Page 17 of Logan (The Valeur Billionaires #1)

Chapter Fifteen

LOGAN

W e ride back to the apartment in silence, Sloane clutching the bag with her book and another romance novel she picked out for herself and also insisted on paying for since we agreed I would buy her one book.

Damn it, how did the accident slip out like that? The last thing I wanted was to open up the subject with a strange woman.

Only she dropped the subject the moment I asked.

Since when do I speak without thinking? The accident itself isn’t a secret, it was reported on the news. However, Dad asked us not to talk about it, and the details were quickly hushed up.

I’m not even sure why it was so important to him that we didn’t discuss what happened. For a while, I thought maybe she had been driving drunk, and he didn’t want us to find out, but I peeked at the police report, and her blood alcohol level was within the limit.

I guess talking about the way she died just hurts him too much.

I sneak a glance at Sloane out of the corner of my eye. This whole day has surprised me.

Out of all the things in the world, she asked me to buy her a book, and one that I chose at that, and then she wanted to eat ice cream.

I gave her free access to my credit card, and she spent less than fifty pounds.

I can’t help but wonder if it’s all an act. If her entire behavior is designed just to make me fall into a trap. But if that’s her intention, she’s missed her window. I’ve already fallen once, and I learned my lesson. I’ll never trust a woman again.

I know women want to sleep with me. They want my money, they want my status. But to spend time with me? Never.

Georgina made that crystal clear. It’s impossible to love me, she said, and I know she’s right.

I shift my gaze to the passing scenery outside.

Right now, I need Sloane’s help to close the deal today, so whatever she’s planning, I need to pretend I believe her act in order to get through tonight.

My phone buzzes, and I glance at the screen.

Aiden Wolfson

My wife prefers we go on a double date at a club. Hope you don’t mind. Sending you the location now.

The message with the club’s address arrives immediately after.

Hope you don’t mind.

It’s not like he left me any choice here.

I exhale loudly, and Sloane turns her face to me.

“Did something happen?”

“The dinner meeting? Wolfson wants to move it to a club.”

“Okay. What’s the problem?”

“I don’t like places like that.”

“You mean places with people? Yeah, I noticed.” She smiles. “You’re a real people-person, huh? But I think it’s better this way. A little alcohol and dancing will help you soften them up.”

“I don’t dance.”

“Why am I not surprised?” Her smile widens. “Don’t worry, I love to dance.”

“I want to convince him to close a deal. A club is not the right place for that.” I close my eyes.

As if it wasn’t enough that he involved his wife in this, now he’s turned it into a double date.

A fucking date . We’re businessmen. What does this club have to do with anything?

How am I supposed to sell him on the idea in a noisy club?

What exactly am I supposed to do while he’s dancing with his wife?

“We’re going to be late,” I call out to Sloane’s closed bedroom door.

“Just another minute!”

My nerves are stretched thin, and the nagging throbs of a headache are already pounding at my temples.

I’m sure Wolfson won’t be impressed if he and his wife have to wait for us just because Sloane can’t decide what to wear.

I breathe a sigh of relief when the door finally opens, and she emerges.

I hold my breath. She’s wearing a black lace dress with a nude lining that makes her look half-naked even though she’s fully clothed.

The dress clings like a second skin, accentuating every curve of her body, and damn, does this woman have curves.

Her smooth legs are bare, encased in particularly high red stilettos.

Fuck me.

I blink as an image of her naked with just the heels on her feet pops into my mind, and it takes a lot of effort to keep my face frozen. This woman undoes me in ways I didn’t expect.

I harden my expression. “Ready?”

She nods.

I hope she’ll be convincing in our pretense today because the future of the deal depends on it.

“We’re late.”

“You’re exaggerating. I’m right on time.”

I exit the apartment and press the elevator button. Sloane locks the apartment door and joins me.

“Do I look okay? You said nothing.”

“We don’t have time for you to change clothes,” I growl.

She doesn’t look okay. She looks fucking amazing, and I’m not in the mood for anyone but me to see her like this, but I have to control myself.

She lowers her gaze. “I’m sorry you don’t like it.”

I step closer to her, and she reverses a step until her back is pressed against the elevator wall.

I bring my lips to her ear and whisper, “If you were mine, you’d know how good you look. You wouldn’t have to ask me.” I straighten and stare down at her.

Her lips part, and her breathing quickens. “Why are you saying things like that to me?”

Because I haven’t felt like this in a long time. Fizzy, my nerve endings tingling. I’m crossing the line with her, again and again. And it doesn’t seem like I’m able to stop.

