Page 25 of Logan (The Valeur Billionaires #1)

Chapter Twenty

LOGAN

“ Y ou know, your girlfriend isn’t what I expected.” Wolfson leans back in his leather office chair, lacing his fingers behind his head.

Is he testing me? What does he want me to say? She wasn’t what I expected either. I spent the entire night talking with her. Just talking. And I liked every minute of it.

“What did you expect?”

“I’ll let you in on something, now that we’re friends.

My wife said you seemed aloof and that, in the photos she’s seen, it looked like you were dating someone with a stick up her ass.

She wasn’t too keen on meeting you two, which is why we changed the location to the club.

She figured it would be easier to escape to the dance floor if she didn’t enjoy your company.

But she had a great time. Said Sloane was charming and approachable, and while you came across a bit chilly, the kiss between you two was scorching.

” He tilts his head back and laughs. “It turned her on. So, thanks. We had wild sex afterward because of you.”

“You’re welcome, I suppose.” She was probably thinking I’d show up with Georgina. Our old photo pops up every time there’s an article about me. Even though it’s been nearly a year, it’s always the first result in searches. A stick up her ass isn’t a bad description of Georgina, I have to admit.

Wolfson adds, “Valentina enjoyed Sloane’s company so much that we decided we simply must have you over for dinner before you leave. She’s running around the house like a madwoman, getting everything ready for the evening. You’re not planning to bail on us or anything, right?”

“Of course not. We’re looking forward to the evening.” I stretch my lips into a smile and lie. “What about our deal?”

“You need to relax, Valeur. Life isn’t all about business, trust me.

” He straightens in his seat. “I used to be like you. Working around the clock. Addicted to my career, my entire life revolving around the office. Until I was hospitalized with chest pains. The doctors told me I was at risk of a heart attack and that I needed to take my foot off the gas, have some fun, take a few vacations.”

I shake my head but he continues.

“But I didn’t know anything else. What do I have in life besides work, I said.

But then a friend convinced me to go to a club one night, and that’s where I met Valentina.

She changed my life, taught me that there are other pleasures in life besides work, and I’m not just talking about sex, although that’s obviously important too. ” He chuckles.

What else is there besides sex? Love is just fiction sold to us so we’ll buy products. He can’t really believe in it, can he? I nod anyway, pretending to play along .

“And to answer your question, yes, we have a deal.” He extends his hand, and I shake it, restraining myself from sighing in relief. The evening at the club wasn’t a waste of time, after all.

We spend the rest of the morning hammering out the finer details.

By the time I exit his office, it’s nearly noon.

I feel several pounds lighter. I did it. I closed the biggest deal Valeur-Tech has ever had, even in my dad’s time. Sure, I have to spend another torturous evening with Wolfson and his wife, but it’s worth it.

I send a few messages to Dad and Liam to update them and glance around. All these people, walking along at their own pace, completely unaware of the momentous occasion. The fact that this deal is going to place Valeur at the apex of technology, at the forefront of the medical high-tech field.

Neither Dad nor Liam replies. Shit, they’re probably still asleep, and I want to tell someone.

Sloane.

Sloane will be thrilled. She developed the fucking product. She’ll probably be over the moon with excitement. I dial her number.

“H–hey Logan,” she answers, panting.

An image of Sloane lying naked beneath me, making those little breathless sounds, as if she can’t get enough air from sheer arousal, flashes through my mind.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m outside, walking. What’s up?”

“I closed the deal with Wolfson. We’ve got the cameras. Your product is a go. Thought you’d want to know.”

“Really?” She lets out a squeal of delight that has me holding the phone away from my ear for a moment. “Wow. That’s amazing. I can’t believe it. So my drunken jokes at the club didn’t ruin anything?”

“No. On the contrary. It seems he and his wife rather enjoyed the whole thing.” I spare her the details about their post-club sexcapades.

“Let’s go celebrate.”

“Celebrate?”

“Yeah, you know. Nothing fancy, just walk around a bit, eat something delicious, maybe drink a beer. Celebrate. You’re familiar with the concept, right?”

“Haha. Where are you?”

“I just arrived at this food market, looking for a place to eat. It’s called Spitalfields. Know it? The guidebook says it’s a must-visit spot. Want to join me?”

Food market.

Meaning crowds. Masses. People. Noise.

Sloane.

“Yeah. I know where it is.” I glance at my watch. “I’ll be there in twenty.” I hang up and wave down a taxi instead of calling my driver.

