Chapter 180

Judy’s POV

I stood shellshocked, staring at the woman in front of me. I glanced at the door number to make sure it was the right door. Maybe in my haste and while I was lost in thought, I accidentally knocked on the right door. But as I glanced at the number, my heart sank. It was Gavin’s room and there was a woman, dressed in nothing but a robe, opening the door.

She tugged her robe a bit more closed as she studied me, a small frown marring her lips when I didn’t say anything. I wasn’t sure what to say; my entire body felt hot and numb at the same time and my heart was cracking. She was gorgeous and tall like a supermodel, a dark contrast of difference between us, making me feel sick to my stomach.

“We didn’t order room service,” she soon said, breaking the silence that was practically consuming us.

“Is Gavin here?” I found myself asking, my coming out as nothing but a whisper. She raised her brows as she studied me even further and then realized crossed her face as she let out a soft laugh.

“He’s in the shower,” she told me. “He needed to bathe after our night of passion,” she added, her cheeks flushing pink, the same shade as mine. Only mine was flushed pink for a different reason. “You’re Judy, right?”

I blinked, surprised that she knew my name.

“Uh… yeah,” I said, my tone indifferent as I stared around her face. The more I looked at her, the more familiar she started to seem. “Have we met?”

She nodded and bit her lower lip.

“Only briefly when you were out to dinner with him. I thought it was a date, but he told me it was only a business dinner. Congrats on your job working for his family. I’m sure your family could really use the money after everything that happened with them.”

Realization dawned on me; I did know who she was. I remembered her that night at the restaurant, but I didn’t know that he had spoken to her since.

Daisy Baldwin.

She looked different with her hair down and no makeup on. But she was still beautiful, and her eyes sparkled with something I didn’t quite understand.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?” She asked, her concern not genuine…at least it didn’t seem like it was. “You look kind of pale,” she pointed out.

“I… uhm…” I tried to say, but it felt like my world was closing in around me.

Gavin was seeing someone?

He was with Daisy Baldwin?

Since when?

I thought he couldn’t stand her. I thought the point of our agreement was to get Daisy and his family off his back.

I thought that’s why he wanted me…

I stepped away from the door, feeling embarrassed and lied to all at once. Tears burning in my eyes, and I hated that I was allowing him to affect me like this.

“You are mine, and I always protect what is mine.” His words replayed in my head… what did that even mean if he’s been sleeping with Daisy too? Was she also his? My heart cracked at the thought and my wolf whimpered from the pain. She also felt dejected and lied to.

“He doesn’t care about you.” Ethan's words were replaying in my mind now and I’m starting to think, maybe he was right. Maybe Gavin truly did not care about me.

Was this all a joke to him?

I felt sick to my stomach.

I was so busy with my inner turmoil, I barely noticed Daisy stepping out of the room, her arms folded across her chest.

“Look, Hun, I don’t know what’s going on here, but you are kind of dampening the mood. I was having a nice evening with my man and he’s about to come out of the shower soon. I’d rather you not be here when he does. If there isn’t an issue with Matthew, then I suggest you head on back to your room. Thank you for all you do. You are a wonderful babysitter.”

My mouth hung open; she thought I was Matt’s babysitter? What was Gavin telling her??

It felt like someone stabbed me in the chest.

“Where are Matt and Irene?” I finally mustered up some words.

She raised her brows.

“I assumed they were with you. Gavin sent them away so we can have some alone time for the evening,” she said, winking. “If you know what I mean.”

I nodded, suddenly feeling numb.

“I see,” I whispered, my voice coming out unfamiliar. “I’m sorry to bother you,” I whispered and turned away quickly, tears burning in my eyes.

“Judy?” Daisy said just as I was about to hurry away, I froze for a moment, waiting for her to continue. “Thank you for keeping his bed warm for me. But now that we are together, you aren’t needed for that particular task anymore. I hope you understand.”

I stood frozen, not sure what to say. Thankfully, she didn’t give me an option on what to say because she slipped back into the room and shut the door behind her.