“I just wanted to see if you could be convincing,” I lie. “Come on. We have a deal to close.”

My driver takes us to the club, and Sloane sits beside me, looking as tense as a coiled spring. I shouldn’t have whispered in her ear earlier. Now she’s uncomfortable, and it shows. It’s not like me to act on desires. I have to stop.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

“Did you know we’re thirty times more likely to be killed by a falling coconut than by a shark?”

I stare at her.

“Sorry. I’m nervous. What if he realizes we’re not a couple? I could go to jail. ”

“Jail?” I stifle a chuckle. “For what? For saying you’re dating me? That’s not a crime, Sloane. The worst that will happen is that he finds out and never does business with Valeur again. Nothing will happen to you, as I promised.”

Her eyes widen. “And what will happen to you?”

“In the worst case, he’ll make it public, and I’ll become someone not worth doing business with.”

“Because of me.”

I tilt my head. “But that won’t happen because he won’t find out. Relax.”

The car stops, and I take her hand. She’s completely frozen. “Relax, Sloane. You look tense, and there’s no reason to be.”

“No reason? How can you say that? I have plenty of reasons,” she whispers.

We enter the crowded club. The dance floor is packed with people, and the music seems to throb. It bursts from the floor, from the walls, creating vibrations that sink down to my bones. The flashing lights don’t particularly agree with me, and I fear a headache is only minutes away.

I find the seating area at the back of the club, tables with black couches, and I head toward them, my eyes scanning the surroundings until I spot Wolfson at one of the back tables in the VIP area. I pull Sloane along behind me.

“Logan,” he greets me as we approach. “Meet my wife, Valentina.”

I bend down and kiss her cheek. She’s young and beautiful, dressed in an ultra-short dress with a generous neckline.

“And this is Sloane,” I introduce her, nudging her forward a bit. She smiles, and her hand tightens in mine .

I squeeze back. It’ll be fine. Relax.

Wolfson rises and kisses her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

She softens immediately, her stance becoming more natural.

My chest tightens. Why do his words have such an effect on her?

We sit across from them on the dark couch, and Wolfson signals for the server to come over with a snap of his fingers.

Sloane fiddles with the ketchup packet on the table. “Did you know ketchup was used as medicine?”

“No, I didn’t.” Wolfson smiles at her. “That’s interesting.”

I squeeze her hand again.

“I’m sorry for the last-minute change of location.” Valentina smiles at us. “Usually, I like to host, but I’m postpartum and feeling a bit cooped up at home. I needed to get out for a bit. Hope you don’t mind.”

“Aww, you have a baby?” Sloane’s eyes light up, and Valentina hurries to take out her phone, and they lean toward each other to examine the photos.

I turn to Wolfson. “So, about the cameras?—”

He smiles. “Logan, we’re here to enjoy ourselves. Let’s leave business for another time.”

I bite the inside of my cheek and lean back. Another time? I’m not here to have fun. I didn’t fly all the way to London to sit in a noisy club that’s sure to give me a headache. We scheduled a business meeting.

I glance again at the chattering women and recall Cora’s words. He’s madly in love with his wife and willing to do anything for her. The secret to closing the deal you’re looking for depends on her.

I need Sloane to win her over .

How stupid do you have to be to mix your personal life with business? I may have fallen into Georgina’s trap, but I never let her interfere with my work.

The server sets a bottle of vodka in front of us and pours glasses for everyone. Sloane grabs hers and downs the drink in one gulp.

Wolfson pours her another, a smile on his face. “Like vodka, huh? A girl after my own heart.”

I narrow my eyes. “She?—”

“ Eee! ” someone shouts in a high-pitched voice that hurts my ears. I look up and see two couples advancing toward our table, weaving their way through the crowd.

“ Ahhhh! ” Valentina screams back and rises to meet them. “What are you doing here?”

“We came to dance and saw you sitting here,” one of the women says.

Valentina hugs them. “God, I haven’t seen you in months, and you show up here at the same place and time. What a crazy coincidence. It’s fate. You have to join us.”

Join us? No. Not good at all. I want this deal. I need this deal. They’re irrelevant in any way.

“I don’t think there’s room for everyone,” I say, indicating the full table.

“Oh, that’s not a problem.” Valentina waves her hands. “I’m sure we can squeeze in a bit, right?” She plops down on Wolfson’s lap in giggles as he possessively places his hand on her stomach. My gaze is drawn to his thumb skimming the underside of her breasts.