DANIELLE'S POV

"The cause of death was an exchange of Mr. Houston's insulin with a poison that went straight to the pancreas, which was why the autopsy missed it. The person responsible was his brother, and he used his driver to feed him the candy because he was jealous and wanted to have what his brother owned." I said, feeling the fury rushing through me. How could human beings, talk less siblings, do that to each other? If that was the way things were done in the world of the wealthy, I was damned grateful I'd been born far away from it.

Confetti streamed into the room with the pop of a balloon, the sign for our success, and I smiled. "We overthought it. The answer was right in front of us from the beginning."

Jonathan nodded. "The extra details were just there to make us confused. Unfortunately it worked." He said with a mock glare.

Our announcer cut in. "Congratulations to you both for passing the entire challenge. Unfortunately, though, you used more time than allotted in this level and so you cannot escape the penalty. Mr. Carter also has a reward for winning the individual match."

The reminder of that game made me narrow my eyes. Sure, it had been just a game, and we had both been overly competitive, but I hadn't put it to him to mention the little issue of my fake mother. The fact he still remembered her behavior was enough to make me feel nauseated. I was embarrassed enough, and had imagined we had become closer to the point where we considered the way the other person was feeling. I'd attacked him as well, and I was aware I had made a similar mistake, but he shouldn't have gone that low either. I was just feeling really confused. Plus, what he had said about me and the tone he had used when I'd tried to antagonize him with the idea that I found other men more comfortable than him had put a little chink in my self-esteem. The camaraderie I'd thought existed between us was probably just in my head, and I'd better get myself back on track before I did something to embarrass myself. Me throwing myself at him was still haunting me.

As though knowing what I was thinking, Jonathan grabbed my wrist and turned me to him. "I'm so sorry about what I said."

I nodded and sighed. "I know. It's okay." But was it really? I needed to confirm it. "Have you really been thinking about her behavior at the wedding since and wondering how I turned out like this?" I didn't think anything could get more humiliating than that.

Jonathan shook his head. "No. I was surprised, of course, but my family isn't that ideal either, and so I believe I have no right to judge. I haven't been thinking about it, I was just thinking of what I could say that could raise your heartbeat. I was an asshole and I sincerely apologize. Can you forgive me?" He said with a pleading expression, and I slowly nodded.

"I started it anyway with what I said." I said, also feeling guilty. "I'm glad you won, though. I wonder what the penalty and reward will be." I said in an attempt to change the topic.

Jonathan nodded, taking the bait, even though I could see in his face that he knew exactly what I had been trying to do. "Don't get your hopes up. I don't think it's going to be anything that impressive."

I cocked my head. "Why? Because you have everything you could possibly need? The challenges were challenging enough for me to have my hopes up. If you think you won't be impressed by the reward, then, that's your own business. I wasn't the one that won anyway."

Jonathan stared at me. "That wasn't what I meant. There was no need to be so antagonistic about it."

I shrugged like that wasn't exactly what I had been doing. I glanced at the speaker, expecting our announcer to say something to try to escape Jonathan's piercing gaze. He didn't. "I guess I misunderstood then." I said.

Jonathan was still looking at me. "The evening hasn't exactly gone how you expected. I brought you all the way here and wasn't able to deliver what I promised."

I smiled. "There's still time though and tomorrow is another day. It wasn't exactly what you had pictured either."

Someone rapped on the door we had been doing a good job of avoiding. I wasn't sure about Jonathan, but I wasn't that curious about what the next step was going to be. My feet were beginning to hurt from my heels and since my evening gown wasn't exactly functional for a walk in the park, I was also looking forward to changing into something more comfortable. HI wasn't exactly looking forward to having to socialize for another hour or two before we would be allowed to leave. I turned to see who it was and my jaws dropped.

"Weren't you? Are you not…." I stuttered, pointing at him in accusation. Why was the same guy we had seen in the parking lot in the hotel here leaning against the wall and looking at us with a cheeky grin. I turned to Jonathan in confusion and he pulled my hands down.

"What's going on now?" I remembered Jonathan hadn't really looked that glad to see him which was probably why he had pulled me too close to himself, I couldn't forget that.

Jonathan wasn't paying me any attention as his full attention, or should I say glare was on the man whose smile still hadn't reduced.

The man leaned away from the wall and moved closer to us. I found myself moving closer to Jonathan sensing his tension as the man approached. Thanksfully, he stopped before he got too close and stretched his hand.

"Hi. We've never been introduced. I'm Scott. An old friend of your husband. And you are?" He asked with a charming smile.

With how direct he'd been, I had no choice but to take the offered hand. "Danielle. Nice to meet you."

I felt Jonathan tense even further and removed my hand as soon as it touched his. Jonathan was obviously not comfortable with this man and that was reason enough for me not to be.

Scott turned his attention to Jonathan. "I really hope you two had fun. I was reminded of fun times in the past with three of us and wanted to do something like that again. I hope you two were able to relax." His gaze encompassed us both, and I found myself nodding in the affirmative. From the way Scott presented himself and with my memory of the last two times I'd seen him, there was nothing that gave off whatever Jonathan wasn't comfortable with. And had he said he was an old friend of Jonathan?

Jonathan had still not responded, and so I pinched him a little at his side to remind him of his manners. Even if he was an enemy, there was no need for him to be that rude. After all, we had been able to relax and have fun a little with the challenges.

Jonathan cleared his throat quietly. "Scott." He greeted and I relaxed a little.

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