Chapter 139

Logan immediately stepped in to intercept, but by now, the damage had been done. My beautiful dress, ruined, because of this spiteful women and her lofty ideas of self-worth.

“Victoria, that was majorly uncalled for,” Logan scolded.

She only continued to smirk. “Coming to your assistant’s rescue again, Logan? You sure have a soft spot, don’t you?”

Logan’s eyes went wide. He suddenly stammered, “It’s n-not like that…”

I couldn’t bear to see it. My heart cracked right down the middle.

I knew Logan cared for me, but to see him flounder like this. He couldn’t defend his assistant like he could defend his wife.

Bitter tears welled in my eyes. We had agreed on this distance. We had predetermined rules to make sure we would not be improperly perceived. But God, it still hurt. Everything hurt.

Not wanting anyone here to see my tears, I swiveled on my heel and rushed away.

“You hurt the poor thing’s feelings,” said one of the CEO’s, and the group laughed.

“Hazel, wait,” Dylan called. His voice stayed close, even as I hurried away. Was he following me?

I didn’t want to talk to him either. I didn’t want to talk to anyone! Why couldn’t he understand that? He defended me, sure, but he was still at this party, rubbing elbows and drinking wine. If I hadn’t stood up for that waitress, he wouldn’t have said anything either.

He would have just enjoyed the part and gone about his day.

Dylan and Logan both.

To avoid him, I scurried into the ladies’ room. No one else was in there when I rushed to the sink. This was a fancy place, with cloth towels over paper ones. I snatched one, soaked it in cold water, and then blotted the wine stain, hoping to dilute it.

The stain was too big, too set. I added cold water and cold water until I was practically drenched in it, but it did not take away the stain.

Now, in addition to having a ruined dress, I was also wet.

Tears slipped out. I covered my eyes with a hand to stop them.

I never should have come here.

Logan hadn’t wanted me to come. I should have listened. He knew the people were going to be like this. He had tried to warn me and protect me. Yet, to support him, I had insisted.

Would they have treated me different if they’d known I was Logan’s wife? Or would they make the same remarks and be surprised I didn’t agree with them?

I wanted to go home.

“Hazel,” Dylan said, somehow beside me.

I startled. “Dylan? This is the women’s room!”

“So I was just supposed to stand outside while you were upset?”

“Uh… yes?”

Truthfully, it was a very sweet gesture for Dylan to have followed me here, to check on me. But it was one that I wished Logan had made, not him.

I lowered my head. “I’m sorry, Dylan, I’m not –”

“Interested. I know. I’m not here because I want in your pants, Hazel,” Dylan said.

I looked up at him in surprise.

“Once upon a time, we were friends,” Dylan said. “I’d like to be that again. Friends don’t let friends cry alone in the bathroom.” He glanced behind him. “At least until another woman comes in. I’d rather not be here for that.”

Shaking my head, I smiled a little, feeling marginally better if only for a moment. It didn’t last, before the hurt and dread returned tenfold.

“Listen, Hazel. I won’t pretend to know what Logan has been thinking lately. If he was any kind of man, he’d stand up and tell everyone what you are to each other. A husband should treat his wife better than what he has shown tonight.”

“I can’t talk about this right now…”

“I won’t press you. But, God, you want a divorce – a real one – all you have to do is call me. I’ll make it happen for real this time.”

“He stood up for me as much as he was able,” I said, stronger than I felt. “We both agreed that he would treat me a certain way while we were here, to remove suspicion. There are new HR rules and –”

“Someday,” Dylan said, interrupting me. “You are going to have to stop making excuses for him.”

Maybe. But that day was not today.

Logan wanted to follow Hazel. He had seen her as she rushed away, tears in her eyes that broke his heart. But he’d taken one step after her when his grandfather’s crisp, demanding voice called out to him.

“Come here, Logan. I need to speak with you immediately.”

As much as Logan wanted to follow Hazel, he couldn’t go against his grandfather’s wishes. At least, not while he and Hazel were hiding their true relationship.

If he could admit how important Hazel was to him, he could tell his grandfather that his wife took precedence. As it was, he couldn’t put off his grandfather to comfort his work assistant. Not without giving the whole game away.

For the way his grandfather talked, he was already suspicious of Hazel and Logan’s relationship. Chasing after Hazel would only reinforce that suspicion.

So, for now, for both himself and for Hazel, Logan had to obediently follow his grandfather.

Grandfather led him out to a more secluded side room off of the main banquet. The side room was empty save for many various and valuable oil paintings on the walls and a few velvet benches that looked like they had never actually been sat on.

Grandfather left the door to the main banquet hall open, and inside, couples were beginning to dance to a string orchestra. It seemed an entirely different world now, so jovial compared to the rising tension in this room.

“Now,” Grandfather said. “I wish to know exactly, in no uncertain terms, what exactly your relationship is with that working girl.”

Working girl was a term sometimes used for a sex worker, something Grandfather knew well. The implication couldn’t be more obvious.

“We aren’t sleeping together,” Logan said. That was the truth, even if Logan desired otherwise. For Hazel, he was trying to go slowly. Even if it was a challenge. Every time she came into his office, he thought for a moment of throwing her over his desk.

But decorum was important. And those new HR rules would have him out on his ass if they were caught, no matter if his last name was on the signage.

“You know better than to give your mistress so much leeway. You have to keep her in line… As well as yourself.” Grandfather glowered at Logan. “That behavior out there is not something I have ever tolerated from your father or from you. You blatantly disrespected me.”

Logan only disrespected Grandfather because Grandfather had been disrespecting Hazel. But he couldn’t admit to that. It would only make things worse.

So he kept his mouth shut and his back straight, being as defiant as he could while still staying under his grandfather’s control.

Grandfather narrowed his eyes. “Apologize to me.”

Logan swallowed hard. “I… apologize.”

“That was the shittiest apology I’ve ever heard,” Grandfather scoffed. “Do you think I’m some sort of fool, boy? You think you can pull the wool over my eyes and expect me to cope with it?”

“No, Grandfather. I apologize, deeply. I did not intend to offend you or disrespect our family’s name.” When all else failed, Logan could fall back on platitudes with his grandfather.

“That’s better. You will go back out there and behave yourself in a manner befitting a Hatfield.”

Logan nodded, then turned toward the open door.

“Oh. But grandson?”

Logan looked back.

Grandfather held his gaze. “Do not think this is over.”