The Arrangement

Chapter 38

Hey guys!  Heads up, most of you will not be happy with me.  I should warn you all now that I've been planning this from the beginning.  Enjoy my darlings!!! <3

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Chapter 38

I woke up feeling refreshed.  I got a quick shower and changed and went to go find everyone.  It was nearly time for dinner.  I wandered for a bit then I heard him and Maddy in a room.  The door was nearly closed and I could just see through the crack.

“Really?”

“Maddy, what do you think you’re playing at?”

“Trent, you had one job, one and only one.  You just needed to bring home some wholesome girl to show Daddy you’re every bit the family man Nick is, and wham, bam, thank you ma’am you get your place back as first in line for CEO.  You picked out the simplest girl you could find and it’s simple to manipulate her.  Come on, I even helped you revoke her funding.”

I felt my blood run cold.  No, it couldn’t be.  “It’s not that simple, Maddy.”

“It really is.  Come on, Trent, you’re a great actor.  I mean look what happened with Caroline.”

Caroline?  What had he done?  “What happened between us is none of your concern.”

“Come on, Trent.  If you hadn’t been such an idiot, the two of you would still be together.  It’s not hard to see you still want her.”

“Maddy enough, that’s over.  Now drop it.”

“Fine, when do you think everything will be taken care of with your little wifey?”

I pushed the door open and Madeline had a smirk on her face Trent looked horrified at the fact that he’d just gotten caught.  

“Is it true?” was all I could manage, my voice was shaking.

“Mikaela, let me explain,”

“Is it true?” I repeated, my voice more solid.

“Of course it’s true, baby doll.  Why do you think he wants to explain?  You’re just another means to an end for him.”

“No, you’re not!” Trent defended.  “Mikaela, let me explain.”

I shook my head.  “I think I’ve heard enough.” I swallowed down the lump in my throat.  “If you’ll excuse me.” I turned and ran down the hall back up to our bedroom.  I heard Trent right behind me, so I slammed and bolted the door.  

Damn it all!  I was so stupid!  He was such a liar.  How could he do that to me?  I started throwing my things into my suitcase.  I took off his ring and left it on the bathroom counter.  Not only had he not cared, he’d gone out of his way to hurt me.  Revoked my funding?  That asshole!  He had no idea how many hours of researching, interviewing, and information I’d had to report on to earn it in the first place.  It was too convenient!  I should have known it was all too convenient.  I had everything in my bag and the dam hadn’t burst yet.  I hoped it wouldn’t until I was home.  All the while I heard Trent pounding on the door demanding to be let it.  He knew what had happened to me.  We’d even talked about earlier today for goodness sakes!  Last night I thought we’d had a breakthrough!  I knew he was hiding something.  I knew it from the start!  I was so stupid!  How could I be so stupid?

Guys like Trent didn’t fall for girls like me.  I knew fairytales were stupid.  I wasn’t a princess and he sure as hell wasn’t prince charming.  Once I was sure I had everything I opened the door.  I had my suitcase in one hand.  I was leaving.  It was time to end this charade.