Page 15 of Logan (The Valeur Billionaires #1)

Chapter Thirteen

LOGAN

“ A re we picking someone up on the way?” my driver asks as I get into the car and slam the door with more force than necessary.

“No,” I grunt, my jaw clenched.

“It’s just that I was told to pick up two passengers?—”

“No,” I growl, hating to repeat myself. Was I not clear enough the first time? The driver falls silent, wise enough not to press further.

I stare at the empty seat beside me, my fingers tightening on the leather armrest. To hell with her. I was so close to kissing her. Too damn close. I shouldn’t have let myself get carried away like that, risking the entire company for a fleeting moment of desire.

My self-control is ironclad, but I’m not a monk. My cock twitches just thinking about her lips, the sweet taste they surely hold. I’d give anything to taste her, and not just those lips.

I run a hand over my face, feeling the day’s stubble rasp against my palm. I need to focus on the task at hand—securing this deal with Wolfson. Everything else is just a distraction.

But Sloane... She’s more than that. I can’t get her out of my head. The way her eyes sparkled with mischief as she teased me. The soft catch in her breath when I touched her. The feel of her silky skin under my fingertips and the heady scent of her perfume.

I clench my fist, fighting the urge to tell the driver to turn around, to go after her and apologize, to pull her into my arms.

No. I can’t go down that road. She’s my employee, my almost fake girlfriend. Nothing more. I need to remember that.

I also need to admit I offended her. She might cancel the Wolfson dinner.

I need to talk to her and smooth things over.

I don’t have time to find another solution for dinner.

Where the hell am I going to find a lovely American woman willing to pretend we’re dating and get to know her with only a day’s notice?

I’ll apologize, explain it’s not personal, and we can move on.

My phone rings, jolting me from my thoughts. I pull it out of my pocket and glance at the screen.

Georgina.

I reject the call and shove the phone back into my jacket.

Fuck. It’s like she can smell when I’m weak. There’s only one thing that woman wants, and I can’t deal with her right now.

I can’t believe I fell into her trap in the first place.

"What do you want, Georgina?" I stare at the document she handed me, my trembling fingers gripping the damning papers. “Where did you get this?”

She crosses her arms, her perfectly glossed lips curling into a sneer. “I devoted my time to you for a year. You were supposed to marry me, and in the end, you threw me to the dogs.”

I shake my head in disbelief, a harsh laugh escaping my throat.

“Devoted time to me? When exactly? If there wasn’t a fancy party or something that served you, you weren’t even around.

” My voice comes out strained, barely controlled, as I fight to keep my composure.

“You didn’t even sleep with me more than once every few weeks, and even then, it felt like you were doing me a favor. ”

Her eyes narrow, glittering with malice. “Maybe if you were better in bed, I would have wanted to.”

I ignore her jab, tossing the document onto the desk between us. “What do you want from me, Georgina? Why did you bring me this?”

She leans back in her chair, a smug smile playing on her lips. “I know your big secret, and now I have proof.” She taps a perfectly manicured nail against the papers.

"And what do you plan to do with it?" I ask through gritted teeth, my hands clenching into fists at my sides.

She shrugs. “That depends on you.”

I tilt my head, understanding clicking into place. Of course. “You want money.”

"Pay me, and the document disappears," she confirms, her tone as sweet as poisoned honey.

I let out a harsh laugh, running a hand through my hair in frustration. “I trusted you. You went through my things, and now you’re threatening me? For money? That’s what you always wanted from me, right? Money.”

I lean forward, bracing my hands on the desk as I meet her gaze head-on. “Did you even love me? Did you ever love me at all?”

Her face twists into a mocking sneer, her eyes cold and empty.

“Don’t be na?ve, Logan. You know it’s impossible to love you.

Did you really think anyone could fall in love with you?

You’re not a nice person. You know that.

You can’t be loved.” She leans in closer, her voice dropping to a vicious whisper.

“Even your own mother couldn’t love you. ”

Rage surges through me, white-hot and blinding. I take a step toward her, my fists clenched at my sides, my breath coming in short, harsh pants.

I stop, just short of grabbing her. She sees the fury in my eyes, the barely leashed violence, and her smile turns wicked.

"Yes, hit me. Finish what you started. Then I won’t even need the document to get what I deserve."

I shake myself out of the memory, blowing out a harsh breath as I run a hand over my face. I’ve never laid a hand on a woman, but goddamn, I came close in that moment. The closest I’ve ever been to losing control.

Maybe I should have just let her publish whatever she has, get her off my back once and for all.

I wanted a partner so badly, someone to love me, that I ignored all the problems. All the warning signs. I’m usually an expert at reading others but with her...I failed. I failed spectacularly, and now I’m paying the price.

“Are you alright, Sir?” The driver glances at me through the rearview mirror.

I fix him with a hard stare, my voice icy. “Don’t address me unless I’ve asked you to.”

He returns his eyes to the road, his shoulders tensing.

Good. Just because he drives me a few times a year, does he think he has the right to pry into my personal affairs?

Even Liam doesn’t know my secret, and he’s the closest person to me, so there’s no way in hell I’m sharing my problems with this driver.

More importantly, right now, how do I smooth things over with Sloane so she’ll come with me tomorrow and play her role?

I pull out my phone and start typing.

How do you get a woman to forgive you?

Cora

What did you do this time?

Does it matter?

Cora

Absolutely. The bigger the offense, the bigger the gift needs to be.

A Gift?

Cora

If you want her to forgive you, buy her something. An expensive something.

Cora

I didn’t know you had someone.

