Chapter 2

The lace panties lay right at Logan's feet.

His face flushed crimson for a split second before darkening with anger.

"Jane, have you lost your damn mind?"

He didn't ask how I knew Chloe's name.

Nor did he ask why I found it in his car.

I stared at him coldly. "Aren't you going to explain?"

"Explain what?"

He bent down, snatched the underwear, and threw it straight back into the trash.

"She must've dropped it by accident."

"Making a scene over something like this—don't you have any shame?"

I challenged him, "Under the spare tire? Dropped by accident?"

Logan's face grew even uglier.

"Chloe's just an intern! I look out for her because her family's struggling financially."

"She's a young girl fresh out of college, completely clueless about the corporate world. What's wrong with me giving her a helping hand?"

"Can you grow up and stop acting so childish?"

I pulled out my phone and shoved the hotel parking record right in his face.

"Three nights ago. Are you still going to tell me you were just out drinking with a client?"

Logan stared at the screen, his lips trembling slightly.

"The client was staying there last minute. I just drove him over."

"The car stayed parked there all night. If you just dropped him off, why didn't you leave?"

"I had drinks! I couldn't drive!"

His voice raised, echoing through the room.

"I bust my ass at the office until midnight every single day, working myself to the bone for this family!"

"Instead of appreciating me, you're tracking my car?"

"You sit at home all day doing absolutely nothing. Aside from suspecting me, what are you actually good for?"

This was the first time he had dared to tell me to my face that I did nothing.

I didn't bother arguing.

Because he had no idea that the very company he boasted about was built by me and my father before we ever got married.

He had no idea that behind every single major contract he closed, my fingerprints were all over it.

I had simply never rubbed it in his face.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Logan instantly swallowed his rage and hurried over to open the door.

Chloe was standing on the porch.

She wore an elegant sundress, her hair styled in soft, bouncy curls, holding a leather portfolio in her hands.

Seeing me inside, she paused briefly, then flashed a bright, polite smile.

"Jane! Long time no see."

I didn't say a word.

Chloe handed the portfolio to Logan.

"Logan, you left the project files in the study. You mentioned wanting to review them on the road, so I brought them over for you."

On a holiday, she went out of her way to deliver files directly to my house.

Logan took the folder, his posture stiff and awkward.

Chloe let her gaze wander around the living room before finally settling on the master bedroom door.

"Logan, your place is gorgeous."

"Is that the bedroom you share with Jane?"

She said it so naturally, practically dripping with calculated familiarity.

Logan didn't do a thing to stop her.

Instead, he just gave me an irritated look. "Chloe needs to grab another file from the study. Walk her over."

I casually picked up my glass of water and took a sip. "The study is down the hall to the left. She already knows the way."

Chloe’s eyes welled with tears instantly.

"Does Jane not want me here?"

"I honestly just came to grab the file. I didn't mean to delay your trip back to your family."

She took a step forward, suddenly twisted her ankle, and pitched straight toward Logan.

Logan lunged forward, catching her firmly in his arms.

"Careful!"

He looked down at Chloe, his voice tight with panic.

"Did you sprain your foot?"

Resting in his chest, Chloe shook her head softly.

"I'm fine."

She glanced up at me, a subtle glimmer of triumph in her eyes.

"It just feels like Jane doesn't really like me."

Logan steadied her, then spun toward me in fury.

"Jane, stop embarrassing me in front of company."

"Show her to the study."

Looking at the two of them, I felt a sudden urge to laugh out loud.

"She's hardly company."

Logan’s face changed.

Chloe froze as well.

I took my time finishing the sentence.

"Someone who rides in your car to luxury suites, charges your corporate card, and knows all about your delicate stomach—how could she possibly be an outsider?"

"As the actual outsider here, I won't waste any more time watching your little melodrama."

A flash of panic finally broke through Chloe’s innocent mask.

Logan scowled deeply. "What kind of nonsense are you babbling?"

"Whether it’s nonsense or not, you both know perfectly well."

Chloe bit her lip, murmuring in a meek voice, "Jane, Logan’s stomach has been acting up lately. The doctor told him to cut back on espresso and stick to warm water."

"Since you're home all day with so much free time, you really should take better care of him."

"I know you don't like me, but please don't take it out on Logan."

I looked her dead in the eye.

"If his stomach is so bad, why were you drinking aged scotch with him in a hotel suite at two in the morning?"

"Chloe, your expense report claimed that was client entertainment. The suite, the alcohol, and breakfast came out to twenty-eight hundred dollars."

Her face turned paper-white.

Logan snapped his head toward me.

"You're tracking my finances?"

I replied flatly, "Every cent spent on the corporate account is subject to review."

Before Chloe could stammer an excuse, Logan pulled a sleek black card from his wallet and shoved it into her hand.

"Ignore her."

"Go buy yourself a new designer dress. Don't let this ruin your day."

Gripping the card, Chloe’s smug arrogance returned.

The very next second, her phone pinged.

A push alert from the banking app flashed across her screen.

"Your credit card ending in 8896 has been suspended."

The triumphant smile froze on Chloe’s face.

Logan snatched his phone from his pocket as an identical alert lit up his screen.

"Dear cardholder, the corporate secondary card under your name has been suspended. Please contact Accounting."

He stared at me, his eyes a mix of pure shock and blinding rage.

"Did you do this?"

I took a slow sip from my glass.

"That card belongs to the corporation. It wasn't issued for you to fund your mistress."