Chapter 290

Megan

I wrap my robe around me as I walk back out and tie it to the side. David has pulled Logan outside, and I can see them arguing. Carl is leaning against the kitchen counter, looking at his phone. He looks up as I walk up to him; he gives me a small smile before pulling me towards him and hugging me.

“It’s so good to see you,” he says in my ear. I smile a little and hug him back.

“You never told him about Ella,” I state as I pull away.

“No, I figured that was for you to do,” he says and looks towards the balcony. “He’s been looking for you for a year, and I think he’s in shock more than anything at actually finding you,”

“Yeah, well, he has a funny way of showing it,”

“He’s a dick,” he says to me, and I smile in agreement.

The balcony doors open, and Logan and David walk back inside. I fold my arms and glare at Logan. He looks at me, then away and then back to me. He sighs and closes his eye before taking a deep breath and opening them again.

“I’m sorry,” he says reluctantly.

“Save it,” I snap, and he goes to say something else. “It’s my turn to speak. You’ve said enough already,” I move my hand through my hair to calm my nerves. “I’m going to tell you a few things, and after you’re going to leave,” I snap and move to one of the drawers to take out a pad and pen.

“Number one, how dare you come into my home and talk to me like that? You have no right. You left me, do you understand that? That means you have no say in anything I do in my life.

Number two: you have no idea what I’ve gone through these past five years, you know nothing about my life, and you don’t deserve to know.

“Number Three: You can call me whatever you want. You can throw as many baseless accusations as you want but don’t you ever insult my daughter. Do I make myself clear?” I ask him, and he nods. I’d noticed Max had retreated to his bed near the sofa, and he’s watching everything intently. “I’m not a prostitute, an escort or as you lovingly called me, a whore. I’m an exotic dancer, and I work for my daughter. Everything I do is for my daughter. I go to university for her, and I live here for her. It is none of your concern as to how I afford this place,”

“Number four: My daughter is just that, my daughter, her name is Ella-Louise Elizabeth Wright. You will do well to remember her name. Believe it or not, I do know who her father is. It’s you,” I tell him, and I see the surprise on his face that soon turns to regret. I write my number down on the piece of paper and hand it to Carl.

“I’m sorry, I,” he starts to stutter.

“Now get out of my home,” I demand.

“Wait, Megan,”

“Get out,” I say louder. “I have to console my daughter, who is crying in her bedroom right now, so get out before I call the police,” I growl at him.

David grabs Logan before he can say anything. He pulls him to one side, and I watch as he persuades him to leave. That enough damage has been done and that he needs to calm down and process the information given to him.

“My number is on the piece of paper I’ve given Carl, text me, and then I will let you know when I’m ready to talk to you,” I explain once he looks at me.

“I’m sorry,” he says as he walks toward me. I look away from him.

“I don’t want to hear it. Just leave,”

“Ok, I’ll be in touch,” he says and takes the piece of paper from Carl before walking out.

“I think you’ve just hand him his arse,” David says to me. I smile a little as the tears that had been threatening to come from the moment he came into my home bubble up,

“We’ll see you again soon,” Carl says and walks out with David but not before hugging me.

Mark looks at me. His hazel eyes are asking me what he's been asking me from the moment he got to my place. I'm not sure why, but I felt like I needed comforting today, and he's the only person that came to mind.

After dropping Ella off at my dad’s, I came home and felt insecure and alone. Ella usually goes to Bretts once a month. Today she went because I'm supposed to be working. I didn't see the point in cancelling just because things changed. Brett knew something wasn't right as soon as I dropped her off. I ended up explaining everything with Logan. He wasn't happy, and his usual threats of killing him came, especially when Ella told him she was scared he would hurt me.

When I got back from dropping Ella off, I sat with Courtney and Yasmin to watch movies. They were shocked to find out Logan had followed me home and even more shocked by what Melanie had told them. I think they thought I'd sit and take what Logan had said and accused me of, but I couldn't. It wasn't right, and I'm not going to sit and take what he said. I'm not a doormat. Too many people think they can walk all over me, and I've had enough of it.

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay the night?" Mark asks as he gets dressed. His dark brown hair was perfectly styled even after our activities.

"Yeah, I'll be ok. I need some time to myself," I state.

Mark doesn't know much about my past. I see the questions in his eyes whenever he looks at my scars or when I have a nightmare. He rarely stays the night because I don't allow him to. He doesn't fully know what I do for a living; he thinks I work at a high-end restaurant. It's not something I advertise mostly to keep my anonymity for when I'm working. I often think about telling him, but he's from a very high-class family, and I'm not sure he'd look at me the same even with his distaste for his family and their values. I know he'll still have some prejudice.

"Are you working next weekend?" He asks.

"No, why?" I ask as I put my silk robe on.

