Free Betrayal by Aubrey St. Clair

often.  She probably got a bonus or promotion or something.  Evelyn has always worked hard, so she deserves it.  I feel bad for not talking to her at all these last few days.  It's time to rejoin the rest of the world.  I need to call her back.
    I glance up to see if they're still taking pictures of Chase, but the photographer is on the other side of the big room fiddling with his camera.  Chase is still leaning against the poker table they were using as a prop, but now there are a couple of young women talking to him, one of whom has her hand on his arm as they all laugh.  I drop my phone back in my purse and approach them before things get too friendly.
    "Hi," I say, shooting a cold look at the girls who seem oblivious to anything other than Chase.  "You all done or just on a break?"
    "Hey beautiful," Chase says, flashing his smile at me and giving me his full attention immediately.  "I think we're almost done here.  I was just getting a touch up on my hair and makeup."
    "A touch up, eh?"  My eyes flit down to the girl's hand that is still on his arm.  He pulls it back and she removes it.  "They're also fans," he says, his smile a bit more embarrassed now.  Both of the girls turn to me now that they see how much attention I'm getting from Chase.  "Girls, this is my girlfriend, Lila.  Lila, this is Ariel and Sam."
    I attempt to give them a tight, cold smile but I fail, my smile much broader than I mean it to be.  Chase called me his girlfriend for the first time.  Does he really think of me that way?  The girls smile back and then turn away, obviously their touch ups were complete and they were just flirting with Chase.  It happens so often now I'm almost immune to it.  Almost. 
    "Just another few minutes, then we can go for that swim," he says.  He touches my arm tenderly, letting it fall down to my hand which he squeezes.  Chase has agreed to take me back to his house for  a swim, since I don't really like the pool at the hotel.  It's very busy, and it seems like every few minutes someone is coming up to talk to Chase.  And when they do, some of the women flirt even harder than these two just did.  It's a lot worse when they're wearing a bikini and I'm standing right there.  I lean forward and give him a kiss, meaning for it to be quick but he pulls me a bit closer, letting it linger. 
    "I don't want to mess up your makeup," I say, pulling back.  There are a lot of people standing around and I'm not sure I want all the eyes on us.  But my excuse is partially true as well.  No reason to give those girls a reason to come back.  The photographer approaches so I resume my place at the back of the room to watch.
    The pictures continue for a few more minutes before I hear the notification sound of a text message coming from my purse.  I fish around and pull out my phone, remembering I had meant to call Evelyn back and hoping it was her.  My phone is blank, no new messages.  I'm confused for a second and then I remember Chase's phone is in my purse as well.  I pull it out and click the display to see the last message.
    11:31 AM Denise: So do you think you can ditch Lila at some point tomorrow so we can get together?

CHAPTER SIXTEEN
     
    I stare at the phone in my hand as a million different thoughts roll through my head.  Denise is a bitch, so it could mean anything.  It doesn't mean that Chase is on board with what she's asking.  And yet, the way it's written, it almost sounds as if they were having a conversation about it.  Like it was something they had been discussing and she was just waiting for a final answer.  Of course, it could be written that way on the off chance that I pick the message up, or see his phone, just to piss me off and cause a fight.  That definitely seems like something Denise was capable of, but I doubt it.  She would have no reason to think I would have seen that particular message.  Although maybe there were others all worded similarly.  I know it's an