I took a long bath. It was absolutely necessary that I clear my head before everything spun violently out of control. I had no idea what to think of Ashley now. Though she had told me there was no reason to be fearful of her or what seemed like an unhealthy obsession with defeating the competition, I was beginning to worry. It was obvious that her relationship with Aiden was the driving force behind what kept her in the house as other girls fell by the wayside over time. It could also be assumed that Ashley was using her power over Aiden to solidify her sister’s place in the house as well. Though if that were the case, why would Kyla resent her so much?

I sank deeper into my bubble bath, allowing the water to provide a comfort that my head could not. I closed my eyes, breathing deeply, needing the calm more than I could ever explain. But just as I had felt the tension easing its way out of my body, my cell phone rang. I dried my hand the best I could with the limited amount of time and reached beside the tub for my phone.

“Hello?” I said, picking up just in the nick of time.

“Spencer, it’s me.”

“Aiden, hi. What’s up?”

I hadn’t spoken to him since that first day and definitely not since I saw him leaving Ashley’s room. And just like that, the anxiety had settled right back in.

“There’s someone I want you to meet tomorrow. His name is David Pierce.”

“David Pierce…as in Pierce Construction? That David Pierce?”

“So you’ve heard of him?”

Of course I had heard of him. The man had practically built L.A.

“Yes, I’m familiar.”

“Excellent. Well he’s interested in getting to know you and I assumed you’d be interested as well.”

“Of course. Is this just a meeting or…”

“I’m sure you know it’s not just a meeting.”

“I see.”

“He’s been waiting months for a blonde. His wife likes blondes.”

Wife?

“Wait a second. Am I sleeping with him or am I sleeping with the wife?”

“Technically you’d be sleeping with him and his wife…but also…”

“There’s someone else?”

“David is one of Ashley’s best clients. He’s had a mutually beneficial business relationship with her for quite awhile.”