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“I know someone who owed me a favor. He took care of it. Don’t worry about it.” With each lie that falls from his tongue, worry builds inside me. I should be grateful that he’s showing his true colors. It might be the taste of reality I need right now, because I was about to fall all over him knowing it would be a terrible idea.
Vargas isn’t the kind of man I should want. Not that I know what I want, but I know what Idon’twant. A workaholic liar is on the top of my no-no list.
That thought gives me pause. I need to get back to my real life and stop living in this fantasy that I’m trying to make Vargas out to be. A leopard doesn’t change its spots. The same goes for men of power. They’re set in their ways already.
I’ve been so wrapped up in Vargas that I haven’t checked my phone in a bit. I bet my father has all but called in the FBI to try to find me at this point.
“I think I’m going to get dressed.” I push back my chair and pick up my plate.
“Leave it.”
“I can put my own plate in the sink.” I don’t wait for him to answer. I turn and leave. I place my dish in the sink before heading back to my room.
“Cadence,” Vargas calls after me, but I ignore him and stomp up the stairs.
“I’m getting changed.” Sassy comes darting in front of me. I can feel Vargas getting close, his heavy steps closing in behind me. I spin around right before I get to my door. Vargas almost runs right into me.
“Stop.”
I raise my chin, pushing my shoulders back to try to appear bigger than I am. It’s pointless. The man is twice my size.
“Stop?” He smirks.
“Why are you chasing me?”
“I rather enjoy it.”
Truth.
That’s a double-edged sword. Does he want to chase me because he wants me or because he wants what my father has?
“I want to get dressed.” I peek up at him through my lashes. “Please.”
“Fine. I’ll be in my office.” He reaches for me, but I pretend to not notice. I quickly slip into my room, closing the door behind me, then flipping the lock.
“Thanks for the help,” I mutter to Sassy, who is on the bed cleaning herself. “Now, where is my phone?” I dig through the bed, finding it wrapped up in my covers. “Oh crap.”
There are a million calls from my father and texts. “We’re in trouble.”
“Meow.”
“If I’m in trouble, so are you.” I plop down on the bed and do the last thing I want to do right now. I call my dad, praying he has no clue about my apartment.
17
VARGAS
Lingering at her door, I consider knocking, but I don’t. Instead, I listen.
“Hi. Wait–” She pauses for a while. “Dad, no, hang on … Dad! Listen, I’m fine. I’m safe. Everything’s okay.” Another long silence.
“Someone broke in, yeah. How’d you know–wait … Garfield. Ugh.”
I can imagine Grant Fraser losing his mind when he realized his ruse didn’t work. She didn’t go running to him when she was frightened. She came to me. Where she belongs. That thought should feel odd, maybe even forced–as if I’m trying hard to win her so I can screw her father over in business. But that’s not it. There’s something about Cadence, something that seems to tie me to her, drawing me closer over and over again.
“—I’m perfectly safe. The apartment has been repaired, new locks and everything… No, I took care of it.”
I smirk at her white lies.
