan hit the table with his hand. Dylan didn’t understand. He couldn’t possibly understand. His family didn’t have the corporate empire that the Hatfields did Dylan didn’t have the pressure of his parents and grandfather asking when he was going to finally settle down and start having kids already, in order to ensure that the Hatfield legacy continued on. His family had old–fashioned traditions, and Logan’s quick marriage was already a source of contention among the Hatfields.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0070
Another thing Logan couldn’t accept was that his family had been right, that his elopement had been just
more mistake that he’d made. He wanted to prove himself worthy of being passed down the family business when it came time for that. A divorce would surely put that at risk.
No. Unless things got exponentially worse with Natalie, he had to do everything in his power to make this relationship work.
I returned from lunch at a quarter til 1. When Maria saw me at my desk, she ran over to me.
“Oh, hey,” I said. “What’s the running about?”
“I wanted to talk to you before Logan gets back,” Maria said. “While you were gone, he pulled me into his office to ask for my help with getting his wife a gift.”
I found it strange that even at this point, Logan seemed like a lost puppy dog when it came to planning things for his wife. “Oh?”
“Yeah, he said she’s been upset lately. What’s the scoop on that?” She asked, her eyes wide and eager.
“You nosy bitch,” I laughed.
I looked around. The office was pretty sparse since most people were still out for lunch.
“Okay, here’s the thing,” I told her about the texts, I had seen recently, and how she seemed pretty upset about him running errands with me yesterday. “Then uh, I bit my lip. I didn’t like this part I was about to share. I felt like a terrible person. “Last night he happened to come into the pizza place I was eating at, and he sat with me while he was there.”
Her eyes and smile grew wide. “Shut up!”
“It wasn’t any big deal, just dinner. But then I saw some of the texts she sent this morning. I don’t know if she found out he ate with me, but she was really mad about something that happened last night. I feel terrible.”
“Oh
my god, don’t. It was just an accidental meet up, right? And nothing else happened..or did it?” She winked at me.
“Of course not,” I said, blushing despite my innocence
“That’s a shame,” Maria said. She turned her head. “Oh! Here he comes, I’ll catch your later.”
Maria walked back to her desk almost as quickly as she had come over to mine, keeping her head down the entire time. Logan watched her for a moment, then continued over to my desk.
“Welll Your desk looks considerably better,” Logan said, looking it over.
“Yes, it does,” I smiled. “Thank you again.”
He waved me off. “Would you mind coming into my office for a moment? I have something important to discuss.”
“Oh, uh…sure,” I followed him into his office and closed the door behind me.
He sat on the corner of his desk and crossed his arms in front of him. I stayed standing by the door.
Chapter 0070
+25 BONUS
“I’m sure by now you’ve figured out something is going on between my wife and I,” he said.
“Oh?” I said, feigning ignorance.
“She is uncomfortable with me working so closely with other women,” he said, suddenly looking exhausted. “I hate even asking this. But when we’re at the party, would you mind keeping your distance from us? I don’t want her to be upset at her own celebration.”
His words stung me, surprisingly. It was not an unreasonable request on his part, he was looking out for his wife. But it still hurt. “Oh, yes! Of course. I’ll keep a low profile.”
“Thank you,” he said, then added, “I really am very sorry
“No, don’t be. I understand,” I said, plastering a fake smile on my face. “Anything else?”
He thought for a moment. “Actually, um…no, not right now.”
I nodded and left the office, closing the door behind me. I felt so stupid. No wonder his wife was so
upset. While we hadn’t done anything wrong, I did cross several professional lines that I should not have.
My phone buzzed. “What was that about?” Maria had messaged.
“Logan’s wife doesn’t trust me.”