Chapter 242
Chapter 242
Stella's POV
I stared at my phone screen until my vision blurred. Nathan's post had already been deleted—I'd made sure of that within sixty seconds of spotting it—but the damage was done. Logan had seen it. Ryder would see it. And Christian... God, Christian probably already knew.
My hands shook as I dialed Nathan's number. He picked up on the first ring.
"Stella? Everything okay?"
"Take it down," I said, my voice sharper than I intended. "The Instagram post. Delete it. Now."
There was a pause. "Already done. I got your text."
"Good." I exhaled slowly, forcing my racing heart to calm. "I'm sorry, I just—I don't want people knowing Chris and I are together. Not yet. He only just broke off his engagement, and Chloe and I had some... unpleasantness in the past."
"Oh." Nathan's tone shifted to understanding. "That makes sense. I didn't think about Chloe. Sorry, Stella. I should've asked before posting."
"It's fine. Just... be more careful next time."
"Will do." He hesitated. "For what it's worth, you two looked happy in that photo."
I closed my eyes. "Thanks, Nathan."
When I hung up, I noticed Logan's name flashing on my screen again. Seven missed calls. Three voicemails. A string of increasingly frantic texts.
Logan: Answer me.
Logan: Stella, I'm not playing around.
Logan: If you don't call me back in five minutes, I'm coming to find you.
I pressed my palms against my temples, trying to think through the fog of exhaustion. I couldn't ignore him—that would only make things worse. But I also couldn't afford to let him spiral. Not when I still needed him.
I typed out a response.
Me: Can't talk right now. I'll explain later.
His reply came almost instantly.
Logan: Why were you with Nathan Kensington?
Me: It's not what it looks like.
Logan: Then what the hell is it?
I stared at the screen, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. What could I say? That I'd been using Nathan to get close to Christian? That the man in the photo—the one Logan was losing his mind over—was the same man I'd been pushing him away for?
Me: I'll come see you tomorrow. We'll talk then.
There was a long pause before his next message appeared.
Logan: You're lying to me.
My chest tightened. He wasn't wrong.
Me: I'm not. I promise.
Another pause. Then:
Logan: Fine. Tomorrow. But if you don't show up, I'm done.
I set my phone down on the couch and buried my face in my hands. This was spiraling out of control. I'd been so careful, so calculated, and yet here I was—one Instagram post away from watching everything I'd built collapse around me.
---
The next morning, I woke to the sound of my phone buzzing. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows. I fumbled for my phone, squinting at the screen.
Nathan: Hey, sorry again about yesterday. But I wanted to let you know—I found something. About that drug you asked me to look into.
I sat up, suddenly wide awake.
Me: What did you find?
Nathan: Can't explain over text. Can you meet me after work? It's important.
My pulse quickened.
Me: Where?
Nathan: I'll text you the address.
I stared at the message, my mind racing. The drug. The one from my grandmother's research. The one that had destroyed CrestCore Pharma and taken her life.
Me: I'll be there.
I set my phone down and swung my legs out of bed, my exhaustion forgotten. This was it. This was the break I'd been waiting for.
But first, I had to deal with Logan.
---
I spent the rest of the morning at Julian's office, buried in spreadsheets and contract revisions. He barely looked up when I arrived, just gestured toward my desk and muttered something about a deadline. It was almost comforting, the way he treated me like any other employee. No questions, no prying, no expectations beyond the work itself.
At lunch, I checked my phone and found a string of messages from Logan.
Logan: When are you coming over?
Logan: I made dinner. Thought we could talk.
Logan: Stella?
Logan: You're not ignoring me, are you?
Guilt twisted in my stomach. I'd promised to see him today, and I'd meant it. But now, with Nathan's message burning a hole in my mind, I didn't know if I could spare the time.
I typed out a quick response.
Me: I'll be there tonight. I promise.
Logan: What time?
Me: After work. Around seven.
Logan: Okay. I'll be waiting.