Page 51 of The Revenge Plan

“And steal information from her father to help me,” I said. The news felt like a slow gut-punch. The images on the screen were of her, it was her, but a part of me didn’t want to believe it.

“Doesn’t matter. She probably did that to make you trust her.”

“I don’t know. ”

“Maybe she didn’t know what she was giving you, you know.”

“Or maybe she didn’t care,” I said.

Ax frowned, “Are you siding with her?”

“All I’m saying is, things might not be as they seem.”

“I’m with Ax.” We both turned to Fred, “I did a little more investigating about that apartment she was lying to you about,” he took the tablet from me and scrolled through rapidly then turned it back to me, “Apparently she was living here.” On it was a picture of an apartment building that had seen better years. “A few people correctly identified her, when I showed them her picture, including the landlady.”

I was in shock. Never in a million years would I have thought that Hailey Lyndell would live in a place like this. It was unbelievable.

“You must have the wrong person.”

Fred shook his head, “it’s her.”

“Why was she living like this?” My gaze was firmly on the photo in front of me. I couldn’t take it away.

“I’m not sure yet. From what I can gather, they have cut her off from the trust fund pool. And since she didn’t have an income stream, she had to work. And since her last name is toxic these days, and has a humanities degree, she had a tough time finding a job. She only got her current position because her friend referred her. Honestly,” Fred leaned back in his chair, “If it were me, I would assume that she’s desperate.”

I tried to work it in my mind, and I would hit walls each time.

“You see,” Ax said, “She’s still the same person who betrayed you. Who’s currently betraying us.”

29

Igot myself ready to put on sexy lingerie that I had bought on a whim on my way back from work. My heart was racing. I had never done this before. Surprise a man with my half-naked body. He was keeping to a schedule nowadays, and I knew he would be home by now. When I heard the sound of the elevator, I positioned myself in the most provocative way possible. From the reflection on the window, I looked like I was posing for a photo-spread. His footsteps sounded louder and louder the closer he approached. I took a deep breath to calm myself down.

Caiden entered the room. His tie slightly undone, making him look devilish in the gray suit and a briefcase dangling in his hand.

“Welcome,” I said to him. His eyes burned with what I interpreted as desire as he raked his gaze over me. A boost of confidence to dampen my insecurity. But it went away, and an uncomfortable coldness replaced it. Maybe I was seeing things. I shifted when he strode forward. “Surprise.” I said again. He was silent. Instead, he took out a tablet and threw it on the bed.

“Care to explain this?” he pointed at the device.

His seriousness made my confidence falter. He wasn’t looking at me and had instead turned away and began taking off his tie and jacket. I got up to a sitting position. The room suddenly felt colder, and I wished I had something else to cover me. I took the device and swiped it open. On it, right there in color, was a picture of me. It was a blurry image captured in motion. And it was me. In his office. Taking photos of that damn book.

Stupid, stupid me. I wanted a hole to appear and swallow me.

“Yo—,” getting words out felt like a chore, “your office has surveillance?”

He turned back to look at me. He was so devastatingly sexy in a white shirt and gray pants. His hands were in his pockets. His demeanor, though, felt like ice radiating from him. “Is that a relevant question?”

“I—” My first instinct was to lie. But what would I say when he had caught me red-handed? His eyes were daring me to lie, as if he could tell what was on my mind. I could feel the shaky understanding we had built crumble beneath me.

“No answer?”

“Would you believe me if I tell you I didn’t want to do it?”

He smirked, “Of course you’d say that. Nothing’s ever your fault, is it? You’re forced into doing something or someone framed you.”

“I’m not saying it’s not my fault! It is. But if it was only up to me, I wouldn’t have done so! I tried not to give them anything.”

“Did you now?”

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