"I was wondering if you wanted to come to the Hamptons with me?" He pauses and pulls me into his arms once I stand up. "You and Ella?" He suggests as he kisses my forehead.

"Urm, I'm not sure," I say and move my hands down his chest. I push him away from me a little. He sighs and moves away from me.

"Why?" He asks. I tighten the robe around my body and walk out of my room. He follows.

"It's not ideal," I state as we walk through the living room towards the kitchen. Courtney and Yasmin are both watching tv.

"When will it be?" He asks once we're in the kitchen. I sigh and lean against the counter as I look at him.

"We've been through this," I say, referencing the last discussion we had about him meeting Ella.

"I just want to meet her," he softly tells me.

"Mark, we're not exclusive; meeting her would do what? I introduce her to you, and she gets to know you to be upset when we call things off? I'm not putting my daughter through that," I argue.

"We could be exclusive. You’re the one who has decided we're not," he walks towards me and caresses my cheek with his hand. "Can't you just think about it?" He asks quietly. I sigh heavily and look up at him. He's a couple of inches taller than me.

"Ok, I will,” I won’t, but he doesn’t know that. With Logan back, I doubt I’ll be able to introduce Mark to Ella. Wouldn’t that be even more confusing? I know Ella is gifted, and she probably would understand, but that doesn’t mean her emotions won’t get mixed up.

I walk Mark to the door and open it. He pulls me close, pressing my body to his as he moulds his lips over mine. His hands move up through my hair as his tongue moves into my mouth. Someone clears their throat. I look to see Logan standing in my hallway. Closing my eyes, I slowly pull away from Mark. This is just great. Logan can pop up at my apartment with no warning whenever he wants. Maybe we should move. Mark frowns at him and then looks at me.

“You know what Courtney is like,” I say to Mark. He nods and strokes my cheek.

“Thank you, I’ll see you soon,” Mark says and kisses me again.

“Yeah, bye,” I say, and I’m not sure I could feel any more awkward than I do now.

Logan texted me this morning. I texted him back but kind of ignored him after that, not on purpose; I just didn’t see the point in texting him back when it wasn’t to do with Ella. We should only talk if it’s to do with Ella; otherwise, things will become messy between us. I watch Mark leave, and he glances back at me before the elevator doors close.

“So he’s why you haven’t answered my texts,” Logan states.

“Why are you here, Logan?” I ask as I fold my arms.

“I asked you if I could come over to meet Ella,” he states, making me frown.

“When?” I ask.

“A couple of hours ago,” I frown again in response. I’d not heard my phone go off.

“She’s not here,”

“What do you mean she’s not here?” he asks, and I can see he’s angry.

“She’s visiting my dad,”

“So you send her off to her Grandad’s every time you want to get laid?” he asks.

“Is your plan always to come here and insult me?” I ask.

“I’m sorry,”

“No, you’re not. You’ve made it abundantly clear what you think of me. Ella’s not here, so leave,” I snap.

“I don’t believe you,”

“Of course you don’t,” I sigh, “just go home. I’ll text you tomorrow when I pick her up from school,”

“Is that after you’re done screwing some random guy or after your job?” he asks, glaring at me.

“Ok, I’m done with this,” I say and walk back into my apartment, shutting the door on him and locking it. He knocks on the door. I ignore him and walk toward the living room. Courtney and Yasmin paused what they were watching and look up at me.

“Your night is becoming eventful,” Yasmin states.

“Tell me about it. Have you seen my phone?” I ask.

They look around, and Courtney pulls it out from the cushions on the couch. Courtney hands me my phone. I look through the messages to see a couple of unread texts from Logan and a missed phone call.

“Between Mark wanting to meet Ella and Logan wanting to meet Ella, which one is more annoying?” Courtney asks.

“Mark isn’t calling me a whore every time he asks, so I’d say, Logan,”

“That’s down to jealousy,” Yasmin states as Logan texts me.

‘Seriously, open the door,’

‘Megan,’

‘Open the door,’

He sends me a few more texts before I decide I’ve had enough of him.

‘Continue Logan, and I’ll call security,’ I text back.

‘I pay their wages,’

‘Then I’ll phone the police and get you done for harassment,’

‘You’ll regret keeping her from me,’

‘She’s not here,’

“Why is he so unreasonable?” Courtney asks.

“He’s jealous and angry at himself, so he’s taking it out on her,” Yasmin explains.

“About right,”

“Men are dicks. That’s why I only use them for that,” Courtney says as she pours herself another glass of wine.

“So very true,” I say and hold my glass out for a drink. “Maybe I should have that ideology,” I say as she pours me a drink.

“It’s easy when you think of them like that. Just think of Logan as a sperm donor,” she says with a smile, and I chuckle a little. If only my heart could listen to me.