Surprise, Surprise

Leonard quickly backs away from me, positioning himself in front of me.

His movements are too quick.

His protective stance puts all my senses on high alert. Fear engulfs me, and I’m overcome by paralysis.

The door swings open, and a woman walks in carrying several bags.

Leonard tenses.

And I realize he hasn’t canceled his plans.

Shit.

The woman is beautiful; long, wavy honey-colored hair, tall and slender, brown eyes and full lips, high cheekbones, manicured nails painted light pink. Nothing is out of place.

This is exactly how I would imagine Aphrodite.

“Lina!”

Leonard’s surprised voice confirms that I really shouldn’t be here.

Jealousy and insecurity are immediately replaced by fear and panic. And now, instead of being glued to the floor, I start backing away, trying to escape this embarrassing situation.

“Leo! Oh! You… you have company.”

Leo.

There’s intimacy in the way she says it.

Is she his girlfriend?

The mystery woman has surprise written all over her perfect face. She stands near the already closed door, staring at us, while I try to hide behind that traitorous son of a bitch.

“Yeah, well, it’s not what you think.”

He walks toward her without looking at me even once.

My heart breaks a little.

I look at her and whisper, “I’m sorry.”

Her expression of confusion and shock is too much for me to handle right now. I turn my back on them and run up the stairs, practically sprinting toward my room.

I’m so stupid.

As soon as I get there, I shut the door and start looking for my things. I really need to find my phone! I need to call Claire, or Bia, or anyone who can come and pick me up.

I don’t want to end up as a mistress who didn’t even get to enjoy the fame.

I search the desk, the nightstand drawers.

Nothing.

I sit down on the unmade bed.

I’m screwed.

Literally.

What do I do now?

How am I going to contact anyone?

I realize I’m a prisoner here, but I’m not giving up.

Claire said I could always call or text her, so she knows my phone is somewhere around here.

I go to the closet and start rummaging through it. Then, in the back, on a small chair, I see my wallet. I jump for joy.

I found it!

I have my wallet, my ID and my phone.

Great!

I try to unlock it.

But…

No battery.

Shit.

I search for the charger in my bag, but I can’t find it. I go back into the bedroom and notice a charger plugged into an outlet under the desk. It must have been Claire who forgot it.

Thank goodness for Claire’s absent-mindedness.

It would be way too embarrassing to go downstairs and ask them for a charger.

Now I just have to wait.

My stomach growls. I should’ve started eating right away instead of getting caught up in that clown’s deceptive antics. Now I’m stuck here, hungry and with a dead phone battery.

Three knocks sound on the door.

My heart jumps.

Is it the maid?

“Who is it?”

It takes a few seconds for an answer.

I assume it’s Leonard, and rage begins to take hold of me.

“Mmm… It’s Lina. Can I come in?”

That’s it.

I’m going to die now.

If I say no, will she leave?

“Yes, of course.”

My voice comes out too squeaky.

It sounds like I’m at fault, but I’m just as innocent as she is.

She opens the door and closes it behind her immediately.

Not a hair is out of place.

We stand there for a few moments, staring at each other.

With every passing second, my self-confidence slips away. I’m at a disadvantage.

Messy room, unmade bed.

Leggings.

Barefoot.

How embarrassing.

“Well, hello.”

She speaks in such a friendly tone.

Did Leonard tell her he let me stay here out of pity?

Oh, man. I want to leave right now.

“Hello. I’m… I’m Blair, Mr. Parker’s assistant.”

I hold out my hand.

She smiles at me, but without showing her teeth.

I understand less and less of what’s going on here.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Lina.”

She returns my handshake.

“Parker.”

What?

I can’t control my shocked expression.

I think I’ve stopped breathing.

She keeps her expression perfectly normal.

Too normal.

Is she his wife?

Is he married?

It can’t be.

Nothing like that has ever come out in the media.

I let go of her hand, unable to hide my shock.

I want to speak, but I’m too stunned.

How could he have brought me to the vacation home that belongs not only to him, but to his wife?

Said sweet things to me?

Thrown himself at me just like he did at the company gym?

Lied to her.

To me.

To everyone.

I have to tell her that her husband is a piece of scum.

I start hyperventilating.

She notices and looks concerned.

As she tries to speak, I interrupt her and practically tell her everything her disgusting husband has been doing behind her back.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Parker. I’m so very sorry, but your husband is cheating on you.”

I start pacing back and forth across the room while staring at the floor.

She remains motionless.

“He’s a pig and a liar! He threw himself at me and at Laila, who is his chief assistant, by the way. He… he saved me from a situation at work, and that’s why I’m here.”

I keep pacing.

“Nothing happened between us, Mrs. Parker. We, well… it happened, but it didn’t happen.”

My nerves are getting worse.

“I was in the locker room, and he walked in, but I didn’t know it was him! At first, and then I locked myself in the shower stall and Mr. Parker… he…”

“She’s my sister.”

I freeze.

I stop pacing and stare toward the door.

Leonard is standing there, his arms crossed and his body leaning against the door frame.

I hadn’t even noticed him there.

Lina is standing in the same spot, an amused smile on her face.

Her brother, however, doesn’t seem to share her sense of humor.