“I don’t care about my business. I don’t need the money anyway.”
“You’re doing it again, just like before when Allegra dumped you. I thought you said you were never going to let a woman ruin your life again.”
“I’ve been through trauma, okay?” Logan pushed a hand through his unkempt hair. “I’m coping.”
“You’re not coping. You’re copping out.” Josiah yanked a curtain open and sun streaked into the darkened room.
Logan flinched, blocking the light with his hand. “You don’t get it. Ellery left me, and I loved her.”
“Rii-ight. Just like you loved Allegra?” Josiah huffed a scoffing laugh. “You dropped Allegra and switched to Ellery overnight. How does that happen, huh?”
“It was different with Allegra. I never really loved her.”
“But you think you love Ellery?”
“I know I do. I’m miserable without her.”
“You’re miserable, all right. You’re a miserable excuse for a man right now.”
“Shut up.”
“You’ve felt sorry for yourself long enough. It’s time to get back to life.”
“Ellery left me. I don’t care about life anymore.”
“So you’re just going to give up? Turn back into a hermit? Back out on the partnership with Phantom?”
“I don’t have to leave the house to do my work.”
“Give me a break. You know that’s not true. You’re recruiting a team of top people in your field for a new venture. You can’t do that holed up in this filthy place.” Josiah pulled out his phone and tapped on the screen.
“Who’re you calling?”
“A cleaning service.”
“I don’t want to see anyone.”
“Get over it.” Josiah spoke to someone on the phone and arranged for the house to be cleaned that afternoon. Then he slid his cell back into his pocket. “What exactly did Ellery say when she broke it off?”
“She told me we should date other people. She said I should go out with Allegra.”
“And Allegra’s been calling?”
Logan nodded. “It’s a pretty big coincidence she called the same night Ellery broke up with me… like she knew it was going to happen.”
Hearing the voice of the woman he’d pined over for years hadn’t elicited even a twinge of desire. Allegra was merely a barrier keeping him from Ellery.
“Maybe she talked to Ellery—coerced her into breaking up.”
“She swears she never contacted Ellery. She’s probably lying, but I can’t prove it.”
“So you told Allegra you weren’t interested?”
“Yes. Even though she bought a place here. Said she moved to Austin so we could try again.”
“Okay, then. That’s something.” Josiah bent to pick up a discarded napkin from the floor. “You just need to tell Ellery you talked to Allegra and turned her down.”
“I did that. It didn’t work.” Logan sat forward and propped his elbows on his knees, dropping his face in his hands. “She said that doesn’t prove anything. She told me I have to spend time with Allegra. She wants me to try her out, like a piece of furniture.”
“O—kaaay… I shouldn’t be surprised Ellery’s a little off the wall. She’d have to be if she’s willing to date you.” Josiah picked up a pizza box from the floor, folding the lid closed. “But I’d still like to recruit her for Remarkable Models. I hope you haven’t ruined my chances.”
“Is that why you’re here?” Logan sent him a searing glower. “You’re trying to figure out how to snag Ellery for yourself?”
“Of course not. I’m here to stop my friend from destroying the best thing that ever happened to him.”
Logan slumped again. “Doesn’t matter. It’s hopeless.”
“That’s too bad. It was kind of nice to see you smiling again. Guess I’m back to being stuck with Logan-the-Grouch.” Josiah added his pizza box to a stack on the coffee table. “Did Ellery end everything point blank? Like there’s no chance the two of you could get back together?”
“She said I had to prove I wanted to be with her.” Logan found that pocket of anger he’d been nursing for a week. “Like all the things I’ve done the past couple of months didn’t count for anything.”
A smile lit Josiah’s face. “It’s simple then. All you have to do to get her back is to go out with Allegra a few times. Then you can say you tried Allegra out, and you’re still in love with Ellery.”
“Nothing’s simple with Allegra. There’ll be strings attached. More like webs attached. I don’t think she does anything without her father’s blessing, so the senator probably has something up his sleeve. And somehow, Chester has his hand in all this, too.” Logan stood, yawning as he stumbled toward the kitchen. He poured yesterday’s leftover coffee into a mug and popped it in the microwave.
Josiah followed him and sat at the table, clearing away a pile of dirty dishes in front of him. “I don’t think they can hurt you, as long as you’re careful. You’re wise to them now. And you have so much money you’re untouchable. You have powerful friends, too. Unless you do something to screw everything up, like refusing to go to that fundraiser event for Limitless.”
“I’ve already decided I’m not going.”
