Logan’s expression softened. "Then why not tell ? Trust with your feelings, Jean."
Jean looked away, chewing the inside of her cheek. "I’m not... like other won. I never knew what it ant to feel safe. Or wanted. Or touched... without fear. You make it harder to pretend I’m fine."
The vulnerability in her voice knocked the wind out of him. He closed the distance between them, gently lifting her chin with his hand.
"I don’t want you to pretend," he whispered. "Not with ."
Her eyes searched his... not for love, not yet... but for the promise of understanding. Of sothing real.
"I don’t know how to do this," she confessed. "Be with soone. Want soone."
"You don’t have to know," Logan said softly, leaning in just enough so she could feel the warmth of his breath. "We’ll learn together. On our terms."
Jean swallowed. "You really won’t rush ?"
His thumb gently stroked her jaw. "Never."
Their eyes stayed locked for a mont too long. A mont that could easily spiral into sothing more... if not for a sudden voice echoing down the hallway:
"JEAN! HAVE YOU SEEN MY PHONE?!"
Emma.
Jean imdiately stepped back, lips parted, breath shaky. Logan clenched his jaw, forcing a smirk to play it cool.
"Interrupted again... ," he muttered.
Jean let out a shaky laugh, brushing past him... but not before he caught the way her fingers lingered near his for just a second longer than they needed to.
_____________________________
Emma’s phone buzzed. An Incoming call from Troy Lancaster.
Emma raised a brow. "Troy? Seriously?" She debated ignoring it, then smirked and answered with her usual sass. She purrs... "Well, well. Look who’s crawling back into relevance."
Troy, laughing awkwardly. "Co on, Em. Don’t be like that. Just thought I’d invite you to sothing... classy this ti."
Emma sighs deadpan. "If you say dinner at another rooftop sushi place, I swear I’ll block you mid tempura."
Troy chuckled. "No, nothing like that. I’m attending an exclusive bidding ceremony tomorrow night. Pri property, high rollers, champagne towers... real power play stuff. Thought you’d enjoy the vibe."
Emma, twirling a strand of hair within her fingers... "Hm. Sounds like an auction for n in suits stroking their egos. Why would I go?"
Troy, trying to sound suave... "Because you’d be the most gorgeous woman in the room... and I might just win the bid if you’re beside ."
Emma, rolls her eyes..."Flattery? Weak. You’re still in the sa suit rotation from last year."
Troy, laughing nervously, he’s clearly smitten by her. "Okay, okay... how about this. Your cousin’s attending too. Alex Adams. Word is he’s trying to snatch up the property everyone’s eyeing."
Emma suddenly stood up alert. "Wait. Alex?"
"Yeah. Big players are gonna be there. Thought it might interest you. But hey, if you’ve already got plans..."
Emma who now instantly flipped her mood. "No, no, I’m intrigued now. Send the details."
Troy grins smugly, knowing he caught her by the hook. "Knew you couldn’t resist."
Emma muttered to him. "Oh, I’m not going for you, darling. But thanks for the ticket to the show."
"What was that?"
Emma speaks as sweetly as she can... "Nothing. Pick up at 7. And wear a new tie this ti, I beg you."
She hung up, eyes now glittering with mischief and adrenaline.
"Ugh, why do n think asking soone to do real estate bidding counts as a romantic date?" Emma grumbled, tossing her phone on the couch like it had personally offended her. She slumped dramatically, groaning like the weight of the world had just landed on her designer slippers.
___________________________
From the hallway, Logan was adjusting his cufflinks in front of a mirror when her voice reached him.
"LOGAN!"
Emma.
He winced. "She’s yelling," he muttered under his breath, "this better not be about her missing phone again."
Right then, Jean was passing by with a coffee mug in hand, pausing near the doorway with a curious raise of her brow. "What happened this ti?"
Emma practically sprinted into the hallway, hair bouncing, face lit up like she’d just discovered gold. "You! And you!" she pointed dramatically at both of them. "I have a surprise of a developnt."
Logan arched his brow. "Is this one of those ’bombs’ where I end up doing sothing illegal for your benefit like last ti in South Korea?"
"No. This one might actually benefit you," she grinned wickedly.
Jean crossed her arms, watching Emma with amusent. "Well, out with it."
Emma inhaled sharply. "So... So guy I ghosted last month called again to ask to go to this luxury bidding event tomorrow night. I was going to say no, obviously..."
"Obviously," Logan muttered. "Does Adams’ ego co from birth?"
"But then," Emma’s voice turned sharp and teasing, "he said sothing interesting. Apparently, Alex Adams is attending."
Jean instantly stiffened, her fingers tightening around her cup. Logan froze.
Emma leaned closer to Logan, voice dropping into a satisfied purr. "Alex is trying to get his hands on a 100 acre land near the tech corridor. Perfect for building a resort or flipping for triple the price. And he’s one of the top contenders."
Logan’s jaw tightened. "And now I will be, too."
Jean looked at him warily. "You want to go against Alex at a public bidding?"
"No," Logan replied, his voice colder than steel. "I want to destroy him in front of every investor, broker, and business rival watching."
Emma clapped her hands like she’d just arranged the ultimate soap opera twist. "I knew you’d love it."
Jean touched his sleeve, a slight concern in her eyes. "Logan, just be careful. I know you’re angry... but don’t lose yourself to this."
His gaze softened at her concern, just for a flicker. "I’m not doing this just for revenge. I’m doing this to remind Alex that Jean Kingsley isn’t soone he can burn and walk away from."
Jean flinched at her new surna but didn’t correct him. Instead, she simply nodded.
Emma, still giddy, added, "Oh and FYI, if I have to go on a boring date with that guy to infiltrate this event, you better win the land, Logan."
Logan rolled his eyes. "Get ready. We’ve got a show to steal."
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