Page 2 of Logan

“Just because he’s part of the Valeur family doesn’t mean he’s immune to Logan Valeur’s wrath. I heard even their father is afraid of Logan,” she mutters, echoing the tales of horror that circulate in the kitchen.

I’ve heard them too.

Not that I’ve ever encountered the person who instills fear in everyone here. He works on the executive floor and rarely ventures down here, thank goodness.

I love working here and would prefer to keep my job.

“I heard he once fired an intern for bringing him coffee with one sugar instead of two,” Emery whispers.

“That can’t be true,” I scoff, rolling my eyes. “No one’s that unreasonable.”

“I’m telling you, the man’s a tyrant. Jessica from HR told me he also made a grown man cry during his performance review.”

“Urban legends, I’m sure. No one could be that mean and still run a successful company.”

“Believe what you want, but I’m staying far, far away from The Dark Lord. I’d like to keep my head attached to my body, thank you very much.”

Surely, she’s exaggerating, but I don’t push it.

As Liam strides into the room, a ripple of whispers sweeps through the crowd.

“God,” Emery says, her blue eyes flickering, “I hope he isn’t leaving. Who will I drool over if he does?”

I can’t help but agree. Liam is undeniably captivating. More than just good-looking—tall, muscular, with a mane of dark hair framing features that belong more on a magazine cover than the manager of a software company.

And he’s not just a pretty face. He’s intelligent and kind too. Just perfect.

But if anyone here has a chance with the charming VP, it’s Emery. She’s the most stunning employee here, and everyone knows it. At twenty, she won a beauty contest.

But me? I’m just an average brunette with an average figure. The best thing I have going for myself is my intelligence.

Unfortunately, it’s not the quality men seem to appreciate. The moment they learn of my master’s degree in physics, which I started pursuing in high school, and my additional degree in computer science, they distance themselves.

I’ve learned to mask my intellect, feigning ignorance to stroke their egos and maintain their illusion of superiority. But it’s a facade that inevitably crumbles.

Every time we go out, Emery effortlessly collects the phone numbers of handsome men while I’m left to navigate the evening alone once again.

The only man I believed loved me also loved another at the same time.

Liam clinks on a glass, and the room falls silent.

“I’ve gathered you all here today to celebrate,” he announces, and several gasps and murmurs of surprise ripple through the crowd.

It seems I’m not the only one who feared he might leave or was perhaps about to announce some sort of departure.

“The company has surpassed all analysts’ forecasts this year, and our revenues have exceeded expectations,” he continues, pausing until the cheers and applause die down. “Therefore, we’ve decided, as a management team, to recognize one outstanding employee. The employee who hascontributed the most to the company’s success in the past year. We reviewed all employee evaluations, consulted with managers, and we’re here today to announce the winner.”

Emery grips my arm. “That’s gotta be you, Sloane. No doubt.”

“You think?” I whisper back, and a flutter of hope rises in my chest.

“Everyone knows that your hard work is responsible for a significant portion of this year’s success,” Emery insists, her blonde hair bouncing as she nods. “And let’s not forget, you put in more hours than anyone else here. That has to count for something. You practically live here.”

I swallow hard. I’ve never been selected for anything in my life. Could this be my chance? Could the universe finally grant me this one thing? “But the software I developed isn’t in production yet.”

“It will be,” Emery assures me with a confident smile.

We turn our attention back to Liam, who continues to address the room.