Pfft . Of course, that’s what she would think.

I don’t.

It’s work-related.

Cora

For a moment, I thought you had a life.

Been there, done that, got the point.

Cora

Haha. I know they say you only live once, but they didn’t mean for you to take it so literally.

I toss the phone onto the seat beside me and stare out the window at the passing scenery. A gift, she said? But what? I know Sloane doesn’t cook, so anything in that department is out.

I can’t buy clothes for my employee. Definitely not jewelry. She might misinterpret my intentions and think I’m into her. What can I get her? Another vibrator?

I chuckle to myself. I think she’s all set in that area.

I couldn’t even choose the right gift for Georgina. I would waste hours searching for the perfect present, and she would always return it. Eventually, I just handed over my credit card and let her shop on my dime. She seemed to like that approach much better.

That’s it!

I’ll just give Sloane my credit card and let her buy herself something, no matter the cost. How much could she possibly spend? It’s not like she’s going to go out and purchase a building with my card. This way, she’ll definitely be happy, forgive me, and agree to come to dinner with me.

The driver pulls up to my apartment and I leave him the usual tip. He respected my request for silence the rest of the way, so I decide not to ask for a replacement for now.

I enter the empty apartment and collapse onto the couch. It’ll take her at least another half hour on the bus, so I’ve got some time to kill.

And I’m starving after agreeing to go to a restaurant where I have nothing to eat.

I could make us both some dinner in the meantime so we can sit and talk like civilized people. She obviously enjoys food, and besides, I need to convince her to stick to the plan despite what happened.

I prepare chicken in sauce, slide it into the oven, and then return to the sofa to wait for her.

“Logan?”

“Logan?”

The soft voice rings in my ears, and I blink groggily.

Fuck.

I fell asleep. How the hell did I fall asleep in the middle of the day? I sit up and rub my face. Not only that, but she got into the apartment without waking me.

“Are you okay?” Sloane is still standing next to me, concern etched on her face. “Is your head hurting again?”

“No. How long have you been standing there?” I ask, my voice rough with sleep.

“I just got here. Do you think I’m a stalker who watches you sleep?” She arches an eyebrow.

I twist my mouth. Apparently, I just keep insulting her.

“There’s something in the oven, and I think it might be burning.”

“Shit!” I jump up from the couch and rush to the kitchen. How long was I asleep? I quickly open the oven. The chicken is a bit browner than it should be, but it’s not burned. Luckily. I take it out and set it on the table.

“It’s okay, just a little overcooked. Do you want to join me?” I ask, gesturing to the food.

She shakes her head. “After what happened at the restaurant? I don’t think so.”

I lick my lips. “I promise it won’t happen again.”

She remains silent, her arms crossed over her chest.

“You’re still angry. What can I do besides promise it won’t happen again?” I try, hoping she’ll give me a chance to make amends.

“You humiliated me, and I think you’re playing with me,” she snaps, her eyes flashing.

“I’m not playing with you, and I definitely didn’t intend to humiliate you.” I pull out my black Amex and hold it out to her. “Here, take this.”

She takes the card and studies it closely. “Is this your credit card?”

“Yes.”

“Why are you giving it to me?”

“I want to apologize again for what happened at the restaurant. I shouldn’t have touched you or spoken to you that way. You’re my employee, and I crossed a line. I thought maybe you could go buy yourself something. Whatever you want,” I explain, hoping she’ll accept the peace offering.

She narrows her eyes. “Did you hit your head?”

“No. Why?”

“Because you’ve started acting like you don’t have a brain.” She throws the card back at me, and it falls to the floor.

I don’t bend down to pick it up.

“Do you think you can buy me? Are you back to thinking I’m a whore?” she demands, her voice rising with each word.

“What? No, of course not.” I hold my hands up between us, taken aback by her anger.

“I have a job and a salary. I don’t want your money. Even though technically the salary is from you...” She rubs her chin. “Shit, that argument doesn’t work as well when it’s your boss, but I’m still not interested.”

“I didn’t mean to imply anything.”

“Why do you think I want your money?” she asks, her eyes boring into mine.

“Because everyone does.”

“That’s what you think? ”

I choose not to answer. No matter what I say, I’m just digging myself into a deeper hole.

“Do you want to talk about it?” she presses, not letting it go.

“No,” I grit out, my jaw clenching.

She turns and heads toward her room, but I catch her arm to stop her. Her eyes widen and I immediately release her, not wanting to overstep again. I don’t know what to do. I was supposed to explain, apologize, and instead, I’ve made things worse.

She starts forward again, and I panic. “Wait. What about the Wolfson dinner tomorrow?” I need to know. If she’s not planning on coming, I only have a day to find someone else I can take.

She pauses and appears to be considering. Then a mischievous glint enters her eye. “Lean against the doorframe for a sec.”

I frown. “I don’t understand. How is that related to the dinner?”

She remains silent, waiting.

“Okay, fine.” I walk over to the doorframe and lean back against it, my hands on my hips. “Like this?”

“No, put your hands up above your head,” she instructs.

I reach up and grip the top of the doorframe with my fingertips. “Like this?”

“Lean forward a bit.”

I do as she says, feeling ridiculous.

“Damn. Now I get that scene,” she mutters under her breath, her eyes roaming over me in a way that makes my skin prickle with heat .

“What?” I ask, completely lost.

“Nothing. I just wanted to understand something. I’ll come with you tomorrow because I promised, and I always keep my promises.” She spins on her heel, marches into her room, and slams the door behind her, leaving me standing there in bewilderment.