After a long while, I finally got the courage to move and return to my room for the night. The second I was behind the closed doors and saw that I was alone, I burst into tears, crying until I couldn’t cry anymore.

......

“She’s been crying all night,” I heard Nan whispering. “Since we got back from dinner.”

“What do you think happened/” Chester asked, his concern clear as he spoke in a whispered tone, as if I wasn’t awake and could hear everything they were saying.

At least they were getting along even though their common dominator was me.

“If I were to guess, I’d say it’s Gavin related,” Nan said thoughtfully.

“She has the final round of the competition today; this isn’t good,” he said, shaking his head. “She’s unfocused.”

I sit up in bed and glare at them.

“You know I can hear you, right?” I ask, staring between them. “And I assure you, my performance today will be fine.”

I quickly get out of bed and grab my workout clothes, my brain a jumbled mess after last night. I could feel their eyes on me still though and I hated it. I hated that I was someone they were now concerned about. I hated that I was someone becoming unstable; someone they needed to be wary of.

“We are here if you want to tell us what happened,” Nan said softly as she watched me roam around the room, collecting my things before I went into the bathroom. I stared at myself in the mirror, fully realizing why they were so concerned. I looked awful. My face was red and blotchy, my eyes were puffy, my nose was glowing red, and I had tear streaks down my cheeks. I also had dark bags under my eyes and my lower lip was bruised from biting it after a night of stifling sobs.

I hated that I looked this pathetic, and it was all because of a stupid guy.

I quickly dressed, threw my hair in a pony and splashed some cold water on my face. I tried to force a smile, but it looked fake, so I gave up.

Nan and Chester were still watching me as I walked out of the bathroom, and I froze at the sight of their eyes on me.

I sighed.

“Glad you two have common grounds,” I murmured.

“We care about you,” Chester said with a shrug. “That cancels any of the tension between us.”

Nan nodded in agreement; her eyes still fixed on my face.

I didn’t like concerning them like this.

I sighed.

“Gavin was with another woman last night,” I murmured.

Nan’s brows furrowed.

“Wait what?” She asked. “Are you sure?”

I nodded.

“I went to his hotel room last night and Daisy Baldwin opened the door. She was naked, only wearing a robe and she looked disheveled.”

Nan shook her head.

“But Irene and Matt are staying with him.”

“They went out apparently,” I murmured. “I don’t know. It was kind of late, so maybe he bought them another hotel room for the night so he can sleep with Daisy.”

“Did you actually see him?” Nan pressed, not buying any of this.

“I didn’t have to see him,” I muttered. “Daisy said he was in the shower.”

“And you believed her?”

“How else would she end up in his room?” I asked. “Naked and disheveled looking.”

“Yeah, it’s hard to get a key when you aren’t the account holder,” Chester said, rolling his eyes and thinking about his own experience.

“She's a Baldwin; it wouldn’t be hard for her,” Nan murmured.

I shook my head as tears filled my eyes; I hated crying, especially in front of others. I was stronger than this.

“It’s fine,” I said softly. “Oh, and Ethan is here, which is great.”

“What??” Nan gasped. “At the same time as Daisy? This explains everything. This has Ethan written all over it.”

I shook my head and wiped my eyes.

“He doesn’t know her, and I doubt Daisy would involve herself with Ethan and his stupidity,” I muttered. “Let’s face it, Nan. I was played for a fool by a Landry. I shouldn’t be surprised.”

“It just doesn’t sound like him,” Nan said softly. “I don’t understand…”

“You don’t have to understand. It’s the facts. Gavin played me… he’s with Daisy and now I’m the stupid one with a broken heart.”

I glanced at the time and sighed. I was going to be late, and I promised I’d meet Tabby beforehand.

“I have to get to the arena and somehow get through this competition. Then, I’m quitting my job and going to try and move on,” I told her, as I walked past her.

“What is your plan for work?” She asked, her brows furrowed.

“Alpha Levi offered me a job earlier…” I told her softly. “I’ll think I’ll take him up on the offer.” With those words left in the air, I stepped out of the hotel room.