Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Simon hadn't been showing up at any of the recent parties, and nobody really knew what he was up to these days.

As soon as he left the private room, the gossip inside only got louder. Everyone remembered how Simon used to be all about Clara, but now she was totally obsessed with that male model. She wouldn't even look Simon's way anymore.

Out in the hallway, Simon picked up his call with Eden.

"What did you mean by 'getting rid of the problem for good?" he asked. The lounge had been way too loud earlier, but he could guess this was about Clara.

Eden was in a great mood tonight and didn't bother keeping secrets. "Bro, you hate Clara too, right?"

Simon clenched his fist, staring out at the dark sky. "Did you guys pull it off?"

There was a spark in his eyes as he spoke.

Eden's voice got cocky. "Of course. I don't know what Megan wants to do next- she's smarter than me and always has some plan. I'll call her in a few days and ask. Besides, Clara still has no clue. Megan never actually thought of her as a friend, anyway."

Simon let out a silent laugh. Clara had it coming. Who even knew who she really cared about?

He'd never meant to get involved. As long as Clara was safe, that was enough for him. If everyone else abandoned her and he was the only one left, maybe she'd finally see how good he was to her.

But he just couldn't let it go. Lately, that restless frustration kept churning inside him, nearly driving him crazy.

The only thing that helped was beating up the punching bag until his knuckles ached.

He decided to wait it out and watch.

"You still there?" Eden said. "I doubt Megan's gonna let Clara die that easily. We'll just sit back and see what happens. Everyone's already talking about that model Clara's dating. Who knows what kind of trouble she's gotten into with him?"

The whole model boyfriend" thing was a setup by Eden and Megan but Eden was starting to believe their own lie. If Clara's boyfriend was really that great, why keep him a secret? noveldrama

To Eden, the answer was obvious: the guy had probably been a boy toy for some rich older woman, and Clara was too embarrassed to let anyone see him. She'd be a joke.

After hanging up, Simon stood there, chain-smoking until his head finally felt clear.

Then he called Megan.

The first thing he said was, "Let's work together."

Megan raised her eyebrows, not sure she heard him right. When did the great

Simon Ferguson ever come to her for help?

Still, he was better than that idiot Eden. At least Simon was useful.

"So, Mr. Simon, what kind of partnership are we talking about?"

A slow smile curled on Simon's lips. "We want the same thing. Neither of us wants Clara gone too soon. I want her to hate Dylan, hate him so much that she can never go back to him. Then I'll take her away to another city and start fresh with

her." '

Megan almost laughed. So, the golden boy still couldn't get over Clara.

Clara really was lucky.

“Sure,” she said, a little smug. “Let's meet and talk it through."

She let the arrogance show in her voice, because to her, all these people were just fools, easy to manipulate. Simon had been crazy for Clara, but a couple of sweet words from Quinn and he'd lost his mind. What good was regret now?

None of them could ever measure up to her. All they had was a fancy last name.

But her? She'd always known what she wanted—and she'd never once changed course.