Mr. CEO(45)

Eva waves away my worry. “It’s no problem. I woulda got pissed too and thought the same thing if I was in your shoes.”

She pauses and then gives me a look. “So is everything okay with Logan? You sounded like you’re having some serious issues… despite the good sex.”

I let out a sigh. “He won’t commit. He just tells me we should live in the moment. But I don’t know what to do... I think I’m falling in... falling for him. And I’m afraid that I’m going to end up...” My heart clenches and I take a deep breath. It’s so hard to admit.

Eva grimaces. “That’s… not good.”

“Yeah, and I’m not sure how much more time I should devote to something that’s never going to work out. Even if the sex is good. I don’t want a repeat of Ian, you know?”

Eva nods and makes a face. “Yeah, but ugh. It sucks because you’re at a disadvantage in this relationship. Like, he can totally get rid of you if you suddenly decide you’ve had enough and want to break it off with him.”

Eva isn’t saying anything I haven’t already considered, and it’s depressing. I’d like to think that Logan would never do such a thing to me even if we did break up, but then I remember Ian. I thought I knew him, thought I’d marry him and have his children even, and he turned out to be a totally different person than who I thought I’d fallen in love with.

When it comes down to it, I don’t really know Logan either.

“So what are you gonna do?” Eva asks, her expression deeply concerned. “I'm afraid to give you advice on this because I don’t see a clear answer.” She leans forward and takes my hand in hers and gently adds, “I just don’t want to see you hurt.”

The answer should be easy. Stop wasting time. Leave Logan no matter the cost. But when I think about leaving him, I feel overwhelmed. I don’t want it to have to end. Yet I hate being in this state of limbo.

“Charlotte?” Eva asks when I don’t answer right away.

I sigh and squeeze her hand before letting go. I take a bite out of my muffin, shake my head, and reply, “I don’t know, Eva. I really wish I knew.”





Chapter 26





Logan





My eyes are drawn from my computer to the large doors of my office at the sound of a loud knock.

“Come in,” I call out. I half expect it to be Rose even though it’s a quarter to five and I doubt she’ll be done with work this early. I want it to be her. But it’s not, it’s Trent.

As he closes the door, I stretch my arms above my head and sigh heavily. It’s been a long f*cking day.

“Did we get it?” I ask as he slumps into the sofa and leans forward, his elbows on his knees with his chin resting in his hands.

He nods and says, “It cost us forty-three million. But we won the bid.”

I finally let a grin slip into place.

“We overspent, but it’s still usable,” he says.

I huff out a breath, the smile unmoving. It feels good knowing how badly I f*cked over Patterson. And he’s going to know. There’s not a damn good reason for me to have bought it otherwise.

“Logan,” he says and waits for me to look at him.

I raise my eyebrows as he makes me wait in silence.

“Yes?” I ask him, finally leaning forward and giving him my attention.

“Are you alright?”

He hasn’t asked me that in quite a long time.

“I am.” I clear my throat and look at the clock and then back to him. “I’m fine.” I’m not fine. But I’m not as bad as I once was. I know that’s why he asks. I can run this company. He’s the only one who knows about my condition beyond my father. If it got worse, I’d tell him. I wouldn’t let the company fall.

“That’s not what I mean.”

I look back at him with my forehead pinched in confusion.

“It’s about Miss Harrison.”

“Charlotte Rose.” I feel my hands grip the arms of the chair. My blunt nails dig into the leather. “What about her?” I ask, my voice on edge.

“Is she-” he stops to look away and then back at me. “Is this serious?” he asks.

I wait a moment to answer. I know the truth though. It is. I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life. I want her. I need her to be mine.

“Yes,” I answer and hold my breath, waiting for him to tell me all the reasons we shouldn’t be together. Instead a smile grows on his face.

“I’m very happy for you, Logan.” He leans back and says, “I’d like to meet her; maybe outside of the office?”

I scoff a laugh and finally relax. I nod my head, looking back at the clock. “I think she’d like that. Maybe a corporate lunch.”

He lets out a laugh. “To think you have a life outside of work.”

I bring my fingers to my lips. It’s certainly something different. She’s something different.

“Does she know?” he asks. My breath catches in my throat as I maintain eye contact. I don’t want to answer. I can’t admit to him what a selfish prick I’ve been.

I’m saved from responding by a small, timid knock on the door. It opens before I can respond, and Charlotte appears.