I find Sloane waiting for me at the entrance. She’s wearing jeans that cling to her like a second skin, emphasizing every curve, and a white shirt that’s tied at her waist. Her hair cascades over her shoulders, and despite her simple attire, she looks like the most radiant woman in the area .

When she spots me, she waves her hands while sprinting toward me and then leaps into my arms for a hug.

A strange warmth floods through me as I wrap my arms around her and close my eyes, inhaling the sweet scent of her hair.

I can’t remember the last time someone hugged me like this, and I allow myself a moment to savor the embrace before releasing her. The moment feels nicer than I expected, but I can’t let myself get used to it. Our connection is temporary and limited to London.

“Such exciting news. You made my day!” She beams up at me. “I can’t believe my product is going into the production phase. Even if it saves just one person, it will be worth the investment.”

“It will save far more than one person. I promise you that.”

“Did I tell you I have more ideas like using artificial intelligence for the initial diagnosis of?—”

“Sloane.”

“What?” She halts mid-monologue, blinking at me with wide eyes.

I glance around at the bustling market. “Are you hungry?”

“Starving.” She laughs and ducks her head. “Sorry. I always get carried away when discussing ideas. I know what I want to order. I looked inside while waiting for you.” Clutching my hand, she tugs me forward. “Come on.”

We stop at a food stall that offers Chinese food with several people waiting in line.

A woman prepares each dish to order on the spot, and right now, she’s making something that looks like a thin crêpe, filled with egg, sauce, vegetables and meat.

I watch, mesmerized by her skill and the tantalizing aroma.

“Looks good, right?”

She approaches the register to place her order, and on impulse, I add one for myself too. It’s not the type of food I usually eat, but we’re celebrating, aren’t we? I can allow myself a one-time indulgence. And besides, it smells delicious.

We find a bench near the stall to sit and eat. I do my best to maintain some distance from the surrounding crowd, but it’s not a simple task. Perching on the edge of the seat, I try to keep my suit clean and avoid touching anything.

“It’s spicy,” I mumble after taking a bite, my tongue tingling.

“Tasty as hell, though.” Sloane grins, her eyes sparkling. Her nose has turned red, and she coughs. “Wow, that was an especially spicy bite.” She gulps down the water.

I can’t tear my gaze away from her flushed, animated face. Damn.

“Does it hurt?” she asks.

“Does what hurt?” I furrow my brow in confusion.

“Your head.”

“No.” Come to think of it, I haven’t had a headache in days, not since we went to the club that night. Maybe I really did need a break from the constant stress. But…I just closed a massive deal this morning, and typically, I’d be at peak tension, relying on pills to get through this stage.

Strange. Could it be the sex? Maybe a good lay was all I needed after all.

I watch Sloane chewing her food, cheeks pink, smiling unselfconsciously. Or perhaps aware but uncaring of how she looks.

It’s refreshing and nice to have someone actually eat with me instead of just watching me eat. Georgina never would have eaten in front of me. Ever.

I used to avoid going to restaurants with her if I could help it. When she’d just stare at me eating, I’d get irritated. Then she’d order a Caesar salad and pick at it while I finished my meal. I hated that.

Thinking back on our relationship, I can’t recall a single memory of enjoying myself the way I am now, just sitting here eating street food in a crowded market with Sloane for company.

“You know, we never finished that question game,” she remarks, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

“What do you want to ask?” I raise an eyebrow.

“Why haven’t you ever gone sightseeing in London if you come here so often for work?”

I glance around at the colorful stalls and the tourists. “I don’t know. Guess I never made the time for places like this.”

She tilts her head, studying me. “So, you’re claiming it’s a matter of time? You’re the CEO of Valeur-Tech. You set the schedules, right?”

I nod.

“Then can’t you just give yourself a day off now and then? Add an extra day to one of your business trips to explore?”

“I—”

“You get vacation days, don’t you?”

“Yes, of course, but I don’t use them.”

“Why not?” Her brow furrows .

“Because I can’t just be absent from work on a whim,” I huff, looking away.

Sloane purses her lips. “What would happen?”

“I don’t know.” The lie tastes bitter on my tongue.

She grins. “You know, if you lie, the game won’t work.”

I avert my gaze, feeling stripped bare under her penetrating stare. As if she can unearth all my secrets and issues with one more probing look. She must be a mind reader.