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"I told you I heard everything. Your attire and the fact that you sent a text when you entered the room only confirmed what I assumed."
August cuts in, "Well, I'm glad you're so alert. I was worried if you were still in a vegetative state, I would have to wait longer for answers as to why you were at my place the night of your crash."
I couldn't have planned this better if I had tried. The man is eating out of the palm of my hand, and he doesn't even know it. Gianna is a blind spot for him, so she must go. Of course, Gigi is now wide-eyed, staring at me with a mixture of regret, hurt, and curiosity, waiting for a response. I only wish I had all the answers to give her, but I don't, I need more time and I need her to leave for my plan to work. I'm counting on her trust in me to outweigh her need for answers for the time being.
"Gigi, can you give us the room, please?" I ask.
"I want to hear this, Mason. I deserve to know." She is right, she does deserve to know, and she has always been able to rely on me to give her the truth. I'm counting on that foundation of trust now when I give her a pleading look and say, "Babe do you trust me?"
Out of the corner of my eye, I see August clench his fists, probably pissed at my term of endearment for Gianna. Well, he can fuck-off. I've called her that since I met her.
"Fine, I'll get coffee with Vi." I squeeze her hand before she hops off the bed to exit.
Of course, August can't just let her walk past. Instead, he stops her and pulls her in for a hug before placing a kiss on her forehead, all the while keeping his eyes pinned on mine. August is trying to make a point of demonstrating that she is his again. Too bad for him that's not a done deal like he thinks.
Once she's out of the room, August makes no time rushing to my bed to pin me.
"What the fuck are you playing at Croft?"
"Real tough August, pinning a guy who just woke up from a coma." He releases my shirt and steps back.
"Why were you at my house?"
"The better question is, why did your so-called friend Ethan ask me to show up and place a camera on your back door? Something he could have done more discretely himself." I watch his face closely, looking for any sign that he may have expected such a dupe from his so-called friend.
Clearly, he must know that Ethan is up to something. I know she showed up with him to the event tonight, but August made sure he didn't leave with her. His friend has crossed him, and from the way he grinds his teeth and meets my gaze, I'm sure he doesn't know why.
Before he can spin me some more bullshit, I let him in on another little bit of information I learned while in a coma.
"I was driving my dad's car that night. Someone tampered with the breaks. Weird how that happens right after you threatened to come after our contract."
He punches the cabinet he's standing next to and leaves a dent. That burst of rage answers my question. It wasn't him. He had nothing to do with the breaks.
"So that's it, you're going to try and steal Gianna back from me by making it look like I set this up?" And that's how I know I made the right choice sending Gigi away. As much as I hate to admit it, I will need his help to figure out why Gianna is caught up in this mess. Whatever game is being played can't get solved if she's around. He's too fucking blinded by her to see the big picture. I know my next words are going to set him off.
"I don't have to steal her back, August. She's already gone." He stops pacing and meets my eye.
"What the fuck do you mean she's already gone?"
"Easy, she's gone, as in you won't see her until I know she's safe." He rushes over, no doubt to punch me, and I spread my arms wide. "Go ahead fucker. It's not going to bring her back."
"She's my fucking girlfriend, Mason. You think I don't want to protect her?" I pretend like I didn't hear him call her his girlfriend.
"I'm not sure what I think about you right now. You were quick to throw her away when you found out who she was to your family, but then something changed, and you pursued her even though you had a girlfriend and knew she couldn't say no to you because you were her boss."
"Is that what she told you?" He holds my gaze, indeed waiting to see if those are my words or hers.
"You know what, I know they're your words. Gianna couldn't say no to me for reasons you know nothing about. I didn't use her, and she knows that. You think you are better for her because you've known her longer, and that's bullshit. If you were the better choice, you'd already be a couple."
This entitled prick thinks just because he claims something is his, it makes it true. "I'm sorry that you have some god complex from growing up as a spoiled brat and having everything handed to you, but I love Gigi, and I know she loves me. I've listened to her tell me as much the entire time she's been at my bedside. The fact that you're too stupid to realize we're end game is your problem."
I'm waiting for him to blow up, to punch me for that last sentence, but he doesn't. He crosses his arms over his chest and runs his forefinger along his lips.
"Mason, there is a difference between loving someone and being in love with someone. I don't doubt she loves you, but I'm almost certain she is in love with me. If you want to sway her into thinking the feelings, she has for you are the real deal and accept that she settled for you out of obligation, I can't stop you."
"You're giving up on your girlfriend that easily?"
"Not at all. I just thought it's only fair I get in your head the way you're pathetically attempting to get in mine. We both know I got a piece you never did."
